Set up your home theater system with separate components
A home theater brings the movie-going experience home.
However, for many, the idea of setting up a home theater system is daunting.
Still, it can be pretty stress-free with the right set of guidelines.

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This guide provides some basic guidelines for setting up a home theater system.
Below is a list of standard components to consider.
You will also need at least five speakers and a subwoofer for 5.1 surround sound.

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Below is a general outline of how to connect these different components.
Most audio and video components run through the home theater receiver.
If you have a smart TV, verify it is connected to the internet.

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LG
Connect the incoming cable to the box if you receive programming via a cable or satellite box.
First, connect the audio/video output of the box directly to the TV.
Then connect it to your home theater receiver, androute the signal to your TV.

Thesetup procedure is different if you have a video projectorinstead of a TV.
As for the TV or projector screen size, that’s a personal choice.
Even small mini-projectors can produce big pictures.

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In our opinion, the bigger the screen, the better in a home theater.
There are other connection options to consider if you have a 3D Blu-ray Disc player or 3D TV.
If you have a streaming Blu-ray Disc player, connect it to the internet via Ethernet or Wi-Fi.

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If your DVD player has an HDMI output, use that option.
To access digital surround sound, an HDMI or digital optical/coaxial connection is required.
Use your ears orfollow this guideto find the optimal location for all the speakers, including the subwoofer.

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Connect thesubwoofer line outputof the AV receiver to the subwoofer.
An inexpensive sound meter can also help with this task.
Speaker Setup Examples
The following speaker setup examples are typical for a square or slightly rectangular room.

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You may need to adjust the placement for other room shapes and additional acoustical factors.
5.1 Channel Speaker Placement
A home theater utilizing5.1 channels is the most commonly usedsetup.
Here is how you should place them.