How to Build a Smart Home Theatre?

The Rise of home theatre technology

Home theatre has been used in homes since the 1920s when 16mm projectors were available to those who could afford them. By the mid- 1980s into the 1990s, stereo outputs from televisions, VHS players and by the late 90s, DVD players allowed people to create more authentic home theatre designs.

The rise of smart technology and IoT devices has seen many of our everyday electrical appliances and devices streamlined and simplified, connecting and syncing together through the wonders of the internet, and home theatre is no exception.

However, what is the difference between a traditional home theatre and a smart home theatre?

Understanding the smart home theatre

Home theatre has been transformed by smart technology, allowing WIFI access to all forms of online entertainment, using slimline, ultra-high-definition audio and visual technologies that are affordable and easy to install, either as a wired or wireless system.

A smart home theatre can also be controlled by your central smart control system or a remote device like a laptop, smartphone, or tablet.

So what do you need to build a smart home theatre? Read on to learn about smart home theatre installation.

Building a smart home theatre setup

Smart home theatre technology aims to enhance and optimise your home theatre experience and revolutionise your level of system control.

There are many ways to configure a smart home theatre, including using components such as:

Smart projectors
Smart speaker or smart display
Smart projector screens
Smart TV
Smart audio receiver or amplifier
Gaming consoles
Wired or wireless speakers and soundbars
Wireless headphones
Streaming device
Universal smart remote and more

If you still wish to use your existing or growing disc collection, a smart system can also integrate legacy systems, like DVD and Blu-Ray. Below we will take a deeper look at some of the more popular smart components you will find in a current smart home theatre setup.

Smart projectors and smart projector screens

High definition smart projectors and smart projector screens provide you with a genuine theatre experience.

Smart projectors

Smart projectors still work by projecting your movie or online content through a lens onto a projection surface like a projector screen or permanent projector wall.

The most significant difference with smart projector systems is connectivity, be it via HDMI cables or a wireless internet receiver that receives a WIFI connection for streaming services like:

Foxtel Free-To-Air/Digital Set-Top Boxes
Apple TV
Netflix
Stan
Chromecast
Plex
FireFX

Smart projectors can also be linked to independent media sources, like personal home media servers.

Smart projector screens

Projector screens have improved with advances in textiles and plastics; however, a smart projector screen works the same as any projector screen by providing a smooth, clear surface on which to project a clear image or motion picture.

What makes a projector screen smart is a slimline, automated housing that installs in the roof and retracts the screen when not in use, which can be controlled via voice command, smart control or remote smart device.

If a permanent projector is set up, many home theatre enthusiasts will use a special projector paint to create a permanent screen on the drywall.

Smart TV

Not everyone goes the whole hog with a smart home theatre, and more often than not, the lounge or family room will double as a home theatre on movie night.

In this case, a smart projector system may take up too much space, and a smart TV may be a better option. You would be hard-pressed to find a LED flat-screen TV without smart functions and connectivity on today’s market.

However, all brands and models of smart TV have different picture qualities, connectivity capabilities, and other various features. SmartHomeWorks are at the forefront of smart home theatre technology and can help you find the best smart TV for your home theatre setup.

Smart speakers and smart displays

A smart speaker acts as both an audio source and a voice command module. If the term smart speaker is unfamiliar to you, you may be more familiar with some of the popular smart speaker brands on the market.

This includes smart speakers such as:

Sonos One
Google home
Amazon Alexa or Echo
Apple Home Pod and more

If you prefer touch controls and a visual reference for your theatre controls and settings, then a smart display, similar to a tablet, is another popular option.

Smart audio and speaker systems

Smart audio and speaker systems can come in wired and wireless configurations, providing glorious surround sound that provides an immersive cinema experience.

If you want to integrate a small home theatre system, like in an apartment, a wired or wireless soundbar may be all you need to produce the desired audio quality. For a more extensive setup, wireless smart speaker systems, like Sonos, offer a complete surround sound system without the need for running cables under carpets or through walls.

For a designated home theatre installation, you may want to take your system to the next level, installing cinema-grade audio, like a Dolby Atmos Surround Sound system.

Smart home theatre systems Sydney

You can often achieve a small wireless smart home theatre system with an affordable DIY solution and a little online research to optimise your setup.

However, if you want to install a more extensive or designated home theatre setup, it may be worth talking to a professional. SmartHomeWorks are industry leaders in smart home theatre installation in Sydney and surrounding communities.

Our expert home theatre design technicians can help with all facets of your home theatre setup and optimisation, including:

Room Construction
Seating Type and Configuration
Row height and Spacing
Acoustical Treatments
Ambient Noise Control
Ambient Light Control
Room Light Control
Blinds Control
Equipment & Speaker Placement and more

We have over 20-years of experience in smart home security integration and can help you customise your home theatre to your household’s unique layout and tailor it to your requirements. For more information about smart home theatre installation, contact us by phone on (02) 8197 1133, or send your inquiry via email to design@smarthomeworks.com.au.

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