Home Theater Guide
A permanent reference library for MyTheaterBuild. Use it whenever you want to understand a concept in more depth — the Builder never requires you to read anything here.
Pick a topic from the left, or start with Home Theater Basics.
Home Theater Basics
The three things every home theater does: reproduce dialog clearly, place effects around you, and hit the peaks films are mixed at.
Understanding Speaker Types
Bookshelf, tower, in-wall, in-ceiling, on-wall, and satellite speakers each solve a different placement problem.
AVR vs External Amplifier
An AVR is the brain: it decodes formats, processes audio, and powers speakers. An external amp only adds power — never channels or processing.
Speaker Sensitivity
Sensitivity is measured in dB SPL at 1 watt from 1 meter. Every +3 dB of sensitivity is roughly like doubling your amplifier power.
Impedance
Impedance is how much a speaker resists current, measured in ohms. Lower impedance demands more current from the amplifier.
Reference Level
Film reference level is the volume films are mixed at — peaks up to 105 dB SPL at your seat, with 115 dB from the subwoofer.
Dolby Atmos Layouts
Atmos layouts are written as X.Y.Z — floor speakers, subwoofers, and height speakers.
Bass Management
Bass management is how the AVR routes low frequencies from your speakers to the subwoofer.
Screen Size & Viewing Distance
SMPTE recommends about a 30 degree viewing angle; THX prefers 36 degrees. Screen width times 1.5 to 1.9 gives a good seat distance.
Projector Brightness & Foot-Lamberts
Foot-lamberts (fL) measure the brightness at your screen. Aim for 12 to 16 fL in a dark room, 30+ fL with any ambient light.
Common Beginner Mistakes
The mistakes that cost real performance for no good reason.
Objective Speaker Measurements
Spinorama-style measurements describe on-axis response, listening window, early reflections, and predicted in-room response.