Home theatres offer an exciting and enjoyable way to watch TV and movies at home. Cinemas are becoming a thing of the past for many people due to the pandemic, increasing costs, and increased traffic. With dedicated movie rooms at home and OTT platforms at your fingertips, you can watch relatively recent movies and TV shows at home with your family and friends at your convenience. A home theatre system is an investment that is a substantial part of a person’s lifestyle, and we sat down with Mahavir Sound Room’s, Mr Jaleel Sabir, to find out how we can get the most from it.

What is a Home Theater system and why should one go for one?
Well, what can beat a Friday Night Show? But today Home Theaters are redefining the movie experience. A Home theatre system is like bringing the Cinema Hall experience to your home, and more. With you being immersed in the movie you are watching along with enjoying your privacy, it’s a personalized treat for the senses. And, a style statement too!

What is the minimum space required to install a Home Theater system?
Need a large hall to install your Home Theater? Well, it’s the biggest myth. As such, there is nothing as minimum space required but as per me the minimum space for a Home Cinema is around 14’W x 20’L x 9’H.

Which is the most appropriate location in the house for the Home Theater?
Mostly many homeowners go for either the basement or the Terrace for Home Theaters as they believe it won’t disturb others. According to me, the most apt location is on the living floor. You don’t have to make an effort to go to either the basement or the terrace to watch a movie.

What kind of lighting is required?
Any lighting which is indirect and not falling onto the screen is the best for Home Theaters. You can have some spots directly above your seating area too.

What audio and video devices do we need?
For the best experience, we recommend a large screen with a projector and a minimum of 5.1.4 speaker setup for an immersive experience. To drive the speakers you also need an A/V receiver. As a source, you can either use a Blu Ray Player, Video Server, or Streaming Player, or a Cable Set Top box etc.

Should I soundproof the Home Theater room?
If you do not want to disturb others in the house then you should do soundproofing which will prevent sound from leaking outside the room.

Here’s an interesting observation. Many people confuse acoustics with soundproofing. Acoustics are done inside the room to make the room sound just right. It has to be designed to perfection considering the system you are using.

What are the challenges in the Indian Home Theater market?
The Indian Home Theater Market is still in a developing stage. There are more product sellers than solution providers. The Indian customer is not aware that by just buying the best or themost expensive brands you don’t necessarily get the best Home Theater experience. If the set-up and calibration are not done right then even the best brands will not sound good. There has to be a standard and only certified installers should be given preference.

How do you think Home theatre adds value to a property?
A Home Theater setup today is the best room in the house. Since most of the content is readily available, thanks to the streaming providers like Netflix, Hot Star, Prime Video, etc., omeowners like to watch their favourite serials apart from movies. Many of our clients use it for socializing over sports or Karaoke. Kids love to use it for gaming with friends. Yes, Home Theater is soon becoming a must-have for every new house.

How do you see the progress in the Home Theater market 5 years from now?
Like I said earlier, Home Theater is a part of every new house coming up 5 years from now, thus a huge market is expected.

What should one not do when getting a Home Theater done?
One should not have an odd-shaped room for a Home Cinema. It should be a perfect rectangle to get the best output and the screen should always be on the shorter wall of the room. Also, there should be no direct light hitting the screen or the viewers. The colours used should not be light-reflecting like yellow, beige, gold, etc.

What are the 5 most important elements of a good Home Theater?
Ambience
Acoustics
Seating
Lighting
A/V
System

Factors to consider before getting a Home Theater?
Seating capacity
Room Size
Usage apart from movies (example: Dance Parties, Karaoke, Gaming etc..)