How to Install a Home Theatre System
Home theater systems come in many types with different connections. Some are capable of connecting both audio and video components from the TV to the system, while others only receive audio signals. Some systems have prewired speakers and others allow the user to wire speakers individually to the system.
Items Needed:
- Home theater A/V receiver
- HDMI cables
- Television
- Speakers
- Coaxial or optical cables
- RCA, component, S-video, composite cables (optional)
- Multi-channel audio cables (optional)
- Determine whether your home theater system allows both audio and video input and output (A/V).
- Connect the video to the TV. Locate the TV output on the home theater unit and the televisions video input. Connect these using an HDMI cable, component video cable composite video or an S-video cable. HDMI produces the best high definition results. Connecting the video directly from the TV to the home theater system allows you to watch your DVD player, Blu-ray player, cable box, computer or other equipment through the home theater receiver.
- Connect the audio to the TV. If you connected the video using an HDMI cable, then the audio is already connected because HDMI connects both digital audio and video. If you used another method to connect the video, then you need to wire the audio. You may need to make two connections if you watch digital and analog television through your cable or satellite box. Connect either the RCA or Aux audio outputs from the television to the RCA or Aux audio inputs on the A/V receiver. If you have newer equipment, consider connecting the audio return channel to allow the HDMI to connect both the audio and video from the TV.
- Connect the speakers up to the home theater system. Use speaker wire to connect each speaker individually to the correct speaker outputs on the receiver. If you have a prewired system, simply plug the mini jack into the receiver.
- Hook up all of your audio/video equipment, such as DVD and Blu-ray players directly to the A/V home theater receiver. Both coaxial cable and optical cable connections produce digital sound.