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Can You Leave A Projector On Overnight?

Can You Leave A Projector On Overnight?

Can You Leave A Projector On Overnight?


Can You Leave A Projector On Overnight?

Leaving a projector on overnight generally isn’t a good idea since that can cause overheating, malfunctions, shorten the internal lamp’s lifespan, or use additional energy depending on the unit. The exception would be devices specifically designed to do so, and use features like built in surge protectors and specialized circuitry.

 




 

Imagine this: you’re watching a movie on your projector, but you fall asleep on the couch.

The next morning, you wake up and realize that you left it on all night.

Oops.

What do you do?

Do you panic and rush to turn it off?

Maybe shrug and figure it’s no big deal?

Ponder if you shortened its lamp life by a few hundred hours?

Well if you’ve ever been in this situation (I certainly have), or you’re curious about what happens when you leave your projector on overnight, that’s what we’ll focus on in this article.

I’ll explain the pros and cons of leaving one on overnight, and how it can affect your device and its performance.

Let’s get to it.

 

 

Why Someone Might Leave Their Projector On Overnight


It’s More Convenient


One reason that someone might leave their unit on all night is they find it more convenient.

Rather than waiting for it to warm up before turning it on, they believe leaving it on might save time.

However unless it’s specifically designed to do so, this may not be the best idea which we’ll get to in a bit.

 

Ambiance Could Be A Factor


Leaving it on could also be a result of wanting a bit of ambiance in the room.

They might even find the light and sound from it gives the room a more peaceful vibe.

But as I alluded to before, there are some drawbacks which we’ll get into.

 




 

Potential Risks Of Leaving It On Overnight


It Could Overheat


One might think leaving a projector on all night isn’t a big deal, but it could be risky if the device isn’t built for continuous use.

The most immediate issue with doing so is potential heat buildup.

Projectors generate a significant amount of heat, and without proper cooling, this can lead to overheating.

Overheating not only puts stress on the internal components, but may pose a fire hazard if left unchecked.

That’s why it’s so important to be sure beforehand what your projector is capable of doing.

For example, whenever I watch a movie, I make sure to set my projector in standby when it’s over so that I don’t forget it’s running.

To tell if it’s overheating though, you might hear a strange noise or notice a mechanical smell from it.

The chassis of the device could even feel unusually hot which may signal as much.

If you notice this, then immediately turn the device off and unplug it.

This may signify an internal malfunction requiring professional repair.

 

It Could Affect Its Lamp Life & Picture Quality


Another concern is the impact on the projector’s lamp life.

LCD & DLP projectors have lamps with a finite lifespan rated in hours, and keeping your projector running unnecessarily may accelerate that countdown.

This could present itself in the form of color shift or visual artifacts in your picture quality, so be mindful of that.

Should you notice any anomalies, things like using keystone correction, adjusting the internal panel alignment, or correcting the lens if it shifted can help if it’s simply a setting issue.

If your image appears dim, there’s even ways to make it look brighter.

However if it’s not a setting issue and it’s lamp failure, that lamp may need to be replaced.

Visual clues like burn marks, discoloring of the bulb, or cracks can be signals of that.

 




 

It Might Use More Energy


There’s also the electric side of things to consider.

Leaving a projector on overnight can draw a suprising amount of power if they aren’t energy efficient.

That’s because they have to supply a quality image to varying screen sizes.

This variability means they need the power to function in a variety of viewing conditions.

If you’re conscious about your electricity bill, then this can be a factor in wanting to leave it off when not in use.

Some modern projectors have energy efficiency capabilities that allows them to go into a low power state after not sensing an input for a period of time.

This can also allow them to preserve their lamp life, and reduce heat build-up.

 

 

The Unit Itself Could Malfunction


Lastly, leaving it on for too long could cause permanent issues if it’s not built for continuous use.

From nuisances like bulb burnouts, to more severe situations like smoke damage and component malfunctions, the risks are real.

The manufacturer’s have specific guidelines on operating times and care for good reason.

Ignoring these can lead to the premature demise of the device.

Through the many years I’ve been in the home theater space, I’ve seen a few projectors malfunction from being on for too long when they weren’t meant to be.

So the manufacturer’s recommendations are definitely something to be mindful of.

 

Should You Leave It On Overnight?


Even though we’ve kind of already answered the question, simply put, should you leave it on overnight?

I’d say unless it’s specifically designed to function in that way, turning it off when you’re not using it is probably the better idea.

That way it doesn’t burn through lamp life when it doesn’t need to, and doesn’t put it at greater risk of overheating or malfunctioning.

Plus there’s the aspect of energy required to drive it to consider too.

However that said, turning it off and on continuously can also harm the device over time, so standby can be a good middle ground if it’s supported.

Just keep in mind that some form of power is still used in this mode.

If you do turn it off, let it cool first for a bit since the internals are very delicate and could be damaged by rapid movement.

 




 

Tips For Projector Use When It Is On


But what about general use for the time it is on, is there anything you should keep in mind then?

Well here’s a few tips for proper use in that regard.

 

Using A Surge Projector


I’ve talked about it many times, but a surge protector can be helpful in protecting your equipment, and as it applies here, your projector.

Case in point, a powerful storm some years ago completely fried my system when I wasn’t using one.

Surge protectors, like their name would suggest, focus on protecting your important tech equipment against things like electrical surges that can be detrimental for devices.

This is a good one in my opinion.

AC Power Filter Power Conditioner

 

 

Making Sure The Projector Is In A Suitable Environment


Making sure that your projector is placed in a suitable environment is important for proper function.

The area should be well-ventilated without anything near the unit as to keep its internal fans working properly.

It should also not be too hot or cold to avoid overheating or issues with the internals.

 

Final Thoughts


In short, unless it’s specifically designed for it, leaving a projector on overnight should be avoided in my opinion.

There’s lots of issues that arise from doing so that can be avoided by leaving it in standby, or turning it off.

Just make sure you allow time for it to cool though if deciding to turn it off before it’s moved anywhere.

That’s wraps it for this one though.

Until next time, make it easy, keep it simple.

 

11 Great Ways To Save Space In A Home Theater! (Tips/Tricks)

11 Great Ways To Save Space In A Home Theater! (Tips/Tricks) - Easy Home Theater

11 Great Ways To Save Space In A Home Theater! (Tips/Tricks)


Ways To Save Space In A Home Theater - Easy Home Theater

Ways to save space in a home theater include using wireless speaker kits for additional surround speaker placement options, using wireless subwoofer kits, proper cable/wire management, hiding home theater components, wall mounting your TV, using a projector, implementing different seating, utilizing built-in lighting, using bass shakers, installing ceiling speakers, and wall mounting speakers at elevation for more floor space.




The great thing about home theater is the sheer amount of customization you have with it.

From soundbars to subwoofers, there’s a plethora of ways to make it truly your own.

But that said, the room itself can sometimes be a limiting factor because of how big some of these components can be.

This can make the room feel smaller than it actually is.

So wouldn’t it be nice if there were ways to save some more of that space?

Luckily there are and we’ll be going over the various ways you can do exactly that.

So without further ado, let’s get to it!

 

1). Using Wireless Speaker Kits For Surround Speakers


So one of the first things that might help you to save some space is using a wireless speaker kit for your surround speakers.

Given that surround speakers should ideally be placed on both sides of your seating position at around 1¹/² to 2 feet above ear level seated, sometimes this might not be feasible with your current setup.

So to enable further placement capabilities, using a wireless speaker kit could help with exactly that.

While there’s still technically wires, it makes use of a transmitter so that the speakers themselves don’t have to be physically connected to the receiver via wiring.

That way, they can be placed anywhere in the room where there’s an outlet.

The wires basically get shifted, if that makes sense, since the speaker would get plugged into an outlet elsewhere.

Setting things up this way can give you more leeway with placing your stuff within the room.

Now there’s actually 4 different types of these speaker conversion kits and many types of models, but the Rocketfish RF-WRSK18 is one of the easier models to set up in my opinion.

Plus the sound quality of the speakers when connected to it still sounded great.

Check Availability Of Rocketfish RF-WRSK18

 

Here’s more details on how to set it up along with info regarding speaker kits and speakers in general.

https://easyhometheater.net/how-to-make-surround-speakers-wireless

 

You could also technically go the entirely wireless route by installing a separate power source, bluetooth transmitter, and amp in each surround speaker.

However the issue with this is that it can be time intensive and somewhat complicated if you’re not familiar with this kind of modification.

So a speaker kit can still be a great way to open up additional placement options.




 

2). Using Wireless Subwoofer Kits For The Subwoofer


Suprisingly, there also exists wireless kits for the subwoofer as well.

A subwoofer kit can help with being able to place it in a spot that’s not as prevalent which can save space.

This one is pretty awesome in that regard.

Check Availability Of DYNASTY PROAUDIO WSA-5TR

 

Subwoofer placement for optimal sound though can be somewhat involved — depending both on the type of sub & the number of them that you plan on using.

Even the acoustics of the room can play a big part in this.

Additionally some subwoofers support bluetooth capabilities, and it may be possible for them to use a bluetooth adapter to go entirely wireless (besides the power cable of course)

That could allow for you to place it somewhere that’s out of the way.

 

 

3). Making Wires Less Noticeable


Having wires everywhere not only affects the aesthetics of your room, but make things feel more cluttered overall.

So hiding the speaker wires can be a great way to deal with this.

Luckily there’s many ways to achieve this, from tacking them to the perimeters of the room with a wire tacker, to using cable covers or cable raceways to run them around doors and along walls.

Even painting them or running them under the floorboards are options to get them out of the way.

Properly managing your wires and cables can be a great way to make your home theater look more clean and contemporary.

Here’s even more ways to hide your wires if you’re curious about that.

https://easyhometheater.net/hiding-speaker-wire-solutions

 

 

 

4). Hiding Home Theater Components


Another way to free up more space is hiding the home theater components that are currently visible or prominent in the room.

Using a wire rack for your receiver and other AV equipment can help with streamlining the look of your entertainment room by having it all in one general place.

One with lockable wheels is preferable as you’re able to move it to wherever in the room, (or even another room or closet) then lock it in place.

Check Availability Of Metal Frame AV Cart with Keyboard Tray

 

Installing your speakers in the wall can also help so that they aren’t taking up the space that they usually would while being more low key.

This can even be done with equipment so that it’s just the display visible.

Here’s more on hiding your home theater equipment.

https://easyhometheater.net/hiding-home-theater-equipment

 

 




 

5). Wall Mounting Your TV


Speaking of TVs actually, wall mounting your TV is another great way of saving space.

By wall mounting it, you can forgo the burly stand that may otherwise take up more room.

Running its cables through the walls with the just the screen visible can give the room a really clean look.

Plus there’s even articulating mounts that allow the TV to swivel in the direction you want.

 

 

6). Using A Projector


Or if you want to forgo the TV all together and save even more space, a projector is also an option.

Whether you want to simply project onto the wall, or use a dedicated projector screen, these can offer even more flexibility in terms of positioning.

They can be ceiling mounted, or simply placed wherever is best.

Keep in mind though that for a smaller room, a short throw projector in particular will be key.

That’s because different projectors have various optimal distance ranges where they provide the best image quality.

However in a smaller room such as a bedroom or dorm, that same distance may not be possible.

So the benefit of a short throw projector is that it’s able to be placed closer to a surface, while still providing that wide image.

That way you still get the larger image without having to worry about shifting the room around a bunch.

The Optoma GT2000HDR short throw laser projector is a great option in that case.

 

Check Availability Of Optoma GT2000HDR

 

 

 

7). Implementing Space saving Home Theater Seating


Implementing space saving home theater seating can be a great way to make things feel more spacious.

In particular, seating that’s smaller or concentrates the listening area into a singular area can allow for more room to move.

Luckily there’s many different choices when it comes to this and it’s really going to boil down to your preferences and the type of room your home theater is in.

From home theater seating to a recliner, there’s a host of viable options that provide flexibility in getting the room to feel the way you want to.

Here’s a guide into picking the right kind of seating for your room along with some ideas.

https://easyhometheater.net/home-theater-seating-ideas

 

 




 

8). Utilizing Built In Lighting


Lighting in your room can have a big impact on not only the ambience of it, but even the way your content on screen looks.

But moreso, if your room has a lot in the way of physical lamps or lights situated on the floor, then it might be taking up additional space it doesn’t need to.

This can be freed up through implementing more integrated lighting solutions including task lighting, bias lighting, or even more recessed lights.

 

 

9). Using Bass Shakers


Let’s say you want to use a smaller subwoofer or even forgo one all together to save space, but still want to enjoy that tactile feeling that quality bass provides.

What can you do in that case?

Well one option is making use of bass shakers.

Bass shakers are small devices that attach to the seating and emit low frequency sounds that you can feel.

They’re an awesome way to keep that immersive thump that a larger subwoofer would provide, while being able to use something that’s more manageable in size for your space.

https://easyhometheater.net/are-bass-shakers-worth-it

 

 

 

10). Installing Ceiling Speakers


Another great way to get some of that room space back is through the use of ceiling speakers.

Ceiling speakers are passive speakers that are specifically designed to rest within the ceiling itself.

They project the sound downwards towards the listening position and come in various sizes.

What’s really cool about them is that you can still enjoy surround sound while also saving space.

That’s because there’s no visible speaker cabinets or stands, and the ceiling itself acts as the speaker cabinet.

This can benefit your sound quite a bit since the natural room acoustics can help boost bass and treble — providing for a more lively sound.

They also allow you to enjoy realistic object based surround sound formats like Dolby Atmos & DTS:X which really can add to the immersion.

Here’s more on them if curious along with how to pick the right one for your room.

https://easyhometheater.net/the-best-ceiling-speakers

 

 




 

11). Wall Mounting Your Speakers At Elevation


Another option in being able to use more of your room involves wall mounting the speakers themselves; particularly at elevation.

Doing this allows for a few benefits.

The first is the more obvious advantage of having more floor space to move around since the speaker isn’t physically placed there.

This could allow for additional seating options, and/or better subwoofer placements.

Plus you can better maintain the overall aesthetics of the room if they’re out of the way.

But an even bigger advantage I’ve found is that height speakers sometimes sound better than at seated level.

Due to them being higher up, they can provide a better sense of directionality which really amps up the believability of the audio.

That improvement to spatial imaging can give you a more realistic and dynamic experience with content.

That of course depends on the speaker and characteristics of the room, but I’ve often found that to be the case.

So just by placing your speakers above, you might both save space and improve your entertainment experience.

I’d recommend an articulating mount too so you can aim them towards wherever you’re seated to really dial things in.

These are really good in that case.

Check Availability Of Mount-It! Speaker Wall Mounts

 

 

 

Bonus Mention: Room Color Can Play A Factor


Just figured I’d quickly make mention of this.

While not expressly related to physically saving space per se, the color of the room itself can still have an effect on how spacious the overall room feels.

More specifically, using lighter wall colors can make the room feel more open while darker colors can make it feel smaller.

The exact color to use depends on lighting conditions, and whether you’re using a projector since the wall’s color has an effect on image quality.

But some shade of gray can be a good middle ground in that regard.

 

https://easyhometheater.net/does-the-color-of-the-wall-matter-for-a-projector

 

https://easyhometheater.net/home-theater-paint-color-ideas

 

 




 

Final Thoughts


That brings us to the end with this one.

In short, there’s many things you can do to free up room in your own entertainment space, so hopefully the examples provided here were helpful in showcasing exactly that.

But that’s it for now.

Until next time, make it easy, keep it simple.

Can A Subwoofer Be Placed On A Shelf? (Explained)

Can A Subwoofer Be Placed On A Shelf? (Explained) - Easy Home Theater

Can A Subwoofer Be Placed On A Shelf? (Explained)


Can A Subwoofer Be Placed On A Shelf? - Easy Home Theater

Let’s say you’re trying to save space in your home theater and you get the idea of placing your subwoofer on a shelf.

But then you start to wonder if there’s actually any drawbacks in doing so.

Well it’s an interesting thought and one I figured would be worth exploring so lets find out!

Can A Subwoofer Be Placed On Shelf?


No a subwoofer shouldn’t be placed on a shelf for a few reasons. While doing so may technically save space, the downsides are the bass quality may not be as optimal, nearby objects may rattle more, and the sub may fall if the shelf is weak.




 

Reasons Why Someone Would Place A Subwoofer On A Shelf


It Saves Space


The first reason why someone might want to suspend a subwoofer off the floor in this fashion is it saves space.

Being that home theater equipment is sometimes large, having enough space to move around without worry of knocking something over can be an issue.

Basically, by placing it off the floor, it opens up more space for other things in the room like different seating configurations for example.

So the notion of being able to save a little space in this way may initially seem like an attractive solution.

 

It May Blend In Better With The Room


Like I mentioned previously, home theater equipment can sometimes border on the larger side.

Though there’s ways you can hide some of the equipment, it’s still not always feasible to do so.

Things like tower speakers and subwoofers especially stand out because of how much space they take up.

So there is a line of thinking that by placing a subwoofer on a shelf, it can make it less noticeable.

Having the subwoofer recessed might help in maintaining the default look of the room so I do understand the sentiment in doing so.




 

Should You Place A Subwoofer On A Shelf?


So with that said, should you place your subwoofer on a shelf?

While a subwoofer can technically be placed on a shelf, there’s a few caveats that immediately spring to mind that gives me pause in completely recommending doing so.

This is for a few reasons, which I’ll go into.

 

Reasons Why Someone Wouldn’t Place A Subwoofer On A Shelf


The Quality Of The Bass May Be Limited


Placing the subwoofer on a shelf might limit the potential sound quality from it.

That’s because getting the best out of a subwoofer’s bass often involves the subwoofer crawl to find the optimal spot for it.

This is where you basically play a test clip, mark the spot in the room where it sounds best to your ears, then place it there.

But by simply placing it wherever without doing so, there’s a real chance that it might not be the spot where it’ll actually sound best.

This could result in bass that seems lackluster or underwhelming when in fact it’s simply its positioning that’s off.

Having dealt with subwoofers for many years now, I can tell you that the sub’s position in a room can have a big effect on its overall sound.

This also goes for its output as well.

The issue with placing the subwoofer up and away is you potentially miss the reinforcement of bass that happens when placing it close to a corner or wall.

Plus the more tactile feeling of bass might be lost since it’s often recommended that a subwoofer be placed on the floor.

This way its output is more impactful, and it can be placed in more locations around the room.

 

There Might Be More Rattling From Nearby Objects


Something else to consider with setting your sub on a shelf is it may rattle the objects it’s closer to.

By being in closer proximity, there’s the distinct possibility that whatever its next too might rattle louder when the volume is up.

Because bass waves are omnidirectional, that means they travel in every direction and are slower.

The closer you happen to be to the source of that wave, the stronger it’ll be.

So by being closer to any nearby objects, even ones on a wall, it can cause them to rattle more.

This can be distracting and detract away from the experience.




 

The Shelf Itself Could Break Or Fall


In addition to all of this, the biggest caveat is the shelf or platform it’s on has the potential of falling or breaking — especially if the sub is heavy.

This could significantly damage it if it’s somehow knocked off.

Of course a shelf made of thicker or stronger materials greatly mitigates this issue, but the possibility of the subwoofer falling personally gives me pause with doing this — even if the possibility is remote.

So while you can technically place one on a shelf, it’s important to keep those things in mind.

 

Alternative To Placing The Sub On A Shelf – Decoupling It


It being on a shelf could theoretically help round off the bass though if it’s too overbearing in its audio delivery.

That’s due to it being physically off the floor.

But a great alternative to achieve the same thing is by decoupling it.

Decoupling the sub basically involves separating it to a slight degree from the floor, so the bass waves aren’t as amplified when they travel.

This can be done through some kind of specialized platform specifically made for that purpose, or even rubber feet that attach to the bottom of the enclosure.

Decoupling can be helpful for both isolating the sound so it isn’t as audible through walls, and improving the accuracy of the bass itself.

Plus you wouldn’t have to worry about it falling off since it’s already on the floor.

These are good options for that in my opinion.

 

Check Availability Of IsoAcoustics Subwoofer Isolation Stand

 

Check Availability Of SVS Soundpath Subwoofer Isolation System

 

 

Final Thoughts


That about does it does it for this one.

Long story short, floor placement for the sub is typically better as you can better optimize bass output through proper positioning, and there’s less risk for the it falling.

But it’s also understandable why one would want to put it up to save space too.

Until next time, make it easy, keep it simple.

 

Why Aren’t My Speakers As Loud As They Used To Be? (Reasons)

Why Aren't My Speakers As Loud As They Use To Be? - Easy Home Theater

Why Aren’t My Speakers As Loud As They Used To Be? (Reasons)


Why Aren't My Speakers As Loud As They Used To Be? (Reasons) - Easy Home Theater

Let’s say you’re listening to music one day and notice that your speakers aren’t as loud as they used to be.

Or you’re watching a movie and notice that your speakers don’t quite have that same dynamism that they used to.

If you’re wondering why this might be happening, there’s a few potential reasons why this could be.

So lets find out what might be causing the issue along with ways that may help fix it.

Why Aren’t My Speakers As Loud As They Used To Be?


Your speakers might not be as loud as they used to be because of speaker wire that’s too thin, frayed or damaged wire, connectors not fully plugged into the receiver, a dynamic range control setting being enabled, or the receiver is overheating because the speakers are incompatible. If they’re desktop speakers, an update or setting may have changed.




 

Reasons Why The Audio Might Be Lower & How To Fix It


Using Speaker Wire That’s Too Thin


Having dealt with home theater, speakers, etc for many years now, I know how complicated it can all be.

Sometimes though, there can be mistakes we make that cause issues with sound quality.

One such example of that is not using the right speaker wire for your setup.

More specifically, using speaker wire that’s too thin can cause lower volume output from your speakers.

The longer the distance from your receiver and the speakers, the thicker the wire needs to be.

That’s because it’s responsible for carrying the signal, and the greater the distance, the weaker that signal gets.

This directly impacts what you hear, and if your current wire isn’t up to task, this can negatively affect things.

Speaker wire thickness is measured in mm and is referenced by its AWG number (American Wire Guage)

The lower its AWG number, the thicker that particular wire will be.

This is important to know because certain wires are better for certain distances.

For example for anything under 50 feet, 16 guage wire typically works well.

However for longer distances at say over 50 feet, 14 guage wire may help with maintaining a solid signal.

Distances over 100 feet might find that 12 guage wire works best.




 

Using Speaker Wire That’s Frayed Or Damaged


Another reason for things not sounding the they should is the speaker wire being damaged or frayed.

Each wire has individual strands that are responsible for carrying the electrical signal from your receiver to your speakers.

However if the wire is missing a significant portion of these, the signal isn’t going to be as strong.

This can result in weaker sound.

Also check to make sure the wire also isn’t damaged as this can impact audio quality as well.

 

The Speaker’s Connectors Aren’t Fully Plugged Into Your Receiver


Something else that may be happening if you’re using speaker connectors, is they aren’t fully plugged in.

Suprisingly something as simple as a loose connector may be causing your lower than normal volume levels.

Make sure they aren’t touching too as that may cause the receiver to suddenly turn off.

 

Dynamic Range Control May Have Accidentally Been Enabled


There’s also a setting in the receiver that could be causing this.

DRC, (dynamic range control) compresses the frequency range so that higher and lower sounds are the same volume.

This makes it so there’s no dramatic spikes in volume and the voices in content are more pronounced.

But this setting, while helpful for quiet viewing, may cause things to sound less dynamic when watching in the daytime.

So if you’re wondering why your speakers might sound muffled or quiet, this setting could be the reason.

If it’s enabled in the receiver, disable it to see if that helps.

Additionally, if your receiver supports it, using a different DSP mode (digital signal processing) may help as well.

This changes the sound signature by enhancing or tempering certain frequencies.

Changing the DSP mode might allow for one that provides sufficient volume output.




 

The Receiver Might Be Overheating


Something else that may be happening is your receiver might be overheating.

This could be placing stress on both the receiver & your speakers, causing them to not play as loud.

Now this could be for any number of reasons, but a big one could be your speakers themselves.

More specifically, it could be because they aren’t compatible with your receiver.

Speakers have what’s known as impedance, and it’s basically a measure of how hard it is to power them.

The higher the number, the more electricity it takes to power them.

Conversely the lower this number, the less electricity it takes to power them.

If your speakers have an impedance that’s not compatible with your receiver, then it could cause issues.

This includes having to turn up the volume to get to an audible level.

It could even potentially result in them not working.

So be mindful of your receiver’s compatibility with your speakers as it’s possible they may not be compatible.

 

If They’re Desktop Speakers, An Update Or Setting May Have Changed


If you have desktop speakers, an update may have happened that changed how they process sound signals.

Check the settings to make sure things like the volume and the EQ didn’t change in any way.




 

Final Thoughts


That about wraps it up for this one. In short, lower speaker volume can be caused by a variety of things from damaged wire to a loose connector.

But hopefully this was helpful in figuring out why.

Until next time, make it easy, keep it simple.

 

Why Are Subwoofers So Heavy? (Potential Reasons Why)

Why Are Subwoofers So Heavy? (Potential Reasons Why) - Easy Home Theater

Why Are Subwoofers So Heavy? (Potential Reasons)


Why Are Subwoofers So Heavy? (Potential Reasons) - Easy Home Theater

From my experience, subwoofers are heavy because of whatever their cabinet might be made of, their size, the size & materials of their drivers, and the types of internal circuit boards, amplifiers, voice coils & magnets it uses. Subwoofers aren’t typically made to be intentionally heavy, it’s simply a byproduct of the complexity of their components.

 




 

Picture this, you finally chose the right subwoofer after some decision making, and now you’re excited for it to arrive.

When you get it though, you notice that the box it’s in is heavier than you were expecting.

After plugging it up it sounds great, but why is it so heavy you might be asking yourself?

Well there’s a few potential reasons why, so today I figured we’d go over those reasons that could give some clarity on why this might be.

 

The Material Their Cabinet Is Made From Influences Its Weight


One of the first and biggest reasons why subwoofers tend to be so heavy is the materials their cabinets are made of.

Being that a lot of them are made of any combination of dense woods, specialized compounds, and/or multi layered material, this constructed into a centralized point in the form of its cabinet lends itself to being on the heftier side.

That’s keeping in mind of course that heavy is somewhat subjective, but when compared with a bookshelf speaker, it can be easy to see the difference.

One of the most common materials I’ve noticed often used in subwoofers is MDF wood.




MDF stands for medium density fiberboard, and is basically wood and pine resin pressed together tightly into a really solid object.

The reason it’s used in a lot of subwoofers and even speakers has to do with the way they produce sound.

When they produce sound from their driver, there’s a lot of extra vibration that can be produced as well, which can subsequently affect the quality of the output from that driver.

This material being used though can help lessen these vibrations for a cleaner sound.

The thing is though, this also can make the subwoofer heavier since this material is heavier.

For instance, one subwoofer I previously covered, the Polk Audio PSW111 is a good example of this.

I mentioned in the review that when I got it, despite its small size, I was surprised that it was as heavy as it was. It was small yet it being made of MDF wood also made it heavier despite it’s small stature.

That said, its bass also belied Its appearance and thought it was an awesome subwoofer that had great bass for average sized rooms in my opinion.

Check Availability Of The Polk Audio PSW111 Subwoofer

 

But imagine a subwoofer much bigger than that and it can be easy to see why subwoofers are sometimes so heavy.

In fact, that actually leads into the next point regarding their size.

 

The Overall Size Of Them Is A Factor Too


So since we know that a lot of subwoofers tend to use materials that are a lot heavier, it’s important to note that these materials used in actually creating a larger cabinet is probably going to have some effect on its weight.

The larger the size of the cabinet, the more likely than not I’ve found that it’s going to err on the heavier side of things.




But then why do some subwoofer enclosures tend to be so heavy and even large in the first place?

Well without making things too complicated since it’s actually a complex topic, it has to do with the way we perceive sound.

Higher frequency sounds are easier for us to hear than lower frequency sounds, so in order to hear those lower frequency sounds easier, it requires more energy.

https://www.britannica.com/science/ear/The-physiology-of-hearing

Being that the subwoofer is the thing responsible for lower frequency sounds (like the sound of thunder, a drum, etc), drivers have to be powerful enough to convincingly reproduce that effect.

A byproduct of that is the drivers themselves being bigger, and in order to house those more powerful drivers, the subwoofer’s cabinet itself has to be larger — which can also make it heavier.

A little side note about that actually; in my opinion, I’ve personally noticed that just because a subwoofer has a larger driver or cabinet, doesn’t necessarily mean that it’ll have deeper bass as there’s other factors too.

Besides things like proper placement, your seating distance, and acoustically treating your room, the excursion, (or how far the driver can move) and the materials the subwoofer is actually made of can have an effect on how things sound too.

Speaking of materials though, that brings us to the next point

 

The Material Of The Subwoofer’s Drivers Also Has An Effect


The material of the subwoofer’s drivers can play a big part into its overall weight as well.

Being that the subwoofer has components typically made from some sort of combination of cloth, rubber, and/or metal, this adds to the overall bulk of the sub too.

The bigger these components are, the more of those materials are used — which would also have a part in its weight.

That said, it’s still possible a sub can use specialized lighter materials that can help offset that weight too.




For example a subwoofer like the Klipsch R-120SW, which is an awesome subwoofer I previously covered, uses an injection molded graphite woofer that allows it to put out authoritative sound without the driver itself flexing — which would affect the bass quality.

Not only that, but it’s also a lighter material at the same time which helps with the weight aspect.

Check Availability Of The Klipsch R-120SW Subwoofer

 

Or the Polk PSW10 which has great sounding bass with a larger cabinet and a 10 inch woofer — which are things that have an influence on it’s weight.

Check Availability Of Polk Audio PSW10 Subwoofer

 

So of course while it’ll depend on the subwoofer, besides the things mentioned earlier, the materials it’s using for its particular driver is also going to be a factor with regards to how heavy it is.

 

Their Internal Composition


Then you have the things like the electronic circuit boards, internal amplifiers, magnets, the voice coil, etc. with all of this being additional weight that’s added to the subwoofer.

 

Final Thoughts


So as you can see it’s not that subwoofers are made to be intentionally heavy, it’s just that the combination of all these factors can lead to a unit that’s on the heavier side, though it depends.

But hopefully that provides some clarity on things and you have a better understanding on why this might be.

That’s it for now though.

Until next time. Make it easy, keep it simple.




Why Is My Center Channel Speaker So Quiet? (Explained)

Why Is My Center Channel Speaker So Quiet? (Explained) - Easy Home Theater

Why Is My Center Channel Speaker So Quiet? (Explained)


Why Is My Center Channel Speaker So Quiet? (Explained) - Easy Home Theater

The center channel as you’re probably already aware is largely responsible for a majority of the dialogue in voices in your content.

It’s why anytime I make a new home theater, I always start with the center channel then base my left and right speakers around that.

That said, you’re probably also aware that because home theater can be such a dynamic topic, sometimes there can be issues with setup, the equipment, etc.

For example, if it’s a new setup or even just out the of the blue with your current one, what if you notice you’re center channel speaker becomes quiet all of a sudden?

Why’s that, and are there any ways to fix this?

Let’s find out.

Why Is My Center Channel Speaker So Quiet?


Your center channel speaker may seem quiet because the volume in the receiver is too low, the listening position is too far, a dynamic range control/compression setting is enabled, the center speaker isn’t timbre matched to the front soundstage speakers, the wires/connectors are loose, or something internally failed.




 

Volume In The Receiver Is Too Low


From my experience there can be many reasons why the center channel speaker can seem quiet but one such reason might just be because the volume in the receiver settings itself is simply too low.

Of course there’s the master volume knob that controls the overall volume, but in the settings of the receiver, try adjusting the center speaker’s volume specifically to see if that helps.

If it’s a newer receiver, it’s always possible that an update could have added a feature of some kind or even changed the default settings which could have affected the settings you originally had it set at.

If your receiver came with a small optimization microphone, I’d recommend plugging it in and running the auto room optimization feature to see if that might help things.

Though if it still seems quiet, you could try raising it from there.

You don’t want it to over power the left & right speakers of course, you just want things to blend smoothly so the sound doesn’t seem like it’s coming from any one speaker specifically.

Just be sure it’s not the content too, since I’ve noticed that sometimes different shows or movies can be mixed differently — leading to some being quieter than others.

Finally keep in mind that different receivers processes sound differently, and if you swap out your receiver even with the same speakers, there can be some level of variance with how things sound so keep that in mind.

 

 

Maybe The Seating Position Is Too Far


Another reason could be that your seating position from the speaker is too far.

Different speakers have different capabilities when it comes to volume, and if it’s not capable of going high enough at your current seating distance then it might sound somewhat quiet.

I like to use a distance of at least 6 feet from my left & speakers, while spacing them at least 6 feet apart, so that’s something to try if your space allows for it.

But if things still seem to quiet at that distance, try moving things closer to see how content then sounds.

Every room is different and a speaker at a certain distance in one room may sound different in another.

Something else that might help is acoustically treating the room by way of acoustic sound panels.

I’ve talked about it before, but basically using sound panels in the room could help with reducing sound reflections in the room, which ultimately could help the audio quality to some degree.

Check Availability Of Acoustic Sound Panels

 

 

DRC Might Be On


If your receiver has a Dynamic Range Control/Compression setting (DRC) then it’s possible this could be enabled and could be what’s affecting the audio output.

It might go by some sort of night mode name or something similar, or even just DRC.

The DRC setting basically works by limiting the range of sounds so that there’s a smaller range of potential sound output.

It makes it so really loud sound effects sound similar to the quieter ones so that everything is around the same volume without major spikes or dips.

Of course different receivers have different ways they implement this, but that’s the basic premise of it.

This can be helpful at night when you’re watching something and don’t want to disturb others or even if you’re sleeping, but if that setting is on, this could be why the center channel seems quieter.

It can also have an effect on your other speakers too, so it’s something to be aware of.




 

 

May Not Be Timbre Matched If It’s Different From The Other Speakers


If the current center speaker you’re using isn’t the same or really similar to your left and right speakers, it’s possible they’re not timbre matched. This might make it to where one speaker might be overpowering the other, or one sounds differently than the other one.

Timbre matching basically means using the same or similar speakers together so that everything sounds cohesive and blends together.

Doing this for your front speakers in particular is important since using ones mismatched from different brands or lines could lead to audio that isn’t as cohesive since they might all sound differently.

 

 

Make Sure The Connectors Are Fully Plugged In


This might seem simple, but make sure the connectors for your center speaker are entirely plugged in to both the back of the speaker itself, and the back of your receiver.

Not doing so could lead to the audio seeming quieter than it should be.

If there’s any dust present in or around the connector, lightly cleaning it with a microfiber cloth may help too.

If you’re using just the bare wire for the speaker, check to see if the ends aren’t oxidized (they’ll look a different color then what they use to) If you do notice this, then you could replace that part of the wire so there’s newer strands.

You could also switch to using connectors instead if you feel they’d offer a better connection or don’t want to worry about losing individual stands.




 

Something Internally May Have Failed


Finally it’s possible that the speaker itself may have an internal component that may have failed in some way.

Whether it’s an older age of a speaker or a newer one, it’s possible that something inside or even the driver itself may have failed for whatever reason.

Besides repairing, which would require lots of technical know-how and knowledge of what failed specifically, the speaker itself may need to be replaced if something did go awry.

In that case, one center speaker that I think is really good is the Klipsch R-52C due to its exceptional audio quality.

Here’s a few additional ideas for a center speaker as well.

The Best Center Channel Speakers

 

 

Final Thoughts


With that, that just about does it for this one.

While there could be any number of reasons your center channel speaker seems quiet, these are just a few that could be the reason the why.

Hopefully it gives you an idea of what might be applicable in your case since there’s many variables when it comes to home theater.

Until next time, make it easy, keep it simple.

What Makes Some TVs Look So Real? (Potential Reasons)

What Makes Some TVs Look So Real? A picture of a TV on a table - Easy Home Theater

What Makes Some TVs Look So Real? (Potential Reasons)


What Makes Some TVs Look So Real? (Potential Reasons) - Easy Home Theater

Ever find yourself in front of a bunch of TVs in the electronics section and notice that some of the stuff playing looks a lot smoother than others — almost as if things are happening right there?

Or perhaps even a friend or family member’s house and notice the same thing with their TV?

Why is that though, why do some some TVs look so real?

There’s actually a few potential reasons why this could be, so let’s get right into it.

What Makes Some TVs Look So Real?


There’s a few reasons why some TVs might look realistic which includes, some kind of motion interpolation setting being enabled, it being in its most vivid mode, the TV itself being an ultra high resolution model, or perhaps it even being professionally calibrated. All of these things could factor into a television having a highly realistic image fidelity.




 

How Your TV Shows The Image


To explain some of the reasons why this is happening, I’d first have to quickly explain how your TV actually shows an image so things hopefully makes sense.

So basically to produce a moving image, your TV has to produce a certain number of frames within a second for it to have the appearance that there’s some kind of movement happening on the screen which is considered its refresh rate.

You’ll often see this in the form of a number with the letters Hz behind it which stands for hertz.

That’s just saying how many times something is changing in a second.

Interestingly enough, hz is used in sound as well as often being used when it comes to video too.

So if you see a TV that says it’s 120Hz, that means that the TV has support for displaying 120 of those frames every second it’s playing that content (provided that content supports it of course)

It’s funny because that caveat actually brings us to our first reason why the image might look the way that it does.




 

Reasons Why Some TVs Look Realistic


Motion Interpolation Or The Soap Opera Effect As It’s Often Called


Now with that said, the first reason why the TV you saw might have looked this way could be due to a pretty common setting based on the technology of motion interpolation.

Without making things too complex, motion interpolation, aka the soap opera effect as is it’s often called, takes whatever video source the TV is connected to, and with every second, it actually creates extra frames and puts it between the gaps of the frames that are already there originally.

This creates a somewhat artificial frame rate making it look almost reminiscent of a soap opera, hence the nickname.

But why would this be done?

Well the idea is if it’s a source that has a low amount of frames in a second, it might look choppy or jittery to some.

Or there might be some kind of motion blur present in the content.

So as a way that may help, these extra frames might allow the image to appear more fluent or smooth.

How effective it is in doing this though can vary wildly from my experience, since it depends on both the TV itself, and the Hz of whatever is actually playing.

And not everyone sees visual content in the same way so that can be a factor too.




Plus if the particular content playing isn’t a good match for the setting, that’s where you might experience visual anomalies.

It’s a setting within the TV menu that you might see that has a name involving something to do with words like motion, movement, interpolation, or something along those lines depending on the TV you have.

On the other hand, it’s also possible your TV may not have this setting at all, but again it depends.

But long story short, it’s this setting that could be causing things on the screen to look like they’re moving faster than usual, and it’s one that some people like, and some people don’t.

Depending on your preference, you can turn it on or off in the settings menu.

So if you do notice this on your content or on a TV in general, this could be one reason why.

 

It Could Be Set To The Vivid Mode In Settings


The next reason why the television may look like that is it could be set in some kind of dynamic or vivid mode.

Often times in stores when a TV is on display, to account for the sometimes harsh store lighting or even to be eye catching, it’s set into its brightest mode.

So with that, It could just be that the particular conditions the TV is in is making it look a certain way that some may find looks realistic to them.

One thing I do want to note is that the vivid mode may not be the best at home though, and that a standard or warmer setting may be better for image quality and long time viewing.

The brighter it is and longer it’s on, the more it could affect the pixels & how long they actually last so that’s something to keep in mind.

Something else I noticed is that sometimes when switching modes, different settings that you may have had enabled or disabled might not apply to the newer one.

So if you enabled or disabled the motion interpolation setting mentioned earlier for example, it might have changed if you switched modes — so it’s something to remember.




 

It Might Be A Calibrated Screen


On the other hand, the opposite could be true too, and it could be that what you saw was a professionally calibrated screen.

Often calibrated by professionals to adhere to a visual standard for video, it could be that the screen’s picture quality was properly adjusted and represented this.

 

It Could Be In UHD Resolution


Perhaps it wasn’t just the way things moved on screen, but the clarity of the image itself too.

That could be where it might have been an ultra high definition or even 8K resolution screen — since these higher resolutions when combined with proper settings adjustments, can make for some truly incredible visual moments.

4K resolution, while not the standard across the board just yet, is still a lot more prevalent than it use to be and does look pretty stunning in person.

But in my opinion, I feel like 8K resolution is even a step up above that, and if someone’s never seen these before and then comes across an 8K resolution screen for the first time, I could see where the level of amazement could come from.

Some of the best TVs use these newer resolutions, and their resulting image quality is pretty amazing in my opinion.

The Best TVs

 

 

Final Thoughts


In summation, the way a TV looks can be affected by a variety of things, and if any of the factors mentioned earlier apply, then that could be the reason the TV looks the way it does.

Hopefully that helps shed some light on things and you now have a better idea why that might have been.

Until next time make it easy, keep it simple!

 

How Important Is Timbre Matching Your Home Theater Speakers?

How Important Is Timbre Matching Your Home Theater Speakers? - Easy Home Theater

How Important Is Timbre Matching Your Home Theater Speakers?


How Important Is Timbre Matching Your Home Theater Speakers - Easy Home Theater

Timbre matching is important, but I think it depends on the speakers too. For example the front right & left speakers should be timbre matched since that’ll allow for similar sounding audio whenever something on screen has any kind of movement from one direction to another, whereas surround speakers being timbre matched to the front speakers isn’t as crucial necessarily.

 

How important Is timbre matching your home theater speakers?

Whether you’re brand new to home theater or have been with the hobby for a while, it can seem like quite the expansive subject where there’s always something new to learn.

As a lover of home theater and just tech in general myself, I find the hobby absolutely fascinating.

One aspect that’s particularly interesting is how much of a difference optimizing what you have can make in terms of audio.




Along that same train of thought, considering there’s multiple ways of making your speakers sound better even if they’re older speakers, I wanted to cover a topic that’s especially interesting with regards to that.

More specifically, the topic of timbre matching.

But what is it, and how important is it when it comes to your home theater speakers?

There’s actually multiple parts to that answer, so here’s my take on it.

 

What Does Timbre Matching Mean?


There’s different ways that timbre matching could be described, but basically think of it as making sure that the elements of the audio (the speakers) that you have in the room happen to be the same.

This allows for your sound to be more cohesive and just generally blend together better than if they were all kinds of different speakers in the same setup.

I mean think about what the words timbre and matching means by definition.

Timbre basically means how something happens to sound to an individual, while matching means being the same as something.

So when put together and in the context of home theater, it’s 2 or more speakers being the same both in terms of physicality and how they actually sound to someone.

Sometimes you’ll even see with some speakers that they say they’re timbre matched with a specific center speaker or other surround speakers within the line, and that’s basically what they mean when they’re stating that.

 




 

How Important Is It Though?


But as for our original question then, in that case, how important is timbre matching?

Well I’d say it’s very important, but that depends on what speakers you’re referring to as well.

Like the right & left speakers should be timbre matched (by being the same speaker) since that’ll allow for the same sounding audio whenever something on screen has any kind of movement from one direction to another, and in the case of the speakers, from one speaker to another.

I’ve tried having a different right speaker from the left speaker, and in dynamic content with any kind of panning, I’ve noticed it can be kind of distracting since the audio doesn’t seem to blend as well as when they’re both the same ones from my experience.

So I think those 2 should ideally be the same.

But what about the center speaker being timbre matched with the other 2 though?

In my opinion, I feel that’s a little more forgiving in terms of audio fidelity and cohesiveness, though I’d still recommend getting a center speaker that’s from the same exact line within a brand for better audio blending.

Getting one from the same overall brand or even a different one in general can work too, but it’s hard to say because not every speaker is the same.




Even having 3 of the same bookshelf or tower speaker in a row for the center, right & left speaker (known as a line array) can provide great accuracy, but that may not always be possible due to space or it blocking a part of the TV since the center would be vertical in that case.

It isn’t generally a good idea to use 2 bookshelf speakers as the center channel itself though.

Now as far as other speakers are concerned like the surrounds, back surrounds, or even Atmos speakers, I would say they’re not as important to have timbre matched since they’re not typically tasked with producing as much output in the audio mix as the front speakers in the room.

Those are usually more focused on outputting the more ambient and background sounds that give that help give surround feel.

That’s one of the differences when it comes the front & surround speakers.

If you can timbre match those, then that’s great, but I’m not sure it’s as important to do.

That’s just my take on it though since not everyone’s hearing and listening environment is the same.

 

Are There Other Things That Might Affect How Things Sound?


But with all of this said, keep in mind there’s various other factors that can play into how things actually sound on your home theater.

Everything from the acoustics of your room, to the positioning & even the calibration of your speakers  matter in your sound quality; so taking the time to optimize these things are a great way to optimize the sound you ultimately experience.



For example, say you’re using 2 timbre matched speakers for stereo sound (meaning they’re the same), and you notice the bass from them isn’t as full as you’d prefer.

Well by moving them a little closer to the wall, it may help a little in that regard with making things sound a more full bodied (though it depends too since sound can be subjective)

Ultimately though, if at least your front 2 speakers are timbre matched, (and perhaps even the center speaker timbre matched too ideally) in my opinion I feel that’s optimal with getting a smoother sound that isn’t as distracting — as opposed to not having them be the same.

 

Final Thoughts


That about wraps it up for this one.

I felt I’d cover the topic so that it might be helpful when it comes to understanding that aspect of sound.

Timbre matching is important when it comes to the front soundstage in my opinion, but the other speakers don’t necessarily have to be the same to still have a quality surround sound experience.

That’s not to say having them the same won’t make them better either, it just really depends on the room and the speakers you’re using.

Hopefully you found this helpful though, and have a better idea of what it actually means.

Until next time, make it easy, keep it simple!




What Color Temperature Should I Set My TV To? (Explained)

What Color Temperature Should I Set My TV To? - Easy Home Theater

What Color Temperature Should I Set My TV To? (Explained)


What Color Temperature Should I Set My TV To - Easy Home Theater

What color temperature should you set your TV to?

To me it feels like TVs nowadays have all kinds of settings that affect picture quality.

From things like contrast enhancements to motion settings, there’s lots of ways to customize your picture quality.

The thing is, often times a television may not be set to its most optimal settings, especially if it’s never been adjusted.

One setting you may have noticed on your TV is the color temperature setting.

What does it do and more importantly, what color temperature should you set your TV to?

Let’s find out!

What Color Temperature Should I Set My TV To?


The color temperature you should set your TV to depends on a few things including the television itself, room lighting, whether you prefer complete accuracy, whether you’d rather adjust the picture according to personal preference instead, and your current settings. Generally though, I’ve found the warmest color setting is often closest in accuracy to the visual industry standard of 6500Kelvin.




 

What Color Temperature Is Both In General & On Your TV


Like your ears when it comes to your home theater & sounds, the eyes are very complex when it comes to the things we actually see around us.

In order for us to actually see something, the object has to reflect or emit light in some kind of way.

This light that’s emitted has a range, that’s measured in what’s called Kelvins, and it’s within this range that affects how we see something.

The more yellow, orange, or even red something looks, the lower the Kelvins which you may see being referred to as warm.

Whereas something that appears more whiteish or even bluer color has a higher Kelvin number and can be often called cool or something similar.

This is a simplification since it can become complex, but that’s just the basic premise with understanding color temperature in general.

Like as an example, if you had a dimly lit camp fire, it could be said that its light has a lower Kelvin number and a warmer temperature.

Where if you had a high powered flashlight, it would likely be on the higher & cooler side.

The thing is though, one person’s take on how a color looks to them may be different to another person’s even if the light source is technically the same since we can perceive things visually differently.

So when it comes to the TV side of things, when it says things like warm, cool, or even standard, all it’s basically conveying is the Kelvins number and the way each preset affects the way the picture looks.



 

What Color Temperature Should You Set Your Television To?


By now you might be asking well what should the color temperature be on my tv?

Since not everybody may view colors, and subsequently, color temperature on a TV in the same way, the answer to the original question of what color temperature you should actually set your television to is a bit of a multifaceted one.

That’s because both personal preference and overall accuracy play a role in how things ultimately look.

That’s not even to mention room lighting or that the TV itself may display things differently — meaning the color temperature setting of one TV doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll look the same way on another display.

Plus there’s sometimes variance within the panels of TVs even within the same line so there’s that.

So I’ll answer the question from both standpoints so you have a better understanding of what works for you.

Starting with the accuracy perspective, 6500Kelvin (often called D65) is the standard that film makers create content in, and is the current agreed upon industry standard in that respect.



So with that said, the best color temperature setting is often the warmest setting since it’s often closest to that standard as far as accuracy goes.

However for those who may not be accustomed to the way that content looks, it might appear really reddish or yellow, and can be a bit different visually despite it potentially being more accurate.

I’ve found that adjusting the color temperature in steps over time tends to be a easier way to adjust to it if your concern is your picture quality being more cinematically accurate, but find it too big of a difference initially.

The picture mode also makes a difference, and if you’re concerned with accuracy, then you’ll likely want to use a mode that has the word standard, movie, or cinema in it.

Adjusting the backlight can help with your perception of the picture quality too in that way.

Some people may take longer to adjust to the shift in color temperature than others, and some might prefer it.

Then there might be some that never really adjust to it and/or just don’t like the warmer setting.

That’s where preference comes in.

You may not want a technically accurate picture quality, and may prefer a cooler one or something more vivid.

In that sense, use what looks right to your eyes ultimately, but keep in mind that a warmer setting is closer to that 6500Kelvin number that’s considered the standard.

Do note though that unless the TV is professionally calibrated, it might not be completely accurate as far as white levels go — though you may be able to achieve more accurate white levels than the default with some tinkering (even then it also depends on what settings your TV has too)

Also keep in mind that rest of your settings like black levels and contrast not being properly might affect the way you perceive the image fidelity too.




 

Having Your Television Professionally Calibrated


I briefly mentioned having your TV professionally calibrated, and if accuracy is your focus, having it calibrated would be the way to achieve that.

It can technically be done if you have the tools and comprehensive understanding of light levels, color temperature, etc, but it can be a very lengthy and in depth process often needing access to the deeper menus in the TV and that sort of thing.

Having it calibrated professionally can be a way to skip that.

That said, that’s where preference also comes in because I’ve had friends who’ve have had their TVs professionally calibrated that actually preferred the picture quality before.

On the other hand, I’ve also had friends who much preferred the way it looked after the calibration, so it seems like things can be somewhat subjective in that way from what I’ve noticed.

 

Does Room Lighting Affect Things?


Another thing that can suprisingly affect how your tv’s color temperature looks to you is both the color of the lighting in the room, as well as how bright that lighting actually is.

Preventing external light from reflecting on to the screen is ideal, but that might not always be possible depending on your setup.

One thing that can help in that aspect though are light blocking curtains which can help with sunlight coming through windows.

Check Availability Of Yakamok Blackout Curtains

 

Bias lighting, which basically is some sort of ambient lighting that goes around or under your TV, can also help with your perception of picture quality if you tend to watch your content in dimmer environments.

 



 

Can You Optimize Your Picture Quality Further?


You can optimize your picture quality further by having the basic settings adjusted correctly.

Things like not having your sharpness set to the maximum, having your color and tint values optimized, adjusting your brightness and contrast so there’s proper depth to the image, the right hdr setting, etc. can go a long way in improving your image settings in general.

One thing I’ve found helpful in that aspect is using some sort of optimization disc that gives a better idea of what your TV should be set at since you’ll be able to adjust your settings according to patterns and reference visual content.

In my opinion, the Spears & Munsil Blu-ray disc is awesome in that regard since it has patterns for black levels, contrast and things like that.

Spears & Munsil Blu-ray Disc

 

Also while not directly related to the settings, the amount of time you actually have your TV on daily could have an influence on its lifespan which could affect when it’d need to be replaced so that’s something to keep in mind too.

 

Final Thoughts


Hopefully you’ve found this helpful and now understand a little more in terms of color temperature and which one may work for you.

While the warmest color temperature setting can often be closest in accuracy to the visual standard of 6500Kelvin, some may simply prefer a cooler setting or what looks best to their eyes which can be subjective.

Just keep in mind that having the other settings adjusted properly can be helpful in that aspect too.

Until next time, make it easy, keep it simple!




Are There Ways To Improve A Speaker’s Bass? (Potential Ways)

Are There Ways To Improve A Speaker's Bass? A picture of a speaker - Easy Home Theater

Are There Ways To Improve A Speaker’s Bass? (Potential Ways)


Are There Ways To Improve A Speaker's Bass? (Potential Ways On How To Improve A Speaker's Bass) - Easy Home Theater

When it comes to home theater or even just listening to music in general, there’s often many ways to make the experience better.

That goes for both the quality of the sound itself, as well as for the conditions you’re actually listening to things in.

So since there’s a multitude of things that can often help sound quality, even in older speakers, so today I wanted to cover a more specific aspect.



That is, if it’s possible to potentially improve or boost a speakers bass output; or at least the way you perceive it so that you get more enjoyment out of your speakers.

The answer though may depend on your listening conditions and the type of speakers you have, so these are just a few things I’ve noticed over the years that you may find helpful.

How To Improve A Speaker’s Bass


A few ways that may help improve a speaker’s bass are; moving it closer to the wall, improving the acoustics of the room through acoustic panels, adjusting the bass knob on the speaker if it has one, using the receiver’s auto optimization feature, using a multi-band EQ software to adjust bass levels, or using a subwoofer along with your speakers.

 

 

Moving The Speaker Closer To The Wall


The first thing I’ve found that sometimes helps a speaker when it seems like it lacks bass is actually moving it closer to the wall.

Similar to the way positioning can affect a subwoofer’s bass, positioning of your speakers may have an impact on this too.

This is because the sound waves from speaker travel to (and sometimes through) the wall then back to the speaker & your ears.

This may strengthen the sound in a way that makes it seem more full bodied, but it can also potentially make it sound boomy if not done right.




Where the results of this can vary wildly though is not only the distance you actually place it from the wall, but the size of the speaker itself, whether it’s a ported or sealed type of speaker, your seat positioning, and even the density of the wall.

That’s not even accounting for acoustic treatment in the room which may also help things.

Not saying this is definitive since your results might be different, but the following is what I’ve personally noticed which might at least be a good starting point.

With smaller speakers that have a port on the back, I’ve found that a distance from the wall of about 1 ¹/² to 2 feet can be a good starting point in terms of clarity — and from there, playing content and moving it closer to wall little by little each time might help to dial it in.

Since there are so many variables though, and since it’s up to your preference and your ears, the distance will have to be something you play with to really get right.

For smaller speakers that don’t have a port, you can probably start a little closer, but just be cognizant of how things sound with that initial placement and subsequent ones since you don’t want the sound to become bloated and lacking in detail.

It really is going to depend though, because if you have a larger speaker, then I’d probably recommend starting further away from the wall at first, and going from there if you find the bass to be somewhat lacking with them.



 

 

Improving The Acoustics Of The Room


A picture of a TV on a stand

As I briefly mentioned before, the acoustics of your room play a big role in how things sound too which I’ve covered here if you’re curious about that aspect.

https://easyhometheater.net/should-you-put-acoustic-panels-behind-speakers

 

But simply put, acoustic treatment can impact bass too; and one way to improve the acoustics of your room is through the use of acoustic panels.

These can help to absorb a lot of the excess reflected sound waves in the room which can often detract from the quality of the audio you hear.

There’s lots of awesome options as far as acoustic panels go, but these are ones that I use.

Acoustic Sound Panels

 

 

Using The Auto Optimization In an AV Receiver


Another thing that might help is if you’re using home theater speakers with a home theater receiver that has an auto optimization feature built in.

A lot of modern receivers come with this feature and often include an optimization microphone when they do — which can be plugged into the receiver to optimize your speakers.

Calibrating them in this way can be a quick way to tailor the sound to your particular room, and you can further adjust individual settings from there if need be.

Another quick tip that might help is changing the speakers from small to large in the settings menu if not done already (and if you’re not using a subwoofer)

This will allow for the speakers to be responsible for the frequencies the sub usually would, and while it might not have as much depth as one, may still help with some level of fullness with the audio quality.



Using An Equalization Software For PC/Desktop Speakers


If you’re on desktop or PC and you’re using speakers, then you can use an equalization software to customize their audio output including the bass, which may help.

They typically have what’s known as multi band EQ, and that basically means that there’s individual sliders that can be adjusted for specific frequencies.

The more of these sliders, the more you can adjust the lower end of the frequency range, the bass, to really dial things in. Some PCs may even come with their own EQ software pre installed so check to see if yours might have its own.

If not, there’s still many other EQ software’s that can be downloaded, but the best one for you really is going to boil down to preference and the features you prefer.

 

Using The Specific Mobile App Of The Bluetooth Speakers If They Have One


If you have Bluetooth speakers, it’s possible that they may have come with a mobile app or even EQ software that allows you to adjust the sound profile of the speakers from your phone, so that’s something to be mindful of too.

Using this may allow you to customize things in a way that sounds better, but it also depends on the software and the capabilities of the speakers.

Some bluetooth, or even active speakers (the speakers that require a power source to work) may have a knob or knobs directly on them that allows you to physically adjust the bass & treble.

On that same train of thought, if you don’t mind it not having bluetooth, the Edifier R1280T is an awesome pair of active speakers that can be plugged into devices that support a 3.5mm cable or RCA, and sound really great.

Check Availability Of Edifier R1280T Bookshelf Speakers 

 

 

 

Adding A Subwoofer May Help If You Don’t Mind The Bass Not Fully Being Output By Your Speakers


Then of course if your speakers and current setup allows for it, there is the option of including a subwoofer into the mix.

In a nutshell, the subwoofer is a larger unit who’s main job is bass, so this could help add a layer of dimensionality to the sound if you find your current speakers not up to task in this regard.

 

Final Thoughts


With that, that just about wraps things up for today. In short, with a few tweaks and some smart speaker placement within the room, you can potentially optimize the bass from your speakers to sound better than what it does currently.

These are just a few things I’ve noticed over the years that might hopefully be somewhat useful since the capabilities of your speakers and the acoustics of your room do play a part.

But that’s it for now.

Until next time; make it easy, keep it simple!