Home theater setup is somewhat foreign to many consumers. Many people know what it’s like to walk into your driveway with a box full of speakers and cables and realize they have no idea what to do with it all. Do not be afraid. There are a few simple steps to setting up your home theater so you can enjoy it to the fullest. Proper setup can make the sparsest of sound systems sound great. For this you will need the following:

• Your receiver owner’s manual
• a tape measure
• An SPL meter ($20 at Radio Shack)

The first step is to take your owner’s manual out of the plastic bag it came in. Someone spent a lot of time putting that brochure together. Actually, it might have some useful information. I agree that it may not be as exciting as the latest murder mystery to hit bookstore shelves, but reading it will help you enjoy your movies and music more. Read the manual and find the section that deals with speaker setup. Most receivers will have several different configurations to choose from. The first is the adjustment of the size of the speakers.

Speaker size generally has to do with the crossover point where bass sounds go from the main speakers to the subwoofer. Some receivers allow you to set the crossover, and some only have a setting for small and large. The most typical difference is that the small setting sets the crossover to 80 Hz and the large setting simply removes the crossover, meaning the main speakers will produce all the sound. 80 Hz is a typical crossover setting because it is the same crossover point THX suggests for the best reproduction of soundtracks. Most home theater kits from electronics stores are designed for 80Hz crossover. If your speakers are hung on the wall or on a bookshelf, they are probably best suited for a small environment. If your speakers are the large floorstanding type, they may be able to handle the large setup.

The next setting to worry about is the distance of the speakers. Go ahead and decide where your favorite place to sit is, and then grab your tape measure. Measure the distance between each speaker and your location and write it down. Then put that distance in the distance settings for each individual speaker.

Now you can go ahead and grab a seat at that favorite spot of yours and get out your SPL meter. SPL meters are used to measure the sound pressure level or volume of the speakers. Turn on your SPL meter and turn the dial to the 70dB mark. Then change the weight to C and the response to SLOW. Now go to the speaker levels calibration menu. Some receivers give you the option of external or internal signals. Choose internal. The speakers will then begin to make a SHHHHHH sound, usually starting with the front left speaker. Hold the SPL meter in front of you at ear level and tilt it slightly forward. Adjust the level of each speaker up or down until each speaker reads 75dB on the SPL meter. Be sure to include the subwoofer in all the fun.

Some receivers have a setting for ohms. Ohms have to do with the resistance or efficiency of the speakers. If your receiver has this setup, check each speaker and find out what the “nominal impedance” is. It will be rated in ohms. Ideally, you should be able to find a setup that matches your speakers. If not, try to at least find a setup that has a lower ohm number than your speakers.

Now you should be done. You can always worry about equalizer settings and other things, but this is where every sound system should start. Now go find your home theater system that you spent a small fortune on. And, as always, enjoy the show.