A question of settings: getting your home theatre perfect

By Tobias Hanraths Jan 15, 2012, 3:06 GMT

Berlin - A giant screen, surround sound and plentiful snacks. Check, check and check. And those are just some of the reasons owners of home theatres prefer their setups to the cinema. But it can all fall apart if the TV and the movie system aren't synched up properly.

Plus there are seemingly hundreds of settings about which to worry: colour temperature and white balance; bass and higher registers. 'A lot of consumers don't trust themselves to try out these menus,' says Jenny Braune of Stiftung Warentest, a German consumer goods tester. 'But it can be worth it to play around with them a little.'

After all, you really can't break anything, since just about every device has a reset function to restore it to its factory settings.

But that isn't always the best setting for televisions, found Stiftung Warentest. One test showed that only 3 of 20 tested televisions direct from the factory provided good colour and contrast. 'It used to be worse before,' says Christoph de Leuw, an editor with German magazine Audio Video Foto Bild.

The reason for the poor startup image is because of the way televisions are sold in stores. Many of them are set so they can make an impression, especially when compared with competitors and under bright lights. But that is way too bright for home use. Some models even ask upon being powered up if they should opt for settings for a store or for a home.

A test image is the best tool for choosing settings. There are various ones available online. Just burn it onto a DVD so you can see how the television processes different inputs. If you don't trust your own judgment, you can go online again to find ideal settings suggested by others. Be prepared to tune the settings separately for each input device, since televisions often reconfigure the signal for each individual gadget.

De Leuw advises beginners try out several different initial settings. Most people will have luck with settings branded Normal, Natural or Film. Avoid ones with names like Dynamic or Games, which are usually too harsh.

Braune also recommends experimenting: 'A lot of these settings can't be judged objectively, they're just a question of taste.' That applies to things like the colour temperature setting, which controls if an image feels warm or cold.

The ideal lighting settings in a home theatre are also a question of taste. 'It should only be completely dark if you're using a beamer or 3D technology,' says de Leuw. 'And, of course, harsh daylight also isn't so good.'

The best is dim light. You'll have to decide which level for yourself. But be sure to set the light source so it doesn't cause a glare on the television, advises the German Federal Association of Eye Doctors.

And a lot of modern televisions come with sensors that change contrast and brightness to match with changing levels of light. 'They work pretty reliably in modern televisions,' says Braune.

Sound deserves just as much attention as the picture. 'A layman doesn't have to get occupied with a lot of detail here,' says Thomas Brieger of High End Society, which focuses on the sound industry. 'A few ground rules should be followed by everyone.'

That means setting up speakers properly. With a 5.1 system, that means the centre box should be near the picture while the stereo speakers should stand to the right and left, at about ear level. Ideally, speakers set behind the audience should be set in a higher position.

Be aware of the location of the speakers, as well as that of the amplifier. A lot of devices have automatic calibration, locating the loudspeaker via a signal.

Alternatively, a lot of speaker settings can be input by hand. It's worth the effort, says Brieger. 'It makes a huge difference if you're after just the right surround sound.'

To ensure an even sound, all speakers should come from the same manufacturer. If you already have good stereo loudspeakers and want to integrate them into a 5.1 system, set the older loudspeakers behind the audience, then the difference will not be noticed as easily.

And don't forget to think about the actual feel of the room for your home theatre. 'The technology doesn't just have to be affordable and up to standards, it has to fit into your living room,' says de Leuw. That means small loudspeakers that can be sunk into the walls or hidden in a shelf for smaller rooms.