Vibration, corrosion, heat and dust can alter the behavior of your home theater. The following are items to consider monitoring at least once a year to minimize the impacts of these things on your system performance.Audio Equipment
Speaker Wire Connections
Speaker wire connections can work loose over time. Each connection on the speaker and amplifier should be checked to be sure it is still tight.
Bi-Wire Jumpers
Bi-wire jumpers on the back of a speaker can corrode and work loose. They should be removed and cleaned periodically. Pink noise is a good way to check for problems with this.
Speaker Driver Screws
The screws that hold the drivers (woofer, tweeter) in the cabinet can work loose. Loose drivers can create distortion (buzzing sounds) from the driver vibrating against the cabinet. Frequency sweeps are a good way to check for problems with this.
Analog Knobs And Switches
Knobs and switches on subwoofers and amplifiers can corrode over time. Moving the knob or switch back and forth a few times can help keep this corrosion to a minimum. Playing a test tone through the subwoofer while moving these knobs can demonstrate problems with these knobs and switches.
Failed Components
Many elements (tweeters, crossovers, amplifiers…) of speakers and subwoofers can fail from use. Play wide band pink noise through each channel to make sure each speaker and subwoofer is still operating properly. Manufacturers frequently can repair these failures pretty easily.
Video Equipment
Projection Screen
Projector screens can accumulate dust and dirt over time. Refer to the manufacturers recommendations for cleaning the screen material of any accumulation that may have occurred.
Projector Air Filter
Many projectors have air filters on them that require replacement or cleaning. Dirty filters are a very common cause of projector degradation. These should be checked or inspected starting at 200 hours and monitored for cleaning based on the level of accumulation observed at 200 hours of use.
Projector Focus
Projector focus can shift over time and should be examined. Check how sharp the pixels or text appears on the screen.
Projector Alignment
Projector alignment can shift over time and should be examined. Check the framing of the image on the screen.
Projector Mount
Projector mounts can work loose over time. Check the tightness of the mounting screws.
Projector Lens
Your projector lens should be cleaned with a lens brush when substantial dust is present. Lens cleaning fluid is necessary when the lens develops a film over it. Cleaning your lens improperly or using lens fluids too frequently can reduce it’s performance. Refer to the projector manufacturers recommendations anytime a fluid or cloth is used.
Projector Panel Alignment
The panels in three panel projectors can shift over time. Check the alignment of these panels to be sure they are still aligned properly.
Anamorphic Lens
Check the lens mounting for alignment, tightness and cleanliness.
Display Color
Display color can shift over time as the components wear with use. Correcting the white balance, gamma or color gamut may be required as the product wears.
My husband and I are building our dream house and we’re planning on a home theater, so I wanted some maintenance tips. I didn’t know pink noise was a good way to check your bi-wire jumpers since they can work loose after some time. I’ll have to keep that in mind and I’ll ask the manufacturer we buy from for our speakers for more tips, thanks to this post!
Thanks for explaining how to maintain a home theater. You mentioned it could be good to play a test tone while moving some knobs. This also seems like a good way to find the right settings.
I really need these home theater tips for my newly build house. I just loved the projector part a lot. Thanks very much
It really helped when you talked about the importance of inspecting your home theater’s equipment. Recently, my wife and I decided to turn our guest room into a home theater one. We love movies, so we thought it’d be a good idea to have a movie theater of our own. We appreciate your advice on keeping an eye on speaker wire connections.
Thanks for explaining how to maintain a home theater. There is no doubt that projector lens should be cleaned with a lens brush when substantial dust is present