For most homeowners, buying and setting up a home theater is easy. Getting the required accessories might be the last thing on their mind. Putting the final touches on your home theater is a bigger job than people think. After buying a home theater, you still need to go ahead to get all accessories to go with them. Surge Protector is one of these.
Home theater is by far the most central piece of appliance in a home. Everyone in the house loves to watch content on it. Whether it is a family gathering, pulling all-nighters, new movies premier, or just Netflix and chill. Everyone needs home theater at any moment of the day.
What is a Home Theater?
A home theater is a dedicated space in your home for watching movies and listening to music. It typically includes a large-screen TV, surround sound speakers, and comfortable seating. Home theaters can be as simple or as complex as you want them to be.
The Importance of a Home Theater
There are many reasons why you might want to consider setting up a home theater in your home. Here are a few of the most important:
- To enjoy movies and TV shows in the best possible way. A home theater can provide you with an immersive experience that you can’t get from watching a movie on your laptop or even your living room TV.
- To entertain guests. A home theater is a great way to entertain guests. They’ll be impressed by your setup and they’ll enjoy watching movies and TV shows with you.
- To relax and de-stress. After a long day, there’s nothing better than curling up in your home theater and watching a movie or listening to some music. It’s a great way to relax and de-stress.
What are surge protectors?
It is self-explanatory itself. A surge protector is a device designed to protect your appliances from imbalanced spikes of electricity. It has a mechanism that turns down excess input power into the ground. This diagram shows how power surges occur
Isn’t a surge protector the same device? How surge protector for home theater is beneficial?
Many people think that all surge protectors are pretty much the same. There is some difference the variant creates. For example, if you are looking for a surge protector that fits well with a refrigerator, gaming PC, or generator. So, Surge protectors that are specially designed for home theaters protect your home theater in a way that maintains the quality of sound and improves the process of setting up a home theater.
Recommended surge protectors for home theater.
Here is our recommendation for the best surge protectors for home theaters in the market.
Belkin 12-Outlet Power Strip with Surge Protector
Belkin is a shark when we dive into the ocean of surge protectors for home theater. We are fully confident in Belkin products. Their 12-outlet surge protector for home theater is a great buy. It comes under $30 on Amazon to produce the best results.
It has 12 power outlets in which 8 outlets are rotatable to fit larger plugs and cords easily onboard. It also includes in/out coaxial outlets and ethernet hookups to guard your phone, fax, and satellite box.
This Belkin surge protector can be trusted to ensure protection due to its 4320 Joules energy rating and input of 125V. Belkin surge protectors also lower electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI) in order to block unwanted line noise.
It comes with an 8FT long power cord and has wall extension ability. Most importantly, Belkin gives a lifetime guarantee and up to a $300,000 connected appliance warranty.
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Panamax M8-AV-PRO 8-Outlet Home Theater Power Management System
The Panamax M8 surge protector is the best surge protection option for home theater out there. It got 8 AC Power outlets, 2COAX, and a telephone and LAN. All of these have high-quality filtration and surge suppression.
Panamax M8 also got standard surge protection, EMI/RFI, high-current noise filtration, and a lifetime warranty. One of its unique selling points is the “Panamax Surge Protector Limited Connected Equipment Protection Policy” which includes $5,000,000 for any equipment that is damaged by AC current surges, LAN, electric storms.
This is one of the best warranty options out there in the market.
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APC 6-Outlet Smart Power Strip with Surge Protection
APC is a very good reputed brand in the aftermarket of the electrical protection system. If you read surgeprotections.com posts regularly, you might see APC products ranked everywhere.
This APC 6 Outlet surge protection is a smart power strip. Who thought we might need a smart power strip? but here we are.
The surge protector has 6 AC power outlets of which three of them are voice-controlled (Alexa). Also, the surge protector has 2 USB ports.
This surge protector for home theater has a 6FT long cord and a plug at a right angle to save space. This surge protector has 2160J standard surge protections but EMF filtration is not included.
This APC surge protector for home theater comes up with a lifetime warranty and covers the damaged appliances connected to its worth of $150,000. This warranty is not sufficient for your whole house appliances but a home theater can easily be purchased by it.
Voice control is activated only on 3 outlets and is only compatible with Alexa.
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ECHOGEAR 8-Outlet Power Strip Surge Protector
This surge protector for home theater by ECHOGEAR has 8 power outlets and all of them are rotatable. This will be your biggest advantage in a power strip if you have several chunky cords because they can be fitted in a single power strip.
It got room for 8 cords and is a quite slimline device that can be hidden in a home theater easily. It has an 8Ft long heavy-duty power cable of its own which gives you plenty of flexibility with placement.
This surge protector for home theater has some limitations. First, their wire is non-retractable so you might end up with all the spare cables lying around you. Secondly, your surge protector for home theater has to sit on the ground as there is no wall mount option available. Hopefully, you’ll just be able to hide it behind the TV.
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APC 11-Outlet Surge Protector with Phone, Network Ethernet & Coaxial Protection
As we stated above, we have a lot of confidence in the APC brand. That is the reason that we have more than one APC product on our lists. This surge protector for home theater by APC is a bigger and better choice than other competing surge protectors for home theater.
It has 11 AC power outlets. Outlets for LAN/Ethernet/Phone/Satellite. 6 out of 11 AC power outlets are block spaced for larger adapters. It also includes an 8FT long cord with 180 degrees rotation and a right-angle plug.
This APC provides a 3020J energy rating for surge protection and comes up with a $100,000 damage coverings.
Some bad things about this APC product are that it has no USB root and no power conditioning capabilities.
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HOLSEM 12-Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip with 3 Smart USB Charging Ports
HOLSEM Surge protectors are a great buy. It comes under $30 with 12 AC power outlets. Six of them are largely spaced for larger cords and power adapters. It has 2 USB-Ports with smart IC technology with the range of 5V/3.1A and one additional standard USB port.
Its heavy-duty power cord is approximately of six-foot in length. The four holes on the back of the device make it easier for wall mounting. The HOLSEM surge protector for home theaters has an energy rating of 4000J. It means it can withstand surges of 4000 joules of power. Its body is made up of high-quality flame retardant material that has the ability to withstand approximately 1380 degrees Fahrenheit.
Its technical parameters are 15 Amperes/60 Hertz with a power rating of 1875 Watts. One of the USPs of HOLSEM is its overload protector facility. It also comes with a 24-month warranty and lifetime technical support.
Some points that are controversial in HOLSEM surge protector for home theaters are the activation light is too dim to be seen and you may not be able to see it across the room. Some users reported that the Power ON/OFF button is loose, but HOLSEM confirms that it was designed that way.
The HOLSEM surge protector for the home theater has no power conditioning capabilities. Lastly, the HOLSEM surge protector has well-spaced power outlets but the power strip itself is very narrow which hinders the placement of bigger plugs.
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General FAQs about Home Theater
1. What kind of surge protector do I need for home theater?
For a home theater setup, it is recommended to use a surge protector that offers sufficient joule rating, multiple outlets, and protection for coaxial and Ethernet connections. Look for a surge protector specifically designed for home theater equipment, as it will typically have features such as isolated noise filtering to enhance audio and video performance. Additionally, a surge protector with a low clamping voltage, ideally below 400 volts, provides better protection against power surges.
2. Does home theater need surge protector?
Yes, a surge protector is highly recommended for a home theater setup. Home theater equipment, including TVs, audio systems, gaming consoles, and media players, can be sensitive to power surges. Sudden voltage spikes can damage or degrade the performance of these devices, resulting in costly repairs or replacements. A surge protector acts as a safeguard by diverting excess voltage away from your equipment and preventing damage caused by power surges.
3. What is the best surge protector for audio gear?
The best surge protector for audio gear depends on your specific needs and budget. Look for a surge protector with features like high joule rating (ideally above 2000 joules) to provide robust protection, noise filtering to minimize interference in audio signals, and multiple outlets to accommodate your audio equipment. Brands like Furman, Panamax, and APC offer surge protectors specifically designed for audio gear, with additional features like voltage regulation to maintain stable power supply and improve audio performance.
4. What type of surge protector is best for TV?
When choosing a surge protector for a TV, consider factors such as joule rating (higher is better), clamping voltage (lower is better), number of outlets, and any additional features you may require. Look for surge protectors specifically designed for TVs, which often include features like coaxial and Ethernet protection. Popular brands like Belkin, Tripp Lite, and APC offer surge protectors suitable for TVs, ranging from basic models to more advanced options with added features like USB ports for charging devices or wall-mounting capabilities.
5. How can I protect my home theater equipment from power surges?
To protect your home theater equipment from power surges, use a high-quality surge protector specifically designed for home theater systems. Avoid daisy-chaining devices without surge protection. Unplug your equipment during storms or when not in use for extended periods. Consider installing a whole-house surge protection system. Regularly inspect and maintain your home’s electrical system.
6. How to Set Up a Home Theater?
If you’re thinking about setting up a home theater in your home, there are a few things you’ll need to do. Here’s a checklist:
- Choose a location. The first thing you need to do is choose a location for your home theater. It should be a quiet room where you won’t be disturbed by noise from other parts of your home.
- Choose the right equipment. You’ll need to choose a TV, surround sound speakers, and a receiver. You’ll also need to decide if you want to include a projector or not.
- Set up the equipment. Once you have your equipment, you’ll need to set it up. This includes mounting the TV, connecting the speakers, and running the cables.
- Decorate the room. Once the equipment is set up, you can decorate the room. This includes choosing furniture, rugs, and other accessories.
Final Words:
Remember, it’s essential to carefully read the specifications and features of the surge protectors to ensure they meet your specific needs and provide adequate protection for your home theater equipment
A home theater can be a great way to enjoy movies, TV shows, and music in the best possible way. If you’re thinking about setting one up in your home, be sure to follow the checklist above. With a little planning, you can create a home theater that you’ll enjoy for years to come.
Here are some additional tips for setting up a home theater:
- Make sure the room is dark. This will help you to get the most out of your surround sound system.
- Treat the walls and ceiling. This will help to improve the acoustics of the room and make your movies and music sound better.
- Use good quality cables. This will help to reduce noise and interference.
- Experiment with different settings. There are many different settings you can use on your receiver. Experiment with different settings to find the ones that sound best to you.
Conclusion:
Home Theaters are one of the most used sets of devices in your home. To protect it, you have to take some complimentary steps. Use a surge protector specially designed for home theaters. Designed in a way that it does not produce extra noises that breaks the sound of home theater and some other technical facilities.
We recommend using a surge protector for your whole house. If you are not in a condition to make your whole house surge protected, then at least make your home theater surge protected.
I hope this blog post has been informative. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below.