Once you’ve found the perfect home theater hub, you’ll need to balance your whole house audio platform with acoustics. Sure, houses are big. They’re really big. You needn’t sacrifice audio range, comfort or bass for hallways, entryways and doors, however.

Your home’s acoustics determine how well sound waves interact with each room. It also determines how much a room’s objects interact with different sound frequencies. Hit the lighting, part with your successful, structured wiring project and take to the living room. Cool Home Technology is here, and we’re about to blast off your socks with our home acoustic tips:

Tip One: Absorb and Tune the Noise

A room’s first order reflection is its location where sound “bounces” between one’s ears and the room’s speakers. Often, this is a room’s floor, wall or ceiling. When tuning your whole house audio system, start with the main room.

You’ll need to tune the system-housing room with absorption. Absorption is relatively easy to achieve, and you can use everyday items—like fabric walls and drapes—to increase acoustical “value.” By absorbing the main room’s sides, you can direct its overall sound.

Tip Two: Reflect Desired Sounds

Next, you’ll want to reflect your system appropriately. First order reflections, once purchased, should be placed within a few feet of your system’s main front speakers. They should also be situated just to the left and right of the main system. If your room experiences difficulty carrying noise, install first order reflections across the ceiling.

Tip Three: Use an Audio Analyzer

At some point, you’ll need to get technical. Each custom home theater and whole house audio design requires audio analysis to ensure overall sound quality. Since the advent of smartphones, providers have offered advanced, cost-effective home theater acoustic apps. Take charge with one of these apps, and measure your home’s acoustics with a real-time analyzer, an SPL meter, a wave generator, a delay finder, a line-level tester or a stereo oscilloscope. Don’t worry: While these options might sound complicated, they’re regularly explained in full detail within applications.

Tip Four: Install Brass Traps

Once you’ve directed your home audio system’s sound, you’ll need to top it off by creating a bass vehicle. As bass travels, it’s often dispersed in a room’s corners. Fortunately, you can install brass taps to deflect, carry and promote bass waves. Brass traps diminish negative resonance effects, balance sound pressure and improve bass response.

Of course, every home audio system project takes time to perfect. Research your options, examine your home and carry audio waves on a room-to-room basis. Remember: Your provider is always there to help you.