How To Choose A Home Theater System

When choosing a home theater system one must first consider there budget. In years past a home theater system was for only the rich, but with improvements in technology, home theater system are available for almost any budget. Costs range from $299 to $30,000 or more, depending on the components chosen and the size of your home theater system.


Components

Most people try to achieve creating a movie theater in there home. Now of days a most theaters have surround sound system. Therefore in a home theater you will want to look for the following components, a large-screen television (usually 32” or larger), and a speaker system with a subwoofer (a loud speaker designed to reproduce bass frequencies) & front and rear (usually a minimum of 5 speakers) speakers for quality sound. You will also need an audio/video surround receiver, a DVD player, and a cable or satellite receiver. Most people also add a video recorder and a DVD recorder.


The big screen television

High-definition television (HDTV) is the most popular for Home theater systems. HDTV’s digital technologies give a much sharper & crisper picture quality, also an improved video field to bring the audience right into the middle of the action.

One of the things you must consider when you design your theater system is to look to the future. This way your system will stay up to date longer. To do this you will need to consider things like purchasing a high-quality, integrated HDTV monitor with wide screen display, because the conventional full screen movies we have enjoyed for years will someday be replaced with the movie theater style wide screen movies that more and more we are enjoying now. Even cable systems are delivering digital viewing services, which will only continue to develop.

Wide-screen HDTV monitors start at 27” for a traditional square shape and 30” for a wide-screen, and range up to 82”.

When considering a televisison for a smaller area you may want to look at direct-view televisions. For larger areas you can consider rear-projection or plasma televisions, Direct-view televisions don’t require viewers to sit so far back from the viewing screen.


Surround-sound

Remember when considering your home theater system that sound is a very important part of the experience. You can buy a box system for as little as $200. You will want to look at different system and choose the one that best fit your needs and the sound quality that best fit you space and needs.

Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound has been the industry standard for years, says Craig Eggers, director of consumer electronics technology marketing for Dolby Laboratories. Dolby is now the North American audio standard for HDTV. This technology "delivers 5.1 channels of fully discrete surround sound audio to any home theater," Eggers says. This means the soundtracks are recorded with five main channels: left, center, right, left surround and right surround, plus a low-frequency effects bass channel.

Surround sound systems use a minimum of five speakers to bring the listener inside the viewing experience. Instead of watching the picture, you're a participant--just like at a movie theater.

These box systems also include various components such as DVD players or recorders, or am fm stereo, VCR players or recorders, some system may also include iPod or Mp3 technology.

This will complete the basic systems, but don’t forget that you may also want to consider a camcorder or digital camera technology for those home videos.

Once you have developed the home theater that best fits your needs the only thing left is to sit back and enjoy and don’t forget the popcorn.

Written by Kevin Hampton, visit me at www.costlesselectronics.com


How-To Tips
Cables are an integral part of a home theater. Good cables will enhance the performance of your entire system, while poor quality cables can actually reduce quality. Look for the following when cable shopping:
· Look for cables with high-density shielding, gold-plated connectors and durable jackets to provide long-lasting, reliable connections. If you have the choice of using either digital or analog cables, choose digital to eliminate unneeded digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital conversions, which lead to reduced image and sound quality.
· When you're looking for the right cables, make sure you avoid generic cables made with low-grade materials and low-quality construction because they're highly prone to noise and distortion. Watch especially for connectors that fit loose or too tight, with inadequate shielding and unprotected solder joints.
· Be wary of manufacturers that don't provide information concerning the construction of their cables. Quality cable companies, such as Accell or Monster Cable, often will provide a cable cut-away illustration, providing clear visibility of their cables' material and construction.
· Finally, make sure to keep your cable lengths as short as possible to get the best quality sound.
Source: Accell Corporation

Home Audio Speakers: Choosing A System For Your Home Theater Design

With over 500 models of home theater speakers available through a generous number of high and low-end brands, many consumers rely on salesperson to lead them in the right direction. Consumers with only a limited budget will undoubtedly flock to the cheapest option available to suit there needs. This however, nearly always results in a less than ideal sound system that fails to meet the expectations or needs of the owner. It is therefore a good idea to educate one’s self on the best brands, speaker styles and specifications that will fit a home’s needs before making a choice.

A home theater speaker system is typically made up of a front speaker, left and right speaker, a center-channel speaker, a pair of surrounds, and a subwoofer. A home owner may mix-and-match components but help from a professional is advised to make sure the speakers are all compatible. These speaker types come in varying sizes, sound output and design. The following are the types of styles in which these speakers may be found:

Floor-Standing speakers are the largest home theater speakers available. They can be shifted around the theater area or be moved to another home.

Bookshelf or Cabinet speakers stand independently, just like floor standing speakers, but are smaller and can be placed on or in entertainment centers or shelving to save space.

In-Wall speakers require no floor space, and can disappear if matching the walls. Their quality is usually very good, but they need professional installation and wiring.

On-Wall speakers are recommended for use with a flat-panel television. They provide exceptional sound as well as a pleasing aesthetic component.

Home theater owners or designers must determine the listening requirements and preferences for a specific room in order to create a quality home theater space. Room size and layout are important factors as this will dictate the speaker configuration. Logistics like electrical outlet placement, room size, and useable room space strongly affect the type of equipment that can and should be put in the room.

Home theater speakers are available in many sizes. However not all sizes are meant for all rooms. Large speakers are not advantageous for small rooms because they will need to be played at a much lower volume. This may cause distortion to the audio. Lower quality small speakers used in large spaces may produce a tinny or thin sound if they are unable to produce enough sound at a decent output level. Speakers of similar size may differ greatly in their sound output or reproduce different levels of sound unequally so it is very important to listen to various speaker brands and sizes and compare them before buying.

Speakers are available in a variety of encasement types - natural or laminated wood, metal, and occasionally plastic, but often preferences may be limited by brand or model. Speakers are as varied as tennis shoes so make sure you try on several and know how they fit into your home theater before making a purchase.

How to Find the Best Home Theater System

Everyone wants a home theater system, but when confronted with the choices in buying one, you can get overwhelmed. No matter where you look for a home theater system, there are varying types of systems and varying prices also. So you are able to get the best theater system your money can buy here are a few tips.

When you are first shopping for a system, they all look the same, or relatively the same, on the outside. But how they work can be a completely different story. To make sure that the one you are looking at works well, try it out! You may not think the store will let you do this, but you would be surprised at the length a company will go to have your business.

If you are looking at using your home theater system as a gaming tool too, then you should take your gaming system to the store to test it out. If it isn't compatible with your gaming system, it is better to know sooner rather than later.

So you have found the best home theater system for your needs and use. The next step is to compare prices. The biggest and most common mistake made when buying a home theater system is finding the perfect system, but not comparing prices before you buy. There is nothing more frustrating then buying a system at one store, then seeing it for less money, sometimes hundreds of dollars, at another store just down the street.

Don't forget the internet when comparing prices either. Many stores offer discounts through the internet, and sometimes the companies that make the systems will have cheaper prices than the wholesaler. Make sure that you keep in mind shipping prices, but you could save money even with the shipping costs. The internet might just be the way to go.