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At first it seems like much fun having the cash to indulge and immerse yourself in high-definition video and surround sound, and then you realise there’s more decision to be made than just placing a sleek TV panel and a bunch of speakers in the living room. Investing in a home theater system practically takes some planning in order to get the aesthetics right and make yourself comfortable with all the equipment around.

1. Most readers won’t expect this, but first of all, you do need to get your immediate family’s agreement to have a home theater right in their midst. Decide whether it’s OK to install the system in the living room, or have a separate room dedicated for a most complete TV watching experience while disturbances to other members are minimized.

2. There are 2 main types of flat, high-definition TV: plasma and LCD. Plasma is made for larger size and is closer to 5 figures in pricing than LCD, which can cost as cheaply as less than a thousand. Plasma is the main choice for a TV in a home theater context since LCD TVs have a size limitation.

3. How could you do without a video source? That’s the DVD player. Unless you are a discerning aficionado, you’ll be spoilt for choice as more advanced technology and decreasing cost continue to impact the market. Almost all come with Dolby® Digital Surround sound (EX 6.1). Watch out for the blu-ray DVD and their players in the coming years.

4. As major TV and radio broadcasts are expected to ‘port’ into the digital format in the future, the broadcasted material will be encoded with surround sound instructions. A receiver takes advantage by accessing and decoding these instructions to give you superb sounds. Surround sound currently comes in the multi-channel formats of Dolby® Digital EX 6.1 or THX Surround EXâ„¢ 6.1, DTS, AC-3, etc.

Receivers can connect to most types of players and handle their respective media, including VCR or HiFi and the latest ones are designed to be forward-compatible with future standards and formats. Also, some DVD players have built-in receiver capabilities, and this is great for those looking to do more with less.

5. Speakers usually come in sets of 5: 3 in the front (left, right, center) and 2 at the back (left, right). Check with your dealer that the right speaker is placed for the right position because spoken dialogue and sound effects are handled differently. Note that "surround sound" means separate speakers can play different sounds at the same time. The subwoofer is a different animal as it’s in charge of processing low frequency sounds which gives you "deep boom-boom bass". It adds an unexpected dimension to a movie which you would not have ‘heard’ otherwise.

6. Get the right cables; that means good quality ones. Having the latest equipment is pointless if lousy cables are used for connection as they naturally degrade whatever electrical signals that come through them.

7. Check how you can make your home theater lightning-proof or safe against power surges. You can safeguard your equipment once you take certain precautions. Ask for professional advice.

These are just general guidelines for you to refer, but you can take it from here to build your further interest in home theater equipment or home electronics. If possible, ask for a test at your dealership to get yourself familiarized with the quality you desire. Ask your dealer to help define a proper checklist of things you are looking for to gain clarity. The more ticks you can make on paper, the clearer your mind gets.

About the Author:

Justin Koh is a freelance writer whose articles have appear in most major ezines. You can find his latest home theater news and articles at http://www.hometheatercenter.info

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Tags: home theater system, high-definition video, surround sound, high-definition TV, plasma, LCD, Dolby® Digital EX 6.1, THX Surround EX™ 6.1, DTS, AC-3

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As the central component of any home theater system, the home theater receiver is one of the most important pieces of equipment you can buy. This receiver is also known as an AV receiver, or surround sound receiver, because it includes the majority of the inputs and outputs required for setting up the home theater system, from speakers to the TV set itself. A good receiver will serve as a tuner for receiving AM/FM and satellite radio, as well as high definition radio. It will control the different audio and video sources that can be used, including the DVD player, the CD player, and the VCR. It will also come equipped with a multi-channel amplifier for the transmission of surround sound signals. Be sure and check out the power ratings of this amplifier. Higher wattage capability per channel does not automatically equal better sound.

The overall sound level of the receiver is critical to the quality of your home theater experience. Decibels are used to indicate the sound level produced by a receiver. To make sure your receiver doesn’t emit background noise or distort sound, look for one with about 50 watts per channel (WPC) with minimal distortion levels. Keep in mind that a receiver with a distortion rating of 10% is going to sound terrible! A receiver rated at .01% for distortion levels is ideal. Usually, distortion information is indicated by the acronym THD, or total harmonic distortion.

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Tags: home theater receiver, DVD player, CD player, VCR, multi-channel amplifier

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Buying a receiver is one of the most important decisions you’re going to have to make when building your home theater. The receiver has a number of functions including; connecting and switching audio sources; connecting and switching video sources; decoding surround sound formats; amplifying an audio signal and sending it to your speakers; tuning in to radio stations; and acting as the interface between you and your home theater.

The first thing to think about is whether you want a receiver at all or would you be better off buying a separate decoder, amplifier, and tuner?

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Tags: home theater receiver, decoder, tuner

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Over the years, I have grown really attached to my home theater system. I must say, of all the rooms in the house, my own little movie theater is the one I could not live without. I am absolutely in love with my home theater system and, if you are anything like me, I am sure you will love yours too. I found, when I was initially building my system, that there was so much information to absorb. Every product out there seemed better than the next, and I found myself unsure about which to buy. Here are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for a new home theater projector.

There are two main types of projectors on the market; DLP and LCD. DLP stands for digital light processing. It was invented by Texas Instruments, and utilizes a microscopic array of over 2 million mirrors. DLP has a higher contrast than LCD, but there are some unfavorable consumer reports that note something called the "rainbow effect". The "rainbow effect" is noticeable when looking from one side of the screen to the other, and is characterized by a sudden burst of color.

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Tags: home theater systems, projectors, DLP, LCD. DLP, digital light processing, Texas Instruments

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At first it seems like much fun having the cash to indulge and immerse yourself in high-definition video and surround sound, and then you realise there’s more decision to be made than just placing a sleek TV panel and a bunch of speakers in the living room. Investing in a home theater system practically takes some planning in order to get the aesthetics right and make yourself comfortable with all the equipment around.

1. Most readers won’t expect this, but first of all, you do need to get your immediate family’s agreement to have a home theater right in their midst. Decide whether it’s OK to install the system in the living room, or have a separate room dedicated for a most complete TV watching experience while disturbances to other members are minimized.

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Tags: home theater system

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Home theater systems are a setup in homes installed for the purpose of providing cinema quality video and audio reproductions. It includes television and video equipment with special audio systems incorporated - like surround sound. The objective of recreating the feel of being in a movie theater is actualized by placement of a movie screen across the wall, use of projectors and speakers having surround sound and special furnishings like upholstered seats and couches. For a standard home theater system the video display unit should be at least 40 inches and the number of speakers involved in the surround sound system should be at least five.

Features and utility of home theater systems

The home theater provides much better movie viewing experience than typical television screens. Television screens are typically square shaped and fail to provide the realism observed in movie screens. Home theater systems are designed to take care of this and provides a worthwhile re-creation of the movie house.

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Tags: home theater systems

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