Home Theatre
The “Television”
The center of any home theatre is the television, HDTV or projection system. The type of screen you choose depends in large part on your budget, room-size and the components you want to add to it. Components are designed for compatibility with each of these hardware products, and not always interchangeable. Some people don’t want their TV or projection screen to be a monstrosity that dominates the room, or look out of place with their other furnishings.
When choosing a home theatre television, take into account the definition of picture, sharpness, and space requirements, and you’ll probably have an easy choice of products. Flat screen, LCDs, flat-panels, plasma and CRT televisions all offer varying degrees of definition, contrast and size. Familiarizing yourself with the options is easily accomplished at a retail outlet that features these products.
Speakers
If you are accustomed to standard television speakers, be prepared for a new experience when you upgrade to home theatre. Simple stereo systems with dual-speakers are still available, but if you’re looking for the “wall of sound” effect you’ll want to consider surround sound systems that include five speakers, usually with a subwoofer of varying quality, which brings the true sound of the movie to life. Auxiliary equipment is also available for a price, but first you’ll want to decide on the type of system you’ll be satisfied with. Professional advice and research can help you make the decision, but to achieve the dynamics most people want in home theatre reproduction, prepare yourself for the purchase of surrounding speakers and the various types and brands that are on the market.
Enjoy Your Purchase
Setting up a home theatre shouldn’t be a chore. You’ll get years of enjoyment from your home theatre system, so enjoy the experience. Along the way you’ll learn a lot about audio and visual equipment you didn’t know, and no doubt what you learn will become useful in the future as you buy accessories, components and other a/v devices. Educating yourself should be fun, so wade into the information slowly, and you’ll find you’ll pick up the vocabulary, the knowledge, and you’ll enjoy the show that much more.
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