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
EX™ 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.
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