Home Theater Explained - Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
So you're in the market for a new home theater system? Why not?
Everyone you know either has one or wants one. Are you sick of
having to go to your buddy's place to watch the game on the big
screen? Have you been playing that SNES system, circa 1995,
since, well, 1995? Is your prized movie collection in laserdisc
format? Maybe it is time to invest in a new home theater.
The first thing you ought to do is establish a budget. You could
spend thousands of dollars on your new system, so give some
consideration to what you are able to spend. There's no point
spending your rent money on a TV, if you will not have an
apartment to watch it in.
Once you have decided what you are able to spend, draft a wish
list of components you would like. Big screen TV or LCD
projector? X-Box or Playstation? What about surround sound? 5:1?
6:1? 7:1? There are so many options, and the possibilities are
seemingly endless. Keep it simple. Do you really need a 51 inch
HDTV, for your 10x10 living room?
Either way, your system will definitely need certain components
to qualify as a home theater. For the sake of being modest, why
not consider getting started with a home-theater-in-a-box? These
packages generally come with a surround sound receiver, a set of
speakers, and a DVD/CD player. These systems are relatively
inexpensive, and will leave you with enough cash flow to buy
that new Sopranos box set! Capice?
A lot of people like to include gaming systems in their home
theater, especially if they are able to play on a big screen.
There's nothing like playing Halo in life size! If you do most
of your gaming on your computer, most decent video cards will
have a video line out that you can use to connect to your TV or
projector. Otherwise, you can incorporate any other console
system into your home theater.
Your sound system will likely consist of a number of speakers
(left, right, and center front, surround left and right, and a
subwoofer). This is the standard surround system. The wattage of
the amplifier you are using will greatly affect the sound being
produced, so be sure to use one with enough power to effectively
supply your system.
As I said, the options are seemingly endless for home theater
systems. Be sure to buy from a reputable dealer, and do not buy
anything that does not have a 30-day money back
guarantee......just in case you have to return it to pay your
rent!