Watching movies at home has become a whole new ball game now that there are home theater systems available to suit any budget. Home theater systems are just like having a cinema in your own home. For anyone who would like to turn a family room or any spare room into their own private movie theater, there are plenty of options to suit any budget or taste. Here are a few things needed to make the transformation:
Surround Sound
Surround sound will give great sound effects to home theater systems. The reason why movie theaters have amazing sound quality is that there are speakers strategically placed around the theater to create a feeling of being immersed in a picture, rather than just hearing it from one angle.
The Movie Screen / TVs
The next component of a true movie theater is the movie screen. Ideally, a home theater should have a large screen for viewing. The larger the screen, the easier it is to get caught up in the flow of the movie. There are options available for screens, from big screen TVs to projection screens, both of which are very popular. If you can't swing a large screen or plasma TV, a minimum of 32' HDTV will do until you can upgrade. Honestly speaking, anything smaller than that detracts from the experience.
DVD Players
A good quality DVD player that will be hooked up to the home theater is highly recommended. Be sure to stay away from DVD players that are too cheap as they often have poor sound and picture quality. The better DVD players have progressive scan capabilities and are worth the few extra dollars. Blu-ray players are still a bit pricey, but well worth the money since the clarity in both sight and sound can be astounding.
Home Theater Systems Projectors
Projectors aren’t vital to home theater systems, but play a big role in the way that movies are displayed. The best way to describe the use of a projector is that it makes everything seem so much clearer. This will add to the movie theater experience and the feeling of being a part of the movie rather than just watching it.
The Home Theater Receiver
The receiver is another part of the home theater experience that is important. What a receiver does is to receive the signals from other attached devices such as VCRs, DVDs and cable or satellite dishes and sends them to other devices such as the television and surround sound devices. Top-of-the-line receivers often have built-in devices in them already such as Blu-ray DVD players and other media players. These systems are popular and a cheaper option than having separate units.
Designing the Home Theater Room
Once the home theater system has been chosen, it's time to "dress the room up" to make it look and sound like a theater should. Home theater furniture is designed especially to make it easier to arrange your components to achieve pleasing visual, sound and aesthetic effects. To begin with, the speakers need to be arranged strategically around the room. It is important to have at least 3 speakers in the front of the theater and around 2 to 3 on the sides and behind where you will be sitting. This provides the optimal surround sound effect.
This is common sense, but the television needs to be placed right in front of the couch or seating area. Special attention to the distance between the television and home theater seating needs to be taken. Being too close to the picture will make it seem to have poor quality and being too far away will make the theater experience seem less realistic.
The room will also need to be easy to darken on demand. This can be achieved by adding light blocking curtains and/or blinds to windows. Curtained or fabric lined walls will also help acoustics, especially if the home theater is a top-of-the-line system. Carpets on the floors will also help the acoustics and stop noises from bouncing and vibrating around the room. Once you have the system set up and ready there is only one thing left to do, that is...enjoy your new home theater!
