Assembling a great home theater is much like preparing a Thanksgiving feast – the turkey might be the centerpiece of the meal but your guests aren’t going to be pleased if all they’re getting is a chunk of meat, which is why beefing up your home theater involves more than just the HDTV.
The Television
Buying the right HDTV can be a complicated process since there are several worthy technologies available, but here are the basic differences:
Most TV reviews recommend Plasma for its better picture quality and price. These HDTVs, however, are power hungry, have a much shorter shelf-life, and are susceptible to burn-in from static images.
LCD TVs are the best choice for smaller screens and bright environments, but despite improvements they still suffer from blurriness and washed-out blacks at larger sizes, along with a higher price tag.
Those who have the space may choose to get a mammoth DLP (Digital Light Processing) TV, as they offer the largest screen sizes for an affordable price, but they are heavy and require a large room. The repair costs to replace burned out components can also be very expensive.
Lastly, you may consider purchasing a 3D HDTV for the complete moviegoing experience. While earlier models have relied on expensive active-shutter glasses that have been known to make some viewers ill, LG Cinema 3D TVs appear to have solved this problem.
The Sound System
Part of what makes the movie theater experience so intense is that they use high quality sound systems to create an immersive effect, which you can recreate at home using these tips:
Budgeting for a matching set of quality speakers will improve your home theater experience enormously. A good center channel speaker and a subwoofer should be your focus, as these will produce the rumbling bass moviegoers crave. If you want to get really fancy, however, you can install bass shakers to your seats to give guests a physical experience.
Even the highest quality speakers sound cheap without enough power, which is why purchasing a good receiver can make even middle-of-the road speakers sound fantastic. Unfortunately, receiver manufacturers tend to exaggerate their specs, so you need to look at more than just peak power.
Lastly, poor wiring will greatly hinder your system’s performance, which is why investing in quality speaker wire and component cables will ensure a clear signal for all your home theater devices. It’s also a good idea to use a dedicated electrical circuit, as interference from appliances and other electronic devices will reduce sound quality.
The Accessories
Now that you’ve browsed those audio and TV reviews to create the perfect setup, it’s time to consider these great devices to meet all your viewing needs:
The Playstation 3 offers the best bang for your buck as it not only plays games, but also includes streaming services from Netflix and Sony’s video store. It’s also an inexpensive way to get a Blu-ray player, though stand-alone players have gone down in price.
For a stand-alone Blu-ray player, the Panasonic DMP-BDT210 is a popular choice because it offers fast disc loading times and a variety streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Instant, Vudu, Pandora and Skype.
Those who just want an affordable streaming device should consider the Roku LT. For only $50, it allows you to access services from Netflix, Hulu Plus, Pandora and Amazon Instant. It also has a very compact design that is perfect for small rooms.
Brandi Tolleson is a freelance writer living in Los Angeles, CA who will probably make you laugh while she informs you about the latest technology.
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