If you want to get a home theater system, there are a few essential principles that you should keep in mind. However, no matter how much advice you are given, if your level of know-how is insufficient to understand it, it is useless. Therefore, you have to be honest with yourself and admit to yourself how much you know.
Fortunately for most of us, the Baby Boomers are the most electronically savvy older generation ever, because many of today's older generation grew up in the 70's when everyone had a TV and a stereo.
Music and sound quality is important to Baby Boomers. However, if you were one of those who was not engrossed in electronics, a home theater package is probably for you. On the other hand, if you feel able to take on the task, you will be better served by a system that you compile yourself.
This is not to say that kits are not much good, it is just that there are several variables that must be taken into account before purchasing a home theater system.
Sound or acoustics depends on the measurements of the room where the home theater system is installed, most of us realize that, but because we are unlikely to want to remodel the room to suit the theater, we have to choose a speaker system to suit the room.
Similarly with the screen. Bigger is not always better. There is a ratio that can be used to help you work out the size of the screen you should be thinking about, but even this proportion depends on individual predilection.
The formula says that you should sit 9-15 feet away from a 36 inch screen, but you might have poor eyesight and prefer to have a 48 inch screen. This is where kit fall down.
In general, home theater packages suit standard shaped, smallish rooms. By that, I mean 12 - 20 feet in length and combinations thereof. Then, depending on the room again, you will have to consider the sound system. Stereo is not up to the job, if you want to reproduce the sound of a full size movie theater. In order to do that, you will need surround sound with at least three speakers and probably five or more.
All in all, you will get the best system for your home movie theater if you buy the elements separately, especially if you have an odd or oblong shaped room or certain personal preferences. However, a standard package offers a quick and easy, passable solution for many modern, 'standard' sized rooms.
One last piece of advice though, if you do buy a package, make sure it is one that you can upgrade, particularly in the sound section. A TV screen is just a matter of a connection, and they are all the same, but if your home theater kit comes with three or five speakers, maybe you will want to add some more one day. You may also want to think about adding games functionality to your system too.
More Information:
Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on many topics, but is currently involved with
Home Theater Screens. If you are interested in a
Home Movie Theatre, please click through to our site.
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