You might be thinking about setting up a decent home theater system. Maybe you think that your den is too plain or you want to convert your basement into your very own entertainment center. A well setup home theater has audio and visual systems, optimized for the best experience. Now, while the idea seems appealing, the cost of buying and installing a premium home theater system maybe off-putting, setting you back several thousand dollars. This guide should assist you accomplish your setup without running into back-breaking costs, and without compromising on quality.
1. The room.
The location of your home theater is of vital importance. Generally, the location should be relatively dark, away from sharp noise, and has cool, deep colors on the walls. You might want to avoid a room with too many or large, bright, windows, since the light from outside interferes with your viewing experience, and the window sills and glass tend to reflect sound from your system in a negative manner. However, do not be quick to call a contractor to knock down walls or seal the windows. Heavy drapes will work just fine. However, if you have an unused basement, consider converting into an entertainment room. Basements tend to be closed off, since they are underground, hence are light and sound proof from the outside. However, if your basement has plumbing and/or gas lines running through the space and walls, you might want to consort a contractor before making any major changes.
Consider also investing in some comfortable seats, since the idea is to create a relaxation area. This should not be a very expensive exercise. For example, you may re-upholster an old sofa, placing emphasis on good back and head support. Ensure that the seating is arranged to offer good viewing angles on the screen. When seating at any position, one should be able to view images on the screen without distortion.
2. The screen.
This is one the most important components of the system. A good visual system might also cost a lot. High end PC monitors go for less than TVs of similar specs. The biggest difference between modern TVs and pc monitors is that TVs have a tuner and (good) speakers, while monitors do not. The tuner is the part of the TV that allows it to receive television channels, while the speakers obviously are for the sound. The absence of a tuner and the limited applications for the monitor accounts for the biggest part of the price difference between the dedicated monitor and the TV. However, for the home theater system, you generally will require neither. Here's why. If you already have a cable, satellite, or digital terrestrial TV connection, you already have a set-top box, which functions as a tuner, thus removing the need for a screen with an inbuilt tuner. Furthermore, most TV set models have an analogue tuner, which do not function with digital transmissions. If you wanted a smart TV, with internet functions, you can easily accomplish this with a low cost small form-factor (SFF) PC connected to the monitor, as discussed later.
3. The audio system.
This is an integral part of the home theater experience. A good home theater audio system turns generic home movie entertainment, into a movie theater-like experience. This is accomplished through the surround sound system, which delivers sound from different angles in the room, 'surrounding' the person with sound. There are many models of home theater audio systems are readily available on the market. However, if you are on a budget, you might want to consider avoiding the costlier, wireless speaker systems, and opt for the wired versions. The wired systems are usually available at much lower prices than their wireless counterparts and deliver the same (if not better) sound quality. If you are worried about unsightly wires running all over the place, then fit the room with plastic cladding, in the convenient color, which you can buy from your local hardware store. The cladding is relatively easy to install, and allows you to neatly bundle the wires inside it.
4. Additions
Modern entertainment systems are not just for viewing movies and music. To add more functionality to your system, you can add peripherals such as PCs and gaming consoles. A PC connected to your system will turn your system into a ‘smart’ system, allowing functionality such as full internet access, IPTV, gesture control, and so on. If you are concerned about space, or don’t want a visible desktop PC, you should get a small form-factor (SFF) Pc. An Apple Mac mini is also available, for the same function. This is a computer built on a small casing that can be mounted on the rear of your screen. You can get one for under $200. The Playstation 4 or The Xbox One can be a great addition to your system, as well as gaming experience.
1. The room.
The location of your home theater is of vital importance. Generally, the location should be relatively dark, away from sharp noise, and has cool, deep colors on the walls. You might want to avoid a room with too many or large, bright, windows, since the light from outside interferes with your viewing experience, and the window sills and glass tend to reflect sound from your system in a negative manner. However, do not be quick to call a contractor to knock down walls or seal the windows. Heavy drapes will work just fine. However, if you have an unused basement, consider converting into an entertainment room. Basements tend to be closed off, since they are underground, hence are light and sound proof from the outside. However, if your basement has plumbing and/or gas lines running through the space and walls, you might want to consort a contractor before making any major changes.
Consider also investing in some comfortable seats, since the idea is to create a relaxation area. This should not be a very expensive exercise. For example, you may re-upholster an old sofa, placing emphasis on good back and head support. Ensure that the seating is arranged to offer good viewing angles on the screen. When seating at any position, one should be able to view images on the screen without distortion.
2. The screen.
This is one the most important components of the system. A good visual system might also cost a lot. High end PC monitors go for less than TVs of similar specs. The biggest difference between modern TVs and pc monitors is that TVs have a tuner and (good) speakers, while monitors do not. The tuner is the part of the TV that allows it to receive television channels, while the speakers obviously are for the sound. The absence of a tuner and the limited applications for the monitor accounts for the biggest part of the price difference between the dedicated monitor and the TV. However, for the home theater system, you generally will require neither. Here's why. If you already have a cable, satellite, or digital terrestrial TV connection, you already have a set-top box, which functions as a tuner, thus removing the need for a screen with an inbuilt tuner. Furthermore, most TV set models have an analogue tuner, which do not function with digital transmissions. If you wanted a smart TV, with internet functions, you can easily accomplish this with a low cost small form-factor (SFF) PC connected to the monitor, as discussed later.
3. The audio system.
This is an integral part of the home theater experience. A good home theater audio system turns generic home movie entertainment, into a movie theater-like experience. This is accomplished through the surround sound system, which delivers sound from different angles in the room, 'surrounding' the person with sound. There are many models of home theater audio systems are readily available on the market. However, if you are on a budget, you might want to consider avoiding the costlier, wireless speaker systems, and opt for the wired versions. The wired systems are usually available at much lower prices than their wireless counterparts and deliver the same (if not better) sound quality. If you are worried about unsightly wires running all over the place, then fit the room with plastic cladding, in the convenient color, which you can buy from your local hardware store. The cladding is relatively easy to install, and allows you to neatly bundle the wires inside it.
4. Additions
Modern entertainment systems are not just for viewing movies and music. To add more functionality to your system, you can add peripherals such as PCs and gaming consoles. A PC connected to your system will turn your system into a ‘smart’ system, allowing functionality such as full internet access, IPTV, gesture control, and so on. If you are concerned about space, or don’t want a visible desktop PC, you should get a small form-factor (SFF) Pc. An Apple Mac mini is also available, for the same function. This is a computer built on a small casing that can be mounted on the rear of your screen. You can get one for under $200. The Playstation 4 or The Xbox One can be a great addition to your system, as well as gaming experience.
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