Posts Tagged ‘Home Theater Systems’

Consumer Reports – Home-theater-systems

Good speakers and the components for a home-theater system cost less than ever. But selecting separate components can be time-consuming, and connecting them can be a challenge. You can avoid some hassle by buying an all-in-one “home theater in a box” system that combines a receiver with a set of matched speakers, wiring, and often a DVD player. Unless you’re a serious music listener, you’re likely to find the sound quality to be just fine.

WHAT’S AVAILABLE

Home theater packages include a receiver that can decode digital-audio soundtracks and six to eight compact speakers–two front, one center, two to four surround speakers for the rear, and a subwoofer–that have been matched for sound. You get all the cables and wiring you need, usually color-coded or labeled for easy setup.

Most systems include a progressive-scan DVD player, either built into the receiver or a separate component, and a powered subwoofer. Some bundle in a VCR as well. Price range: $200 to $1,000 for typical systems, and $2,000 or more for systems aimed at audiophiles. Panasonic and Sony are among the best-selling brands in the market.

IMPORTANT FEATURES

The receivers in home-theater-in-a-box systems tend to be on the simple side. They usually include both Dolby Digital and DTS decoders for handling the surround sound track when playing a DVD. Controls should be easy to use. Look for a front panel with displays and controls grouped by function and labeled clearly. An onscreen display lets you control the receiver via a television screen.

Switched AC outlets let you plug in other components and turn on the whole system with one button. The receivers have about 20 or more presets you can use for AM and FM stations. Most receivers also offer a sleep timer, which turns them on or off at a preset time. Remote controls are most useful when they have clear labels and different-shaped and color-coded buttons grouped by function. A universal remote can control a number of devices.

A component-video output on the receiver that can connect to the TV allows for better picture quality if you choose to switch video signals through your receiver; however, not many receivers have such an output. Instead, most have S-video output, which is a tad below a component connection but better than a composite-video or RF (antenna) connection.

Look also for an S-video input, which lets you pipe signals from an external DVD player, digital camcorder, or certain cable or satellite boxes through the system. Any player that you might want to connect will need the same digital-audio connections, either optical or coaxial, as those of the included receiver. And if you want to make occasional connections at the front–perhaps for a camcorder or an MP3 player–you’ll need front-panel inputs.

DSP (for digital signal processor) modes use digital circuitry to duplicate the sound measurements of, say, a concert hall. Each mode represents a different listening environment. A bass-boost switch amplifies the deepest sounds.

A subwoofer may be powered or unpowered. Either type will do the job, but a powered subwoofer often provides more control over bass.

An integrated DVD player, available with some models, typically has fewer features than does a stand-alone DVD player. Features to expect are track programmability (more useful for playing CDs than DVDs), track repeat, and disc repeat. If you want more features, a stand-alone DVD player may be the wiser choice.

HOW TO CHOOSE

Decide whether you want a DVD player. If not, you may save money by buying a system without one. If you want a DVD in the bundle, consider whether you need a multidisc model that will provide uninterrupted play of music CDs and DVD movies, or if a single-disc player will do. All the DVD-equipped systems we tested have a progressive-scan player. These offer regular DVD picture quality when used with a conventional TV but can deliver a smoother image when paired with a TV capable of displaying high-definition (HD) or enhanced-definition (ED) signals. Some bundled DVD players offer support for multichannel DVD-Audio and SACD music discs, although not in their original, high-resolution format.

Do you want a separate DVD player or one integrated with the receiver? Systems that integrate the DVD player and the receiver in one box tend to offer a bit less functionality and fewer connections than those that have two separate components. Integrated units are somewhat simpler to set up, but they tend to be bulkier and may not allow you to connect video devices other than a TV to the receiver. Other devices, such as a digital-video recorder, would have to be hooked up directly to the TV.

Make sure there are enough inputs. You may want to route video as well as audio signals through your home-theater receiver so you can easily switch among sources such as a VCR, cable or satellite box, and digital video recorder. Before buying, consider which devices you’ll want to channel through the home-theater unit, and which ones you can hook up directly to the TV, and make sure you have enough of the appropriate inputs and outputs.

Each type of connection is capable of conveying a different level of video quality. If you’ll be connecting a DVD player to your TV through the receiver, look for a model with S-video, component-video, or HDMI connections, which should give you better picture quality than a composite-video hookup.

With audio inputs, you’ll need a digital-audio input for relaying undecoded digital audio from your DVD player, digital-cable box, or satellite receiver. Make sure the input on the home-theater system matches the output on the other device. Some of these units have an optical digital-audio output, while others have a coaxial digital-audio output. (An HDMI connection carries the audio along with video in one cable).

If you want to connect a turntable, see if the one you have requires a special phono input, which is hard to come by. Look for a front video input on the receiver if you want to make occasional connections, perhaps for a camcorder or a game system, and your TV doesn’t have accessible front-panel inputs.

Get features that suit your needs. With any system, you can be assured of basics such as AM/FM tunes, Dolby Digital and DTS surround-sound support, and enough speakers for at least a 5.1 surround setup. Some systems now include an integrated XM satellite-radio tuner or a USB port for connecting an iPod or other portable music player so you can listen to your music through the sound system.

Extras such as switched AC outlets are less common than on component receivers, so make sure a system has what you want. An onscreen display is handy for setting up and adjusting various functions using the TV screen rather than a small display on the console. Among our tested systems, only those with a DVD player integrated with the receiver have an onscreen display.

A few models offer newer Dolby and DTS surround formats that process 6.1 or 7.1 channels, which support an additional one or two rear-surround speakers, respectively. Those formats still aren’t widely used in movies but could become more common in the future.

Also consider the warranty. You may get 24-month coverage, rather than 12 months, on some models.

Copyright © 2002-2006 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.

For the latest information on this and many other products and services, visit www.ConsumerReports.org.

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The Convenience Of All In One Home Theater Systems

I don’t know about you but I hate shopping all over the place trying to put together a package of anything and my home theater system is the same way. Instead of shopping around and building a system from scratch that may not even communicate to each component properly why not do like I did and go with an all in one home theater system?

These systems are now all inclusive and take away the headache of trying to figure out everything that is needed for the home theater experience, it all comes in one package.

What makes a system a home theater is having a TV, receiver/amplifier, home theater speakers, and a device such as a DVD player to play movies. If you have more money you may even go all the way with customized lighting, seating, and even more sound but a good way to get started is with an all in one system.

Usually what is included in an complete package will be the speakers, receiver for surround sound, and a quality DVD player. Most all in ones will not have the TV as most people already have the television but there are some upgraded systems that will even include the television. You should have at least a 27″ TV but I prefer to have at least a 50″ for a true theater like experience. Once you have had a big screen TV you will never be able to go smaller again.

Another big reason to go with an all in one system is the savings. You can get some of these now as low a two hundred bucks which puts them in the reach of just about anyone. Now you don’t have to go down the street to your wealthy buddy’s house!

Another feature I like is that these systems are created so that anyone can easily put them together, even me. You don’t have to have an engineering degree to figure out the connections. Everything you will need is in one box and you can buy the system and be at home watching movies within a short time.

You will also be able to use a system like this in a small space so if you have a small living room this will fit the bill nicely. All in one home theater systems are very compact and take up very little space. If you want to be able to get a home theater system and have a limited budget this is a good way to get started.

Home Theater Systems in a Box – How to Make An Informed Decision

With so many options available to choosing a home theater system, it may seem like a next to impossible venture. As you begin your research, you really are wondering where to begin. There are a few points to take into consideration in order to help narrow the research process. First and foremost, consider how much money you are willing to spend and what you would like in an entertainment system. Do you need a new DVD player, or do you want only an amplifier and speaker home theater system? What features do you require? How big is the room where you are setting up your system? If you start to tackle the task knowing the answers to these questions, you’ll be better equipped to find a system that you will be proud of.

As you think about how much you are going to spend on a home theater system, have a set budget in mind. Try to consider your payment options before you are in the store so you would have already decided whether you will pay cash or pay by credit. If you are going the credit option, consider if you will be able to afford the long term payments and interest fees. Essentially, figure out how much you want to pay up front or on-going on a monthly basis. This is a good starting point before you even start to compare prices and systems.

Once you have got your finances sorted out, it’s a good idea to spend some time comparing home theater systems. The trick is to find a home theater in a box that meets your entertainment requirements at a price that you can afford. One of the most difficult things to do is to stay financially focused on the task at hand. What I mean by that is, if you see the latest and greatest television and it’s not in your budget, stay away from it! You’ll end up wasting a lot of time and getting frustrated. Keep focused on looking for home theater systems that offer you outstanding sound quality and features that won’t break the bank.

Another tip is to talk to friends and family and use the internet to read reviews on home theater systems that fall within your budget. Try to narrow your list down to the top three that you feel could be a good fit. As you shop around, don’t be afraid to try to get an idea of how the system sounds. Engage the sales person with questions and see if they can assist with letting you hear the sound system while at the store. In most cases they may have it already hooked up which makes it easy, but if they don’t, ask them if they can help you hear it. I’ve found that most salespeople are more than happy to help, especially if you have narrowed your choices down to a select few systems.

Some of the latest home theaters in a box are equipped with a 7.1-channel receiver/speaker package and depending on the manufacturer include a multitude of features. Some of the more popular ones include XM satellite radio integration and compatibility with a portable music device, like and iPod.

By knowing your budget and doing some research online and offline, you can be sure you will end up with a home theater in a box you will enjoy for years to come.

Home Theater Ideas For Small Rooms

Just because you have a small room does not mean that you can’t enjoy the Lord of the Rings Trilogy or any other feature film that is best viewed on the latest in home theater advancements. You can bring all the qualities of the home theater system into a smaller apartment, or even enjoy the full effect in your bedroom, by choosing some home theater options that will fit better in your smaller space.

Start your search for the perfect home theater system in your small room by looking for the right television. Your television should not overwhelm everything else in the room, especially if you are choosing the components for a bedroom. High Definition and wide screen TVs are available in any size now, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to find a screen that fits nicely into your room.

You might want to consider incorporating a cubby hole for your home theater in your smaller room. This will allow you to actually lessen the floor space that your system takes up, and will not make the room appear any smaller. Another idea is to buy a piece of furniture such as a compact entertainment cabinet, although keep in mind that this will cut down on the amount of space in a room that may already appear crowded. If you want to go this route, a good option is to utilize a cabinet which has a built-in slide drawer for your television, such as the ones used in hotels.

As far as the rest of the system in small rooms, the best bet for a general purpose home theater system is one of the many home theater systems sold in boxes, with all the components included. Look for a set that includes a DVD/CD player and wireless rear speakers, as you will not want a bunch of wires taking up the valuable space in your room. Avoid small satellite speakers, and look for woofers that are over 3″ and a 7″ or larger subwoofer.

Advanced home theater users may want to shop for their components separately, and this option will allow for greater flexibility and may help to match up to the décor in your room. Remember to include all the components in your search, and that your main objective is to cut down on the floor space used as much as possible, in both wiring and surface area.

A small room does not mean that you can’t enjoy a wide range of experiences that come with a home theater system. A home theater system can be the perfect addition to a bedroom for watching a movie or listening to some music before you go to bed or when you are feeling under the weather. Shopping small will help save some money without taking away from the enjoyment of the overall experience- in fact, smaller rooms can be ideal for complete home theater systems as the sound is used more effectively. The key is not to overwhelm, but to make your audio/visual experience as realistic as possible.

Build A Home Theater PC Or Should You?

A home theater PC, or a media-center PC, is a home computer and A/V receiver combined for entertainment, similar to traditional home theater systems. Available are entertainment related upgrades that will make it into a home theater system, with progressive scan DVD playback, over the air HDTV support, and surround sound inputs with less fan noise. Also are the same computing functions, video abilities, and media storage.

If the home theater is already hooked up in the home, the addition of the right PC to it can add even more benefits to this investment. If not, then adding a PC to the home theater system will add benefits to an already existing set up. An example is that if we were an advanced gamer, we certainly will enjoy the gaming abilities that we have when it comes to the new addition.

Other advantages of the added home theater PC are enjoying the highly capable home theater’s ability of providing excellent quality sound. With the addition of the PC, it can even act as a tuner for the music to provide an even better final result. If we were considering the addition of a TIVO or DVR style-recording device with the home theater system, then we will want to consider the use of the pc as well.

It can help you to record, view, and allow us to store needed files. There are many different products that are available when we have the ability to access the home theater project through the web.

When shopping, we can find that there are complete systems already in place for those who are looking for a well put-together system ready-to-go. Two options are available for interested consumers: add the upgrades to an already existing PC set-up, or buy a prebuilt one.

If the computer is five years or less, simply getting different mother board will work, but otherwise – get the prebuilt home theater PC system. The purchase of a pc for your home theater system does not have to be overly expensive. The prebuilt PC set-up will work better for quality and high results but cost a whole lot more, but the rebuilt one will cost lots less, so it depends on what the priorities are.

The top selling media-center PCs are Dell in the top three positions: top #1 position at $649 is the Dell Dimension? E510 (DE510SAP) PC Desktop with an Intel Pentium D 2.8 GHz, Microsoft Windows XP Media Center 2005 Edition, 512 MB, 80 GB hard drive, CD-RW/DVD-ROM. Second position is the Dell XPS? 410 (DXPS410F1) with third position being the Dell Dimension? E310 (DE310F#).

With medica center PCs merging entertainment and computing into one big machine, the question being asked online is whether the TV tuner or the radio receiver is the most important. What do you think?