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Article #16: Home Building - Home Theater Components

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Look at your home theater system as a work with other components in your home
puzzle, which require many different system because it has several input
pieces to fit together just right to output jacks.
create the total presentation. Unlike a DVD Player
puzzle, each piece belongs in a different Digital Versatile Discs (DVDs) are one
place and together they project a of the most popular elements of a home
theater-like picture and realistic sound. theatersystem, because they are a
Understanding the role of each component multimedia platform for movies, music and
will make it easier to decide which ones computers. Some of the advantages to DVD
you need and want. Here's a breakdown of is that the picture quality is better and
all the primary components you will need many DVDs have Dolby Digital or DTS
to consider when creating your home sound, which is very close to the sound
theater. you experience in a movie theater. Many
Television DVD movies have an on-screen index, where
There are two things to pay attention to you can select what part of the movie you
when buying a television: shape and size. want to view without rewinding or
To watch movies in their original wide fast-forwarding it. Many high-end players
screen format, you'll need a TV with a are compatible with audio CDs and come
rectangularly shaped 16:9 aspect ratio with two viewing options for letterbox
rather than the traditional, square format (which fits wide-screen TVs and
shaped 4:3. When it comes to size go for the standard size format.
the largest screen you can afford (27 VCR
inches is probably the bare minimum). For While DVDs are fast becoming the
optimal viewing, the distance between the preferred player, VCRs still remain
viewer and the screen should equal about popular because of its recordability. The
three times the screen size. For example disadvantages of the VCR include tape
a 40-inch TV is best viewed from a wear and damage and they don't have
distance of 10 feet (120 inches). Before widescreen or surround sound capability.
buying your TV it is best to figure out
where you're going to place the DVR (Digital Video Recorder)
television and calculate the screen size DVR is short for personal video
accordingly. recorder, a generic term for a device
Cathode-ray tube that is similar to a VCR but records
While traditional tube televisions have television data in digital format as
some of the sharpest pictures and lowest opposed to the VCR's analog format. DVRs
price tags ($500-$2500), the downside is encode video data in MPEG-1 or MPEG-2
they aren't available in large sizes - 40 formats and store the data in a hard
inches is the maximum. If you favor a drive. DVRs have all of the same
tube TV, than look for a flat-screen CRT, functionality of VCRs (recording,
because they don't have the distortion playback, fast forwarding, rewinding,
that effects the curved edges of older pausing) plus the ability to instantly
models, and most can display the jump to any part of the program without
widescreen formats of DVDs. having to rewind or fast forward the data
Projection TV - Front or Rear stream.
In contrast to conventional TVs, A DVR is essentially made up of two
projection TVs form a small image on a elements: the device that stores its
device inside the projector, either a hardware elements, such as the hard disk
CRT or LCD, and then shine that image drive, power supply and buses, and the
onto a large screen located elsewhere. software in the form of a subscription
There are two types of projecting TVs - service that provides programming
rear or reflective projection and front information. There are three predominant
or transmissive projection. On a rear DVR types on the market: TiVo, ReplayTV
projection, the screen is located within and UltimateTV, with TiVo being the
the TV box itself. In this type, light current market leader.
reflects off the projection display panel The benefits of DVRs: The digital
and is then projected onto the screen. A storage of television signals opens up a
front projection has a separate screen whole new world of possibilities when it
(which allows for greater size) and send comes to playback and viewing. For one, a
the picture across the room to a screen, DVR is tapeless. With a VCR, the device
much like a traditional movie projector. itself is only a recording tool and the
Both systems have four basic parts -a blank cassette is the media. In a DVR,
projector, screen (separate or built-in), media and tool are one and the same,
control panel (separate or built-in) and which is a big plus if you never seem to
a sound system (separate or built-in). be able to find a blank tape when it
Most rear projection TVs for home theater comes time to record a favorite show. The
systems tend to look like very only drawback is that you can't add more
large-screen (up to 80-inches) storage space, because the media is
conventional televisions. Each one is hard-wired into the unit. Getting more
basically a large box that contains all recording with a VCR is easy - you just
of the above parts, while front buy another box of blank tapes, but
projection TVs are spread out across your getting more recording time on a DVR
room in four components. Cost for either involves buying a new unit.
system starts around $1500 and escalate Perhaps the biggest advantage of DVRs is
to well over $50,000 (for a front the unprecedented control over playback.
projection TV). With a VCR, you have to wait for a
Plasma/LCD program to finish recording before you
Both Plasma and LCD TV are both can start watching it. Since there's no
represent two of the best new television tape to rewind, digital recording doesn't
technologies on the market and offer have this limitation. A show that
excellent picture quality. Right now, started recording 10 minutes ago can be
Plasma TVs offer the advantage of larger viewed at any time, even while it is
screen sizes, lower costs, better viewing still taping.
angles, and superior image refresh rates, DSS RECEIVER
which make them a great choice for home This is not like the satellite dish of
theater. While LCD TV is rapidly yesterday. Besides being a lot smaller
improving, manufacturers still need to (about the size of a large pizza) Digital
overcome its weaknesses - ghosting trails Satellite Systems (DSS) are more
on fast moving images, small screen size technically advanced. They receive
and cost. The pros of LCD are no burn-in digital satellite signals that carry
risk, longer life span, low weight and superior image capabilities similar to a
low power consumption. laserdisc player with CD quality sound.
HDTV (High Definition Television) They're easy to setup and tune in and
High-definition television is a type of can handle high definition television and
digital signal that carries a more six-channel surround sound. Monthly
detailed image and is encoded with service plans cost about the same as
surround sound information. All of the standard cable service.
above televisions are available in HDTV, Speakers
but some models may require a separate Since sound attributes to half of the
HDTV decoding tuner. Because they have a home theater experience, it's a good idea
high screen resolution you can view these to get the best speakers you can afford.
TVs from a much closer distance than a TV Like amplifiers, speakers should be able
that doesn't have high-definition. This to reproduce a large frequency range
is definitely the wave of the future, clearly without distortion.
since the FCC recently decided that all No two speakers sound alike so selecting
television programming must be broadcast them is often a matter of personal
in digital format by 2006. listening preference. A home theater
Screen should have an array of six speakers or
It's not something you may think about, more to properly create sound. These will
but your television screen is your view include left, right, and center speakers
into your home theater. Manufacturers use across the front; a couple of surrounds
different screen materials, but most use and a subwoofer or bass unit to create
a matte-finished screen or acetate sheets the low, loud, feel-it-in-your-stomach
with complex technologies for improving sounds.
brightness and clarity. Finding out what Cables and Interconnects
kind of screen the television you're They may seem relatively unimportant
thinking of buying has will clear up a compared to the rest of the equipment,
lot issues before you bring it home. but cables and interconnects can make a
Receivers difference between a good sounding system
In most cases the receiver is the brain and a great sounding system. This is true
in most home theater systems. It is the on any size system from the low end to
central core where all the audio comes the highest quality. The signals between
together. Basically, the receiver components and speakers need to flow
decodes signals from the inputs (DVD unrestricted or the output will suffer.
player, satellite dish, cable television) Cables should be a heavy gauge and the
and routes them to the proper outputs connectors should be gold plated. Price
(television and speakers). A good can range from $15 cents a foot to over a
receiver has inputs and outputs, a $1000.
built-in timer, surround sound If aesthetics are a big concern for you,
capabilities, built-in amplifiers and they you'll want to consider flat speaker
equalizers. Prices range from $1000 to wire, which is as thin as a credit card,
$5000. It's important that your receiver flexible enough to turn corners, and
has at least 100 continuous watts per ready to be mounted on walls and ceiling.
channel and has enough outputs to connect You can even hide them completely by
to all your speakers. wallpapering or painting over them.
Amplifiers Remote Control
While most receivers come with a pre-amp Most electronic equipment has a remote
to equalize the audio signal and a power control, so to avoid clutter and
amp to boost it, these components can confusion it is best to purchase a
also be purchased separately. Stand-alone universal remote control to run your home
power amps give you the ability to more theater. Universal remotes come
easily fine-tune and upgrade individual pre-programmed to control hundreds of
speakers and will enable you to generate devices from a variety of manufacturers
superior sound, especially at high so setup is a snap. No matter which
volumes, but the extra cost can add up remote you choose, you should look for
($1,000 to $10,000 per unit). one that has an illuminated keypad or
Controller backlit screen so you can operate it with
If you're going for a state-of-the-art ease in low-light situations. If you're
home theater system, then a controller planning on putting your components in a
will replace the receiver. The biggest closed cabinet or set in a wall unit
difference between a controller and you'll want a remote that's radio
receiver is that the controller controls frequency-capable, because its radio
both the audio and video. If you're using waves can travel through walls, doors and
a controller you'll need a separate tuner floors without having to point it at the
for radio stations. components.
CD Player All-in-one systems
If you plan on listening to your If you don't want to be bothered with
favorite music then you'll need a good the hassle of picking out separate
quality CD player. You can choose from a components you can pick up a
one piece or two piece player where the home-theater-in-a-box, which can cost
unit that houses and spins the discs is between $300 to $3000. You'll get almost
separate from the DAP (Digital Audio everything you need for a basic setup -
Processor) where the all the information an integrated receiver/DVD player, a
from your disc is electronically complete set of speakers including a
processed. You'll get more use out of subwoofer and even the wires to connect
your system if you separate the everything.
components since the DAP can be used to






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