5. A Subwoofer
:
The
advent of home theater has introduced the Subwoofer
to many consumers A subwoofer is a specialized speaker that only reproduces
the extreme low frequencies present in movies or music.
There are several types of subwoofers, and, once
again, the size and type of room, and issues such as whether the room is
carpeted or not will help you determine which subwoofer
is right for you. Once again,
you need to perform listening tests.
6.
Source Components:
At
a minimum, you need some type of DVD player for your
home theater. Two things to consider in a DVD
player: Progressive Scan and Upscaling capability.
This
will insure you get the best possible image from your DVDs, especially
if
you are viewing them on an HDTV.
Since
all DVD players can play CDs, you many not need a CD
player. However, having a separate CD-only player in
a home theater system
is quite common,
especially
if it is a high-end unit providing better CD audio performance. In
addition, you may also want to include a DVD recorder
or DVD recorder/VCR combination in lieu of your old
VCR. However, you can still use your
old VCR (especially if it is a HiFi Stereo unit) with your home
theater.
In addition, you need to decide how you will receive your primary
television programming: Antenna, Cable, or Satellite.
7.
Surge Protector:
Surge
protectors are the unsung heroes of home theater. Although
they are not foolproof, providing your system
with some sort of
surge protection
is
a good
idea. You never know when you might have a sudden power outage,
or even a brown out that may affect your system.
8.
Connection Cables and Speaker Wire:
You
can't have a home theater unless everything is connected;
whether you buy basic connection cables
and speaker wire or
the really
high-end stuff.
The
main things to consider is to use the right type, right
length, and to connect everything
correctly. Some connections are color coded - make sure
the colors on the cable ends match the connections
on your components
-
this makes life a lot
easier.
In
terms of speaker cable, the gauge of the cable can
be a factor, depending on the distance the speakers
are from
the
amplifier
or AV receiver. I
use 16 or 14 gauge speaker wire myself. 18 gauge is very
thin and should not
be used
for longer distances.
9.
Universal Remote Control:
One
of the most confusing parts of a home theater is not
all components and the connections, but actually
managing
an controlling
it. Each
component comes with
its own remote, leading to a collection that can
number half-a-dozen or more.
One solution is to opt for a sophisticated, but easy
to use, universal remote that can control most of
the functions
of
each of your components.
After
the initial hurdle of programming the remote for
your system, such a device will
enable everyone in the family to use the home theater
system without frustration.
10.
Furniture:
You
have a fancy home theater system, now you need some
comfortable furniture that will make you want
to spend
your time with
your home theater. Your
furniture can be of the traditional sofa and
chair variety, or you can opt for specialized
home theater furniture that include features
such as built-in cup holders and extra-overstuffed
padding.
Final
Take
There
you have it, the basic elements of a well-balanced
home theater. There is no home theater that
is exactly like another,
everyone
has different rooms,
budgets, brand preferences, and decorative
tastes when it comes to home theater. The key thing
is to keep
the basic
elements
of a well-balanced
home theater
in mind, while assembling it according to
your own needs and tastes.
Although
putting together a basic home theater is not a complicated
as it seems on the surface
and might
be a nice
weekend
project
for most consumers, when
installing
a high-end custom home theater, make sure
you enlist the aide of the professional
home theater
installer. |
