Getting Started With Your Home Movie Theater
Everything changes, of this we can be certain. The preceding generation of the 1950s and 60s remembers when gas was 22 cents a gallon, including full-service by a nice man in a white uniform; car hops brought hot dogs and root beer on a tray to your car, and movie-going was an exciting experience. Drive-in theaters had horrible picture quality and even worse sound; nobody cared because making-out was more important than the feature. Movie theaters didnt come in clusters, and were velvet-lined and richly carpeted even in the balcony.
Today the home movie theater is making a stunning debut. Mall theaters are still drawing a crowd, but many prefer the convenience of home viewing. Encarta defines a home movie theater as a combination of high-quality sound and video reproduction in the home. These systems range from simple and inexpensive to complex, expensive and high maintenance. A nineteen-inch TV hooked up to a couple of extra speakers in the family room may technically qualify as a home movie theater, but true enthusiasts would sneer at the mere thought.
Lets Do It!
To get started with a home movie theater, picture yourself as Russell Crowe playing Maximus in Gladiator. Youre standing in the middle of the Coliseum in Rome, surrounded on all sides by roaring crowds, advancing opponents and pounding chariots. You hear every clash of metal on metal during deadly sword duels. Its as if you were right there, experiencing the sights and sounds along with Maximus. Now youve got the idea: your home movie theater should create an atmosphere of virtual reality.
Theater enthusiasts will tell you that two things are essential to start building your in-home movie theater: a large television and a surround sound system. Consider strongly a TV of at least fifty inches, preferably the sixty-one inch, high definition models. You want to be there, remember. A decade ago, big screen TVs were twenty-five inches; today, a true theater-quality TV less than fifty inches is a contradiction in terms.
In addition to the TV, the heart of your home movie theater sound system is the surround decoder. This device recreates the experience of multi-channel cinema sound right in your home. The decoder separates all audio signals from a sound source and sends the signals to various speakers placed throughout the room. Dolby surround sound indeed puts you into the arena with Maximus. The sound isnt coming at you from the TVs speakers, its coming from all around you, depending on how youve strategically placed your speakers.
Now that youve acquired the basics of your home movie theater, youll want to think further about the location of the theater, its furnishings, and other extras that can turn any evening into a stunning cinema experience.
Wireless Speaker Home Theater Systems
You should try to make sure that every seat in the room is comfortable, and that you can see the screen and hear the speakers from wherever people choose to sit.
Home theaters rely on surround sound to give that mind blowing auditory experience. To add to this awesome array, there is a sixth channel for low frequency effects that can be felt more than heard. After you have decided on your screen, you will need to either have the projector and get it set up, or you will need to have the correct cable and various plug ins for your television. In order to use Intervideo home theater you will need a television card for your computer.
Considered as being worth the few disadvantages, however, this product is one of great popularity.
A projector is a good thing to have because the screen can be bigger than a television screen, and you will be able to see even more of the picture. To feel the exhilaration and excitement from your home theatre system, one option is to get it calibrated by a certified installation technician who will design, install and calibrate the system for you. There are advantages to having surround sound, which further enhances the movie viewing experience by combining the awesome audio effects through a PC connected to the surround sound speakers. Leather home theater seating just adds an extra touch to your setup, and adds more comfort for your family and friends when watching movies.
There are several websites dedicated to reviews of the latest wireless home theater components.
Youve decided that you want a home theater. Some home theater entertainment centers can be made that do not need reconfiguring when one changes ones TV or even shifts residence. Make sure that you have a good television or screen, a projector if needed, and a great surround sound stereo speaker system. |
