| There are many decisions out there pertaining | | | | primarily for movies, dipoles would be the |
| to home theater. Often, the quest to find the | | | | way to go. However, if you want to |
| perfect setup can ensure finding one's own | | | | incorporate SACD and DVD audio into this same |
| insanity, similar to working for the boss; no | | | | system, going with more of a direct bookshelf |
| pun intended. Where to begin, where to end; | | | | or smaller tower is often recommended. With |
| that is the question. Like finding the | | | | dipoles, the phase on one of the tweeter is |
| perfect woman (ok we all know the perfect | | | | reversed to enhance the feel of space in your |
| woman doesn't exist), but finding the perfect | | | | listening environment with movies. |
| home theater can often feel like you're | | | | Bookshelves or towers will create a fuller |
| digging for gold. Whether it's a complete 5.1 | | | | response due to the increased excursion |
| or 7.1 system or even a 2-channel setup, | | | | present in each driver and larger internal |
| you're in for a headache if you don't know | | | | volume of cabinet. These are suggested for |
| where to start or even the right questions to | | | | rears with SACD and DVD audio to represent |
| ask. | | | | that of a live concert. |
| | | | |
| First, you need to start with the source; the | | | | The .1 in a home theater system stands for |
| means to power your system. Many go with a | | | | the sub. If it were .2 or a 5.2 system, there |
| receiver where you have a processor as well | | | | would be 2 subs helping to equalize bass |
| as an amplifier built into one to save space | | | | response, producing an essential balance for |
| in a HT center. The other option would be to | | | | action/adventure movies. Subwoofers come in |
| go with separates. One unit processes the | | | | different forms for use in several |
| information, while the other unit does the | | | | applications. A common type of subwoofer is |
| amplification. Separates enable a better | | | | one that has a porthole built into the |
| sound quality, but generally cost more than a | | | | cabinet, releasing the pressure. This design |
| receiver. | | | | allows for a lower bass response as the |
| | | | driver has the opportunity to attain a lower |
| You'll next want to choose the speakers that | | | | frequency response. This type of subwoofer is |
| suit you best or sound the best to you. Once | | | | ideal for movies, and by placing the sub into |
| you choose a brand, you'll want to stick with | | | | a corner of the room, explosions come to life |
| that particular brand and/or same series for | | | | more effectively. |
| all speakers across your HT setup. This will | | | | |
| enable a proper timbre-match and assure what | | | | Another type of subwoofer is one with no port |
| you're listening to is the way the recording | | | | hole built in or known as a sealed enclosure. |
| studio intended it to be. Timbre-matching is | | | | This sub will play tight and accurate with |
| also crucial for generating those subtle yet | | | | the rest of the frequencies, making this sub |
| effective sounds, and having a powerful amp | | | | the most musically sounding and versatile to |
| will only make these sounds more life-like. | | | | play with both movies and 2-channel music. |
| | | | The bass response isn't generally as low as |
| A set of speakers for the front left and | | | | that of a ported design, but often sounds |
| right of your TV should be the first set of | | | | cleaner and more refined in the sealed |
| speakers you invest in. This decision should | | | | enclosure type due to increased decay. |
| be based off the fact on whether you're going | | | | |
| to be using these speakers for movies, | | | | Another design, not quite as popular as the |
| 2-channel music, or both. The size of room | | | | first two, is the passive radiator type. This |
| you're placing these speakers is also a big | | | | design utilizes an active driver with one or |
| factor in terms of choosing between a tower | | | | more 'fake' drivers on opposite sides of the |
| speaker and a bookshelf. Tower are generally | | | | cabinet that act in a way to increase |
| recommended for 2-channel music, as then you | | | | excursion of the overall subwoofer itself. |
| wouldn't necessarily need a sub to achieve a | | | | This provides for an efficient method to |
| low end response. Having towers are also | | | | achieve a lower frequency yet maintain a |
| beneficial for movies, where a full and more | | | | proportional cabinet design. These subs are |
| accurate response would be created for | | | | generally used for movie settings, but can |
| movies. If your room is on the smaller side, | | | | also be used for music although a delay may |
| bookshelves may be the way to go. | | | | occur as these subs are purposely built to |
| | | | fulfill sub-low frequencies. |
| The speaker often depicted, as the most | | | | |
| important in an HT environment is the center | | | | Speaker wire is needed to transfer the |
| channel, as about 60% of the information | | | | electrons from your receiver/amplifier to |
| pertained in a movie comes through this | | | | each channel, where by the means of |
| channel. Having a center speaker with larger | | | | electromagnetics, these electrons are |
| drivers and a decent-sized internal cabinet | | | | transformed to audible sound waves. The |
| volume will prove valuable for maintaining a | | | | thicker the speaker wire, the higher the |
| constant volume across all channels in your | | | | potential for more electrons to travel to |
| HT system, regardless of the movie. | | | | each speaker. If you're running speaker wire |
| | | | longer than 25 feet, it's often recommended |
| Rear speakers are the next selection for your | | | | you have speaker wire at least 12 gauge. |
| HT system. If this system is going to be used | | | | |