| The home entertainment market was created when | | | | quality. These are TVs that have a wide, flat screen |
| the VHS was invented; it brought entertainment to | | | | that minimizes visual distortions dramatically. A large |
| people's living rooms and bedrooms. The VHS | | | | variety of screen sizes are available in display sizes |
| progressed to VCDs and DVDs which became the | | | | ranging from 20" to 65". They come with very high |
| latest in the home entertainment. The cinema theaters, | | | | resolutions varying from 1024x768 pixels, 1280x768 |
| meanwhile, still had their hold on audiences due to | | | | pixels, 1366x768 pixels, and 1024x1024 pixels. The HD |
| certain unique characteristics such as a big screen, | | | | TVs are equipped to provide higher levels of |
| digital sound effects, high amplified sounds, and the | | | | brightness and contrast ratios. Brightness can vary |
| entire theater experience. There has been a constant | | | | from 450cd/m2 to 1,200cd/m2, while contrast ratios |
| effort to bridge this gap between the theater movie | | | | are 400:1 to as high as and 10,000:1. All these attributes |
| experience and that of the home entertainment | | | | provide for a greater picture resolution and result in |
| system. There have been great technological | | | | very clear and well defined visual quality. |
| advancements in this field, and the present home | | | | The audio quality is as important in the audio-visual |
| theater systems have brought theater quality of | | | | medium as the picture quality. There are a lot of |
| entertainment into people's home with the invention of | | | | options available in the market that can constantly |
| high definition technology. | | | | cater to high quality listening experience. There are |
| High Definition Technology | | | | three main systems used in the surround sound |
| The HD or High Definition technology comprises of HD | | | | system; Virtual Surround, Dolby Digital, and the DTS |
| Televisions, HD DVD players, and HD DVDs, which | | | | system. For televisions that are not HD compatible, |
| when combined with accessories like high quality | | | | provisions can be made to make them HD-compliant |
| amplifiers and speaker systems, provide for an | | | | by minor modifications. |
| exceptional quality of home theater system. The HD | | | | The major brands selling HD TVs in the market are |
| technology is relatively new, but has become very | | | | Sharp, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, Pioneer, Philips, |
| popular among consumers. HD equipment may seem | | | | Toshiba, and several others. HD TVs are available in a |
| to be expensive to the average consumer at first, but | | | | wide price range of $2000 to $5000, depending on the |
| with time, as is true with all other types of technologies, | | | | technology, brand, and features available. |
| these prices will come down as the usage becomes | | | | Amplifiers or Home Theater Receivers |
| widespread and more advanced technologies emerge. | | | | The amplifiers or home theater receivers are the hub |
| High definition televisions have already been around in | | | | of a home entertainment system and provide high |
| the markets for some time. HD DVD players were | | | | quality digital-to-analog conversions. They decode and |
| rolled-out in Japan in March 2006 by the Japanese | | | | process any type of program material or surround |
| electronics giant, Toshiba Corp. This was followed by | | | | mode of audio. They are capable of passing HD |
| their inauguration in the U.S. a few days later, and they | | | | signals by converting all S-video and composite video |
| are scheduled to hit the UK market by the end of April. | | | | inputs to the component video. Certain receivers also |
| There is a lot of excitement regarding this technology, | | | | provide features like digital video recorders that enable |
| and people are expecting to see a revolution in home | | | | viewers to watch and record programs in HD picture |
| theater quality. | | | | quality. The price range of digital amplifiers can vary |
| HD DVD Players and DVDs | | | | from $300 to $750. |
| The HD DVD or High Definition DVD was introduced in | | | | The Dolby system and the DTS (Digital Theater |
| 2005 and was an adaptation of the existing basic | | | | System) are currently very popular in both the home |
| structure of the DVD. The HD DVD has a greater | | | | theater and the movie recordings. The first Dolby digital |
| storage capacity and can provide better audio and | | | | format (AC-1) was used in 1984, followed by the AC-2 |
| video quality as compared to a DVD. The HD DVDs | | | | improvement that was used for cinema. The latest, |
| are integrated with a state-of-the-art content | | | | Dolby Digital (AC3) arrived in the cinemas in the year |
| protection technology which is unique to this medium. | | | | 1992. With the advancements made in the digital |
| The storage capacity is 15 GB for a single layer, 30GB | | | | technologies, Dolby was later introduced in home |
| for a dual layer, and 45GB for a triple layer HD DVD. It | | | | theatre systems. |
| uses the highly sophisticated compression techniques | | | | At present there are Dolby 5.1, 6.1 and the latest Dolby |
| of MPEG-4 for increased capacity. At the core of the | | | | 7.1. These names are based on the number of |
| DVD format is a blue laser, having a shorter | | | | channels provided. These also come with a great |
| wavelength (405nm) that allows discs to store data at | | | | variety of speaker systems that include home theater |
| higher densities that are needed for high-definition | | | | subwoofers, speaker kits, in ceiling, in wall, book shelf |
| movies and television. Toshiba has brought into the | | | | speakers, center channel speakers, and floor standing |
| market two models of HD DVD players, the HD-XA1 | | | | speakers. They are available in a price range of $350 |
| and HD-A1, in the United States, priced at $799 and | | | | to $1500. |
| $499 respectively. The new machines are expected | | | | The overall effect of a home theater system is |
| to breathe new life into the home video market and | | | | greatly influenced by the type and placement of |
| change the way people perceive home theater. | | | | speakers and the acoustic quality of the room in use. |
| HD TV | | | | The right equipment combined with the right type of |
| The large screen plasma TVs and the LCD TVs have | | | | room make for the ultimate home entertainment |
| already been in the markets for some time and are | | | | theater. |
| widely acclaimed to have achieved high levels of | | | | |