| Having a good home cinema system is the closest | | | | television screen. |
| thing to enjoying a cinematic experience without | | | | Blu-ray is the newest technology in DVD entertainment |
| actually having to go to the cinema. Each of the major | | | | and is fast catching up in the marketplace with DVD |
| components of a home theatre system come in a | | | | HD. As an example, Sony's new Playstation 3 |
| range of specifications and models and what you | | | | embodies Blu-Ray technology, thus combining game |
| choose will depend on the several factors, including | | | | play with high resolution DVD playback. |
| your watching environment and budget. | | | | Amplifier and Speakers |
| Display Unit | | | | Naturally, there is little point in having a great television |
| This could possibly be the easiest item to procure, | | | | and DVD player if you opt for a low end sound |
| mainly because you may have one already, which you | | | | system. Decent home cinema requires surround sound. |
| currently use to watch television. However, you may | | | | This can be obtained either as an integrated system or |
| want something more geared towards high-impact | | | | purchased separately as components. The latter |
| home cinema. | | | | approach requires quite considerable knowledge of hi-fi |
| Display units come in LCD, plasma or traditional CRT | | | | and compatibility issues and generally deeper pockets |
| models, the latter of which which are expected to | | | | but may yield a better overall result. Many people opt |
| eventually exit the market after decades of | | | | for integrated systems from a single manufacturer for |
| dominance. For the ultimate cinematic experience, you | | | | simplicity and budgetary reasons - these are getting |
| should look for high-definition television sets that are | | | | better all the time. |
| capable of handling and displaying higher resolution | | | | Look for a minimum of five speakers plus a |
| images than normal TVs and offer sharper pictures, | | | | sub-woofer for bass sound reproduction. Some |
| richer colours and thus a more realistic cinematic | | | | systems offer as many as nine speakers for 9:1 |
| experience. | | | | surround sound although few DVDs are recorded with |
| Of course, the larger your screen, the more you can | | | | this in mind so the benefit of the additional effects |
| replicate the cinema experience in your home. | | | | speakers is likely to be marginal. Surround sound |
| However, bigger doesn't always mean better. Make | | | | systems comprise an amplifier and decoder which |
| sure your screen fits in with the dimensions of your | | | | takes the signal from your DVD player, divdes it into |
| living area or room. Flat-panel televisions are ideal | | | | the requisite number of 'channels' and amplifies it out to |
| because they can be hung on a wall or otherwise | | | | the speakers. All systems have front right and left |
| located without unduly intruding into your living / viewing | | | | speakers which handle music and voice, a centre |
| space. | | | | speaker, primarily for voice, a sub-woofer for bass |
| As another large screen option, you can also choose | | | | reproduction (which can be located anywhere in the |
| rear-projection models, which project an image on to a | | | | room) and two or more rear effects speakers which |
| translucent screen. Although historically these have | | | | provide the all-encompassing surround sound. |
| been sometimes bulky and impractical for many | | | | Conclusion |
| homes, newer models are becoming increasingly | | | | With all of the components ready, you should be able |
| compact. | | | | to enjoy your favourite movies in as close to a |
| DVD Player | | | | cinematic environment as you can get, without having |
| Do not underestimate the importance of your DVD | | | | to leave your home. It is important that you choose a |
| player for home cinema entertainment systems. You | | | | system that is appropriately sized and has appropriate |
| will generally need more than a portable and low-end | | | | sound output power for your home and budget. It is |
| model to ensure the best viewing experience. | | | | better to spend more on higher quality items from |
| For the best pictures, you require a DVD unit with | | | | reputable manufacturers and perhaps compromise a |
| high-definition (HD) or Blu-ray capabilities. The | | | | little on size and output as a result. Always check the |
| companies that manufacture traditional DVDs also | | | | compatibity in terms of signal types and connections |
| now offer HD / Blu-Ray players, which send out | | | | between the different components and be sure to see |
| high-resolution signals to the television screen and | | | | the components working in a demonstration room |
| make for crisper and sharper images with added | | | | (ideally all together) before finally committing to a |
| depth. Be sure that the output of your DVD player is | | | | purchase. |
| compatible with your surround sound system and | | | | |