| If you're in the market for a new home entertainment | | | | your cable TV or satellite dish connection, as well as |
| system, you've most likely heard of the latest and | | | | inputs for a variety of other things, such as your DVD |
| greatest new technology televisions with new | | | | player, your VCR, your surround sound system, and |
| affordable price tags. However, prices are dropping | | | | perhaps even a PC input. Some even have a built-in |
| drastically on media technology across the board, | | | | radio, although these are becoming less common. One |
| meaning that serious theater technology can now be | | | | of the newer additions to receivers is the ability to play |
| purchased for around $2000, roughly the cost of a | | | | XM radio, although XM radio will require a monthly |
| high-end television. You can have a professional quality | | | | subscription. So with all these choices, you need to |
| home entertainment system for less then you may | | | | evaluate what is important to you, as well as what you |
| think. | | | | will actually USE. There is little sense, for example, in |
| First you need to determine which room of your home | | | | equipping the receiver with XM radio if you will never |
| will house this home theatre system. Note that if you | | | | or rarely use that option. |
| are going for the very large screen like 50 or 60 | | | | No home theatre system is complete without a good |
| inches or more, the best viewing is from about 10 to 12 | | | | speaker system. Ideally, the surround sound should be |
| feet away. So putting a screen of this size into a small | | | | Dolby 7.1 or at least Dolby 5.1. If you are going to spend |
| room is going to disappoint you because the screen | | | | the money on a great home theatre system, it makes |
| will not look sharp or crisp. On the other hand, if you go | | | | little sense to "cheap out" with the speakers and audio |
| with a smaller screen like a 36 or 42 inch screen, this | | | | system, since after the picture, the SOUND is the |
| would be adequate for a small family room or even a | | | | other component that lights up your internal sensory |
| larger bedroom. | | | | perceptors as you are enjoying your system. |
| You need to decide on what type of display you want. | | | | You can even go the extra mile with your surround |
| LCD and plasma displays will provide the clearest and | | | | sound system if you want to go whole hog, and use |
| sharpest images. DLP and rear projection systems | | | | the "bass shaker" attachments that are available with |
| can cost less, but a major disadvantage in these | | | | some systems. These gadgets attach to your recliner |
| systems is the viewing angle -- DLP and rear | | | | or sofa, and when a scene comes on with an |
| projection do not provide as clear a picture when | | | | explosion or car wreck, these gadgets actually |
| viewing the screen from an angle. Again, examine your | | | | SHAKE the recliner or sofa, adding to the realism of |
| target room where your system will be located, and | | | | the movie. |
| determine the typical viewing angle for the viewers | | | | Be willing to learn if you run across an intelligent |
| which should help you decide the best display | | | | salesperson who knows what he is talking about, and |
| technology to use.visit | | | | stick to your budget. You will be able to enjoy your |
| Another important component is the receiver. Some | | | | investment in this superb home theatre system for |
| receivers for home theatre systems have inputs for | | | | years to come. |