| Are you ready to buy a home theater audio system? | | | | want before you ruminate on your budget. Is it stereo, |
| Here are several tips to help you find the right audio | | | | surround sound, or primarily movies? |
| system for you. | | | | 3. Spend a few hours looking around on key sites and |
| 1. Spend some quality time with the room you are | | | | forums and you will know more than most. Friends, |
| going to put your new home theater audio system. | | | | family, trade and consumer magazines and inquiring |
| Believe it or not but the room is as much a component | | | | jaunts to your favorite electronic store will help you |
| in your home theater system as any of the electronics | | | | gain customer leverage. Do not buy anything at this |
| you will ever buy. Ask yourself which room you will be | | | | point. Get as much information stuffed into your brain |
| putting your new system in. Consider whether or not | | | | that will help you when the time comes for you to buy |
| this room is going to be used solely for you system or | | | | your system. |
| will it be used for other activities. Will there be any size | | | | 4. Revisit the drawing of your room and your research. |
| considerations for the components and speakers you | | | | You will ultimately end up with two, possibly three |
| plan on using with the dimensions of the room? | | | | choices. By now you should be a confident consumer. |
| Consider drawing a map of your room and sketch the | | | | Decide what you absolutely want. |
| possible placements of your furniture, components and | | | | 5. There are values out there the trick is to be an |
| speakers. Measure the room's dimensions and write | | | | expert on home theater audio systems. Keep your |
| them down. Make a list of all the inputs you currently | | | | eyes open for great deals. Big electronic stores offer |
| have and will continue to use. Make a list of the inputs | | | | promotions, online manufacturers can offer radically |
| you intend to add to your new audio system. You | | | | lower markup than retailers and online auctions offer |
| should write down which components are going to | | | | access to deals all over the world. |
| need cables and wires. Also, write down the | | | | 6. Don't get stuck with a mismatched TV size for your |
| approximate lengths of those cables and wires. Once | | | | room. The key here is balance. If the TV is too big |
| all of this is worked out carry this information and map | | | | then you tend to see the details of the screen, not the |
| with you when you go out to buy your new audio | | | | image. If the TV is too small you might feel like you're |
| system. | | | | sitting in the nosebleed section. Here is an equation to |
| It is important to arrange your room for optimal picture | | | | help you decide the best screen size for your room. |
| and sound by reducing screen and hard surface | | | | 2.5 x The size of you TV screen = Suggested viewing |
| reflections. Do not forget the TV picture is not very | | | | distance |
| pretty when light is reflecting off the screen. Also, | | | | For example: If your TV is 36" then according to the |
| audio is not so wonderful when sound waves are | | | | equation you should sit about 90" from your TV (36 x |
| reflecting off hard surfaces like bare walls and | | | | 2.5 = 90). Note that this chart in only a reference. |
| windows. | | | | Good luck finding the home theater audio system to fit |
| 2. Decide on what you want to experience when you | | | | your needs. Enjoy shopping and make the experience |
| settle down on your couch with your partner and a big | | | | fun. |
| bowl of popcorn. Ruminate on the experience you | | | | |