Transforming
Home Entertainment by Kathy Scott
Over the years, the world of home entertainment
has radically changed. Twenty-five years ago,
only a small percentage of households in the U.S.
had cable television, and VCRs were merely a luxury
item. Today, most U.S. households get at least
50 channels and have a good-sized TV accompanied
by a variety of electronic components. Many people
are opting to create their own home theater systems,
a combination of electronic components designed
to recreate the experience of watching a movie
in a theater.
While the prospect of building your own home theater
may seem like an overwhelming task, look no further
than your local retailer. A Home Theater In a
Box (HTIB) is offered by nearly every electronics
manufacturer. For as little as a few hundred dollars,
HTIBs are available for nearly every pocketbook
and come easy to install. The essential components
needed to create a home theater system include
a large screen television (27+ inches), equipment
to split up the surround sound signal, a device
to play or broadcast movies in surround sound
and at least four speakers.
Before buying an HTIB, take inventory of all the
audio/video components that you already own and
any A/V components that you might purchase in
the future. Be sure to use the proper digital
audio/video cables to maximize your audio and
video performance. Many HTIB systems are home
network ready, so you can even listen to the music
stored on your PC.
Remember to purchase a home theater system with
enough inputs available on the back of the receiver
to allow you to enjoy the maximum number of home
entertainment options both now and in the future.
Ultimately, the performance of your home theater
system will depend on how much money you are willing
to spend and how important certain areas of performance
are to you.
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