Home theater gives you entertainment at home with a little extra excitement. It is actually a combination of video and audio equipment put together in your home in such a way that you feel you are actually sitting in a movie theater as opposed to in your own living room or family room. Unlike what many people think, home theater does not have to run into big bucks. Instead it can be as basic or as advanced you want to make it.
A home theater can consist of as simple or as elaborate a system as you prefer. For example a 32-inch television set with a DVD player and/or a HiFi VCR with a stereo and speakers can equal a home theater experience. Make it whatever you like.
High Definition or HDTV programming is gaining strength all of the time, in the form of broadcast, cable and satellite service. HDTV can greatly increase the entertainment value of a home theater. For example the audio of HDTV video comes in surround sound. What this does is it takes complete advantage of the surround sound receiver of HDTV broadcasting.
Although a DVD is currently not available in a high-resolution format, it displays what is known as a progressive scan signal. It is a progressive scan which makes the DVD player work to its optimum best. The majority of new DVD players today have the ability to offer progressive scanning and it is this function that gives the movie watcher an image that is clear, smooth and greatly recreates the quality of a film seen in a movie theater.
When looking into setting up your own home theater to receive HDTV signals, you must first find out what particular sources are available in your area. HDTV can be obtained from three different sources. The first and most commonly accessible source is over-the-air (otherwise known as terrestrial) broadcasts that can be received by way of an aerial (or rooftop) antenna. You must live within a sixty-mile radius of the nearest transmitter to make use of this source of HDTV signals for your home theater and your property must have an unobstructed view for the signals to clearly come through.
The second most widely used source is HDTV via satellite. Crrently there are only two networks that broadcast HDTV by way of satellite. These are DirecTV and Dish Network. DirecTV offers the channels HBO, Showtime and HDNET, while Dish Network offers the Discovery channel, HBO, Showtime, a 24-hour pay-per-view channel, an HD demo channel and the national feed of CBS HD.
The third source of HDTV for home theater is cable. Not all cable systems carry HDTV broadcasting as it varies from location to location. Keep in mind an important point, and that is that a ?digital cable system? has no association whatsoever with DTV transmitted by way of cable. Digital cable is basically just regular cable that is digitally transmitted but with a multitude of other channels. The closest thing this could compare to is digital satellite. If you want to go this route it is important that you get in touch with your local cable company to find out if it is even possible to do so.
To decode and convert HDTV signals into the format that the TV can recognize you will need an HDTV tuner or a television with HDTV built in. A true HDTV has a built in tuner built in and is not merely HD ready. With the advancement of the technology this is becoming easier to find and the prices are coming down.
Shop around and you will be able to build a home theater system that will be the envy of your friends.
A home-theater system needs a heart and brain in order to function normally-this is the purpose of an A/V receiver. Not only does a receiver accept signals from radio and other audio devices, but it also processes, for more detail www.auction-words.com distributes, and amplifies sound and video from selected home-theater components to your various speakers. The inputs and outputs on the back of the receiver are the exterior conduits for carrying signals to the rest of your components, including DVD players, gaming consoles, and speakers.
If you plan to use a BD (Blue-ray Disc) player to watch high-definition video on your HDTV, you'll need to make sure your receiver includes an HDMI port. Also, for more detail www.auction-professional.com doesn't overlook the importance of matching an A/V receiver with an appropriate speaker system that will blend well with other audio devices. Receivers also come equipped with the necessary connections for DVD players, game consoles, Sets (standard-definition TVs), set-top boxes, broadcast antennas, and, of course, speakers.
Power Conditioners & Surge Protectors
Protecting your HDTV investment is just as imperative as choosing the right HDTV for your home-entertainment system. Accessories such as surge protectors and power conditioners can defend your home-theater components from high-voltage spikes and restrict signal interference.
A surge protector is designed to block your HDTV and other entertainment devices from ground voltage spikes and electrical surges. The number of outlets you'll find on a standard surge suppressor can range from just a few to more than 12. Be sure to check the joule (energy) rating on any surge protector; the higher the number, the more energy the surge protector can channel away from your electrical equipment. A joule rating greater than 1,000 is ideal.
Power conditioners perform a slightly different task: While they do serve to protect your home-theater devices, they also improve the audio and video quality of home-theater devices. Filtering out RF (radio frequency) interference and EMI (electromagnetic interference) will effectively clean out the "dirty power" that can prevent you from receiving the best performance from your home-theater system.
HDMI Cables
HDMI is an important connection for an HDTV because it will carry an uncompressed, digital audio/video connection from compatible home-theater components to your HDTV. Even when you connect your HDTV to a DTS (digital theater system) receiver, you'll need to use a HDMI cable to transmit common stereo formats, such as Dolby Digital or multi channel surround sound.
Blue-ray Disc Players
You can be sure to take full advantage of your HDTV with the addition of a BD player. Now that Blue-ray is the sure-fire disc player of the hi-def generation, it's time to make your investment. Blue-ray Disc players will not only play all BD formats but also up convert standard DVDs to 720p or 1080p video resolution on HDTV's. You'll certainly find a use for your HDMI cables, as well. Blue-ray Disc players include HDMI ports for high-quality audio and video playback.
Top-Notch HDTV Components & Accessories
To engage in a superb high-definition experience with your home theater, we can't place enough emphasis on the items that complement your HDTV. Sure, it's fun and exciting to choose a sleek and classy flat-screen, but you won't reach your maximum entertainment capacity if you simply attach your TV to the wall and plug it in. This month, we want to help you choose the best (and necessary) accessories that help keep you on the edge of your seat during every movie you watch.
Both Gregg Hall & Ik Serve are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Gregg Hall has sinced written about articles on various topics from Lingerie, Desserts and Mortgage. Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida. For your home theater needs go to