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Everyone has that friend who was pumped about anything that had to do with a home theater system. They are usually tech addicts who always have the latest gadgetry. My friend is riding the home movie theater wave and must have dropped five or six thousand dollars into all of components that he bought for his system. He started even before he had a house and so he had it all set up in his bedroom at his parents. And I've got to hand it to him, his system had some serious power.
The sound from the speakers was big enough that pictures would fall off the walls upstairs if he wasn't careful. Anyway you have to laugh when you hear what he finally did put it in when he got his own place—an efficiency apartment in downtown Chicago. I am here to tell you that this was the best movie going experience ever given by a man with a small inner city apartment. Sitting on the couch while the movie blasted on the large screen that engulfed one whole wall of the apartment was as near to real as you could hope for.
Well enough about my friend, what I am really here to talk about in this article is the fact that you want a new home theater for your home and you want to know the basics about what to get and how to know it is good. My guess too is that you are not as in to loud action/thriller type movies like you used to be and therefore you just want a straight up system that gives you the best that the digital music sound has to offer and lets you have it high or low depending on your mood and the movie.
So it at least needs a DVD player because the tape deck is out. Other newer and cooler things are wireless receivers and little ports where you can plug in your ipod and play movies on your home theater system off of that. Talk about an all in one digital media collection! So what about speakers and other components like projectors?
Speakers are definitely one of the most important things in a home theater system as they produce whatever sound you are going to hear. So this is where you probably have to be willing to lay down some serious cash. For most people the middle of the line in quality is good enough (they won't be able to tell the difference between these and the top of the line) but these will still run you anywhere from one to two thousand with installation and all that.
Thanks to advances in modern audio and video technology, more and more people are becoming home theater enthusiasts. And while some home theater system owners approach their systems as if money is no object, this is certainly not an option for most would-be home theater owners. Luckily, the recent advances in technology have also made home theater equipment even more affordable, allowing even those on a limited budget to buy a powerful home theater system as long as you know what to look for.
There are several things you should consider once you decide to buy a home theater system, specially on a limited budget (around $1000 or less). Since this is a popular price range, there are several options to choose from for each of the components you'll need to purchase. The goal is to have a system that gives you great performance, several steps up from the typical "home theater in a box" but still taking up minimal space. We'll take a look at the components you'll need and some considerations you should keep in mind. Note that since we're working with a $1000 or less budget, we'll leave out the television for now and assume you're using your current TV in the meantime.
Receiver: The receiver should certainly have Dolby Digital™ 5.1 surround sound to provide an immersive experience when watching your favorite DVDs. It should also be expandable to other formats as your system grows. That way, you can rest assured that your receiver will still be able to satisfy your audio needs for years to come.
DVD Player: Definitely look for a quality DVD player. You can certainly find players in the sub-$100 range but you should be cautious on such deals and definitely check the warranty and return policy just in case. Something in the $150 ballpark will likely be sufficient but price isn't the only factor to consider. Since we're aiming for a 5.1 surround sound system, you'll need to be sure the DVD player is Dolby Digital ™ compatible to ensure you have the best audio output from your new system (most players are). In addition, check to see what type of video inputs your television has--either component video, s-video or composite/analog video (which have been listed in order of video quality). You'll want to be sure your DVD player has outputs compatible with the best quality video input on your television. Finally, keep in mind that your DVD player will play a dual role, acting as your CD player as well.
Speakers: Again, with the goal being a 5.1 surround sound system, you'll probably want to go with a set of speakers rather than purchasing them separately or in pairs. You'll have 6 speakers in all, one in each corner of the room (roughly), one speaker front and center either on or just below the television and one subwoofer to handle the bass. You'll want to ensure that the speakers are rated to handle the amount of power put out by the amplifier in your receiver. That way, you can enjoy full, rich surround sound without stressing your speakers and possibly damaging them.
Cables: Finally, you'll need several types of interconnect cables to wire everything together. Some of these might come with the individual components you purchase depending on the model. If not, shoot for mid-priced cables rather than the lower end options. Surprisingly enough, the quality of the cables you purchase can have a dramatic effect on the overall performance of your system so skimping here is not advised.
By following these simple guidelines, you'll be able to find the best components to build your new home theater system. And you can rest assured that it will have all the features you need for a great home theater experience without breaking the bank.