When you walk into the home theater system area of your local consumer electronics outlet, the multitude of choices are daunting. Everything is gleaming under the fluorescent lights, very new and very shiny, each system seemingly saying "buy me, buy me". Before you get to that point, there are many things you need to understand and realize to help you make the best possible decision for your home and your wallet.
First you need to determine which room of your home will house this home theater system. Note that if you are going for the very large screen like 50 or 60 inches or more, the best viewing is from about 10 to 12 feet away. So putting a screen of this size into a small room is going to disappoint you because the screen will not look sharp or crisp. On the other hand, if you go with a smaller screen like a 36 or 42 inch screen, this would be adequate for a small family room or even a larger bedroom.
You will have to decide on which kind of TV you want. Plasma and LCD televisions provide the sharpest and clearest pictures. DLP and rear projection televisions can be somewhat less expensive, but a major negative point is the viewing angle. DLP and rear projections don't give a nice picture when viewing from an angle. Also, make sure your target room where the entertainment center is placed has the appropriate angle. This should help you in your decision on with home theater system to purchase.
Another important component is the receiver. Some receivers for home theatre systems have inputs for your cable TV or satellite dish connection, as well as inputs for a variety of other things, such as your DVD player, your VCR, your surround sound system, and perhaps even a PC input.
Some even have a built-in radio, although these are becoming less common. One of the newer additions to receivers is the ability to play XM radio, although XM radio will require a monthly subscription. So with all these choices, you need to evaluate what is important to you, as well as what you will actually USE. There is little sense, for example, in equipping the receiver with XM radio if you will never or rarely use that option.
First you need to determine which room of your home will house this home theater system. Note that if you are going for the very large screen like 50 or 60 inches or more, the best viewing is from about 10 to 12 feet away. So putting a screen of this size into a small room is going to disappoint you because the screen will not look sharp or crisp. On the other hand, if you go with a smaller screen like a 36 or 42 inch screen, this would be adequate for a small family room or even a larger bedroom.
You will have to decide on which kind of TV you want. Plasma and LCD televisions provide the sharpest and clearest pictures. DLP and rear projection televisions can be somewhat less expensive, but a major negative point is the viewing angle. DLP and rear projections don't give a nice picture when viewing from an angle. Also, make sure your target room where the entertainment center is placed has the appropriate angle. This should help you in your decision on with home theater system to purchase.
Another important component is the receiver. Some receivers for home theatre systems have inputs for your cable TV or satellite dish connection, as well as inputs for a variety of other things, such as your DVD player, your VCR, your surround sound system, and perhaps even a PC input.
Some even have a built-in radio, although these are becoming less common. One of the newer additions to receivers is the ability to play XM radio, although XM radio will require a monthly subscription. So with all these choices, you need to evaluate what is important to you, as well as what you will actually USE. There is little sense, for example, in equipping the receiver with XM radio if you will never or rarely use that option.
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