How To Choose The Best Stereo Receiver For Your Needs

It used to be a lot simpler to find the best stereo receiver for your needs since most people only used receivers for their home audio system, but today the addition of video devices and the multitude of audio/video sources makes the choice more demanding. So here are a few tips to keep in mind as you shop for a stereo or digital receiver.

First of all make sure that the receiver that you choose to be the brain of your home entertainment center will be able to support all the devices that you intend to use with it. These days video and audio can come from a variety of sources including camcorders, digital video recorders, DVD players, cable or satellite boxes, video game systems, cd players and so on. You will need to have corresponding inputs for however many devices that you intend to use. So plan ahead and make sure the receiver you buy will fit your needs that way. You will have to pay more for a digital receiver that carries a plethora of input connections, but it will be worth it in the long run.

Also be sure that the connections for both audio and video match between your components and the receiver. Most devices can support a standard composite cable connection, but for your best video sources you will probably want some S-video connections that produce a better screen picture with more detail. On the audio side, if you are using surround sound as many people are these days, make sure that the audio connections from your components match the inputs on your receiver. For digital equipment it is usually either an optical or coaxial connection, but whichever it is, be sure that the connections on both ends will match.

Then be sure that the receiver will be sufficient for your room size. Most rooms will take about 50 watts per channel to power the speakers sufficiently, but larger rooms may require 75 watts per channel and very large rooms can use 100 watts per channel to fill the room up with sound.

You also will need to match the receiver to your speakers too as some speakers use different ohm ratings to accomplish their sound purpose. An ohm has to do with how much resistance there is to the current being sent from the receiver. If you match an 8 ohm receiver with a set of 4 ohm speakers you may damage your receiver because of all the overwork that it has to do to keep up with the current demand from the speakers. So just make sure that you match the receiver requirements to the speaker set that you have.

Finally, don't assume that price is the definitive guide for quality. Many reviews of the best stereo receivers have concluded that high quality equipment does not always cost more, so read the reviews, shop around thoroughly and follow the suggestions given above and you can make a good stereo receiver purchase.

Thad Pickering writes on many consumer related topics including audio and video. You can find free stereo receiver reviews and the best stereo receivers by visiting our Home Theater website.

Home Entertainment Theater Decorating

Now that technology has made having an in-home entertainment system a reality, how do you go about incorporating one into your own home? Creating a home theater involves more than just choosing a system, you've got to design a space that will provide the best viewing experience.

First decision: location. To create a true theater experience, you'll want to have as little interruption from outside light as possible. For that reason, many people use a basement or an attic room for their home theater. If you don't have an attic or basement, choose a room with the fewest or smallest windows. Covering the windows with both pull-down shades and heavy, dark-colored curtains will best darken the room for optimal viewing during the daytime. Check with home-improvement stores and window showrooms for special black-out curtains and shades.

You might think that wall color isn't a big issue in your home theater-since the lights will usually be off. However, you should give wall and floor treatments some consideration so that they don't distract during show time. For example, you'll want to use dark, deep colors such as brown, deep red or charcoal gray to keep the walls in the background while a movie is playing. Textured wall covering or matte finish paint will keep walls from shining with screen light reflection.

Although the lights will usually be off in your home entertainment room, you'll need a good lighting source for entering and leaving the room. It's best to avoid overhead lights as they can be too glaring. Sconces that produce soft light on walls and recessed lighting are the best choices for this room. Use dimmers to control the lighting so that you can adjust the brightness to keep viewers' eyes comfortable.

The kind of seating you choose for your home entertainment theater depends on the kind of crowd you expect to entertain. Will your young children and their friends be the heaviest users? If so, a couple of large sofas will work well. Kids tend to fight over individual seats, but they can all pile on a sturdy sofa. An added benefit to a comfy couch is the opportunity for one or two people to simply sprawl over it for more private viewing. Recliners and loveseats offer a comfortable seat for teens and adults. In fact, why not put a number of recliners in the room, so everyone can have the most comfortable seat in the house? If multiple recliners are not in your budget, easy chair/ottoman sets work just as well, if not better. In a pinch, the ottoman serves as extra seating.

The finishing touches in decorating your home entertainment theater are the most practical ones. A solid level surface, such as a wooden table or T.V. tray, within reach of each seating area makes it easy for viewers to set down snacks or drinks. To avoid having to leave the room to replenish snacks, keep a mini refrigerator in the room, and use cupboards or existing closet shelves for dry snacks. A small microwave oven will let you make popcorn and heat up nachos without ever leaving your home entertainment haven.

Additional information, resources, and updates for this article can be found at: http://www.diyhomedecorating.com/articles/2005-10/203/home-entertainment-theater-decorating/

? 2005, Kathy Burns-Millyard. Visit The Do It Yourself Home Decorating Network - http://www.diyhomedecorating.com - for more Decorating Ideas, Tips and Resources.

Home Theater Surround Sound ? A True Home Theater Can't Be Without It

Home theater surround sound is noticeably different and much, much better than the sound from a normal television. For true surround sound, you need 2 or 3 speakers both in front and behind you. You should also have a subwoofer situated somewhere in the room to produce those ultra-low booming and rumbling sounds that are sure to vibrate your bones.

In this modern day and age, most home theater surround sound systems are digital. Digital means that the audio from specific video content, a DVD for example, has been separated into multiple channels so you're able to differentiate sounds coming from the left, right, rear-left and rear-right speakers. Let's say two actors are talking, one's on the left side of the screen, the other is on the right and in the background and a loud truck drives by. If you have digital surround sound, you'll be able to hear the leftmost actor's voice come more from the left speakers and the opposite for the rightmost actor. From the rear speakers, you'll hear that loud truck start at the left speaker then pan to the right, finally fading out.

Indeed, home theater surround sound is essential if you want to fully immerse yourself in a movie. At the core of home theater surround sound is a digital receiver. This receiver is the piece of hardware that is connected to your DVD player and outputs sound to the speakers. It has the most important role of sorting out the various sounds and sending them to the right speakers at the right volume.

For the average buyer, a home theater surround sound system will come in a single package. It may be referred to as a home theater in a box and prices for these will start at around $250 but can go higher than $2500 for a true top of the line set. Note that, despite what the name home theater in a box implies, a television screen is never included in the box, unfortunately.

Home theater surround sound, while varying in quality and price, is truly essential to having a real home theater. Remember, before buying any piece of home theater surround sound equipment, test it in-store to make sure the quality matches what the salesperson is telling you. Different home theater surround sound systems appeal to different individuals' unique way of interpreting sound, so just because it's the top of the line model doesn't mean you'll necessarily like it better than one that's priced $200 cheaper.

Nick Crane is a successful Webmaster and publisher of MyHomeTheaterZone.com. Visit his site at http://www.myhometheaterzone.com for more articles and valuable resources for everything you need to choose the best equipment for your own home theater.

Home Theater Design: Optimum Speaker Placement

The standard theater arrangement is of course a screen at one end of the room, with one central speaker, one speaker to each side of the screen, two speakers providing surround left and right, and sometimes a speaker providing surround rear. If you have your room arranged this way, chances are good that you call it your home theater, and speaker placement is fairly straightforward for you. The ideal placement has the front speakers at the same height from the ground, usually either slightly above or slightly below the display, and the surround speakers at least 60cm above the heads of the viewers.

The front center speaker should ideally be in the same position as the screen; the front left and right speakers should be placed approximately 25 degrees to the left and right of the direction the viewers face, and about the same distance from the viewers; the surround left and surround right speakers should be 90 degrees to the left and right of this direction, and, again, about the same distance from the viewers; and the surround rear, as its name suggests, should be directly behind the viewers. A subwoofer if used can theoretically be placed anywhere in the room.

For many people, and I include myself in this, the design of your home is such that it does not comfortably permit a room set up in this way. After all, unless you are very lucky, the chances are that the room that contains your home theater equipment doubles as your living room, and you will not want it to be dominated by a screen. You may not wish to call it your home theater as such. To solve this problem, you need to draw a scale diagram of your room. Add your intended screen placement to the drawing, along with the seating arrangements (your sofas and chairs), and identify where people will be sitting when they watch movies, and the direction in which they will be looking.

The next thing you need to do is to draw a line from each viewer directly to the screen, which shows the direction in which each viewer faces. Then draw a line angled 25 degrees to the left of the line you have just drawn from the viewer, for each viewer, until it meets the wall. If the speaker is placed anywhere along that line, then it will be at the correct angle for the appropriate viewer. You need to identify a point along the wall fairly close to the position at which these lines reach the wall. This will usually be somewhere near the middle of the collection of lines. You have then identified the optimum home theater placement for your front left speaker.

You now need to do the same thing, but angle the lines 25 degrees to the right of the direction in which the viewers face. With these lines you can identify the optimum home theater placement for the front right speaker.

Repeat for lines angled 90 degrees to the left, 90 degrees to the right, and 180 degrees (a continuation of the line from viewer to screen, but in reverse). With these lines, you can identify the optimum home theater placement for the surround left speaker, the surround right speaker, and the surround rear speaker.

Ideally, the front left and right speakers should be placed at the same distance from each viewer, as should the surround left and right speakers. This will normally not be possible to achieve, so it should be approximated. Far more important are the speaker placement angles for each viewer, which should ideally not be more than about 15 degrees away from the optimum position. Optimum home theater speaker placement depends on minimizing the angle error for each viewer.

Your subwoofer could be placed theoretically at any point in the room, because the ear cannot easily determine the direction of low-frequency sounds. However, you may find that positioning the subwoofer at different parts of the room change the sounds from the subwoofer; some frequencies may be amplified, while others may be reduced, especially if the subwoofer is placed near a wall or corner of the room. It is suggested that you experiment with the placement of your subwoofer until you find a position that you like.

Some other considerations may affect the position in which you place the speakers. You will not want your speakers in a position where they obstruct a path that is regularly walked through, e.g. too close to a doorway. Also, if you do not have magnetically-shielded front speakers, they should not be placed too close to a cathode ray tube (old-style) TV, because they will cause the color purity of the display to be affected. This does not apply to LCD or plasma televisions. Using this approach, you can successfully place your speakers in such a way that you can be proud of your home theater and of your living room at the same time!

Always remember that the idea behind home theater is to set your system up so that you can enjoy movies to the fullest. Some people lose sight of this goal. Whatever you do with your home theater design, don't fall into the trap of over-analyzing your results. Start enjoying those movies!

David Thomas was a design engineer in an acoustic field for nine years, and currently runs many information websites. His sites cover many topics, and a directory is available at http://djt-engineer.co.uk. Why not visit one of his sites today that covers home theater design?

Home Theater Systems

The home theater systems are systems that can give you a real theater experience, not like home theater systems in the past that consisted only of a regular television, a VCR, and stereo sound. This basic system eventually evolved to include surround sound; and more than one stereo speaker connected to your video components was considered a home theater system.

Unlike the systems of the past, today, in order to have your entertainment system be considered a home theater system, you must have a higher quality set of components of video and audio providers.

Components of the Home Theater System

The home theater system begins with having a large, high-quality, generally big-screen television?possibly a video projector. Also, the video equipment that people generally use in their home theater systems is often HDTV capable.

The preferred movie source used in these types of systems is usually the high-quality format, such as DVD or laserdisc. The old setup of the older home theater systems typically only used stereo VHS formats, while some used hard disc-based systems.

The sound systems of home theater systems are usually high-quality surround sound systems. At least four speakers, perhaps more, are generally used by most people. Having a high-quality, crisp sound in your system is a necessity to have a good theater experience in your home.

The last, and equally as important, aspect of a home theater system is the seating. Having comfortable seats in your theater room will greatly enhance you viewing experience. Regardless of how sophisticated your electronic systems are in your theater, if you do not have comfortable seating you will not enjoy your home-viewing experience.

Cost

Home theater systems can be a very expensive investment. The average, complete home theater system can cost you up to $20,000, with higher-quality products costing more, perhaps up to $10,000 more than the average equipment.

Home Theaters provides detailed information on Home Theaters, Home Theater Systems, Home Theater Projectors, Home Theater Speakers and more. Home Theaters is affiliated with HDTV Antennas.

Wireless Speakers

Wireless speakers are a great choice for anyone that wants to get rid of the clutter and tangle of messy wires. Indeed they are also an excellent choice for outdoor use, when stringing wires is not even an option. Hear rock in the kitchen, listen the music in the bathroom & concentrate on your play in the playroom in a steady mind. Of course, setting up wireless speakers is an easy and simple job. Most systems need only be turned on and properly tuned to the receiving speakers without damaging your walls.

Wireless speakers generally fall into two categories. Infrared like a television remote control, beams a signal to the speakers, which requires a direct line of site, and remember if any objects in the way it can prevent the wireless speakers from receiving the signal and creates an obstruction on your hearing process. Radio frequency is waves to transmit the signal. And while the signal can pass through objects, some static can interfere with the sound just like when listening to the radio or when using a cordless telephone.

Don?t forget to consider the range, especially for use outdoors. Many living rooms aren?t bigger than your requirement i.e. twenty or thirty feet, but to reach 100 feet away is a definite challenge. So for that purpose many speakers can be purchased from the market in order to fulfill the ranges. Remember not to believe the manufacturers assurance. One most important factor to be remembered i.e. your house width vis-a?vis the speaker you are using, building materials, other electronic devices cluttering the radio band, and even geographic location.

Last but not the least the weather proofing also can cause a muffled sound, though in the backyard, acoustics and audiophile quality sound are generally not the main concern anyway, of these can significantly reduce the range of wireless speakers. Wireless speakers are getting better every day as technology advances and they become more and more popular with consumers.

Speakers provides detailed information on Speakers, Car Speakers, Wireless Speakers, Home Theater Speakers and more. Speakers is affiliated with TV Remote Controls.

Home Theater Installation ? Two Options

If you want to update the interior of your home, one of your best options is to install a home theater. But if this sounds like something that interests you, there are a couple of options that you will need to consider. Home theater installation can be done in one of two ways.

First off, if you are looking to save money and are the handy man type, you may want to consider installing your own home theater. This is not a difficult task if you have a little bit of skill, as well as some patience. In most cases, you will be able to complete most jobs with ease. Where you may run into a problem is when you are trying to wire your system. The best way to get around this is by following the directions to a T. This way, you do not get off course and you are ensured of a 100% accurate job upon completion.

When you install your own home theater, you have a lot of options as to what equipment to buy. You can purchase a ?home theater in a box? setup which provides you with everything you need. This is a great idea of you don?t know what components you want or you simply want the convenience of one stop shopping and the assurance that all your components will fit and work together.

If you prefer to buy the pieces separate then you should do some research before hitting the stores. Perhaps you have a favorite piece you want for your home theater - if this is a must have you should figure that into your budget first and then go looking for the other pieces that will fit into the remainder of your budget. Checking out components at a few different stores before you jump in and buy can help you get a better deal and a better understanding of what you want.

If you do not want to install your own home theater for one reason or the next, you should check into having a professional do the job for you. Most of the time, whoever you buy your equipment from will also be able to set everything up for you. The main advantage of having a professional complete the project is that you know the job will be done correctly. Also, they can make suggestions as to what sort of set up you should use. The only downside to hiring a professional is that you will have to pay for their services.

Overall, home theater installation is not a difficult task. You can either take the job on yourself, or get the help of the professional. Either way, make sure that the job gets done correct, and your room is set up exactly how you envisioned it.

Lee Dobbins writes for http://www.home-theater.home-webzone.com where you can find out more about home theater components and setup as well as home theater installation.

Home Theater Acoustics

Home theater acoustics should be important for any home theater enthusiast because acoustic reproduction is essential in creating life-like performances in home entertainment.

To optimize home theater acoustics, you need to optimize the speaker and sound equipment positions in your room to improve your system's performance.

However, to create the best environment, speakers and sound equipment are not enough to structure a good sound system. You need more; you need a good acoustics treatment.

Acoustic conditions are crucial in increasing the overall comfort level of a space in your home theater room. Considering sound reproduction is paramount to the enjoyment and overall integrity of home entertainment for the sake of those enthusiasts. This means creating excellent sound for everybody in the room.

To achieve good home theater acoustics, you could apply some extra tools to support the work of speakers and sound equipment. You should consider applying acoustical foam for sound absorption in areas that do not have aesthetic consideration. This foam can be used to create an efficient method of energy transfer that works much better than curtains or draperies by increasing the surface area and distributing sound waves over a broad amount of material.

Another treatment that you should consider is a diffuser. By applying diffusers around surround sound speakers, you would be able to create a non-directional 'band' of sound thus creating a more natural sound.

Additionally, put your full effort to stop the volume of sound created in your home theater room from impacting other rooms in the house as it would disturb your other family members and also decrease the whole system performances. Consider using double drywall to create sound rejection at certain frequencies.

Home theater acoustics have become more imperative than previously for quality home theater sound. So, treat the make-up of your room as another audio component and you'll have great home theater watching experience.

Robert Armstrong is a contributor to Master Home Theater Design - an essential guide to designing and setting up your own home theater.

Region Free Home Theatres

Any custom home theatre system requires different equipment, like a high end video projector, high end DVD player, separate amplifiers for each channel controlled by a master preamp or controller, in-wall speakers, and a couple of subwoofers. These custom installations of home theatres are not too expensive and are quite affordable. A very simple home theatre system can be something as simple as a 27-inch TV, a basic DVD player and Hi-If VCR, cheap stereo or AV receiver, and of course speakers.

But the concept of a home theatre has changed. It has become essential to watch the latest world DVD releases. There where the region fee home theatre comes in, which allows you to play DVD discs on the DVD players from any country, whether they are of PAL or NTSC standard. The Region fee home theatres are exceptional in the sense that they can play any video format on your screen. In case you are interested in far more features, then you have the choice to go for some of the latest models which can play any format on any kind of television. Like for instance, you can play your American Region 2 PAL discs on your European NTSC TV and that too without a video converter!

The man difference between a simple home theatre and a region fee home theatre is just that, the latter consists of a region free DVD player which allows you to watch movies in all formats.

Movies are released on DVD at different times around the world, typically America and Europe first, Australia and Japan 6 months later, and Asia about 12 months after the first release. In some cases, DVD movies are available for purchase in Asia or Europe before they are released in American picture halls. Therefore, the film fraternity, in order to save their profit, devised this encoding technique. This regional coding is a type of digital flag made on the disc that tells the DVD player where a particular DVD comes from. This is supposed to prevent the disc from being used by an incompatible player in another country. Like for example, a region where NTSC format is being used as standard, you will not be able to watch movies on your basic home theatre, which uses PAL standard. It?s another matter, if you possess a region fee home theatre. You can enjoy all the overseas movies in any formats on your region fee home theatres. As regards media, the world is divided into six regions. These Region fee home theatres successfully play the movies from al these six regions without any hassle. The six different regions are USA, Europe, Asia Pacific, Australia and Latin America, Africa and Russia and the last is China Region.

A region fee home theatre has a multi format television that does not need an exterior PAL or NTSC converter along with it. A full surround sound system also accompanies a region fee home theatre system. Such a system consists of 4 Hi-Fi speakers for left & right surround, which include one rear wireless speaker, and a powerful subwoofer. A total of 500 watts power is sent to the to the system's speakers which is composed of two large frontals, a center channel, and two surround speakers. It also features Dolby Digital and DTS surround decoding.

Since a region fee home theatre is more advanced, with the customer spending quite a good bit of amount, it is better to find out what is the best available in the market. For this, the equipment specifications have to be looked into and understood for a final choice. While picture clarity is one of the main factors, there are advantages in investing in a robust sound system for its ability to play loud as it maintains the dexterity of music and aggressive movie sound tracks. The overdriving of the circuitry by an ordinary sound system, damages the onboard electronics, which is minimised with a robust system.

With regards to the picture quality, a region fee home theatre surpasses all others. The goal of any playback device would be the reproduction of the original content with clarity. A region fee home theatre utilises advanced progressive scan1 playback techniques and a high grade MPEG video decoders that faithfully represent the image you see at your favorite movie theatre.

The fact is that the purpose of region fee home theatre is expected to provide you with a comfortable entertainment alternative to that of the movie hall, watching that favourite movie in your own time. A home theatre system is far better than just watching a plain-old TV by itself. By having access to a far a better image quality and sound technology of the movie theatre, which allows any region movies to be played, watching a movie in your own entertainment room comfort, you get to enjoy the theatre experience much more.

A region fee home theatre is something that can be customised to your personal needs very easily. There is not one type of a home theatre system. The equipment is available with all different options, which may be the choices for different buyers. It may be possible that you are ready to save on your sound system but cannot compromise on getting the advantage of region free systems! After all, it is your home theatre.

Where to get REGION FREE DVD players/recorders and High Definition, HD DVD players, Blu-ray,Advanced Optical players/recorders in Blu-Ray DVD players/recorders. A multi region (aka codefree) DVD player or recorder is capable of playing DVD discs from anywhere in the world, that is all 8 regions and both PAL and NTSC standards. http://www.mindlogic.com has many. Many not only play them but convert from one standard to the other for showing movies on any TV on earth. There are also PAL-NTSC 110-220 volts DVD/VCR Combos for use worldwide. CODEFREE DVD / PAL-NTSC VCR combos and MULTISTANDARD VCRs will play 100% all known DVD discs including FRENCH DVDs. You can buy region free and region free converting DVD players and region free DVD recorders from http://www.mindlogic.com in California. They give you a LIFETIME Warranty and ship worldwide. They also carry PAL-SECAM-NTSC TVs, PAL plasma, PAL LCD and PAL DLP multisystem TVs and multisystem converting and non-converting VCRs, voltage transformers, video standards converters and more than 140,000 products. Tel.800-514-2984 or tel. 925-686-994

An Introduction To Home Theater Projector Screens

Home theater projector screens are great for when you want a real movie house experience. When there is a projection of a video or an image, the presence of a projector screen is inevitable. A projector screen is a specially made flat screen to be hung on the wall or erected vertically where the image is reflected, so that the image size is enlarged. The surfaces of such screens are usually rough, and white in color.

There are quite a number of types of projector screens. They are home cinema projector screens, portable projector screens, manual projector screens, electric projector screens, fixed frame projector screens, and also movie board home cinema projection screens.

All these screens are used as home theater projector screens. These home theater screens are available in multiple, specialized projection materials tailor-made to add to the video quality. These home theater projector screens can easily be put in a training room, board room, or auditorium. All these screens are available in various dimensions ? starting from the standard 4:3 size to as large as 16:9 ratios. Most of the home theater projector screens are also available with black masking borders, in Video TV format, with stylish curved aluminum extruded cases, motor in-the-roller design for quiet operation, and other such facilities.

Some of the top home theater projectors are the Sanyo PLV-Z4, Panasonic PT-AE900U, BenQ PE8720, Epson Power Lite Cinema 550, NEC HT510, Optoma H31, In Focus Screen Play 4805, Sony VPL-VW100, Optoma Movie Time DV10, Runco Signature Cinema SC-1 and Sharp Vision XV-Z20000.

Projector Screens provides detailed information on Projector Screens, Video Projector Screens, Home Theater Projector Screens, Electric Projector Screens and more. Projector Screens is affiliated with Large Format Flatbed Scanners.

Custom Home Theater Is It Right For You?

A custom home theater is defined as a unit that will provide you with the excitement that you have always wanted, designed specifically for your needs, in the convenience of your house. If you are thinking about the installation of a home theater, you may want to ponder the custom designed products that are available from several of the top manufacturers. There are alot on the market and many of them will provide you with a huge range of possibilities. For those seeking to invest in a home theater to enjoy, why not have one custom designed to fit the specific needs and desires that you have? It may be the best solution but there are points to consider.

Many of today's top manufacturers of home theaters, such as Panasonic, Bose, and Sony will offer the home theater options that are able to be completely customized. They understand that consumers have varying degrees of needs. If you walk into a home theater store, you may find that this is what they are promoting as the best solution to their customers. 'Come and design your own home theater'. You need to be careful not to spend more than you need to and get the experience that is just right for your specific room. The value of having a customized system is that you can select the type of features that will suit you the best, and you will also be able to get the products that you need rather than those that come pre-packaged with a complete system. It may make sense to consider a custom designed product.

So how do you know if a custom home theater is right for you? A recommended way to go about this is to jot down all the things you must have in the new theater. If you need a wireless system, then make sure you put this high on the list. What about high definition quality? Surround sound? These are important aspects and can be found on a variety of systems that are available today. After composing your list of 'absolute must haves' you may be surprised that you can find an off the shelf system that has 95% of it. This could save you money, allowing you to upgrade other areas of your entertainment room. You can even put your savings toward a nice movie sofa, one that you and the kids can sprawl out on.

Home theaters make a wonderful investment in your overall enjoyment. There are plenty of options out there to mull over. You may find that the home theater system that is already out there is just about perfect for your needs. You may also determine that the one that is out there is really too big or complicated to use for your home entertainment needs. Going with a custom designed theater puts you in the position to acquire the very best product for your money.

James McDonald writes for easyhometheaters.com, a resource where you can locate a home theater system that is suited perfectly to your specific needs.

Before Buying A Home Theater System Read The Reviews

Movies are becoming more technological and advanced every day. Because of the amazing special effects and entertainment movies provide for almost everyone, it is not a bad idea to consider investing in a home theatre system.

Many people spend about $8 going to a movie (not including concessions). Going to the movies multiple times ends up costing you a lot, which is exactly why a home theatre system is a good investment.

Yes, it may cost you a handsome sum of money to get it up and running, but not only does it save you money you would be spending in the theatres, but also you can use it more, and to your own taste and comfort. Think about it: if you watch a movie once a week for 3 years, it adds up to $1248, under the assumption you spend $8 at the movies. And since you will probably have this system longer than 3 years, and watch more than one movie a week, you will definitely get your money's worth.

If you don't have enough money to go all-out with your theatre at first, you can always start with the basics and build your way up. If you've built your way up, but did so a few years ago, you can always upgrade. To ensure that you are getting what you want, be sure to research before you buy. You can do this through home theatre magazines.

Features of the most optional setup for your home theater system are available in these magazines, which will help you make the most of your arrangement. If you have already started on creating your personal home theatre system, tips from this resource may still prove to be useful to you, whether talking about new technologies and accessories, good set-up ideas, or simply reliable brands to upgrade to.

Home theatre magazines will offer reviews of equipments and furniture, which will help you, avoid the possibility of buying an inferior product as it helps you understand the advice of experts. Also, to help you make the most of your invested money; there are often movies and shows available to choose from in the home theatre magazines. Recommendations of ways to upgrade, and updated models of compatible equipment are also available.

Why is knowing where to get the best home theatre and home theatre accessories important, if you don't know where to go to get them in a reliable condition and respectable price? Home theatre magazines can't answer that question, either, which is why they also recommend the best place to buy superior equipments. There are reviews, and articles on the latest technologies.

With enough research and recommendations from experts in these magazines, your money is sure to be well invested into your own, high-tech, reliable, up-to-date personal home theatre system.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as Magazine Subscriptions at http://www.favoritemagazinesubscriptions.com

How To Choose The Right Home Theater Seating

Have you just bought a wonderful surround-sound home entertainment system but no decent home theater seating to sit on to watch the latest rented DVD? Do you always have to squeeze next to the cat and your daughter who likes to hog the old sofa like it was her bed whenever she watches anything on the screen?

Do you have to constantly pause the DVD to get your tomato juice from the kitchen benchtop because there is no place to put your drink without fear of spilling it on your white carpet? And does your back suffer terribly even only after 30 minutes of watching your favorite sitcom?

Home theater systems and home theater seating - the suburban preoccupation of the decade

If you've answered yes to any of the questions above, then despair no more. In the past five years or so, home theater seats have surpassed the comfort and support provided by the traditional movie theater seat.

Home theater seating can range from actual movie theater seats with beverage holders to more plush reclining club chairs and home theater loungers with footrests and built in wireless bass audio.

But how do you choose a good home theater seating? Below are some tips on how to choose a home theater seating that is just right for you.

Tips on how to choose the right home theater seating

1. The first thing to ask yourself is how many will you normally seat?

- If you prefer your home viewing to be strictly limited to yourself and your only daughter, then you will only need a seating for a small group of three.

- If you are planning to invite the whole neighborhood, then you may need to create one or more rows of grouped seating just like in a real theater. You can choose to have single seats carefully placed in your home entertainment or rumpus room or build a group of 2, 3 or 4 chairs.

2. The second and equally important question is will your current home entertainment or rumpus room have space enough for your home theater seating plan? It would be wise to allocate a room or part of a room that is spacious enough for your home entertainment area. Or if you have the budget and the inclination - you may want to add a special room for this specific purpose.

3. A very important priority in any home theater seating is comfort as you may need to be seated for an average of 90 to 120 minutes for a full length feature movie. Answering the following questions may help you to judge whether the home theater seating you are choosing will give you the level of comfort that you need.

- Does the footrest extend before the backrest reclines? This is important so that your body remains supported and your movie viewing and line of sight is kept intact.

- Are the armrests wide enough to rest your arms and provide the right balance?

- Does the seat and back offer both firmness and flexibility? Does the seat provide high density foam cushions to provide both comfort and back support?

- Does it provide full support from head to toe?

4. What style of home theater seating will fit your decor? After all, theater seats should be part of the home theater and should enhance its overall decor. Do you want an upholstered home theater seating or do you want to see some of the timber's natural woodgrain enlivened by an oil finish?

Do you want supple, luxurious leather or the warm caress of velvet? What colors complement your decor - the girly-cute pink of custard; the regal low-maintenance ruby of pomegranate or the uptown classy brown of biscuit?

5. Was the home theater seating constucted using techniques that have been proven to result in stronger and more durable loungers and seats that can withstand everyday use, such as using kiln-dried hardwood base frames and cushions made of high density 2-lb foam.

6. Last but not least, how much do you want to spend for your home theater seating? Whatever your budget, there seems to be a home theater seating for everyone's fancy:

- whether its the $4,700 three-seater Rodeo Leather Lounge with built in wireless bass shaker, recliner, footrest and wide armrest rolls for the ultimate in home theater experience,

- a vintage movie theater seat which had its previous home from a local movie house and which you've just bid successfully on ebay for $99,

- or somewhere in between.

Flor Buenaventura is a writer who has a great interest in furnishings for the home and garden. To see a fantastic collection of resources related to home theater seating, please visit her Home Theater Seating website.

Understanding Great HDTV and HD Movies Content

You finally got the bug and went out and bought a sleek widescreen HDTV. You got turned on by the jaw-dropping clarity at the store and the promise that you'd get that same thrill at home, only to discover that for some reason the picture is not the same.

You've certainly seen the commercial where a customer calls the store to complain that he's or she is not getting the sound expected, and by the time the customer service guy reaches the door, the windows shatter from the blast of the sound. Something to do with the connections. Well the same applies to HDTV.

In order to view an HDTV image on your screen, you must make sure that your cables are properly connected. In standard definition programming, I'm sure you've noticed that the cable connectors (also known as S-Video cable) are red, yellow, and white.

High Definition programming uses cables with connectors that are red, blue, and green, or DVI cable, or the premium choice HDMI, which offers the highest quality video and audio information or data between your receiver and TV. But that's not all.

The programming must also be in high definition, which means that you need to subscribe for HDTV programming through or from your local cable company or satellite TV provider. Normally, you'll rent the receiver box capable of accepting HDTV signals and usually will pay a little more for High Definition channels.

However, you can also receive Free over-the-air HDTV signals depending if your TV has a built-in ATSC tuner. Check the specs, and if it does, all you need is an antenna from your local store.

Did you consider a Blu-Ray? Since you're ready to invest in an HDTV, capable of displaying up to 1080 lines of resolution, you really cannot do without blue-violet laser technology rather than red laser technology. Simply put, the two combined will deliver true HD video clarity, better sound, and interactive media.

For the kids and adults too, let's not forget the games and home movies. Your HDTV was not just made for TV, movies and sports entertainment. Have you forgotten video games and home movies. Most have no idea how a video game with surround sound and special effects can feel.The Xbox for one delivers HD content with 1080i and multi-channel surround sound. It's totally awesome!

High-definition gaming was born with Microsoft's Xbox 360, and if you want to take advantage of everything HD gaming has to offer, you have no other choice but to own a television with a native minimum resolution of 720p or 1080i. You'll get a more detailed picture in widescreen format.

What's the Blu-Ray you ask? It is to me the ultimate in wireless audio systems, manufactured by Sony. It isn't cheap but what's the point of being quality on one end and non-quality on the other end.

The important thing to remember in all of this as you make your choices for different equipment, is to keep in mind that, connectivity wise they must be compatible to each other. Example; there's no point in trying to connect HD equipment to non-HD equipment.

In all electronics technology, you're only cheating yourself if you're not making use of all the advantages that any equipment has to offer. After all, that's why you paid the big money for, so why not use it. You'll then appreciate your piece much, much more, and won't feel so bad about the money.

Learn more about High Definition options and systems to suit your needs. Discover the importance of compatibility between HD components. The importance of an HD audio system, HD receiver and DVD player, HDTV and more. Copyright ? 2006 www.homefunsystems.com

Home Theater DVI Cable Information and Help

So What is DVI? DVI Stands for Digital Visual Interface. DVI is the digital interface standard created by the DDWG (Digital Display Working Group). Led by Compaq, Fujitsu, Silicon Image, Hewlette Packard, NEC, Intel and IBM, the DDWG's main objective is to address the industry's requirements for a digital connectivity specification for high-performance PCs and digital displays.

With the need to accommodate both digital and analog monitors, this new digital interface standard was created to convert analog signals into digital signals. DVI's High bandwidth capabilities make it ideal for HDTV connections. Also available in dual link, DVI can reach higher resolutions still.

Using the pictures on the right, you can determine the type of connection you need, be it DVI-D, or DVI-I. To determine the actual signal being used you will have to consult your manual for the device being connected. For more information concerning DVI:

DVI-D Digital. Connectors on DVI-D do not have the 4 additional pins, these are meant for carrying Digital signals only. Digital must be connected to Digital and Analog to Analog. While you can plug a DVI-D cable into a DVI-I socket, both devices you are connecting must support Digital signal format. Analog to Digital will not work.

DVI-I Analog or Digital. Connectors are basically the same as DVI-D with the exception of 4 added pins. You'll notice both have 3 rows of pins to the left, and one horizontal pin to the right. The DVI-I connection has 4 additional pins, 2 on top and 2 on bottom. These pins are used to carry the needed signals for RGBHV analog video. (Red, Green, Blue and Horizontal). You can use DVI-I on both DVI-D and Analog connections, but remember, an analog device will not be compatible with a Digital device. For more pictures of these items visit:

http://www.tca-inc.net/dviinfo.html

Adapters HD15 to DVI-I (VGA to analog) adapters exist to connect your analog device to a analog display through DVI connection.

Remember that while DVI-I is usable for Digital display, the extra 4 pins make it usable for Analog as well. The needed adapters is available in our store. Remember, this article can be read with pictures at:

Dustin Twiggs Submits articles for the sake of extending human knowledge and benifiting all those who it may. Contact him directly for more info.

Home Theater Speaker Systems

Home theater speaker systems comprise front stereo speakers, a center channel speaker, surround speakers, and a powered subwoofer.

Working together, these speakers create the surround sound experience of a professional movie theater in your living room. You will find several brands and models of good speakers; you have to ensure that they work as a cohesive unit. One very important aspect is voice matching. The best way to achieve this is choosing speakers from the same ?family,? by the same brand. Voice matching ensures a smooth flow of sound around you, creating a seamless surround effect.

The front left and right speakers offer a wide soundstage that combines with the video, creating a realistic movie experience. Apart from reproducing the musical score, front speakers also handle most of the special effects. You can find floor-standing speakers, bookshelf speakers, and satellite/subwoofer systems as front left and right speakers.

The center channel is a vital component of the home theater speaker system, delivering over 50% of the soundtrack, including almost all the dialogue of the film. Ideally, it should be located directly above or below your screen, because placing it elsewhere will disrupt the surround experience considerably. Choose its size in accordance with the sizes of the other speakers and the television set.

The surround speakers, apart from producing sounds like raindrops, or the rustling of leaves, also provides directional effects, such as a locomotive rushing by, a bullet whistling past, or the rumble of a spaceship. If the system includes a subwoofer, then most users prefer either bookshelf or satellite speakers requiring stand placement or wall mounting.

As most speakers can't deliver that level of bass on their own, you need a subwoofer so that your home theater system delivers crucial low-frequency impact. A subwoofer can also enrich music listening; it is capable of rounding out all types of music, from classical to jazz to rock.

DVD Home Theater Systems provides detailed information on DVD Home Theater Systems, Wireless Home Theater Systems, Buy Home Theater Systems, Home Theater Speaker Systems and more. DVD Home Theater Systems is affiliated with DVD Movie Rentals.

How to Find the Best Home Theater System

Everyone wants a home theater system, but when confronted with the choices in buying one, you can get overwhelmed. No matter where you look for a home theater system, there are varying types of systems and varying prices also. So you are able to get the best theater system your money can buy here are a few tips.

When you are first shopping for a system, they all look the same, or relatively the same, on the outside. But how they work can be a completely different story. To make sure that the one you are looking at works well, try it out! You may not think the store will let you do this, but you would be surprised at the length a company will go to have your business.

If you are looking at using your home theater system as a gaming tool too, then you should take your gaming system to the store to test it out. If it isn't compatible with your gaming system, it is better to know sooner rather than later.

So you have found the best home theater system for your needs and use. The next step is to compare prices. The biggest and most common mistake made when buying a home theater system is finding the perfect system, but not comparing prices before you buy. There is nothing more frustrating then buying a system at one store, then seeing it for less money, sometimes hundreds of dollars, at another store just down the street.

Don't forget the internet when comparing prices either. Many stores offer discounts through the internet, and sometimes the companies that make the systems will have cheaper prices than the wholesaler. Make sure that you keep in mind shipping prices, but you could save money even with the shipping costs. The internet might just be the way to go.

Discover Proven and Reliable Home Theatre Guidance, Resources and Information at http://hometheatre.atmyhouse.net.

Maximizing Your Home Theater With Minimal Space

A home theater offers a convenient way to enjoy movies from the comfort of your own sofa. Turn off the lights, bring out the bowl of buttered popcorn and you would swear that you are in a real theater. But, before you get the glamour, you have to do the planning if you want to get the most out of your home theater.

Most people have limited space and want to enjoy the convenience of having their home theater equipment in one location for easy access. The best way to do this is to purchase a wooden entertainment system, which should feature a center space large enough to accommodate your television. If you have a big screen television, a storage center can be purchased and placed next to the unit. For organization, DVD movies should be placed in one compartment with VHS videos in another. The best way to sort titles is alphabetically, which will allow for quick retrieval.

Speaking of space saving, everyone has a DVD player these days. But because VHS was popular for so many years and still is, many individuals find themselves with an impressive video collection that they aren?t quite ready to part with. To that end, manufacturers have come up with a way to provide the best of both worlds in a DVD/VHS combo machine. These compact units are ideal for any home theater because they are lightweight, reduce the number of cords to plug in and they allow consumers to enjoy both formats from one machine.

In order to keep your home theater working at optimal performance, regular maintenance may be needed. This includes cleaning the DVD disc tray and VHS slot with special cleaning tools and equipment found in the electronics department. If any of the electronics from your home theater begin to show signs of a problem, check to see if the equipment is still under warranty. When purchased new, most electronics used in a home theater are covered under a one year manufacturer?s warranty. If the problem continues to the point that it interferes with your ability to enjoy your home theater, consult a an electronics repair specialist for a determination. In some cases, it may be less expensive to purchase an entirely new unit than to have an old one repaired. This will be determined on an individual basis and depends on the problem and the cost to repair it. And what can you do with the old unit? Use the online auctions to sell it as a fixer-upper. Many people earn a living repairing electronics, so be sure to let them know what?s wrong. Any money that you make from the sale will help you to offset your cost of the new unit.

When considering storage possibilities for your home theater, avoid any plastic shelves or storage units because they may buckle or break. The best construction is that of wood, which is strong and durable. In addition, wood is capable of holding heavyweight items, such as a television. Minor assembly is required, but is very simple to do with the help of a few basic tools and a detailed set of instructions.

For more information about home theater, click the link to visit our website at http://www.hometheaterguide.info. We have some great free articles and resources about home theater.

Home Theater Audio Systems Secrets Revealed!

Buying audio equipment can be daunting if you don't know your way around. Who are you suppose to trust? The salesman? He'll say everything you want to hear just for a piece of the commission.

Amps: Do you know what (amps) really means for instance? Everybody seems to think they know what it means, the expression having been around for so long. Unfortunately, few know the true definition. In audio, there's three types of power; peak power, RMS power, and last but not least, music power. So let's get to it!

In consumer electronics everything is measured by specs, but when shopping for audio equipment, it's also a good idea to go listen before buying. However, since in today's high technology systems, it's somewhat hard to buy a bad system (unless you go very cheap) so I wouldn't worry about it too much. The most common problem for bad output is connectivity (attaching your cables or wiring).

With this segment, we will be your guide in understanding all of the meaningless terms that tend to confuse consumers when it comes to buying a good to excellent home theater audio system.

CHOOSING AN AMP!

A good amp should be heavy (not on the scale) but heavy in deliverance. In other words, a high current amplifier is much better than one that isn't! It will generally give you a much crispier sound at a given power rating, and won't distort the sound until you reach a very high level.As an example, a 500 watt high current amp is better than a 500 watt regular current amplifier. I don't need to tell you that most all well known manufacturers make high end receivers or amps. WHAT IS POWER RATING?

How does one compare peak, RMS, and music (all in watts)? Let's begin with RMS power, which means Root Mean Square, and is the most conservative rating. You'll understand as we explain further. The important thing is that the RMS ratng be indicated on the equipment, since it signifies a quality manufacturer. I remember many years ago many of my friends and I buying Marantz because the RMS (20 RMS per channel) was indicated and was, and still is, an excellent amp. (It can also be called 'continuous averagepower').

When you're comparing, what you're looking for is an 8 ohm reading or load. Don't buy any less. If you see that a manufacturer only quotes, in his specs, peak power only withoutRMS, be weary. Furthermore, if you see words like 'music power', run away!

Peak power is double the RMS. Peak Music Power Output (PMPO) is a term used by smart salesmen when trying to sell you small wattage speakers that can be made to sound like 100 watt speakers. Stay away from these types of speakers.

Remember, as I learned in IT school, that volts X amps = watts. So how many watts RMS do you need per channel from your amp or receiver, all depends on your speakers.

YOU WANT SPEAKERS THAT SOUND LIKE THEY`RE SPEAKING TO YOU!

The sensitivity of speakers is rated in DeciBel Sound Pressure Level (dB SPL), at 1 metre (3.3 ft.) distance, and at 1 watt of power. In other words, the higher the number the louder the speaker. This is what dictates the power you need from your amplifier for a proper listening level and pleasure. In fact, everytime you double the wattage, you add 3 dB to the loudness of a speaker.

Example: If you have a speaker that's rated at 90 dB sensitivity, and you feed it 2 watts, it will be 92 dB loud. If you feed it 4 watts, then it will be 94 dB loud and so on at a listening distance of 3.3 ft. Factor in the loudness rop-off at a 10 foot distance (about - 10 dB) and you can see why just 1 watt is plenty loud. As a further example, a 250 watt home theater receiver will output about 101 dB, and a 500 watt receiver will output about 104 dB.

In general it's a good idea to get an amp that is a bit more powerful than the max rating of your speakers. Why? Because, not enough power can cause your speakers to blow! In other words, you should have more power in your amp than you really need. If your speakers have a max rating of 80 watts, your amp should be about 100 watt RMS per channel. But, don't use much bigger as you'll have the same effect of blowing yourspeakers.

Now, we have Hz (hertz). Hertz is the frequency response. It is the ability to replicate sounds at different frequencies. It is usually stated as a minimum and a maximum value in Hz and usually with the +/- dB rating.

Example: if you have a rated frequency of 50 - 20,000 Hz +/- 3 dB, this simply means that the speaker is 3 dB louder or quiter at different frequencies between 50 to 20,000 Hz. The +/- dB rating is important, since without it, it could be anything including being totally inaudible (no sound). You absolutely need that dB rating, and the smaller it is the better it is. So in general, aspeaker that creates 50 Hz sound is going to be much more expensive than a speaker that creates 65 Hz sound, even though both speakers can attain 20,000 Hz.

You are now a pro in understanding the workings of audio, and no salesman will ever be able to fool you in your purchase of audio equipement. Armed with this information, you can generally buy online without any problems as long as you read the specs with the offer. All you need to do is remember that the output of your receiver or amp in RMS wattage has to be somewhat stronger than your speakers can take, but not that much stronger!

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Do your homework on home theater audio and speaker systems, especially the wireless home theater systems before you buy. You want the sound to give you joy that will last last forever! Copyright ? 2006 http://www.homefunsystems.com/
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3 Blunders That Can Ruin Your Home Theater Experience

Whenever I'm tweaking and calibrating my home theater and music system well into the night I get stupid. The late night sessions always end with me thinking I've done the best I can and I've set everything correctly. The next morning and into subsequent viewing and listening sessions I retain the confidence in my skills and blame any oddities or failings of the system on bad software and limited hardware. On closer inspection I find that carefully coaxed dials and user menus have not retained their sweet spots.

Some recent blunders:

* My Panasonic S97 HDMI DVD Player forgets its picture settings after a power cycle: In my second to last screen calibration I set the DVD player's sharpness to a perfect, edge halo free -4. Unfortunately I didn't save this setting into a custom user memory and the next time I watched a movie the S97 defaulted back to 0. This glitch led me to complain about Pirates of the Caribbean and Akira. After my last calibration, Akira looks great, with little to no halos. As a consequence, I now obsessively check the sharpness setting before every movie.

* Bypassing the benefit of the Onkyo TX-DS989 AV receiver's DAC: While setting up my Airport Express's digital optical audio connection to my receiver, I thought I would get the best sound by using the Onkyo's Direct Mode (it bypasses as much digital processing as it can). What I really wanted was the Stereo mode. In Stereo the Onkyo can employ its DAC's 192kHz/24 bit upsampling and jitter reduction circuits. Oops. I'll have to listen to my Apple Lossless tracks critically again.

* Subwoofer Level and Crossover: Toddlers, aren't they precious? ToddleroGeek likes to squeeze into the corners of the house and hide. One of these corners is where my Hsu Research VTF-2 subwoofer sits. Every once in a while my daughter will sneak behind it and play with the crossover and volume knobs. After having to recalibrate the settings twice, I took a picture so I could set it back without the aid of a Radio Shack SPL meter.

Except for the subwoofer, I can only blame myself and my lack of sleep. I promise to get more sleep and double check all my dials before any critical viewing and listening sessions when I intend on reporting on my results.

If you want to avoid such stupid blunders yourself, I find writing down all your custom settings and reviewing them in the morning helps.

Father, Husband and Geek. My geeky interests have not changed since I was a kid. I still love comic books, anime, role-playing games, console video games, indie rock, imported toys and mecha models, bad American and great British sitcoms, and all the tech that let?s me experience these hobbies to their fullest. Now that I?m married with children, I?ve had to strike a balance between supporting and pleasing my family and feeding my geekery hunger. Lucky for me, my wife is very accomodating and even geeks out with me on occasion (the ladies love Joss Whedon?s Firefly). My two year old likes anything that moves on the front projection screen and makes noise, so far she is easy to please. Geekwithfamily.com exists to enrich the lives of fellow geeks and the friends and family who put up with them.

Home Theater Screens

Home theaters are one of the most fashionable and technologically advanced entertainment accessories for any home. A spacious room with a sleek screen for watching movies is a privilege that more and more people can afford to enjoy.

Selecting a home theater screen can be difficult, given the number of models available on the market today. There are several factors to be considered while selecting a screen: the size of the room, the placement of the screen, the lighting in the room, the type and location of the projector, type of mount used, and most importantly, the quality desired. Some screens can also be made invisible when the room is being used for some other purpose. This can be ensured by covering it with attractive curtains or by just rolling up the screen and stowing it away.

There are different kinds of screens available, like manual pull down, electric, fixed frame, ceiling-recessed, tripod, truss framed, motorized, rear screens, tab-tensioned vs. tensioned vs. non tensioned, ceiling vs. wall mounted, and many more. They can also be classified on the basis of the color used, like gray, white, or acoustically transparent. The size of the screen is another very important consideration. Many manufacturers are providing custom-ordered screens for pre-ordered sizes. The screen size should ideally depend on the viewing distance range. Screens are generally measured diagonally. The typical screen sizes are: 30 (3.75-6.25 feet), 34 (4.25-7 feet), 42 (5.25-8.75 feet), 50(6.25-10.5 feet), 56 (7-11.75 feet), 62 (7.75-13 feet) and 70 (8.75-14.75 feet).

Some of the top home theater screen manufacturers are: 3M, Adeo Group, Avers, Beamax, Carada, Custom Display Solutions, Da-Lite, DNP Denmark, Draper, Dukane, Elite Screens, Euroscreen Bjurab, Goo Systems, Hurley, Large Screen Displays, Meler

Optoma, RP Visual Solutions, Saaria, Screen Innovations, Screen Research, Screen Tech, SCREENMAXX, Stewart Filmscreen, The Airscreen Company, The Screen Works and

Vutec. Prices of home theater screens start at around $700 to $800 and may go up to $5,000 or beyond, depending upon the kind of screen, the material, the options, and the brand.

Home Theater Screens provides detailed information on Home Theater Screens, Home Theater Projector Screens, Curtains For Home Theater Screens, Discount Home Theater Screens and more. Home Theater Screens is affiliated with Home Theater LCD Projectors.

The History of Dolby Audio

These days, Dolby is a household name. The infamous DD symbol can be found on almost every piece of modern audio equipment out there. This includes gaming consoles, HDTVs, home theaters, both home and car stereos, cinemas, and personal computers.

It all started in 1949 when a man named Ray Dolby went to work for Ampex Corporation part-time while still in high school. He worked on an assortment of ventures in correlation with audio instrumentation. He continued to work for Ampex while attending college at Stanford University. During this period, he branched off to unite with a small team of Ampex engineers who were determined to invent the world's first video tape recorder. Dolby centered in on the electronic aspects of the project. The team succeeded with their introduction of this new technology in 1956. Ampex then sold its first video tape recorder for $50,000.

Dolby graduated from Stanford in 1957 and was awarded the Marshall Fellowship at Cambridge University, England. He studied at Cambridge for 6 years, earning a Ph.D. in physics. In 1965, Ray Dolby started his own company, Dolby Laboratories, Inc. His first product from this new and innovative company was identified as Dolby A-type Enoise reduction. It significantly reduced the amount of background noise or hissing sounds found in professional tape recording without jeopardizing the original content of the material being recorded. This was the beginning of the many advances Dolby would make in the complex world of audio compression and expansion.

Ray Dolby developed an ingenious method of noise reduction by separating soft signals from loud ones, then simply not processing those loud signals. He then split up the spectrum into several bands to avoid clashing or pumping, therefore generating white noise. This method would become integrated in numerous aspects of society's rapidly growing fascination with electronic entertainment. Early on, consumers weren't satisfied with the 'flat' mono sound ordinary radios and cassette players emitted. Everyone wanted to hear music in stereo.

This new sound also found its way into movie theaters. Dolby sound made its debut in the original recording of Star Wars, and continues to revolutionize the audience's experience even today. The sound is both more spectacular and more natural at the same time. Because of this technology, even video games are more realistic; the sounds are more powerful as they are not only heard, but also felt. The sound is so tangible it is as if fantasy has in fact become reality. More people are staying home instead of going to movie theaters since Dolby surround sound was introduced into the home theater system.

Recent advancements include Dolby 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, and 9.1 (that's right, nine full-range channels), Dolby Digital Surround EX, Dolby SR, Dolby TrueHD, and countless others. It is obvious that Dolby is the reigning ?King of Sound? and most likely will be for generations to come.

Mitchell Medford is an author and product consultant for several consumer electronics manufacturers. Visit his website for more information on home theater, LCD TVs, and plasma televisions.

Home Theater Setup Basics

Time to turn an area of your home into an entertainment area? Tune up your house with a home theater by following these basic steps.

1. Determine where you would like your system set up: in a family room, an entire basement level or only one section, etc. Grab a pencil and some graph (or other) paper and get to work with a blueprint. Don?t leave this to ?notions? or things get messed up ? and quickly. Pencil in (a) your focal point ? usually a television or other huge screen or home theater personal computer (HTPC) (b) seating (c) other main screens ? projector and table / speakers and amps / computer / gaming consoles / DVD player, cable box and VCR (d) storage ? shelves / remote and guide organizer (e) misc. ? do leave some empty space. Cramped quarters are no fun!

2. Next, research your family needs. A home theater can incorporate: video game playing with any of the popular console systems like from Xbox, Nintendo or Playstation; it can feature a computer, DVD player and other recording and playing devices. Plus it can feature fancy audio equipment with multiple speakers. Add seating, lighting and screens into the mix. And plan ahead, too, looking to the future a little to prepare for the unexpected and for growth. For example, add extra outlets (for phone hook ups / computers / power supplies / cell phone, battery and other chargers, etc and leave extra space for the unexpected ? extra shelves, equipment add-ons, storage for DVDs, CDs and remotes, etc. Grab your blueprint from above and pencil in your ideas.

3. Then comes set up time! Begin with your focal point and consider that your projector can reach to adjust distance from the screen for maximum effect. Test equipment at this stage before adding everything else into the area to make sure you get the results you like. After visuals, add audio into the mix. Set up your surround sound amp with plenty of video and audio inputs for all your fun systems. Then add the speakers and test again.

4. Then arrange other items (if you have a media center computer, many of these may already be part of the system): VCR, DVD player, gaming console and other equipment. Then round out everything with seating, lighting, shelves, storage organizers, etc.

Party time! Invite your family, friends and neighbors over to enjoy and celebration. Have fun!

Hyun Kim is a freelance writeer who writes about loudspeakers, home audio and home theater related topics. He loves to visit Stereo411 to discuss Home Theater Reviews and he loves his Apple iPod.

Wireless Home Theater Systems

No matter how advanced a home theater system you have, secretly hidden behind it is a jungle of wires that you don?t want to see. Wireless home theater system components can help to you to clear that jungle.

The most difficult part in setting up a new home theater system is the complicated cable hookups. The cable connections for many systems are wrongly configured, leading to sub-optimal sound or even damage to system components. In addition, wiring speakers is an extremely complex job that often requires the snaking of wires within walls and ceilings to hide ugly speaker cables. This is the case particularly for providing connections to the rear and center surround speakers in a system.

In wireless home theater systems, a receiver is incorporated which transmits the sound signals to remote speaker units. These units then send the sound to be played by the speakers. There is no actual connection of the speakers to the receiver or amplifier.

Earlier, wireless home theater systems speakers suffered because of either battery life or interference. Battery life refers to the remote battery-powered units that received the sound signals from the wireless amplifier. Interference is the loss of quality of the sound signal, or its disruption in its journey from the amplifier to the speakers.

Battery life problems have been taken care of by new technologies which either extend battery life or provide remote speaker units to be powered by connection to power outlets providing unlimited stable power. Problems arising out of the degradation of signal quality and interference have been solved to an extent with advances in transmitting frequencies and strength.

One wireless home theater system package that includes capability for remote rear speakers is the Philips LX3750W Home Theater in a Box Sound System. It has a single-disc DVD player that also plays CDs, CD-Rs, and CD-RWs with MP3 file compatibility. Its receiver is capable of decoding both current audio standards, Dolby Digital and DTS. It can also decode the older Dolby ProLogic II format. The front and front-center channel speakers are linked by speaker cables with the two left and right rear speakers. This eliminates the need for wiring the rear speakers while trying to avoid the ugly resulting wires snaking along the edge of the wall around the room.

DVD Home Theater Systems provides detailed information on DVD Home Theater Systems, Wireless Home Theater Systems, Buy Home Theater Systems, Home Theater Speaker Systems and more. DVD Home Theater Systems is affiliated with DVD Movie Rentals.

Buy Home Theater Systems

You can build a nice home theater system if you have a clear idea of what to purchase and what to look for. Essentially, a home theater system has a television set, DVD player, and stereo surround system. All three play important roles to make the system flawless, but the television is perhaps the most important component you have to purchase.

While buying the television, you should look for these features: resolution, surround sound capability, and video component. The more resolution, the better the picture quality.

In order to amplify sound and audio depth, surround sound uses multiple channels and speakers. Of the various surround sounds, Dolby Surround, Matrix Surround, Dolby ProLogic, and Dolby Digital 5.1 are acceptable.

The quality of picture depends on the resolution. That?s why a large-screen TV may not have the picture quality of a small-screen TV with higher resolution. A screen between 35 and 50 inches will be good enough if you want to enjoy your favorite movie in your living room. High-definition televisions, or HDTVs, receive digital signals and are therefore essential for picture and sound clarity. Most televisions come with video components like Composite Video and S-Video inputs, and that should suffice for you.

The DVD player you are going to buy should have a six-channel decoder, video outputs, and additional disc formats. You will require a six-channel decoder as well as five surround speakers (center, two front, and two back) for surround sound.

Your sound system will comprise two components: the receiver/amplifier and the speaker system. Your new receiver should have the following features: Dolby Digital ready, subwoofer power, Digital-ready 5.1 inputs, subwoofer output, and audio inputs.

Good speakers are crucial for getting the best audio experience from your sound system.

If different speakers are of different brands, the overall sound quality will suffer. So go for five identical speakers, as they will work better for your home theater.

DVD Home Theater Systems provides detailed information on DVD Home Theater Systems, Wireless Home Theater Systems, Buy Home Theater Systems, Home Theater Speaker Systems and more. DVD Home Theater Systems is affiliated with DVD Movie Rentals.

Do You Need HDTV Now Or Should You Wait?

As with so many questions in life the answer to whether you neeed to buy a HDTV now or wait longer, is that it depends. It depends on your own viewing habits and how much television you like to watch. It also depends on how much you can afford to spend.

Currently, you can view pretty much all television programming with analog TV sets, but the FCC has made it necessary for all television broadcasting companies to switch over to being able to send their TV signals in HDTV format by 2007, and that is not very far away. The problem is that analog TVs cannot receive and display HDTV or digital TV signals. So when the time arrives that all programming is being sent in digital format, what is going to happen to your old, reliable analog TV?

Well, there are conversion boxes that can be bought for between $50 - $100 that will convert the digital signal to a format that an analog TV can display. Of course, the picture and sound will not be anywhere near the quality of even normal digital TV, much less HDTV. But at least you will still be able to view TV as you always have on your analog televison set.

So back to the question at hand, should you go ahead and buy a new HDTV soon, or just go along with your old analog one for a while? Well, keep in mind that a new HDTV will cost several hundred to a few thousand dollars to buy. If you simply can't afford that expense at this point, then maybe keeping your current TV and getting the digital to analog converter is your best bet. Or maybe you just aren't that much of a TV viewer anyway, so when you do watch, having enhanced picture and sound is just not all that important to you. Then once again, maybe you should just get the converter box and stay with what you have.

On the other hand, there is no good reason to keep waiting much longer to buy HDTV as the prices have already fallen quite a bit. They undoubtedly will fall further, but not all that much. And there is no advanced technology available after HDTV that is on the horizon that you should be holding out for either. So for those folks who can afford buying a new HDTV television, there is no time like the present.

Jim Johnson is a successful author and publisher on consumer related matters. You can find out more about sony hdtv and hdtv reviews by visiting our HDTV website.

Home Theater Your Personal Silver Screen

Home Theater Projector Screens and Surfaces

The recent increased popularity of home video projectors and the large, clear images they can produce has led many new arrivals to the Home Theater realm to choose a video projector as their display device of choice. Video projector images look best when projected onto a properly matched screen surface. Although some anxious new owners may prematurely start by aiming their new projector on a white wall - they soon will want to get a projection screen for best results. Video projection screens come in many varieties - from the simple Do-It-Yourself (DIY) homemade screen to the most elaborate, manufactured remote control electric models and those various models in between. Video projector screens also come in a variety of surface finishes and reflectivity ratios. All of these factors should be considered when selecting a screen for your Home Theater.

Screen Surface Types

Home Theater projector screens come in a multitude of surface finishes. The variety of surface finish you will need depends upon your projector model. Screen surfaces vary from matte white, slightly silver or grey-ish, to reflective glass beaded models. Glass beaded models increase the effective brightness of your projector's image similar to the way a highway sign reflects car headlights. Lower lumen-level (lumens=light output) projectors such as CRT models benefit most from higher reflectivity (or gain) of a screen's surface. Higher gain surfaces increase the perceived brightness of the projected image. Conversely - a brighter projector looks best with a matte white or even a silver/gray surface. That is because the glass beads on higher gain screens have a tendency to splatter the brighter light waves produced by a high lumen output projector. A silver/gray surface will also enhance the perceived contrast level of LCD projectors which do not have the best contrast/black levels. So first you must decide the type and lumen output of the projector you are purchasing and that will help determine the surface type of the video projector screen you will need.

Model Types

Projection screens come in three basic styles - manual pull-down, electric and fixed varieties. Manual pull-down models are operated much like a window shade. Electric models have a motorized mechanism that does the work for you and fixed screens are motionless and stay right where you place them. Fixed screens also provide the flattest of all screen surfaces. Pull-down and electric screens can be susceptible to a slight waves on their surface. Although not obtrusive if properly cared for, some may prefer the absolute flat surface of a fixed screen model. The drawback to fixed screens is that you must live with them in place whereas retractable models can be deployed for viewing and afterwards be hidden from sight until next use.

Aspect Ratio

There is another very important factor to consider when shopping for a screen - that of the screen's aspect ratio. The aspect ratio of a projection screen refers to the shape of the available screen surface. Screens come in two basic aspect ratios --? 4x3 which is your normal television aspect ratio and 16x9 which is the normal widescreen or HDTV aspect ratio. The aspect ratio of your screen is an important decision to make prior to its purchase. That's because of the fact that once you buy it there's no way to change the aspect ratio - other than by masking portions of the screen. You can mask the surface with material or curtains if you want to get creative and that can temporarily change the aspect ratio of your fixed screen.

You will save a lot of time and trouble by thoroughly researching your screen choice prior to its purchase. Whatever your application and needs --- rest assured there is a projection screen surface and model available to fit your particular situation. For further and more detailed information on video projector screen applications for home theaters please refer to the section on projector screens which can also be accessed from the navigation bar at www.Home-Theater-Systems-Advice.com.

Phil Taylor is a 27 year veteran in the Audio Video field and hosts Home Theater Systems Advice which offers sound advice on selecting home theater system components and also includes room design and installation information.

Home Theater Design: Widescreen Or Standard TV For Your Home Theater?

Widescreen TV, with a 16:9 width-to-height ratio, undoubtedly represents the future for home theater designs. However, this does not mean that you should rule out standard TVs with a 4:3 ratio. There are definitely good reasons to go for a 4:3 TV, or even projection screen if your home theater design calls for it. Let's explore the issue.

Firstly, from a point of view of cost, standard TVs are still cheaper than widescreen TVs, so if you have a restricted budget, this is worthy of consideration. You could perhaps get a good quality standard TV for the price of a budget widescreen model; definitely worth considering for your home theater design.

Secondly, there are still plenty of programs that are filmed with the 4:3 ratio. If you have a widescreen TV, you'll find that you either have to put up with a distorted, stretched image, or you'll have to set the display up at a 4:3 ratio to show these programs, in which case you are not showing anything on a quarter of the area of your screen. If you mainly watch 4:3 programming, that's a waste!

Thirdly, width and depth are normally restricted more than height in the average living space. Let's take a 28 widescreen TV as an example. The theoretical width of the screen is about 24, and the theoretical height is about 14. Into the same width of 24, you could fit a 30 standard TV, and the theoretical height of the picture on a 30 TV is about 18, giving you about 33% extra screen area for your home theater!

What happens when you want to view widescreen programming, though? 16:9 anamorphic programming can be viewed on most modern standard TVs. They reduce the height of the picture as opposed to increasing the width. The proportions of the picture remain the same. In the above example of a 30 standard TV, the TV would display a picture of the same size as that of a 28 widescreen TV! If you think big is beautiful, a standard TV is the way to go for your home theater design.

Of course, style considerations may apply, and you may prefer to go for a widescreen TV because you prefer the way it looks. However, there are some excellent reasons to consider a standard TV for your home theater design.

David Thomas was a design engineer in an acoustic field for nine years, and currently runs many information websites. His sites cover many topics, and you can visit http://djt-engineer.co.uk/ to view a directory. Why not visit one of his sites today that covers home theater design?

The Home Theater Projector ? Are They Worth the Money?

When considering the visual component of your home theater system you are certain to look into the prospect of purchasing a home theater projector. A high quality home theater projector is a great way to start or improve on your in-home movie theater. A home theater projector works almost the same as a rear projection television. The only difference being, you guessed it, the location of the projector.

A rear projection television, as the name suggests, has the projector situated behind the television screen and projects an image onto the backside of it. A front projection television is most similar to the projector in a real theater, where images are projected from the back of the room to the front onto a large fabric screen.

The best feature, and reason that most people choose to buy a home theater projector, is the fact they can easily produce an image that?s 200? measured diagonally. No other type of screen can do this. In fact, a standard CRT television can only reach a screen size of 40?. Clearly, an image of this magnitude can only add to the true theater experience.

With a properly installed home theater projector, you can expect the images produced to be very near the highest quality of anything else on the market. Of course, the room must be darkened enough so that the image appears bright and vibrant, but this can be easily managed through the use of heavy drapes for large windows.

Certain types of projectors must be set up by trained professionals in order for a calibrated, clear image to be achieved. The type that you can easily set up yourself will initially cost less than one that has to be professionally installed. Having said that, professional installation is well worth the extra expense to achieve the clarity and create the ambiance of a night at the movie theater.

A home theater projector is always an expensive piece of equipment, but you can save money by only buying one powerful enough for the room that it?s going to be put in. One home theater projector varies in output strength to the next, so measuring the distance from the projector to the screen is essential to making an informed purchase.

Home theater projector manufacturers are plentiful, but it?s wise to stick with a well-known brand. Doing this ensures you?ll be getting a quality home theater projector and if ever your home theater projector should malfunction or otherwise need servicing, you'll be covered. Less-known or start-up companies may seem like a bargain at first blush, but typically can't offer the type of warranties or service you may want or need.

Nick Crane is a successful Webmaster and publisher of MyHomeTheaterZone.com Visit his site at http://www.myhometheaterzone.com for tips on selecting the right home theater seating.

Home Theater: Choosing and Preparing Your Home Theater Room

So you?ve finally decided to venture into the exciting world of home theater? Well one of the first steps in getting started is deciding on a room for your new system and preparing it for the optimal home theater experience. Preparing your room can be an expensive and time-consuming endeavor and for those interested in an ultra high-end system, this can even include building an entirely new room altogether. However this doesn?t have to be the case and is overkill for most of us. Instead, here are a few simple tips for taking an existing room or unused area of your house and tweaking it a bit so you can get the best home theater experience for you and your family.

Whether you?re converting an existing area like a basement or you?re using your current family room for your new setup, you?ll probably have to do some sort of room preparation before setting up your home theater. For those with a big budget, this could include custom equipment for automation, new material for the walls and ceilings and other structural changes. But for the ?Regular Joe?, you can take a simpler approach and follow a few guidelines to improve the audio and video experience you?ll have while enjoying your new system.

Windows and home theater lighting

Obviously too many windows could cause lighting problems, especially if you?re using a projector as opposed to a television. Either way, try to avoid having your video display situated opposite a window. This will help to reduce or eliminate glare. Also, opaque drapes can work wonders for keeping excess light from entering the room.

Open floor plans affect sound quality

When choosing a room, it will ideally have as few entrances as possible?for instance, a room with a single window and door (or windows on just one wall). Preferably the room will have level ceilings that are relatively low also (as opposed to an open ceiling that?s level but extends up to the second floor or a vaulted ceiling). Those high ceilings are great for giving you a sense of openness in the room, but the extra space also keeps the sound from your new system from being confined in a tighter area. This effectively disperses the sounds and might require a more powerful system to compensate for that effect. Then again, it may not be an issue at all if you are satisfied with the sound, so take this as a general rule and something to be aware of, but let your ears be the judge.

Smooth floors or carpet?Which is best for your new room?

If you?re converting a basement, be sure to cover the floors, preferably with carpet. Smooth surfaces, like the concrete that might be in your basement, act as reflectors when sound waves hit them. Keep this in mind if you?re converting an existing room also, especially if that room has hardwood or tile floors, which have similar reflective properties. Too much reflection can degrade your home theater?s sound quality or possibly cause an echo.

By following these simple guidelines, you?ll be able to improve the audio and video experience from your new home theater room. And remember, in the end, it?s not the name brand of the equipment or how many bells and whistles they have that matters. The true test is how enjoyable your new system is for you and your family.

Kevin Nelson is a home theater enthusiast and writer for HomeTheaterMastery.com ? offering advice for consumers looking to buy home theater system equipment. Visit the site to read more articles, product reviews and home theater design tips. Go there now.

Power Protection in the Home Theater Use of Surge Suppressors to Guard Expensive Electronic Gear

Surge Suppressors ? A First Line of Defense

All home theater equipment should be equipped with at least some form of surge protection. Surge suppressors represent the most basic form of power protection ? a first line of defense for all sensitive electronic gear.

Keep in mind that a surge in the ac voltage or a lightning strike, could lead to disaster - turning expensive gear into a smoking heap of plastic and metal. Investing in a suitably rated surge protector is surely a lot cheaper than having to replace expensive home entertainment electronics.

The large selection of suppressors available on the market at an even wider range of price levels can make the process of selecting an appropriate protection device far from simple. Many of these surge suppressors would look the same to a non-technical person - with almost nothing that distinguish the cheapest from the best.

In their simplest form, surge suppressors often come as an inexpensive surge protected multiple-outlet power-strip. More expensive units would normally incorporate additional surge protected connections for the phone line and the coax TV input; some units include surge protected LAN connections as well. In this manner, anything that interconnects with your equipment would have to go first through the surge protection circuitry within the power-strip.

How Surge Suppressors Work

The basic operational principle behind surge suppressors is to clamp high transient voltages while absorbing this potentially destructive energy. This energy is then dissipated in the form of heat - thus protecting vulnerable circuit components and preventing system damage.

In the event that the surge lasts for several milliseconds, the process may also cause enough current to trip the house circuit breaker, or blow the equipment fuse, thus protecting your gear.

Surge suppressors usually make use of a mix of components to suppress voltage spikes on the line. However, the mostly used component in surge protection circuitry is the Metal Oxide Varistor (or MOV).

The MOV is not the only surge protection component ? gas-tube surge arrestors, avalanche diodes (similar to power zener diodes), and reactive type passive circuitry using inductors and capacitors, all possess the desired electrical properties required to dampen a transient behavior.

None of these devices does represent the perfect surge suppressor. Some lack speed, while others ? like avalanche diodes ? though extremely fast acting, do have a limited energy absorption capacity. For this reason, commercial surge protection devices combine several of these technologies arranged in multiple stages, to prolong surge suppressor life and improve response times.

Surge Suppressor Ratings

This discussion will not be complete without highlighting a few of the most basic parameters that define the capabilities of a surge suppressor; these are the UL listing, voltage rating, peak surge current, and power handling.

IEEE 1449 Underwriters Laboratories Listing: Referred to as ?UL 1449? or simply ?UL listing?, represent a set of specifications that determine if a surge suppressor is safe during use.

Ensure that the selected surge suppressor is labeled as ?UL-listed transient voltage surge suppressor (TVSS) 2nd edition?. A UL-listing as ?power tap? is not sufficient.

A UL-listed TVSS does not imply that it will protect your equipment from surges, but rather that the surge protector is not likely to pose any personal hazard to you during use e.g. through electrocution, fire, etc.

Operating Voltage: The lower the voltage rating of a surge suppressor, the more effective protection the surge suppressor will provide, however the voltage rating has to be in line with the respective application. In particular, the chosen suppressor voltage rating should allow the normal peak AC voltage to exist across the line ? this is 1.414 times higher than the specified RMS value.

Peak Surge Current: This represents the maximum transient current that the suppressor can handle during a surge.

Joule Rating: Also referred to as ?Energy rating?, this is a measurement of the energy absorption capability of the surge protection device. Typical values may vary from 500 to 3000 and over. The higher the joule rating, the better is the surge suppressor capability to absorb energy spikes on the line.

A Word of Caution

Designed properly, surge suppression devices can work over-and-over again, but...

Do not take surge suppression devices for granted. Beware of cheaply made power line conditioners and other protection gear. Some surge suppressor components used in these devices are typically a one-time use only. This means that your system may end up completely unprotected after a surge.

Quality: The quality of a surge suppressor is reflected in the price of the protection device, but not only. Check the joule rating of the surge protector to get an indication of how much damaging energy the suppressor can handle. The bigger the joule rating is, the better. Keep in mind however that unlike the UL-1449 Listing, there is no standardized testing methodology to determine the energy rating of a surge suppressor. Hence, do not rely on the joule rating alone ? look also at the built-up quality and in particular, at the product warranty on offer.

Warranty: In addition to the standard product warranty, some manufactures also offer a ?Connected Equipment Product Warrant?. This is normally in the region of several tens of thousands of dollars.

A longer product warranty period and a higher connected equipment warranty value reflect a higher level of confidence on part of the manufacturer that the surge suppressor can protect your expensive home theater gear. Try to go for surge suppressor devices that come with at least a 5-year product warranty period, and a minimum of $10,000 (preferably $25,000), connected equipment warranty.

Performance: The performance of surge suppressors degrades with each surge absorbed. The problem here is that the rate of degradation is totally unforeseen due to the unpredictable nature of the surge. Surge rise time, peak voltage, energy level, and duration, all have a varying effect on surge protection circuitry.

A surge may have a higher energy level than the suppressor can handle, leading to the destruction of the suppressor and zero protection against possible future surges. To minimize this risk, top-quality power protection gear would normally make use of over-rated components in protection circuitry - thus allowing multiple surges to take place without any damage to the equipment.

Surge Suppressors are not lightning protection devices: Surge suppressors can provide adequate protection from 'normal' surges on AC power lines. Protection against lightning strikes it is a completely different story. No surge suppressor device can offer you the required level of protection in this respect.

Personal safety: Ensure that your surge suppressor is clearly specified as UL listed Transient Voltage Suppressor (2nd edition). This will reduce the risk of personal harm from fire or electrocution especially during a surge. At the same time, keep in mind that a UL-listed device does not guarantee that it will protect your equipment.

Conclusion:

In reality, surge suppressors are just a first line of defense ? they do not provide protection from damaging voltage fluctuations and noise on the line that can seriously degrade the performance of your AV gear.

Surge suppressors should form part of an overall power protection solution ? the use of line conditioners and ac-regenerators coupled with an appropriately rated surge suppressor would surely provide a more comprehensive approach to protecting expensive electronic gear.

Obviously, there is a price to pay for power protection, but it is literally - an ounce of prevention that can save you a big headache down the road!

Andrew Ghigo ? A Telecoms/Electronics engineer by profession, with specialization in digital switching and telecoms fraud management systems.

Editor and publisher of http://www.practical-home-theater-guide.com - a site dedicated to all home theater enthusiasts with the scope of serving as a comprehensive home theater guide to home theater systems, product reviews and home theater design.

This article is an excerpt from a series of articles appearing under the Power Protection section of the site.

Topics covered include benefits of power protection in the home theater, power line conditioners, ac regenerators, and surge protection. There is also a 'before-you-buy' power protection checklist, and a short discussion on the possible use of inexpensive computer-grade uninterruptible power supplies, as part of a home theater power-protection solution.