Home Smart Central: Home Theater
Home Theatre
The most popular use of video media is in the creation of a home theatre environment. This can be as reasonable or extravagant as you choose. Many homes do not allow for a specialized room for only home theatre and the more popular trend is bringing home theatre quality sound and visual impact to the home's great room or family room.
You need to consider your personal preference in the type of video display.
- Large screen CRT's, (the traditional tube-type TV monitor), is still popular for it's crisp picture and economical price.
- Projection type displays have been around for a number of years and have improved greatly in the quality of the picture's brightness and clarity. Projection type displays come in self-contained rear-projection models or front projection models similar to a movie theatre.
- Recently, Plasma screen TV's have gained popularity for their crisp images and slim profile. The size of these screens have increased and the prices have been dropping for this newest technology.
The next decision is which method of program delivery do you prefer? Local cable providers offer their services to most areas. Satellite antenna is the best option for country homes not served by cable companies, or for those who want the expanded programming choices that satellite offers. Many homes are now being equipped to receive both local cable and satellite.
Sound is a crucial part of the Home Theatre Experience! Most home theatre sound systems include an amplifier and 5.1 speaker arrangement. 2 Front (or Main) speakers, 2 Rear (or Surround) speakers, 1 Center speaker, and 1 Sub-woofer. The types of built-in speakers that are available are described and pictured in our Audio Section.