Compare Home Theater to Movie Going

Many people shy away from purchasing a home theater for fear of the great costs involved in doing so. I recommend that you put serious pen and paper to those assumptions rather then merely assuming it is too costly for your limited budget. The truth of the matter, when compared with the costs of going out to watch a movie you might find that you will be spending less money in no time by watching movies at home rather than paying for the ‘movie going’ experience.

You might want to pay careful attention to how much money you spend each month going to the theater. Don’t forget including any costs involved in hiring sitters, going out to dinner (most people don’t do McDonald’s before or after going to theaters), concession stand purchases in those figures. Even if you go to the theater once a week as a couple or as family the costs can really add up. If you visit the theater less or have a smaller family those costs might be less but you could also seriously raise those prices by going more often or having a larger family.

The important thing to remember when pricing a home theater system is the value it will bring to you and your family. If this will bring the family together at home for a couple of nights a week it is well worth the investment in my opinion. If it will keep the teens in your home and off the streets on the weekend it is worth even more. A home theater is an investment in the enjoyment of your home for everyone involved and many families find that this is a great way to enjoy a night at home. It’s also a great way to insure super-Super Bowl parties will be taking place in your home rather than the homes of others (it’s a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things).

With this in mind you can buy kits for anywhere between $200 and $2,000 (and upwards, but if you are going to spend more than $2,000 I seriously recommend building your own home theater). Box systems are rather easy to find in local and mass-market retailers and are rather simple to install (even for the uninitiated). These systems may not provide the best possible system but for those who have significant budget concerns they are a great place to start and you can get some really great systems if you are willing to seriously shop around and compare the different quality between brands as well as which bells and whistles you require and which you can live without.

Once you make the decision to buy a home theater the best thing to do is check out what is available. You should then take complete advantage of the great competition on the market today by searching for the most features for the lowest price. You just might be shocked and amazed at the great bargains that you can find, especially in the months following the big consumer expo show each January.

You should combine the home theater and excellent movie experience in your home with a membership to Netflix, Blockbuster, or some other home delivery DVD system and you can have frozen pizza, microwave popcorn, and all the pillows to hide behind you can ask for in the comfort of your home for a fraction of the price of going to the theater once a week.

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This post was written by admin on December 5, 2008

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The Decline of the Movie Theater

This article discusses the advantages of building your own home theater verses going to the movies.


So, have you gone to the movies lately? Let’s face it, in this day and age, going to the movies isn’t what it’s cracked up to be. Recent studies have shown that box office ticket sales have steadily declined over the years and the reason is simple – years ago, if people wanted to see a movie, they had no other choice other than going to the theater. I don’t know about you, but I don’t remember the last time I had a pleasant “movie going” experience. Let’s look at what’s involved. First, you have to find out the times and the movies that are playing. Next you have to get in the car and drive to the theater giving yourself enough time to park, get your tickets, buy your popcorn, etc. Okay, now you’re all set and you enter the appropriate theater room and find your seat. The movie begins and here come the distractions. You have all the people straggling in that are late, fumbling around in the dark trying to find their seat, you have the whisperers, the plastic crinklers, the cell phone talkers … I think you get the point. By the way, I didn’t even mention the price of admission. Where I am from, it costs about $7.50 US Dollars per person. Bring your significant other, kids or whoever else and throw in the cost of snacks ….. This is Big Bucks!

I don’t go to the theater anymore, because now I have brought the theater to me. Yes, anytime I want to enjoy the movie experience (without the above aggravations), I simply change into my most comfortable lounging outfit and take the long trip down 13 steps into my game room , which I have transformed into a home theater. The advantages are unbelievable. I don’t have to drive anywhere, worry about parking, or deal with annoying people anymore. If I need to stop the movie to use the restroom or fix a quick snack, I just pause the movie and go do my thing. Yes, I still need to spend money on movies, but the prices of DVD’s have dropped tremendously and you can find many good deals on used DVD’s, which are just as good as a brand new one. Even the cost of a rental is at least half that of a theater ticket.

Don’t get me wrong, your going to have to shell out some bucks, but you can put together a decent set up for much less that you think. Basically, you need a flat screen tv and a surround system and you are good to go. How fancy you want to get all depends on your budget, but trust me, it will be a great investment in the long run. Don’t forget to keep all this in mind the next time your sitting at the theater and the kid next to you starts screaming out in the middle of the movie and the two teenagers in front of you wont shut up.

Reggie Dunn is a long time movie buff and also the webmaster of flat screen television

By Reggie Dunn
Published: 8/20/2005
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My Dream Home Theater System!

My Dream Home Theater System!

Nothing beats having a killer home theater system. Big screen TV with high-definition, surround sound where I can plug in my iPod Nano, the latest DVD technology, video on demand, an Xbox 360, a hookup for my digital camcorder – the list goes on and on. Man, I’d love to have an awesome home theater inside my house. I’d never go outside if I did! And there’s just some much stuff to choose from when it comes to building your own home theater. Seating, systems, design, brand names, video games; I could easily spend thousands of dollars creating my dream home theater system. Of course, I don’t have thousands of dollars to spend, but I can still dream about it!

My perfect home theater system would be completely wireless. No cables or cords whatsoever. And it isn’t as far fetched as it sounds. More and more home theater systems are being built and designed to be wireless. That doesn’t just include the home theater itself. That includes other aspects of the home theater like video games, PVRs, DVD players, video cameras and more. Pretty soon, the home theater cable connection won’t even have a cable to connect! Now how awesome is that?

I’d have a big screen HDTV with crystal clear surround sound that would blow my mind. And when I got my home theater installed, up and running, I would plop myself on the couch with a seven-pound bag of popcorn and watch anything and everything that I can. Hey, that’s the point of having a great home theater sound system, to watch stuff! The images would be clear, the sound immaculate and it would all work with only one remote control. Now that’s a great home theater!

Of course, I would have an Xbox 360 or Playstation hooked up to this bad-boy. High-definition games played on a massive, high-def screen? I’d have every video game humanly possible and would completely immerse myself playing them!

A home theater allows you to experience TV rather than just sit and watch it. Imagine watching a hockey game where a hard body check on the boards rattles your bones too. Or watching war movie thinking you’re going to be shot at. Or watching your home-movies on such a screen that it makes you feel like you’re at the event all over again! Or playing the hottest and coolest Xbox or Playstation games! With your own home theater, seating is always at a premium and it’s an experience like no other. And when you want to listen to music, just hook up your stereo system to your home theater. Imagine listening to Dark Side of the Moon on high-definition, high fidelity surround sound speakers? Any music fan will tell you that it would be the ultimate audio experience, and a home theater allows you to enjoy just that!

In the early 1990s, people decided to cocoon, or stay home rather than go out. Not so far after, home theaters got more and more complicated and detailed. Home theaters used to be exclusively for the super-rich, and their home theaters are actually movie theaters right at home, with home theater seating and everything. But with some careful saving and research, anyone can have a great home theater to fit their budget, lifestyle and space. As for me, one day I’ll have an awesome home theater of my own, with a huge TV, amazing sound – all wireless of course! Until then, I’ll just keep on dreaming about it!

By: Jeff Saunders

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Music, games, movies, TV – if it’s digital, then Jeff Saunders is into it. Jeff’s dream is to find the best electronic deals out there and turn his home into a complete multimedia center!

Jeff has found some great deals at for Refurbished Electronics – great selection of high-end brand names at AMAZING PRICES! Sony, Microsoft, PSP, iPod – all here and all FOR LESS!

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