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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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Technorati Tags: building your own home, cable connection, digital camcorder, high def, high definition, home theater seating, home theater sound, home theater system, home theater systems, ipod nano, perfect home, screen tv, video cameras, video game, video on demand, xbox 360

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TV Technology for a New Age: Plasma vs. LCD TVs
by: Scott Foreman

You’re ready! You’ve been working hard and saving a ton of money. Now you’re ready to buy a brand new Flat Screen TV. Hopping in the car, you head off to the local electronics store and just take it all in. There must be a million sets for you to choose from, but ‘come rain or snow or dark of night’ you’re leaving with a flat screen TV.

You feel good as the sales rep approaches you. No pressure. You tell her that you want a flat screen and would like to see what they have available. The first question she asks you is, ‘Are you looking for an LCD or a Plasma?’ Uh…you’ve just been defeated. You have no idea what the differences are or even what questions to ask.

Relax, there is a lot to know, but you don’t have to work in the industry to make an informed decision.

First, let’s start on the same page. Both Plasmas and LCDs are called Flat Screen TVs. Yes, there are larger, thicker rear projection TVs using LCD technology, but that’s NOT what we’re talking about here. We are referring entirely to the thin TVs that you might be inclined to hang on your wall.

I won’t go into the technology behind the two types, but I will say that they are so thin because neither uses the old tubes that you associated with TVs twenty years ago.

Let’s take a brief look at the characteristics of both Plasmas and LCDs. Then we’ll compare and contrast. Finally, I’ll try to boil down what situations might need one type or the other.

Plasma

Come anywhere from 32′-63′ with the 40-44′ range being the most popular.
Measure 4-6′ thick regardless of size screen.
Cost anywhere from $2,000-$20,000 or more.
Can display high definition (HD), DVD, and standard TV pictures with lots of Brightness and Contrast.
Weigh as much as 125 pounds and can be difficult to mount on a wall.
Tend to have problems in high altitudes.
Use a lot of power and generate a lot of heat.
Good for viewing in bright rooms.
Can suffer ‘burn-in’ if the TV image is static for a long time.
Don’t have a track record for repairs or overall hours of use.

LCD

Measure from 14-46′ in screen size.
Thin and light and may be wall mounted.
Can double as a computer monitor.
Tends to have a narrow viewing angle. If you’re off to the side, the picture may look washed out.
Last for around 50,000 viewing hours.
Picture has poor contrast level, so black colors and fast motions are not well shown.
Can cost $400 for a 13′; $800 for a 17′; $1,200 for a 20′; and $1,600 for a 23′

I’ve listed just a few of the more prominent traits of both types of TVs. Let’s take a look at how they compare.

Inch for inch, LCDs cost more than Plasmas.
LCDs don’t come in large sizes. Plasmas don’t come in small sizes.
Plasmas can suffer burn-in. LCDs can’t.
LCDs tend to have a poor viewing angle while Plasmas have a wider viewing range.
Plasmas do better with brightness and contrast.
LCDs are lighter than Plasmas, inch for inch.
LCDs can be used as computer monitors. Plasma TVs can’t.
Plasmas are able to support the lower tier digital definition (Enhanced Definition, or ED) better than LCDs. As a result, it may be worth saving money by buying an ED Plasma.
Plasmas may have problems in high altitudes. LCDs don’t.

Which TV is right for you? That’s an excellent question, but like all good evaluations, it requires some extra insight. In order to determine if you should get an LCD or Plasma TV, please think about which issues are important to you?

If you need a 14-32′ screen, go for an LCD. If you need a 47-63′ TV go with a Plasma.
If cost is your only concern, buy a plasma.
If a lot of people will be watching the TV at one time, the Plasma’s wider viewing angle may be the best bet.
If you play a lot of video games or do anything that could leave a constant image on your screen for a long time, LCDs are your choice. They don’t suffer burn in.
If you want your TV to double as a computer monitor, go with an LCD. Make sure though, that it has the right computer connections. Not all LCDs can do double duty.
If picture quality is your only consideration, go with a Plasma.
If you watch a lot of sports or action movies, a Plasma may have a better picture for you.
If you live in a high altitude, the LCD may be better for you.
If weight is a concern for you, go with the LCD.
If power consumption is a concern, the LCD is a better purchase.

As you can see, there is no obvious answer as to which type of TV is better. If you fall into any of the categories listed above, your decision between a Plasma TV and an LCD TV may be much easier. If you don’t, then it’s a bit more arbitrary.

Regardless, we urge you to take a look at the displays in your local electronics store. Even if you don’t intend to buy the TVs there, you still want to know what to expect when you get the TV home.

If you’d like a little more detail and a few specific examples, please feel free to visit: http://www.home-movie-theater-guide.com/big-screen-tvs.html

In the mean time here’s wishing you success, fun, and happiness in doing that which you love.

Copyright 2005 Flamworks, Inc.

Scott Foreman Home-Movie-Theater-Guide.com

mailto:scott@home-movie-theater-guide.com

This article may be reprinted for use in newsletters and websites provided that the information box is kept intact. Email notice of intent to publish is appreciated but not required: articles@home-movie-theater-guide.com

About The Author

Surround Sounds, Stereos, Sofas, and Screens. A Home Movie Theater takes us to another world. Thrill with the Ultimate in Home Entertainment. Lose Yourself in Movies without ever leaving Home at Scott Foreman’s

http://www.home-movie-theater-guide.com

scott@home-movie-theater-guide.com

This article was posted on March 08, 2005

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Technorati Tags: electronics store, flat screen tv, hd dvd, high altitudes, high definition, measure 4, plasma vs lcd, plasma vs lcd tvs, plasmas and lcds, rear projection tvs, standard tv, tubes, tv image, tv technology

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Many people never bother looking into purchasing a home theater through sheer fear of the decisions that may need to be made in the process. Many among these aren’t even sure of exactly which components are included in a home theater or which ones are needed in order to create an effective and entertaining home theater. For this reason, many people simply do not bother going through the process of looking at their options when it comes to these wonderful systems on the market today much less ever bother actually purchasing one.

If you are one of the many who has experienced some degree of confusion when it comes to the individual parts and pieces that are included in a home theater system and what they do, hopefully you will gain a better understanding once you’ve finished reading. The first thing to understand is that there are varying degrees when it comes to home theaters. The following components are the makings of a very basic home theater that will provide excellent functionality. They are not however inclusive of every possible piece or part that could make up a home theater system.

Off to the basics, the first thing you’ll need when creating a home theater for your family to enjoy is a television. It might seem a little too obvious to some but I have yet to find a box kit that includes a television-mainly because the choice of screen is for many the most personal aspect of selecting a home theater. There are essentially three choices in today’s television market: front projector, rear projector, and plasma. There are variations within each of these and the prices fall anywhere from modest to quite costly. This is the component that most home theater owners spend the most time contemplating and it affects the types of components that will be most effective later on in terms of things such as high definition and other choices you can make.

A receiver is another important component. You will probably have a DVD player or recorder of some sort as part of your system; you may have a Tivo and cable box or satellite and will probably have speakers of some sort for your system. The receiver is the box you plug them all into-it receives all of this inputs and correlates it so to speak. This is the ultimate traffic director when it comes to your home theater and I suggest you spend a good portion of your home theater budget making sure that this is a good quality part.

Speakers are where your sound will flow. One of the best things to me about a home theater is the ability to experience surround sound very similar to what I experience in theaters while having the ability to put my feet up or snuggle under blankets (which simply can’t be achieved in a theater). Speakers come in all shapes and sizes and are also quite personal for some consumers while give and take for others. You can purchase these are part of a kit in order to make the selection process easier.

Finally, you have your DVD player or recorder. If high definition is important to you, you now have that option. If your television isn’t HD ready or capable, I’d pass and go for an older (less expensive) model of DVD player until something more up-to-date is called for. These items are a great start for any home theater and you can build, expand, and upgrade over time for an even better system. Enjoy!

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Technorati Tags: dvd player, high definition, home theater system, home theaters, plasma, rear projector, television market

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