August 22, 2011
How To Buy A Home Theater System That Rocks |
Dealhack
Revised March 16, 2011. Copyright
© 2011 Dealhack.com. All Rights
Reserved.
Disclosure: Dealhack
is a blog
that helps consumers to find the best deals online. Dealhack has an
affiliate
relationship with some of the retailers
mentioned or referenced in this article.
 Affordability and simplicity aren't exactly words most
people use to describe the purchase of a home theater system; until
now. Creating a home
theater system that rocks doesn't have to cost a fortune. Consider
it an investment in entertainment for years to come.
Simplicity and Affordability
Color coded speaker wires and cables specific to certain jobs or pieces
of equipment make installing a home theater system easier than ever.
The hardest part should be choosing the size of the big screen, or
using a projector.
One of the best and most affordable Blu-Ray players on the market today
is Sony's
Playstation 3. Not only do you
get Blu-Ray capability but a video
game system to boot.
Samsung HT-C6500 is a 5.1 home
theater system with built-in Blu-ray player and good sound quality for
its price range. Features built-in Wi-Fi; plays music, videos, and
pictures off a connected USB drive or via network; 1GB onboard storage.
Lack of 3D support is a negative. Retails for about $500.
The Sony BDV-E770W is also a
well-reviewed integrated system. Unlike HT-C6500, it offers 3D
compatibility. Lack of HDMI inputs is a big drawback in our opinion.
Sells for $400-450.
LG offers the LG LHB535
Network Blu-Ray Disc Home
Theater System that retails for about $350, with 3.5 stars out of a
possible 5 star
rating. The LG system offers integrated Wi-Fi connectivity, 1080p
Blu-Ray reader, DVD and CD playback, MusicID, USB 2.0 capability, and
much more. Also included is 5.1 channel speaker system
for true surround sound.
Great combination of quality and affordability is the ONKYO HT-S3300 5.1 Channel Home
Theater System. If offers great sound, excellent connectivity, and is
3D-compatible. Customer reviews are excellent. It does not include a
Blu-ray player but it is designed to support 3D-capable Blu-ray
players. The ONKYO HT-S3300 sells for about $320.
Home Theater Placement Guide
Everyone knows that seating and placement are of the utmost importance
to a successful home theater. Placing your television, speakers and
seating in the correct places will guarantee optimal viewing and an
incredible surround sound experience every single time you watch a
movie.
Size: The very first measurement you need is the room itself. The
optimal viewing distance for an LCD television is 1.5 to 2 times the
width of the screen. Placing speakers for the optimal surround sound
experience is also dependent on the size and shape of the room.
First Row Seating: Your first row of seats should be set at the near
side of the optimal viewing distance, so you always have the best seats
in the house. Single-row seating is very common in home theaters; if
you have a single row, feel free to skip the next paragraph on how to
lay out your second row.
Second Row: Planning your second row of seats can be a bit tricky.
Consider placing the second row on a 7 inch raised platform so guests
can more easily see past the first row. Place those seats within the
optimal viewing distance if at all possible, without feeling cramped of
course.
Surround Sound Speaker
Placement Guide
Imagine watching a movie with incredible surround sound capability on a
plain television without surround sound. That's what it's like when you
put all of your speakers in front of the viewing area. Sure, you may
hear a few things go from side to side, but surround sound is an
incredible asset to any movie-watching experience.
Center Channel: Place your center channel speaker directly in front of
the viewing area. The center channel is the one that anchors voice and
other on-screen sounds to the screen. Some center channel speakers may
be mounted to the center-top of the television or directly below the
very center of the television.
Left and Right Channel: Place your front left and front right speakers
an equal distance from the optimal viewing area. They should be at
about a 22 to 30 degree angle from the listening position.
Surround Left and Right: Place the left and right surround sound
speakers an equal distance from the optimal viewing area. They should
be at about a 90 to 110 degree angle from the listening position.
Surround Rear: The rear speaker should be directly behind the optimal
viewing area. Position the rear speaker about 3 to 5 feet from the
optimal viewing area.
Special Considerations
Not all speaker systems come with 6.1 or 7.1 channel systems. Speaker
placement depends entirely on the number of speaker channels available.
Some of the most popular speaker brands include Polk Audio, Logitech,
Samsung and Bose.
Check us out our email newsletter
delivered every morning with Deals we personally select everyday and
new informative articles like this one. Also, check out our
Electronics section which often feature Deals
on Home Theater Systems and related gear.
Comments? Suggestions? E-mail us at tips@dealhack.com.
More great Dealhacks:
Dealhack is a blog updated daily with bargains on the hottest tech and consumer products. Never miss a deal:
|
|
|
