Beginner's Guide to Home Theater

Artison speakers

2006-07-13T13:30:46Z

I can't really tell, but these sound pretty neat from the descriptions.

A pair of Masterpiece LCR speakers comes equipped with Artison's own G-LCR Grilles and UMB (universal mounting bracket), and uses a patented technology that requires only two audio channels. Instead, both speakers contain all three front channels, which the company says makes it seem as if dialogue is radiating from the center of the screen, instead of above or below it like traditional three-speaker-box set-ups.

Oh wait...I just noticed the price. Yeah, they're probably pretty good.

Creativity contest

2006-07-14T14:03:41Z

If you happen to have a really weird or really creative home theater, this may be the opportunity for you. This Electronic House fellow is sponsoring a contest that showcases the "most creative" home theaters.

So here's the deal: In my other job (yes, I have one), I oversee editorial for ElectronicHouse.com and I'm taking the wraps off an editorial contest. I want to see the most creative home theater installations people have put together. Do you have a theme theater (the Batcave)? Have you integrated unusual technology (the entire thing is run by an iPod)? It can be low-end or high-end; as long as it's creative and/or unusual, I'm interested.

The best submissions will be featured in an upcoming issue of Electronic House magazine. Granted, it's not an Emmy or an Oscar, but it will give you killer bragging rights among your home theater comrades.

I'll probably be disappointed unless I see something really insane, like a windmill-operated DVD player or one that's powered by a team of chinchillas.

HT in your teency

2006-07-17T13:59:06Z

Just because you have a small room does not mean that you can't enjoy the Lord of the Rings Trilogy or any other feature film that is best viewed on the latest in home theater advancements. You can bring all the qualities of the home theater system into a smaller apartment, or even enjoy the full effect in your bedroom, by choosing some home theater options that will fit better in your smaller space.

I think Daily India has run an article like this before, prompting the funny and potentially biased question: "Exactly how many Indians have large living rooms to accommodate home theaters?"

Bloggers wanted

2006-07-18T14:13:25Z

Apparently, ElectronicHouse.com, via Film Fodder is looking for bloggers on home theater topics. Hey, I blog about home theaters! Maybe I can ditch this Beginner's Guide outfit and make millions as a niche writer...

Though I'm pretty sure if that happened I'd be exposed as the dilettante I am, and no one wants that to happen, do they, folks?

LCD Projectors

2006-07-27T17:49:05Z

LCD Projectors Overview

How LCD Works

What to Look for in LCD Projectors

Buying Your LCD Projector

DVRs and TiVos

2006-07-27T17:53:25Z

DVRs and TiVos Overview

Basic Technology

Features

Cost

LCD vs. Plasma TV's

2006-07-27T17:57:33Z

LCD vs. Plasma TV's Overview

How LCD TVs Work

How Plasma Works

Comparing LCD TVs to Plasma TVs

Home Theater Speakers & Surround Sound

2006-07-27T18:05:49Z

Home Theater Speakers Overview

What are the different kinds of receivers?

What do all the speaker specifications mean?

Can you mix and match with your stereo systems?

Don't DIY?

2006-08-10T14:35:19Z

The sub-title of this seemingly DIY home-theater article crack me up: "Local installer: It's good to hire professionals."

Terry Paullin, 61, has been selling and installing home theater systems in Livermore for more than a decade and there is one thing that drives him crazy.

"I hate to see people pay too much," said Paullin, a longtime Silicon Valley executive who now installs between 40 and 50 home theaters every year.

Paullin, who runs Front Row Cinema out of his Livermore home, also writes about the industry for a number of magazines and he had a few tips for residents interested in creating a movie theater-like atmosphere in their home.

"It is a rapidly changing landscape," Paullin said. "It's not brain surgery but it is just complicated enough where people need professional help."

There's certainly a lot one needs to know before installing a good system, but I wouldn't sell yourself short and hire a professional installer from the get-go. Unless, that is, you just want a home theater and aren't what I would call an actual connoisseur.

Planar on the Run

2006-08-11T14:03:29Z

Planar, a fairly popular flat-panel manufacturer, is trying to break into the HT market.

Planar announces it has hired a team of projection and home theater industry veterans to develop and market products to the specialty home theater channel and its customers. The goal, according to a release, is to make Planar ...

"the top display choice of home theater industry professionals and theater enthusiasts who are looking for superior performance, design and support in a comprehensive line of display products. Unlike commodity products and brands found at large retail outlets worldwide, Planar's specialty home theater products will be available exclusively through specialty home theater distributors and dealers worldwide, who bring value with their industry knowledge and installation capabilities."

HT Heaven?

2006-08-17T14:15:06Z

"Trustworthy web sites to find accessories for home theater PCs are notoriously hard to find," says Marcelo Litovsky of Eye Media Hub, which owns HTPCDepot.com. "HTPCDepot.com will remove that obstacle at one swoop, allowing you to enjoy uninterrupted, even enhance entertainment on your home theater PC system."

HTPCDepot.com offers media peripherals for every desire and every budget. From a 1GB mp3 player for $128.99 to a 61-inch plasma display TV for $7,357.99, the web site spans a comprehensive, wide range of supplemental and essential products.

Other accessories on the web site include LCD monitors and TVs, external storage, speakers, projectors, UPS and power solutions, home networks, printers, portable video / mp3 players, wireless keyboards and mice, HDTV OTA antenna, memory cards readers, as well as audio and video cables.

HTPCDepot.com offers a PayPal payment system, apart from accepting VISA and MasterCard. The web site also allows customers to track their item through the delivery process.

Sounds almost too good to be true, but sites like these really are popping up across the board. Home theater experts and novices alike have access to more and more information each day, along with the standard publications.

The Top Under the Cabinet Televisions

2006-10-12T15:25:24Z

Although none of us can say we need an under the cabinet TV, it certainly comes in handy when your oven-timer goes off during the finale of American Idol. Under the cabinet TV's are also useful for silencing the kids at breakfast, keeping the guys at the table during football season, and entertaining the in-laws during the holidays. Before you splurge on this little heaven-sent invention, take a quick look at the most popular models. The first one to consider is the Audiovox VE-1020 10.4" Under Cabinet LCD Drop Down TV. It comes with a 10.4" LCD screen, a DVD player, NTSC tuner, radio tuner, hands-free telephone, and alarm clock. Essentially, you could simultaneously watch Gilligan's Island, talk to your gabby friend on the phone, take a nap, and listen to Dr. Laura with the help of this amazing machine. It weighs just over 5 pounds and has composite and coaxial inputs and one composite output. It also comes with a 90-day parts and labor warranty. It is an analog television, so it will require a tuner to receive digital television signals.

The Polaroid FCM0700A Under the Counter 7" LCD TV has a 7" widescreen LCD that swivels 180 degrees. It also comes with a DVD player, a 181-channel NTSC tuner, an AM/FM tuner, and a clock radio. It has a rear composite and coaxial input and features auto channel programming. The remote has a built-in magnet so it can be stored on the refrigerator. This means no more losing the remote! At least not in the kitchen anyway. This is also an analog television and will require a separate remote to receive digital television signals.

The Sony ICF-CD555TV LCD TV AM FM CD Kitchen Clock Radio may be a mouthful to say, but it's a relatively simple device. It can be used as a TV, radio, CD player, and cooking timer. It has a slick aluminum design and features a swiveling screen and a tuner that is ready for analog cable connection. The 7" screen is a good size for a kitchen television. The Sony ICF weighs about 16 lbs.

Although the Sony LFX5 7" Wireless LCD TV is not an under the cabinet TV, its wireless capabilities make it just as functional. It features a 7" screen and a separate base station with lots of inputs. It has a wireless range of 50 ft., so you can take it anywhere in the kitchen and it is web-ready, so you can check your e-mail while your basting the turkey!

General Television Buying Tips

2006-10-12T15:40:52Z

Just because an ad in the newspaper is offering a great deal on TVs, doesn't mean that by purchasing the advertised model you are getting the most for your money. There are lots of things to consider when purchasing a television. It's a big investment and you want to make sure you get the TV that best meets your needs. The first thing to do is to measure the space the TV will be placed in. Many televisions are returned because they don't fit in the entertainment center, or on the TV stand. When measuring, leave at least 1 to 2 inches leeway on all sides. This will allow for easier installation and adequate ventilation. You also need to make sure you will have room for any other connections, whether it is a cable connection or an audio/video connection. You need to have enough room that the cable connections can be easily installed or un-installed. Bring a measuring tape to the store with you just to be safe.

Another thing to consider is the size of the room and the type of viewing area. A projection TV is probably not the best option for your eat-in kitchen. You need to have a proper distance between yourself and the TV to have the best viewing experience. Go online and find a Viewing Distance Calculator to find out what size of television is optimum for your room size.

Few people think about this, but you should also make sure that the remote control is easy to use. There is nothing worse than bringing home your brand-new television and then being clueless as to how to work it. If you are going to need to control several different devices with the remote, make sure it is a universal remote and that it is compatible with the other devices in your home.

Considerations for Picture and Audio Quality

2006-10-12T15:41:21Z

There are several things to keep in mind when you are choosing the screen for your television. The picture quality you will get depends largely on four things. The first of these is the darkness of the picture tube or screen surface. With the television turned off, check the darkness of the picture tube and screen. TVs with a greenish looking screen produce low-contrast. Second, consider the flatness of the screen. If you are purchasing a plasma or LCD screen TV, then the screen is already flat. For all other models, keep in mind that the flatter the screen, the less glare you will get from windows and lamps, and the less distorted the images will be. Third, look for the presence of a comb filter in the TV. If a TV does not have a comb filter, it will display "dot crawl" along edges of objects in the picture. This is not very noticeable in small screen TVs, however, so its not a crucial factor when purchasing an under the cabinet TV. A comb filter's job is to fine-tune the picture signal so that the colors and lines are displayed more accurately on the screen. There are several different types of comb filters: glass, digital, and 3DY, but they all pretty much do the same thing. The last thing to consider with regard to picture quality is progressive scan. Since the advent of Digital and HDTV, the ability of a TV to display progressive scan is another important consideration. This feature is part of Digital TV broadcasting and has a more film-like look to it than normal video.

Quality sound is just important as a quality picture, so make sure your television is capable of being hooked up to an audio system. Even if you aren't planning on doing it now, you'll be glad you have the flexibility later. The TV should have at least one set of audio/video inputs and one set of audio outputs. If your TV is going to be used for HDTV application, check for HD Component, Firewire, DVI-HDCP, or HDMI inputs for future attachment of HDTV set-top boxes, HD-DVHS VCRs, or HD recorders/players (Blu-ray/HD-DVD).

Accessories and Extended Service Plans

2006-10-12T15:41:48Z

When you are buying your television, remember to pick up any other accessories your going to need, like coaxial and audio/video cables, power surge protectors, and so forth. When you decide on the television that is right for you, take into consideration the extended service plans that are offered, especially if the TV you purchased costs more than $1000. Televisions rarely need repaired, but when they do, it is often very expensive. These types of plans usually offer home service and they may even loan you a television while yours is being repaired. This way, you won't miss a single episode of Law & Order. Some service plans also include a once-a-year tune-up where the technician will come to your home, open the set, clean out the dust, and check for proper color and contrast balance.

References
http://tv.about.com/od/flatpaneltv/tp/undercabinetTV.htm
http://hometheater.about.com/od/televisionbasics/a/buyingatv.htm