At first it seems like much fun having the cash to indulge and immerse yourself in high-definition video and surround sound, and then you realise there's more decision to be made than just placing a sleek TV panel and a bunch of speakers in the living room. Investing in a home theater system practically takes some planning in order to get the aesthetics right and make yourself comfortable with all the equipment around.1. Most readers won't expect this, but first of all, you do need to get your immediate family's agreement to have a home theater right in their midst. Decide whether it's OK to install the system in the living room, or have a separate room dedicated for a most complete TV watching experience while disturbances to other members are minimized.2. There are 2 main types of flat, high-definition TV: plasma and LCD.
Plasma is made for larger size and is closer to 5 figures in pricing than LCD, which can cost as cheaply as less than a thousand. Plasma is the main choice for a TV in a home theater context since LCD TVs have a size limitation.3. How could you do without a video source? That's the DVD player. Unless you are a discerning aficionado, you'll be spoilt for choice as more advanced technology and decreasing cost continue to impact the market. Almost all come with Dolby? Digital Surround sound (EX 6.1).
Watch out for the blu-ray DVD and their players in the coming years.4. As major TV and radio broadcasts are expected to 'port' into the digital format in the future, the broadcasted material will be encoded with surround sound instructions. A receiver takes advantage by accessing and decoding these instructions to give you superb sounds. Surround sound currently comes in the multi-channel formats of Dolby? Digital EX 6.1 or THX Surround EX? 6.1, DTS, AC-3, etc.Receivers can connect to most types of players and handle their respective media, including VCR or HiFi and the latest ones are designed to be forward-compatible with future standards and formats. Also, some DVD players have built-in receiver capabilities, and this is great for those looking to do more with less.5.
Speakers usually come in sets of 5: 3 in the front (left, right, center) and 2 at the back (left, right). Check with your dealer that the right speaker is placed for the right position because spoken dialogue and sound effects are handled differently. Note that "surround sound" means separate speakers can play different sounds at the same time. The subwoofer is a different animal as it's in charge of processing low frequency sounds which gives you "deep boom-boom bass". It adds an unexpected dimension to a movie which you would not have 'heard' otherwise.6.
Get the right cables; that means good quality ones. Having the latest equipment is pointless if lousy cables are used for connection as they naturally degrade whatever electrical signals that come through them.7. Check how you can make your home theater lightning-proof or safe against power surges. You can safeguard your equipment once you take certain precautions. Ask for professional advice.These are just general guidelines for you to refer, but you can take it from here to build your further interest in home theater equipment or home electronics.
If possible, ask for a test at your dealership to get yourself familiarized with the quality you desire. Ask your dealer to help define a proper checklist of things you are looking for to gain clarity. The more ticks you can make on paper, the clearer your mind gets..
Justin Koh is a freelance writer whose articles have appear in most major ezines. You can find more of these at: http://www.hometheatercenter.infoYou have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated.Versa Tables Releases New Computer Desk
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Versa Tables Releases New Computer Desk
New All-In-One PC Running Windows and Linux
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Just in time for the holiday season the X8 will be available to ship out on Dec 3, 2004.
The All-In-One PC integrates the monitor and desktop into one space saving package.
The Advantage X8 uses high-end components with a Pentium 4 processor, Serial ATA technology and DDR 400 memory.
The All-In-One PC is targeted to consumers or business customers who seek a sleek, space-saving design but who don't want to give up performance they are used to having on a their desktop.
????The Advantage X8 will come with an array of upgrade options such DVD recording and wireless technology.
Customers looking for a stylish computer will appreciate the silver finish of the X8 and the 17 inch display.
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Photography: The Basics
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What is Photography?Photography is defined as "The art or process of producing images by the action of light on surfaces sensitized by chemical processes." (www.ncpublicschools.org/curriculum/ArtsEd/vglossar.htm)The average person never has to deal with this technical definition because they take...
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Sony DCR-HC90ESony introduces the new DCR-HC90E DV camcorder, featuring a 3 Megapixel CCD with Primary...
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Digital Or Film?
For many, digital photography is a breath of fresh air, but be wary - believing our landscape images will
be superior could be a serious blunder.
Having lost count of the number of people who have asked me: "have you gone digital?" I am always left
wondering why it's such a much-asked question. The camera is only a tool in which a photographer creates an image. His personal ability to create a unique image remains the same.
For many forms of photography, digital has long held obvious advantages, but for landscapes the resolution necessary to make larger prints just wasn't available. But things have changed and digital cameras are fast becoming the tools that most pros use.
Modern digital cameras are perfectly capably of matching the 35 mm film - the format which most landscape photographers begin with.
But can they really match the large format film cameras? This is probably the greatest question that all photographers...
Digital Or Film?
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Know Your CameraDoes this sound familiar? You buy the latest digital camera out there, come home, rip off the box, then proceed to fiddle with the device. You briefly flick through the hundred page camera manual and then never...
7 Tips for Shooting Great Digital Photos