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Gettin' in the game
Didn't get a ticket to the Super Bowl? You can still feel like you're there with a home theater system.
From the Tampa Tribune, Jan. 13, 2001 (BayLife cover story)
By DIRK LAMMERS
Cinemas have gone to great lengths to make theatergoers more content, adding stadium seating, cup holders and menus that go beyond the standard popcorn and cola fare.
But to be truly comfortable watching a movie - especially one that passes the two-hour mark - there's no substitute for your favorite recliner or comfy couch.
Home theater systems are no longer the high-tech gadgets of well-to-do audiophiles, as prices continue to drop on big-screen TVs, DVD players and surround sound receivers. Movie lovers can set up a decent quality system for $2,000 to $3,000.
Although you can buy an all-in-one home theater system, it's best to purchase the components separately, says Donna Davis, sales manager with Best Buy in Brandon. You'll get better quality, and you won't have to break the bank all at once.
Davis suggests starting with a good A/V receiver.
"Everything else ends up plugging into that receiver" she says. "Don't skimp here. This is going to be your home base."
A receiver actually holds down three jobs, serving as the pre-amplifier, the amplifier and the AM/FM tuner. Although more seasoned audiophiles will buy those components separately to get more power, beginners typically start with a standalone receiver, says Matt Churches.
Churches gives audio and video advice through his Michigan-based Internet site, Big Matt's Home Theater and Home Audio Web page (http://www.msu.edu/user/churches/). He suggests that shoppers look for receivers with power ratings of at least 80 watts per channel, possibly more for a larger room.
But there's more to a receiver than just power, Churches says. Turn the receiver around and look at the hookups in the back.
A home theater requires more connections than the simple record player and tape deck systems of old. First check if the receiver has enough plugs to hook up your CD player, VCR, DVD player, cable or satellite signal and any other components you own. Then make sure there are one or two extra connectors so you're ready for whatever formats might be on the horizon, he says.
Another crucial feature is surround sound, as the days of a simple pair of left and right speakers are over.
"Your surround sound system will give you the feeling as if you're in a movie theater," Davis says.
Current standards are Dolby Digital (DD) and DTS (Digital Theater Systems), which are both 5.1 channel digital surround formats.
What does "5.1" mean? It has to do with the number of speakers.
Everyone has left and right speakers with their stereo system (that's two). DD and DTS surround sound adds a center channel, which takes care of dialogue and any other action that takes place at the center of the TV screen (three). Speakers placed behind the listening/viewing area on each side (four and five) help create the illusion of things moving around the room.
The ".1" in "5.1" is the subwoofer, an optional low-frequency speaker which enhances bass sounds. It'll shake the windows and make the explosions in such movies as "Independence Day" seem like they're happening right outside your window.
Hear ye, hear ye
Speakers can eat up a lot of a home theater budget, and they're probably one of the more subjective purchases. What sounds mediocre to one person might sound great to another.
Still, Churches says, the old adage "you get what you pay for" generally applies. Churches discusses brand preferences on his Web site, but regardless of your choice, you should be consistent. "I tell everybody to buy the same brand, except for the subwoofer," he says.
His reason is that buying speakers from the same manufacturer will insure they are properly timbre-matched.
Say, for example, you're watching a movie with a speeding car, and your center channel is one brand and your left and right speakers are another. That car might sound like a Ferrari on the left, a Porsche in the center and a Ferrari again on the right. If it's a Ferrari, it should sound like a Ferrari regardless of where it is coming from, he says.
Other speaker decisions - such as whether you want bookshelf or floor-standing speakers - will likely be made based on the size of your living or family room.
The most important lesson is to listen before you buy, and Davis suggests using a favorite CD of your own when doing your sound tests. "It's best to demo speakers with different types of music you listen to," she says.
Churches also suggests using a test DVD such as "Video Essentials: Optimizing Your Audio/Video" (around $40), which can help with speaker placement, as well as sound and video settings.
"You have to play around with the speakers to get them to sound the best," he says.
TV Time
If you're using the term "budget" while building your home entertainment system, you're probably not yet ready to delve into the world of HDTV (high definition television).
Unlike the more square-shaped TV screens we're used to, HDTV utilizes a 16 by 9 ratio viewing area, which better emulates the letterbox cinema screen. But networks are years away from broadcasting digital signals, so we'll stick to the mainstream standard TVs.
Davis says she always tells customers to consider how far they'll be sitting from the set before buying a television. A smaller room with close seating might not require a huge screen.
"A lot of them have and entertainment center that only accepts a 27-inch or a 31-inch," she says.
Most customers looking to buy a new TV lean toward 32-inch ($600 to $700) and 36-inch direct-view sets ($700 to $1,000), which are considered mid-range.
Buying a front- or rear-projection TV can offer a much larger screen, but make sure your room is ready for it, Churches says. "You have to be careful about how much light you have" he says.
If you're often torn between two programs, you might want to consider a TV with PIP (picture-in-picture), which adds a bit to the cost. Also, make sure it comes with a universal remote, so you can clear your coffee table of the six or seven that come with all your recent purchases, Davis says.
I want my DVD
If you're still renting and buying VHS movies, you might stop for good after test driving DVD - which stands for digital video disc or digital versatile disc, depending on who you ask.
Not only does DVD offer a far superior picture quality, but DVD movies can feature DD and DTS surround sound, multiple aspect ratios (choose between letterbox and standard TV ratios) and additional tracks with alternate languages and director's commentary.
Buying a DVD player will likely be one of the easier decisions for the home theater consumer. Although customers can spend $250 to $700 at Best Buy on a player, Davis says all DVD players provide digital quality, so it's a question of adequate hookups and features. Like CD players did years ago, DVD players are now moving into multi-disc players, so consider how often you want to be swapping discs.
Some final advice
Just when you thought you could put your wallet away, there's another thing to consider: You probably should upgrade those cables that came in the box.
Using higher quality video and audio cables, as well as a thicker gauge speaker wire, will typically improve your movie watching experience.
"They'll notice the difference," Davis says. "They'll pay a little bit more, but the results are better."
Churches says do-it-yourselfers can make their own high-quality cables at a fraction of the cost. "If you can solder, you can save a lot of money," he says.
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Didn't get a ticket to the Super Bowl? You can still feel like you're there with a home theater system.
From the Tampa Tribune, Jan. 13, 2001 (BayLife cover story)
By DIRK LAMMERS
Cinemas have gone to great lengths to make theatergoers more content, adding stadium seating, cup holders and menus that go beyond the standard popcorn and cola fare.
But to be truly comfortable watching a movie - especially one that passes the two-hour mark - there's no substitute for your favorite recliner or comfy couch.
Home theater systems are no longer the high-tech gadgets of well-to-do audiophiles, as prices continue to drop on big-screen TVs, DVD players and surround sound receivers. Movie lovers can set up a decent quality system for $2,000 to $3,000.
Although you can buy an all-in-one home theater system, it's best to purchase the components separately, says Donna Davis, sales manager with Best Buy in Brandon. You'll get better quality, and you won't have to break the bank all at once.
Davis suggests starting with a good A/V receiver.
"Everything else ends up plugging into that receiver" she says. "Don't skimp here. This is going to be your home base."
A receiver actually holds down three jobs, serving as the pre-amplifier, the amplifier and the AM/FM tuner. Although more seasoned audiophiles will buy those components separately to get more power, beginners typically start with a standalone receiver, says Matt Churches.
Churches gives audio and video advice through his Michigan-based Internet site, Big Matt's Home Theater and Home Audio Web page (http://www.msu.edu/user/churches/). He suggests that shoppers look for receivers with power ratings of at least 80 watts per channel, possibly more for a larger room.
But there's more to a receiver than just power, Churches says. Turn the receiver around and look at the hookups in the back.
A home theater requires more connections than the simple record player and tape deck systems of old. First check if the receiver has enough plugs to hook up your CD player, VCR, DVD player, cable or satellite signal and any other components you own. Then make sure there are one or two extra connectors so you're ready for whatever formats might be on the horizon, he says.
Another crucial feature is surround sound, as the days of a simple pair of left and right speakers are over.
"Your surround sound system will give you the feeling as if you're in a movie theater," Davis says.
Current standards are Dolby Digital (DD) and DTS (Digital Theater Systems), which are both 5.1 channel digital surround formats.
What does "5.1" mean? It has to do with the number of speakers.
Everyone has left and right speakers with their stereo system (that's two). DD and DTS surround sound adds a center channel, which takes care of dialogue and any other action that takes place at the center of the TV screen (three). Speakers placed behind the listening/viewing area on each side (four and five) help create the illusion of things moving around the room.
The ".1" in "5.1" is the subwoofer, an optional low-frequency speaker which enhances bass sounds. It'll shake the windows and make the explosions in such movies as "Independence Day" seem like they're happening right outside your window.
Hear ye, hear ye
Speakers can eat up a lot of a home theater budget, and they're probably one of the more subjective purchases. What sounds mediocre to one person might sound great to another.
Still, Churches says, the old adage "you get what you pay for" generally applies. Churches discusses brand preferences on his Web site, but regardless of your choice, you should be consistent. "I tell everybody to buy the same brand, except for the subwoofer," he says.
His reason is that buying speakers from the same manufacturer will insure they are properly timbre-matched.
Say, for example, you're watching a movie with a speeding car, and your center channel is one brand and your left and right speakers are another. That car might sound like a Ferrari on the left, a Porsche in the center and a Ferrari again on the right. If it's a Ferrari, it should sound like a Ferrari regardless of where it is coming from, he says.
Other speaker decisions - such as whether you want bookshelf or floor-standing speakers - will likely be made based on the size of your living or family room.
The most important lesson is to listen before you buy, and Davis suggests using a favorite CD of your own when doing your sound tests. "It's best to demo speakers with different types of music you listen to," she says.
Churches also suggests using a test DVD such as "Video Essentials: Optimizing Your Audio/Video" (around $40), which can help with speaker placement, as well as sound and video settings.
"You have to play around with the speakers to get them to sound the best," he says.
TV Time
If you're using the term "budget" while building your home entertainment system, you're probably not yet ready to delve into the world of HDTV (high definition television).
Unlike the more square-shaped TV screens we're used to, HDTV utilizes a 16 by 9 ratio viewing area, which better emulates the letterbox cinema screen. But networks are years away from broadcasting digital signals, so we'll stick to the mainstream standard TVs.
Davis says she always tells customers to consider how far they'll be sitting from the set before buying a television. A smaller room with close seating might not require a huge screen.
"A lot of them have and entertainment center that only accepts a 27-inch or a 31-inch," she says.
Most customers looking to buy a new TV lean toward 32-inch ($600 to $700) and 36-inch direct-view sets ($700 to $1,000), which are considered mid-range.
Buying a front- or rear-projection TV can offer a much larger screen, but make sure your room is ready for it, Churches says. "You have to be careful about how much light you have" he says.
If you're often torn between two programs, you might want to consider a TV with PIP (picture-in-picture), which adds a bit to the cost. Also, make sure it comes with a universal remote, so you can clear your coffee table of the six or seven that come with all your recent purchases, Davis says.
I want my DVD
If you're still renting and buying VHS movies, you might stop for good after test driving DVD - which stands for digital video disc or digital versatile disc, depending on who you ask.
Not only does DVD offer a far superior picture quality, but DVD movies can feature DD and DTS surround sound, multiple aspect ratios (choose between letterbox and standard TV ratios) and additional tracks with alternate languages and director's commentary.
Buying a DVD player will likely be one of the easier decisions for the home theater consumer. Although customers can spend $250 to $700 at Best Buy on a player, Davis says all DVD players provide digital quality, so it's a question of adequate hookups and features. Like CD players did years ago, DVD players are now moving into multi-disc players, so consider how often you want to be swapping discs.
Some final advice
Just when you thought you could put your wallet away, there's another thing to consider: You probably should upgrade those cables that came in the box.
Using higher quality video and audio cables, as well as a thicker gauge speaker wire, will typically improve your movie watching experience.
"They'll notice the difference," Davis says. "They'll pay a little bit more, but the results are better."
Churches says do-it-yourselfers can make their own high-quality cables at a fraction of the cost. "If you can solder, you can save a lot of money," he says.
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