Hometheater Guide

A good home theater system can cost anywhere between $1,000 to over $30,000 depending on the quality of the equipment and the size of your home theater design. The difficult economy we are in has most households making tough decisions about what they want and what they can reasonably afford. Building a family home theater is being put on the back burner in many homes until additional income is available for such “extras.” But a home theater doesn’t have to break the bank. There are resources and ways to keep the cost of a quality system at a reasonable level.

Below are some suggestions for how to save money on a new entertainment system.

1. Search the Web. There are several web sites available online that compare systems and costs. Some will also provide unbiased reviews of products at various price points. Use these to help you decide which brands are in your budget.

2. Install the theater system yourself. Custom installation is needed for some theater designs but many can be easily done yourself with some careful planning. The wiring, cables and connections can be relatively easy to figure out if you follow the instructions.

3. Buy a floor model. A floor model is a piece of equipment that has been on display on the show floor of the electronics store but which is otherwise in perfect condition. This is a great way to get a quality product at a lower price. Talk to your retailer about models they may be looking to get rid of to make room for newer versions.

4. Consider second hand systems. Many audio/video enthusiasts will replace their home theater components every year or two and sell their relatively new systems for a low cost. Consumers must be diligent about doing their research of the product if they buy second hand as there will typically be no warranty remaining on these pieces.

5. Pace yourself. You can save some money by purchasing your home theater components over a period of time. By waiting and buying your television, then speakers, then receivers as you have money and as potential deals or prices drop can help you save 10-15%.

6. Consider a smaller television. It is hard to resist buying the biggest TV on the showroom floor. However, you can save considerable money buy purchasing a smaller screen. Even a few inches smaller can save you a couple of hundred dollars. Remember, those big TVs do not work in every family room anyway.

7. Buy fewer speakers. Two good quality loudspeakers at the front of your TV will cost less than five or more speakers; even poorer quality speakers and a subwoofer may cost more. Speakers are easy to add to your system as the funds allow.

8. Consider a comprehensive warranty. For such a large purchase, it is usually worth it to have a solid warranty that covers you for 1-2 years so that you can be sure that your investment will last and that the retailer or manufacturer backs it up. Should problems arise, this may actually save you money.

~Ben Anton, 2008

Ben Anton lives in Portland, OR and writes for Ronny’s 5th St. Audio Vision.
We invite you view budget-friendly home speakers, amplifiers and DVD players at our Eugene home theater audio and video retail store.

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With over 500 models of home theater speakers available through a generous number of high and low-end brands, many consumers rely on salesperson to lead them in the right direction. Consumers with only a limited budget will undoubtedly flock to the cheapest option available to suit there needs. This however, nearly always results in a less than ideal sound system that fails to meet the expectations or needs of the owner. It is therefore a good idea to educate one’s self on the best brands, speaker styles and specifications that will fit a home’s needs before making a choice.

A home theater speaker system is typically made up of a front speaker, left and right speaker, a center-channel speaker, a pair of surrounds, and a subwoofer. A home owner may mix-and-match components but help from a professional is advised to make sure the speakers are all compatible. These speaker types come in varying sizes, sound output and design. The following are the types of styles in which these speakers may be found:

Floor-Standing speakers are the largest home theater speakers available. They can be shifted around the theater area or be moved to another home.

Bookshelf or Cabinet speakers stand independently, just like floor standing speakers, but are smaller and can be placed on or in entertainment centers or shelving to save space.

In-Wall speakers require no floor space, and can disappear if matching the walls. Their quality is usually very good, but they need professional installation and wiring.

On-Wall speakers are recommended for use with a flat-panel television. They provide exceptional sound as well as a pleasing aesthetic component.

Home theater owners or designers must determine the listening requirements and preferences for a specific room in order to create a quality home theater space. Room size and layout are important factors as this will dictate the speaker configuration. Logistics like electrical outlet placement, room size, and usable room space strongly affect the type of equipment that can and should be put in the room.

Home theater speakers are available in many sizes. However not all sizes are meant for all rooms. Large speakers are not advantageous for small rooms because they will need to be played at a much lower volume. This may cause distortion to the audio. Lower quality small speakers used in large spaces may produce a tinny or thin sound if they are unable to produce enough sound at a decent output level. Speakers of similar size may differ greatly in their sound output or reproduce different levels of sound unequally so it is very important to listen to various speaker brands and sizes and compare them before buying.

Speakers are available in a variety of encasement types – natural or laminated wood, metal, and occasionally plastic, but often preferences may be limited by brand or model. Speakers are as varied as tennis shoes so make sure you try on several and know how they fit into your home theater before making a purchase.

~ Ben Anton, 2008

Ben Anton lives in the Northwest and writes for Ronny’s 5th St. Audio Vision.
Ben Anton invites you to find out more about home theater on-wall speakers from PSB, Dali and Quad at our Eugene home theatre design, audio and video web site.

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In the past, one of the major reasons to go to the local movie theater was the theater’s sound system and its ability to immerse you in the action through sound. As home theater technology has progressed, many home owners find that they can match or exceed the local movie theater’s sound through their own home theater system.

Although you can certainly have a more advanced speaker setup, a typical home theater will have a 5.1 speaker setup which includes a left and right front main speaker, a center channel speaker and two surround speakers, plus a dedicated subwoofer channel (the .1).

The following simple speaker placement tips will help you experience the magic of the theater in the comfort of your own home.

1. Make sure the center channel is “anchored” to the screen. The role of the center channel is to communicate the dialog of the movie. If the person’s mouth is moving on the screen, but the sound is coming from off to the side the dialog will seem unnatural. A center channel speaker will be shielded so that you can place it near or directly on top of your tv.

2. Your front main speakers should have their tweeters located at ear level when sitting in the optimum listening position. It is important to invest in a quality pair of speaker stands so that you can make sure your speakers can be placed at the proper listening height.

3. The front main speakers and center channel should all be placed at an equal distance from the main listening position pointed towards the listener. The speakers will have a slight natural arc when placed in this fashion. They generally should be placed between 22 – 30 degrees from the main listening position.

4. Surround sound speakers should be placed directly to the left and right or slightly behind the main listening position and should be located about two feet above ear level. In a 6.1 system a third surround speaker is added behind the listener, but it is important to note that it is best for that speaker not to be in line with the center channel. A 7.1 system adds a rear left and a rear right full range surround channel that should be placed behind the listening position.

5. From my experience, the addition of a quality subwoofer to your setup will do wonders for your movie watching experience. Since deep bass is non directional, you have more options with where to place your subwoofer. Many people will place it in the front corner, but some prefer it in the back or hidden along the side. It is important to note that generally bass will be enhanced by being placed next to the wall and especially if placed in the corner.

These are some simple tips to get you started. Every speaker and room have their own unique qualities so use this information as a guide, but experiment further with speaker placement in your own home. Even moving a speaker a few inches can make a dramatic impact on the quality of the sound.

Although the new flat screen tvs are what are catching people’s attention, a quality sound system with properly placed speakers are what helps transform regular television viewing into a true cinematic experience.

For more information about Home Theater Speaker Placement visit Jared’s site at http://familyhometheaterguide.com

The Family Home Theater Guide is an informative guide to home theater, with a particular emphasis on family entertainment. Jared has a wife and three children that love to experience the magic of the big screen in the comfort of their own home.

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Many homeowners who dream of having their own theater room in their home think of the idea as lavish and simply assume they do not have room for such a luxury in their home. However, many homeowners have thought outside the box and come up with the idea of finishing their basement into a home theater room. While the basement may seem like an unlikely choice for such a room, it is actually one of the best places for a home entertainment system. A basement is set underground so it can easily become a very dark room with no natural light. It also has minimal noise pollution. These factors contribute to the room’s setup as the perfect place for a sound system and large projection system. There are many basement home theater designs that homeowners can choose from for their own basement.

It is important for a homeowner to consider the measurements of the basement before purchasing any stereo or visual equipment for the room. While a homeowner may have his or her mind set on a specific size of television or projector screen, it is important to make sure the screen is not too big or too small for the room. The perfect visual quality can be achieved when the correct sized equipment is purchased in relation to the size of the room. A homeowner should be able to consult with a professional at the electronics store in order to make sure he or she is buying the correct sized projector screen or television. A homeowner who is developing plans for the setup of the basement may want to consult with a professional first in order to see what type of budget he or she will be working with on the visual equipment.

A surround sound system should also be the correct size to the fit the size of the basement. A basement is known for having great acoustics so a surround system may not need to be as powerful as it might be in a regular living room. A homeowner should be able to go to a local electronics store and see a few basement home theater designs that are already setup in the store. He or she can choose which system sounds the best and would be best for the room. A professional or employee of the store should be able to help if the homeowner can tell him or her measurements of the room and what type of budget he or she has in mind.

A homeowner may have plenty of ideas for a home basement theater system. However, it is important for the homeowner to remember that the sound and visual equipment should be the correct size for the size of the room. Consulting with a professional on the basement home theater designs that the homeowner is interested in can be one of the first steps taken when deciding on the plans for the basement. A professional can recommend a setup for the basement based on measurements and the acoustics in the room.

Gavin Cruise was born in New York, his mother encouraged him to write and read and his father was a wealthy business man in real estate. Gavin had the privilege of traveling extensively with his father learning about a wide variety of subjects. He attended Harvard where he majored in English and from the age of 26 Gavin supported himself by freelance writing through all the knowledge gained from traveling. If you would like to read more articles about Gavin Cruise, please visit http://www.basement-contractors.net

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If you think you can take those old stereo speakers and hook them up to your television set in order to create surround sound for your home theater system, you are cheating yourself out of an auditory delight. True, you would hear the audio sounds from the program you were watching, but surround sound works differently. With a properly set up set of speakers, the sound quality is optimized, making you feel as if whatever is happening on the television screen is actually taking place in the room where you are sitting – especially if you close your eyes!

A good set of speakers will include what is called a digital media port, which will allow you to expand the usefulness of your home theater system even more. With this option, you can play music from your computer’s hard drive, an iPod, or any Bluetooth device, and enjoy the incredible range and tone that the speakers produce.

A basic set of surround sound speakers for your home theater system will include three to five wall mountable speakers for a wide, clear sound field, along with a subwoofer to further enhance the entire audio spectrum. Generally, you will need two front speakers, two rear speakers, a center speaker, and a subwoofer for the best sound. Once you get everything set up, prepare to be amazed. You will be able to actually “feel” the sound as it reverberates! It would be best to find a set that has a magnetically shielded center speaker, so that this one can be placed close to your television set without any sort of image distortion. Your subwoofer should also have a power supply of its own for best results.

A good receiver is a big part of the surround sound package for your home theater system. The receiver for your speakers should be as high a wattage as possible for the best sound, and should be equipped with at least a 4 channel Dolby Pro Logic decoder. Look for the inclusion of Digital Cinema Sound technology and Auto Calibration for clean, crisp, realistic sound quality. The best receivers will have separate and distinct sound filed controls for music and movies, and easy to reach connections for headphones, optional antennas, and of course, speakers. Most will include a microphone which will balance the speakers for you, giving you the best audio with very little effort on your part.

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An XM Radio-ready home theater system makes it easy to connect an XM Mini Tuner and Home Dock to your audio components. This will allow you to receive XM Satellite Radio reception in the room your main system is in, or throughout your home if you so desire.

XM Radio is a subscription service which allows you to receive over 170 digital radio stations via satellite, no matter where in the United States you are, for an affordable monthly fee. If you have problems with FM radio reception where you live, you should definitely consider adding this option to your home theater system. There is a radio station for everyone in the family to enjoy, and it is an economical way to experience a wide variety of music with very little effort.

The addition of digital radio service is a logical choice for a home theater system. You can use the components you already have in place to enjoy commercial free music, sports, talk shows and news. Many of the home theatre systems available are XM radio ready. Some of them are also capable of recording music from your favorite satellite radio channels.

Detailed instructions are available to enable you to equip your home theater system with satellite radio. Generally, you connect the digital receiver into the line level input of your audio system. Then, connect the power adaptor and home antenna, positioning the antenna in such a way as to maximize the signal strength that will turn your home theater system into a veritable smorgasbord of musical enjoyment.

You owe it to yourself to maximize your investment in a home theater system by including the delights of satellite radio. Ever wonder who was singing a certain song? This information is displayed on an easy-to-read screen on the front of the digital receiver. With satellite radio, you will get music choice and variety, and may even discover new artists who will quickly become your favorites.

The improved sound quality of the digital signal, coupled with the excellence of your home theatre system’s speakers, can make listening to music a truly memorable experience.

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Alpine SWR-1242D 12″ Type-R Series Subwoofer (4 Oh Best Review

This sub is one of the best subs I’ve ever owned, and trust me I’ve been through a few brands (polk, pioneer, sony, now alpine). Pushing this sucker with an Alpine MRP-500 amp which pushes 500 watts rms at 2 ohm load. It literally feels like someone’s constantly kicking the back of my seat, with the headunit (pioneer DEH-p4000ub, also a good product) at around -12 (highest is +6) and the gain at about half on the amp. This sub SLAMS and is practically unbearable at full volume, its bound to give u a headache both inside the car and standing next to it when u show it off. Just can’t say enough about this sub. This sub paired with the above mentioned alpine amp are the best mix for the money in my opinion.

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Alpine SWR-1242D 12″ Type-R Series Subwoofer (4 Oh Feature

• Power Handling Capacity (RMS): 750W
• Power Handling Capacity (Peak): 2000W

Alpine SWR-1242D 12″ Type-R Series Subwoofer (4 Oh Overview

Alpine Type-R subwoofers are designed with HAMR Engineering to deliver tighter, accurate bass. A multi-stage Thermal Management System and Aluminum Airflow Motor Cover provide better airflow cooling for maximum performance, With the precision-crafted SWR-1242D (12″, 4ohm + 4ohm), you’ll be able to handle ground-pounding, long-lasting bass and complement any system for awesome sound quality. Add another dimension to the sound, and feel your music!

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Customer Reviews

blew me away !! – Adam Brand – florida
This sub has exceeded my expectations in every aspect.
i am in love and would never buy anything but alpine anymore.

Good for price – Brandon Fellman – Minnesota
For the price these subs pound. But don’t think they’re gonna be even close to te loudest subs. Yeah 2 of these will pound hard given the right amount of power, but compared to more expensive subs these can’t compete. I had 2 of these and they were very loud, my trunk rattled before I got dynamat. I upgraded to 0 subs and will never go back to these. Type R’s are VERY good middle level subs.

Powerful Sub for Good Price – Carnis L. Burgess – Oxford, MS
This is a great speaker that has alot of bass. I have 2 in a vented enclosure in my ‘96 Taurus. I’m pushing them on a 4500 watt Power Acoustik amp with a 5 farad capacitor. These speakers will hit!!! They have great sound quality. Even tho they have a lot of bass there is still more to be desired.

Nice Subs – Ricky –
These thing is unbelieveable,I have them wired to a Alpine pdx 1000 watt amp,everything shakes on my 2002 mercury mountaineer,when I turn them up I feel like my skin is leaving my body, othe peeps in my vehicle complain of their heart.But overall great subs.

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*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Feb 25, 2010 18:12:38