Buying Home Theaters

Everything you always wanted to know about buying home theaters and more!

Articles » Home Theaters

  • Widescreen Televisions Enhance Movie Watching

    I am continually surprised by the amount of people who prefer to watch “non-letterbox” or “full screen” versions of films. I have heard everything from “it makes the picture look smaller” to “I hate the black bars.” What full screen fans are missing out on is the director’s original intent for the movie. Film directors not only concentrate on what is being said in the movie, but the camera angles and framing play an important part in making a statement in a film.

  • What’s on TV Tonight?

    Many of us can remember when someone would ask “what’s on television tonight?” and the queried party could actually provide a comprehensive answer. There were three broadcast networks and, depending upon where you lived, a public broadcasting channel. Television viewers could memorize the prime time schedule and if someone wanted to know what was on, the answer was readily available.

  • Three Ways to Grab Home Theater Bargains

    Everyone is looking for the best possible deal when they shop. When they are looking for more expensive non-essential items, like a home theater, that desire for a great deal almost becomes a necessity. One can spend a great deal building the perfect home theater. However, some great techniques can help a buyer save a bundle. By shopping for discontinued items, refurbished components and open box pieces, the home theater buyer can cut their costs tremendously.

  • Three Home Theater Myths

    Consumer technology is an interesting thing. The accessibility of equipment and materials on the technology leads almost everyone to believe they are an expert in the field. There’s something about consumer electronics that makes everyone feel they are qualified to present an opinion on the subject.

  • The Home Theater as a Gift

    If you are ever in need of a great gift idea for a spouse or loved one that will undoubtedly be well received, you might want to consider buying a home theater system. Although it may seem like a large gift, it can be a present that will long be remembered. In addition, with smart shopping one can complete the task cheaper than they may expect.

  • The Changing Nature of Home Theaters

    Once, we thought of home theaters quite literally. We conceived of small cinemas built inside the homes of the wealthy utilizing movie theater projectors and traditional “silver screens.” These so-called screening rooms were the home theaters of the past. They were built with stadium style seating and movie theater chairs. It was like having your own little Dickinson Theater in the basement of you mansion.

  • The Arrival of Home Theater

    It wasn’t long ago that no one had every heard of a home theater system. They knew about televisions, cable and even VCRs, but the idea of big screen televisions and high-fidelity stereo sound systems were foreign to them. When people thought about movies at home they probably envisioned watching a badly filmed home movie featuring a 1966 vacation being shot onto the living room wall with a whirring old projector.

  • The Advantages of Staying In

    Is going out to the movies really worth it? There are definite advantages to seeing recent releases on the big screen; however, the costs and hassles of going to local Cineplex are making the home theater industry boom.

  • Simple Suggestions for Home Theater Owners

    There are plenty of tips and recommendations out there involving the selection, purchase and installation of home theater rigs. With home theater popularity skyrocketing, many have taken it upon themselves to provide resources and direction for those considering a home theater purchase.

  • Rediscover the Classics with Your Home Theater

    We often think of home theaters as a way of enjoying the latest Hollywood blockbusters. We think of home theaters as the perfect way to bring those intense, mind-blogging special effects into our living rooms. We salivate at the bass-heavy booms of explosions and the blinding light of on-screen fires.

  • Popcorn Options for your Home Theater

    Every home theater should have one essential piece of equipment…. a snack bar! There’s something about sitting down to a film with a tub full of popcorn and a large soda that makes the experience “complete.” The home theater enthusiast shouldn’t have to go without that “real movie” experience.

  • Let’s Get Small With A Home Theater

    If you live in an apartment and want to have a home theater experience, they say, all it will take is a mortgage on a new house and the purchase of a home theater system. After all, no one can really expect to enjoy a great home theater experience in a limited space, right? All of the apartment dwellers of the world are doomed to suffer with tiny television screens that barely blurt out enough sound from their inadequate internal speakers.

  • Home Theaters Offer Many Options

    It’s easy to think of home theaters as little more than the at-home version of the local cinema. We usually use the term to describe collections of components designed to duplicate the big screen experience, after all. Most people who have developed an interest in the home theater area were inspired by a love of the movies and the desire to get a silver screen equivalent in their own home. Home theaters, you might think, are all about the movies.

  • Home Theaters and Obsolescence

    Technology is a temporary thing. Whenever one believes they have the utmost in high tech at their disposal, a new invention or innovation is introduced rendering the previously purchased item something of a second-tier commodity. In home electronics, advances occur rapidly, making any new purchase a temporary solution for anyone who wants to stay at the head of the pack.

  • Home Theaters: Knowledge is Power

    So, the idea of a home theater is pretty appealing, right? After reading glowing reports of economical new technologies and hearing your friends rave about how much they enjoy their home theater, you have decided to join the crowd and to invest in your own system.You are making a wise decision. Home theaters offer so much entertainment value and really do make a wonderful addition to almost anyone’s lifestyle.

  • Home Theaters: Don’t Go Cheap

    It seems like everyone is hopping on the home theater bandwagon. What was once a diversion only for the wealthiest has now become a hot new trend in households along every point in the socioeconomic strata. As home theater interest has increased, manufacturers and retailers have created new products designed with entry-level buyers in mind.

  • Home Theater Themed Lighting

    To create a unique home theater experience, there are a variety of lighting options to choose from. When selecting the lighting for your home theater it is important to take into consideration the overall look of your home theater area. Everything from flashy neon lights to classic Hollywood style lights are available. With all lighting projects, it is important to have a certified electrician handle the work.

  • Home Theater Seating

    You’ve invested the time and money in putting together your perfect home theater system. You’ve got the best screen, the best speakers and a brand new DVD projector. What’s next in making your experience complete? Specialized Home Theater seating can turn your bonus room into a deluxe movie palace.

  • Home Theater on the Cheap

    You want the movie experience in your living room. You fantasize about turning the guest bedroom into a full-featured home theater. Towering speakers, a giant screen, ear-splitting sound, top of the line equipment, great seats and even a popcorn machine and a soda fountain in the back of the room. Then, you check the balance on your checking account and your home theater fantasy seems to be the least likely thing to ever happen. You cannot afford a home theater system.

  • Home Theater in-a-Box: The Quick and Easy Option

    If you’ve ever considered transforming your living room into a home theater, but have been daunted by the planning and arranging of all of that equipment, there is a solution for you. Home Theater in-a-Box systems provide consumers with the means to getting theater quality entertainment at home for a fraction of the price, and a lot less hassle. These systems are a great introduction to the world of home theater entertainment.

  • High End Home Theaters and the Law of Diminishing Returns

    Are you familiar with the idea of the law of diminishing returns? Basically, it states that at some point along a continuum, the amount of effort required to produce a noticeable improvement becomes so great as to render it unjustifiable. This is certainly the case with home theater systems, particularly high-end options.

  • Five Reasons NOT to Buy a Home Theater

    Everyone is talking about home theaters. They are, perhaps, the hottest area of the consumer electronics market, as people clamor for a way to duplicate the big screen experience within the confines of their own home. Every day, home theaters are advancing in quality and decreasing in price, leading more and more people to make an investment in a home theater system.

  • Common Errors in Home Theater Selection

    Everyone wants a home theater, but not everyone conducts enough due diligence on the subject before entering the marketplace. As a result, they end up with systems that don’t do what they need them to do. Sometimes they end up with systems that are far too powerful than what they really need. A well-informed and researched consumer can avoid all of this.

  • Choosing the Right Screen for your Home Theater

    The centerpiece of any home theater system is the screen itself. This vital piece of equipment should be given some careful thought and planning. There are many options out there and choosing the right screen is extremely important in enjoying your home theater experience.

  • Choosing a Home Theater

    Everyone knows they want a home theater, but they don’t necessarily have a great idea of exactly what they want to make that dream a reality. They have a concept to which they cling, but the don’t necessarily have a blueprint in mind t help them realize their objectives. One can build a home theater system that would be the envy of any cinema, or they can amass only the bare necessities to improve their at-home viewing experience.

  • A Safe Home Theater

    Technology draws children like moth to a flame. Kids just cannot resist electronics! Bright lights, mechanical sounds, and many buttons make a home theater system a magnet for a toddler’s attentions. Unfortunately, their interest can lead to action and may systems have been destroyed by a curious child or one who just felt a DVD player was a great place to store a peanut butter sandwich.

  • A Home Theater Theme Night

    Home theaters are an awesome way to enjoy a movie. They can also become the centerpiece of a great social gathering. People love the movies. They appreciate and relate to them in a very unique and personal way. Everyone, it seems, considers themselves a fan of film. This love of the silver screen prompts a lot of people to invest in home theater systems. Those who have taken the plunge can parlay their investment in technology into a great social opportunity.

  • A Home Theater for the Kids

    Home theaters are widely enjoyed by the whole family. Everyone likes to have their favorite programs brought to life with great video and outstanding audio. Though everyone can agree that they love home theater systems, however, there is a difference of opinion that can be a source of frustration.

  • Why Create A Home Theater

    It's a simple fact most people love movies. Whether the favorite genre is drama, action, romance or even horror matters little, what matters to most is a great story that takes a person away from it all for a little while. In this fast-paced world with ever-rising expenses, the price of going out and the hassles involved make it difficult for many to make regular trips to the box office.

  • Keeping VHS Alive In Your Home Theater

  • Combination Televisions Not Always Best For Home Theaters

    Formulating the ideal home theater is a big undertaking. To create a room that's perfect for movie watching and also is relaxing and inviting takes some planning, clear ideas and, of course, a good budget. Naturally the electronic components are a big deal. A good home theater includes a television, a DVD player, a VCR, a cable system, a sound system and a receiver to make them all work together well.

  • Television Variety Can Be Staggering For Home Theater Shoppers

    Anyone who has set out to make the simple purchase of a television set knows there's nothing simple about the process. With so many different types of televisions now available, the old days of two choices - black and white or color - are long gone. If creating a home theater is your ultimate goal with a television purchase, it really pays to know what's out there before you go looking.

  • When It Comes To Home Theaters Size Matters

    Picking a television for the perfect home theater is a tough process. First off, the price ranges are staggering. From a few hundred dollars to well over $50,000, the choices are amazing. What's also amazing is the fact that quality doesn't necessarily have to cost a bundle. It really depends on make and model. When selecting a television for a home theater there are a few things to keep in mind. First off, size does matter.

  • Choosing A Plasma Television For A Home Theater

    Your DVD collection is busting at the seams. You love watching television - regular programming, movies, it just doesn't matter. You've decided to build on this passion, creating the home theater of your dreams. But, should you include a plasma television? And what the heck is it?

  • Organizing Movies Can Make A Home Theater More User Friendly

    Creating a home theater is a fun and rewarding project. This is especially so for the major movie lover with an extensive movie collection. What better to watch a great movie on that a huge television complete with surround sound? That's simple - a huge television complete with surround sound that happens to be in your own home theater.

  • A Movie Collection Is A Must For A Great Home Theater

    Making the decision to create a home theater is a big one. The investment can be great in money, but even bigger in time. For those who truly love entertainment, the home theater is the one room in the house that pulls family members together. In this day and age of fast-paced living, the theater is often more of a gathering point than even the kitchen. Inasmuch, it's important to make a home theater inviting to every member of the family.

  • Making Home Theater's Kid Friendly

    A home theater is an investment in a family's free time. For those with a passion for movies, it's a place to kick back and relax and let the worries of the day or week fade into black as a great story unfolds on a screen. Home theaters for families are wonderful additions because they provide a place for everyone to get together whether to watch flicks for pure enjoyment or educational purposes.

  • Creating A Home Theater Is A Serious Decision

    Most homes have televisions. In fact, they generally have more than one. But taking the television and turning it into a centerpiece for a home theater is a decision that shouldn't be taken lightly.

  • Seating Is Important In A Home Theater

    Ever consider what makes a good theater stand out from a bad one? In a lot of cases it's the seating. Comfortable seating makes a movie experience so much more enjoyable. Bad seating with obstructed views can wreck even an Academy Award-winning performance for the viewer. No one wants to sit on a rock-hard chair or uncomfortable couch for a two to four hour stint.

  • Making The Most Of A Home Theater

    The home theater's done. The screen is perfect in size and ideally situated. The sound is aligned for optimum listening pleasure. Pictures are hung tastefully on the walls and the lighting is incredible. Plus, the DVD collection is ready to go. What now?

  • Lighting Is Key For Creating A Good Home Theater

    Ever watch a movie with all the lights on and the sun blaring in through the windows? Did you miss much? Of course you did. No television in the world is meant to be viewed with full light. The subtle colors and lots of the action can be lost when light is flooding into a room.

  • Keeping Home Theaters Within Budget

    Building a great home theater can be a real blast. But that blast can quickly turn into a bank buster if some smart shopping, research and limits aren't employed from the very start.

  • Digital Televisions Can Add To Home Theater Experience

    If creating a home theater is a project in your near future, you'll have a lot of choices to consider when it comes to the viewing system. The number of television types, makes and models on the market is truly staggering. The choice can blow an unprepared consumer away.

  • Ideal Home Theaters Center Around The Screen

    Creating a home theater is a great move for cinema fans and families alike. Acting as a fun centerpiece for a home where friends and family can gather, a good home cinema exudes a sense of comfort and intrigue. It's a place to relax, kick back and enjoy. Putting together a great home theater requires some planning, however. The key to the mix is of course the television or screen.

  • Apply Feng Shui To Your Home Theater For Comfortable, Relaxing Space

    Let's face it, not everyone buys into the Asian concept of feng shui. But in its simplest form, this ancient art makes a lot of sense for rooms in the home where families will gather or relaxation is key.

  • Making Home Theaters Family-Friendly, Educational

    Shying away from creating a home theater because of your kids? If your concern is that youngsters will spend all their time in a home theater watching movies rather than doing other things, think again. The creation of a home theater doesn't have to turn a family into a bunch of couch potatoes. In fact, with some careful planning and enforced ground rules, a home theater can serve as an exercise room and an extra classroom, too.

  • Collecting DVDs Can Make An Ordinary Home Theater Extraordinary

    In the past, owning a movie was almost a luxury. The advent of VHS made this less so, but storage was difficult, quality wasn't always the best and tapes began to wear out after multiple showings.

  • Movie Memorabilia Can Be A Fun Addition To A Home Theater

    You've got the electronics. The sound's so realistic you jumped at a loud noise the last time you ran a movie. You've done it, a room in your house has been successfully transformed into the perfect home theater. But wait, there's one thing missing. Even with the big screen television and the surround sound, the home theater experience still doesn't have the "going to the movies" feel. The picture's right, but the atmosphere is all wrong.

  • A Case For Including Cable In A Home Theater

    The screen is huge. The seating is just right. The surround sound is in place. The DVD collection is to die for. But something's still missing. The cable television. Why would anyone want to include cable television in a home theater? After all, it's all about the movies, right? Yes, and no.

  • Home Theater: Providing Quality Entertainment for the Whole Family

    Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you have your very own theater with great picture quality and integrated with surround sound technology? If you have, then you actually don’t need to purchase a whole theater or cinema in order to enjoy great quality movie watching. Your own TV room can now be your very own personal home theater system.

  • Bring the Movie Theater at Home

    People love going to movie thaters. They enjoy watching movies with all its sound and effects surrounding them. But sometimes, driving to and from cinemas can be time consuming. Now, it's more practical to watch any movie with your very own home theater system.

  • Home Theater's Top Ten Products for 2006

    The current year, 2006, is coming to an end. At this time, people are quite busy with the holiday rush. They spend a lot of time shopping for gifts and preparing for parties. This is also the time when electronics journalists get to choose the best products for the year.

  • Replace the Downtown Cinema with a Home-Sweet-Home Theatre!

    Each weekend, we wonder what movies to watch in the theatres. We buy popcorn and drinks, get some tickets, and watch some good movies at some movie houses. We enjoy every single second of it from the time it starts until the credits roll in. Oh how we love to satisfy our eyes' hunger with the delicacy of some story introduced to us as a movie flick! Like a visually-intensified book, theatres teach us, horrify us, thrill us, and any other emotion you can get from watching.

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