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Home Theater Systems: The Ultimate Home Entertainment [by Carina Zaragoza] Keeping up with the constant innovations and new models that pervade the technological industry can seem quite a challenge, at times overwhelming. The cell phones, PDAs, digital cameras, laptops, and iPods that dominate the market require today’s consumer to consistently be aware of the many changes within the industry. This edition of LawCrossing Weekend spotlights home theater systems, which are becoming more and more mainstream.
Just as cell phones were viewed as status
room, the number of people you expect to
include a reasonable price, vibrant colors,
symbols in the 1980s, reserved only for the
seat, and the lighting. You will also have to
and long life expectancy. Gateway’s 42-inch
most successful members of society, home
keep in mind the differences between front-
Ultrabright Plasma TV is budget friendly at
theaters were seen as celebrity items, to
projection units and rear-projection units and
less that $3,000. If the sky’s the limit, then
be featured prominently in lavish homes, a
flat-panel displays. Front-projection units
the LG 71-inch plasma MW-71PY10 is for
la MTV’s “Cribs,” not too long ago. With the
support a wider screen size and most closely
you. The model is so new, and so advanced, a
popularity of technological advances, though,
give the impression of a movie theater. But
price hasn’t been released, but expect to pay
cell phones quickly became a staple for any
front-projection screens require the use of
tens of thousands dollars.
and every American, regardless of socioeco-
a projector, for which space will need to be
nomic status, and while home theaters have
made and can only be viewed optimally in a
Unless you
not reached that level, they are increasingly
darkened room.
have your home theater system
becoming features in homes across the U.S. Home theaters now come in a wide range of
Rear-projection units are comprised of one
professionally
prices. Even the smallest of budgets can now
component that combines the projector
installed, forget
secure the essentials: a 27-inch TV screen,
and the screen. These tend to be bulky and
about in-wall
a sound system, and seating. LawCrossing
can only really be best viewed straight on.
speakers. First
Weekend will show you that it may be time
However, rear-projection units are now being
to consider purchasing your very own home
made thinner and more maneuverable, so
a good idea for a novice to start tearing holes
theater.
you might want to wait to see what comes
in a building that has 19 years left on the
on the market. Flat-panel displays, such as
mortgage. Secondly, it’s difficult to know
There is a lot to consider prior to purchasing
plasmas and LCDs, can be viewed from any
what the speakers will sound like once they
a home theater system. First…an appropriate
angle and are thin, ideal for a small room.
are in a wall, especially a wall which is made
of all, it’s never
of unknown materials. Always listen to your
room. While the den or family room has become the viewing room for many Americans,
Depending on the brand, these different
own music at the store so you can see if you
it may not be appropriate as a home theater
screens range greatly in price. For front
like what you hear. Now, for a home theater,
room. Many family rooms have high ceilings
projections, lower-end models run from
there is no choice but to go for surround
and open floor plans, which make them
about $500 to $900. If you want something a
sound.
unsuitable for home theaters. The most ideal
little higher in quality, the cost will be $900
room would be a basement, since it is an
to $6,000. Already in this price range, we are
Therefore, you’ll need to purchase Home
enclosed room, suitable in terms of acoustics
talking a lot of money for just one component
THX, a consumer version of the THX in the-
and lighting. Any room that is completely
of the home theater system. But if money is
aters. If just connecting a DVD player to your
enclosed would work best; if you don’t have
no object, then expect to pay $9,000 for the
TV seems impossible, then the $900 Niro
an appropriate room, then remodeling the
top-of-the-line models. Expect to pay about
1.1 Pro II theater-in-a-box system is for you.
current family room is your best option. Once
$3,500 for a rear-projection unit. The good
The system is a surround-sound processor,
your room is selected, you can consider the
thing about these, such as the Samsung
amplifier, and a subwoofer. That’s all. With
fun components.
HL-P5063W, is that they are bright enough to
no wires to connect, you’ll be up and running
view in a moderately lighted room. Plasmas
in no time. If the price for this system seems
The screen is a good place to start. The type
are all the rage and for good reason. The pic-
too steep, then you can go to any electron-
of screen to buy depends on the size of the
ture quality can’t be beat. A good value will
ics store and buy a home theater system.
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