Home Theatre Audio - The Basics

A lot of people recognize the benefits of having a home theatre system. Where else can you and your family enjoy a movie at a price of a DVD rental? So a lot of families invest in a big LCD TV and a DVD or Blu-Ray player. Some families even take it one step further and buy projectors and screens. But there is one thing that a lot of them overlook and it's home theatre audio.

It's a common misconception that the sound system of the LCD TV is enough for your entertainment. While it's true to some extent, you're missing a lot without a separate audio system. If you think your TV's audio is good, then you just haven't had the privilege of listening from a home theatre system with an audio set up. The difference is legendary.

You can make the process of buying a complete system by buying a home theatre in a box because it comes complete with a home theatre audio system. It's literally a complete system that you can enjoy right out of the box. If you choose to buy them separately, here are the basic components of an audio system:

1.Speakers

This is where the difference lies. You won't dare call your TV's speakers, speakers once you hear sounds coming from a complete speaker system. There should be speakers for five audio channels at the very least. The center speaker will go on top of your TV, two side speakers to be positioned at the sides of the TV, and two surround speakers on each side of the seating area. You can choose to buy a bigger set by buying a separate subwoofer for the low frequencies.

2.Amplifier

Simply put, they amplify the audio signals for the speakers. They're usually built into the speakers depending on the manufacturer.

3.Control Center

This is the brain of your home theatre audio system. This is the hub that controls all the basics like volume control, decoding of surround-sound and the likes. Your whole home theatre system is connected to it. This means that your TV and DVD player is connected to it.

How to Find the Best Home Theater System for You

if you're looking to find the best home theatre system then you have definitely come to the right place. Here we will take a look at the basic features that all home theatre systems should have. We will then take a look at some additional features which are good to look out for. We will then finish with a look at the main home theatre brands.

Basic Features of a Home Theater System

There are many different features that your new home theatre system could have, but here are the basic ones that you definitely need to make sure are included in your new system:

5.1 Audio Channels: if you want to experience full surround sound, then you're going to need 5.1. This means you get five full frequency audio channels plus one low frequency channel for the bass.
DVD/CD Player: of course, you want to be able to play your favourite movies and songs, so a DVD/CD player is essential.
Television: if you're planning to use your home theatre system for anything more than just music, then it is obvious that a good television is essential. However, it must be noted that many home theatre systems do not automatically come with a TV, so it is assumed that you either already have one or you will be buying one separately.

Additional Features of a Home Theater System

The above features describe the minimum you need to get a high quality sound and video experience. However, in addition there are some extra features you may want to look out for:

3D Video Capabilities: with 3D all the rage these days, and with many new 3D TVs now available on the market, it's worth checking whether your new home theatre system can support 3D.
Bass Boosting: if you're going to be watching lots of action films or playing lots of loud music on your new system, then you want to make sure it's able to produce really good bass sounds.
Access to Internet Content: these days there's so much entertainment available via the internet, it's worth looking to see whether your new system will enable you to play videos and music from the internet.
Connectivity: check what kinds of connections your new system will have. You want maximum connectivity, so that you have the option to be able to connect your computer or other devices such as an MP3 player.

The Main Home Theater Brands

Sony: $50-$1,000. Very wide range of products to suit all requirements and budgets.
Samsung: $99-$798. A good range of products across a rather wide price range.
Yamaha: $121-$1297. A wide range of high quality products.
Onkyo: $99-$1,000. A good range of products across a wide spectrum of prices.
Panasonic: $75-$550. Another good range of products.
LG: $225-$1,000. Only a few products in this range, but they are top quality.
Coby: $44-$141. Not a big range, and all of the lower budget end.