When you enter a entertainment center area of a downtown consumer electronics outlet store, the plethora of options are overwhelming. Everything is shimmering under fluorescent lights, quite new and shining, every system clearly telling you to "buy me, buy me." Even before you reach that milestone of the process, there are several other things that you need to first understand in order to help you make the correct decision for you home theater and for your wallet.
First you need to determine which room of your home will house this home theater system. Note that if you are going for the very large screen like 50 or 60 inches or more, the best viewing is from about 10 to 12 feet away. So putting a screen of this size into a small room is going to disappoint you because the screen will not look sharp or crisp. On the other hand, if you go with a smaller screen like a 36 or 42 inch screen, this would be adequate for a small family room or even a larger bedroom.
You need to decide on what type of display you want. LCD and plasma displays will provide the clearest and sharpest images. DLP and rear projection systems can cost less, but a major disadvantage in these systems is the viewing angle -- DLP and rear projection do not provide as clear a picture when viewing the screen from an angle. Again, examine your target room where your system will be located, and determine the typical viewing angle for the viewers which should help you decide the best display technology to use.
One other significant aspect is the receiver. Some receivers for entertainment centers have outputs and inputs for a satellite dish and a cable TV hookups, as well as inputs for several kinds of other things, such as media players (VCR and DVD players) and even PC hookups.
Some entertainment centers even have built-in radios, though they are starting to become less common. One of the more modern receivers is the fact that they can play XM radio, though XM sometimes requires addition fees on a monthly basis. With so many choices before you, you will have to evaluate which is going to be the most important for you, as well as which entertainment center you will ultimately decide on. e.g. there very little sense equipping a receiver with XM if you do not have the funds to pay for a monthly subscription.
First you need to determine which room of your home will house this home theater system. Note that if you are going for the very large screen like 50 or 60 inches or more, the best viewing is from about 10 to 12 feet away. So putting a screen of this size into a small room is going to disappoint you because the screen will not look sharp or crisp. On the other hand, if you go with a smaller screen like a 36 or 42 inch screen, this would be adequate for a small family room or even a larger bedroom.
You need to decide on what type of display you want. LCD and plasma displays will provide the clearest and sharpest images. DLP and rear projection systems can cost less, but a major disadvantage in these systems is the viewing angle -- DLP and rear projection do not provide as clear a picture when viewing the screen from an angle. Again, examine your target room where your system will be located, and determine the typical viewing angle for the viewers which should help you decide the best display technology to use.
One other significant aspect is the receiver. Some receivers for entertainment centers have outputs and inputs for a satellite dish and a cable TV hookups, as well as inputs for several kinds of other things, such as media players (VCR and DVD players) and even PC hookups.
Some entertainment centers even have built-in radios, though they are starting to become less common. One of the more modern receivers is the fact that they can play XM radio, though XM sometimes requires addition fees on a monthly basis. With so many choices before you, you will have to evaluate which is going to be the most important for you, as well as which entertainment center you will ultimately decide on. e.g. there very little sense equipping a receiver with XM if you do not have the funds to pay for a monthly subscription.
