What does a home theater consist of?
Gone are the days when you had to go to a cinema to watch a movie on the big screen and with great sound. Now everyone at home can equip a full-fledged system that can satisfy the needs of the most demanding film fan (or music lover). We will talk about the capabilities and features of such complexes in our article.
The content of the article
What does a home theater consist of?
Necessary components for DC equipment
Audio and video player, designed for broadcasting files, discs, digital signals. For these purposes, set-top boxes, computers, DVD and Blu-Ray players, and a satellite TV transmitter are suitable.
A Blu-Ray player is considered an ideal option, as it supports all popular high-quality video formats.
The AV receiver (in rare cases, an amplifier) is the main part of the entire system. All elements of the complex are connected to it. Its main function is to convert the signal from the player (from digital to analog) and transmit sound, with high-quality amplification, to the speakers. The device is capable of processing signals from 10 different sources.
The speaker system with or without a subwoofer has several configurations. The most common schemes: 5.1; 7.2; 9.1. The first number indicates the number of speakers, the second – the number of subwoofers.The presence of the latter seriously affects the sound quality, since they are tuned for optimal transmission of infrasound and low frequencies, which standard speakers do poorly.
IMPORTANT. Buy speakers at least 5.1, this guarantees high-quality spatial sound. The body material is better made of wood than plastic - it does not distort the sound and does not rattle when the signal is amplified.
Speakers can be front, side or rear. They are placed around the perimeter of the room, the power is selected depending on its size. For example, for a room up to 30 sq.m. 100 W is enough, up to 40 sq.m. – 150 W.
Screen for image transmission. This could be a TV (plasma, LCD) or a projector. It is advisable to have a large diagonal with a wide viewing angle to achieve the best viewing effect.
What's included in the standard kit
A budget option that will be affordable for the average buyer includes:
- receiver,
- set of speakers.
There are two ways to save money when you have limited financial resources. You can purchase an inexpensive ready-made home theater kit or assemble the entire system yourself by simply purchasing the missing elements.
The second option has certain advantages: you can choose all the components to your taste.
Many home users already have a TV, video player and speakers (usually two). All that remains is to purchase a receiver, the devices are on sale in a variety of configurations, and buy additional acoustics: the missing number of speakers and, if desired, a subwoofer. Wires will also be required to connect all elements of the future system.
ON A NOTE.There is no need to worry about the number of required equipment connections, since high-quality AV receivers from popular manufacturers are equipped with all the necessary connectors. It is advisable to use cables with a copper core, as they provide the best contact.
What are the “bells and whistles”
Various additional functions are built into the receiver, since the quality of the entire system depends on its capabilities.
REFERENCE. When choosing between an amplifier and a receiver, pay attention to the high functionality of the latter and, as a rule, the minimal difference in price between them.
So, the device can have:
- Wireless communication protocols (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) that allow you to transfer music and video from smartphones, tablets and other wireless devices. Using the built-in browser you can watch Internet broadcasts.
- Options typical for the highest quality amplifiers are loudness compensation (high-quality listening at low volumes) and phono correction (improving gramophone recordings), which significantly expands the capabilities of the system.
- Support for 3D format allows the owner to experience all the bright moments of videos and films without going to the cinema.
- FM tuner, with its help you can listen to and record radio stations.
- Karaoke is useful for those who like to sing, but it should be noted that some systems do not come with a microphone.
- Special wireless communication modules for connecting rear and side speakers. This eliminates unnecessary wires.
- Support for external USB storage devices, allowing, for example, the use of flash cards.
ON A NOTE. Pay attention to systems from well-known manufacturers, for example Sony, Samsung, LG. Their products are known for their quality; they produce DCs in both the budget and premium segments.
We talked about the main characteristics and capabilities of home theaters. We hope that the article helped you find the answer to your questions.