A Guide to Understanding Home Theater Systems
Home theater systems are the general home
entertainment support to your television screen. This includes movie
systems such as DVD or Blu-ray players, speakers, receivers,
sub-woofers, remote control, speaker wires, etc.
Types of Home Theater Systems
- Systems with a player, or home theaters in a box (HTIB): HTIBs "bundle" a package disc player, amplifier, speaker wires, connection cables, remote, speakers and subwoofer. These typically have more basic features than personally pieced together systems, but HTIBs guarantee item compatibility and are extremely convenient space-savers. Depending on the brand, they can also save you a lot of money compared to buying each entertainment component separately.
- Systems without a player work similarly to HTIBs, but they do not include a disc drive. This is ideal if you already own a DVD player and are looking for a system to add onto it. They are generally pricier than HTIBs, but they allow for more personal assembly and feature options.
- Sound bars are home theater system alternatives to receivers. If you already have a TV and your space is limited, a sound bar is good for providing an advanced speaker system. Emulating surround sound without the additional equipment, they connect directly to your TV, so there are no additional wires to worry about.
Important Home Theater System Features
Overall, HTIB systems have more basic features. They do, however, provide convenience. In the end, find a system (HTIB or not) that meets all your control, convenience and aesthetic needs.- Speakers can be complicated features with a home theater system. For HTIB systems, speakers are included. However, these speakers may be proprietary, so they can't be used with other receivers, and you can't add more speakers to the existing system. This varies by model and manufacturer, but be aware of this when you're shopping. Also, some HTIB sets have wireless speaker systems. For non-HTIB systems, you can shop for your own speaker system, but check to make sure they are compatible with your television/overall entertainment set.
- Receivers are the main controller for your speaker set. They also determine your system's compatibility with concepts like HD, Master Audio, DTS and DVD/Blu-ray. A receiver's number of channels determines how many rear-surround speakers it can support, usually one or two for 6.1 and 7.1 channels, respectively. Consult a sales representative for more information.
- Online access is available only to home theater systems that have Blu-ray players. This allows access to certain special features, as well as additional streaming of online video or radio.
- A/V connections are imperative. Your home theater receiver is the mother ship of your home entertainment system, so you want as many available connections as possible, to allow for additional DVD, Blu-ray, video game console, cable, satellite and/or DVR hookups. The more the merrier.
- Controls are not extremely high-tech, but they do allow/prevent convenience. Look for front panels with displays and controls that are labeled clearly and grouped together according to function. Make sure that you can read the commands and understand what each does. This makes your overall home entertainment experience much more enjoyable.
Home Theater System Cost
Cheaper HTIB brands can cost under $100, but typical systems can range from $300 to $800. For more high-end and custom home theaters in a box, you can end up paying over $3,000. If you are interested in higher quality, it may be wiser to buy a system without a player, so that you can customize the entire setup to your audio needs.Systems without a player can range anywhere from $150 to $1,500 for typical setups. For more feature-heavy and audio-savvy customers, there are advanced systems that can cost $2,000 or more. Before purchasing one, consider also the cost of your additional electronic components as well as any special features you want to include. Those will factor into your overall cost significantly.
Sound bars can cost as little as $300 and as much as $1,800. The quality of sound is typically relative to the price, so test out models at the store if you're unsure of what you'll need. Customer service representatives and salespeople are almost always ready and willing to let you try something out.
Home Theater System To-Do List
- Know how much space you have. Bigger, personalized systems will, obviously take up more space than HTIBs and TVs with sound bars, so measure out your living area to determine what will fit best in the space you have.
- Determine how many connections you'll need. If you're purchasing a system without a player, you'll likely want to ensure extra A/V and connection units for other consoles, like video games, DVD players, etc. Also, determine how long your cords will have to be. This can be calculated by measuring how far your entertainment unit will be placed from your electricity outlet, or how far your speakers will be from your television. You want your cords to be as close to the right length as possible, to ensure cleanliness, safety and convenience.
- Compare the warranties. So many cheaper brands will have little or no warranty on their devices. Look for brands that have a minimum 12-month warranty. Others will offer as high as 24. Because your home entertainment center is such an important part of your living room, it's important you have options, should anything stop working.