Home Theater

Russell Neal asked:


Houston home theater clients reside in some of the city’s most upscale neighborhoods. Over the years, we have worked with many families in River Oaks, West University, Bellaire, Hedwig Village, Spring Valley, Memorial, Sugar Land, Clear Lake, and The Woodlands. These neighborhoods are home to a significant number of custom houses, and homes exceeding 10,000 square feet are ideal environments for Houston home theater equipment and home automation services. Families in these residences have grown accustomed to lifestyles of privacy and spaciousness. The increasingly crowded conditions of Houston’s ever-reconstructing road system, along with the full capacity crowds at many public theaters, have made eclectic Houston residents more inclined toward a home theater experience that accommodates personal preferences and exceeds the generics of public cinema.

Most Houston home theater systems that are purchased through retail channels consist of a set of very sophisticated, yet standard components. All have a video processor and an audio processor that allows them to render both sound and image in high definition quality. Amplifiers are also a standard component of Houston home theater systems because they are necessary to the proper reproduction and magnification of sound. All feature exceptionally high-end speakers that provide exceptional reproduction of voice, music, and sound effects. Smaller home theater systems may rely upon a flat-screen plasma television for video, but most of the larger systems utilize a projector and projection screen to create a fully cinematic experience.

While there certainly are many Houston home theater and automation stores that sell premium quality equipment of this nature, installing it can be problematic for the homeowner, to say the least. Stores only provide equipment; they do not offer installation or technical support. Some refer customers to local electrical contractors who can install the various system components. The next challenge becomes that of tuning the acoustics of the system. Even if one is working with an electrical contractor who has some knowledge of acoustics, tuning a home theater system is almost impossible without some very detailed knowledge of interior architecture.

Illuminations Lighting offers a more full-service approach to Houston home theater design, sales and installation. Before recommending any brand or piece of equipment, we first take a careful look at the acoustical environment of each room in the home. Because the houses we work in are so large, there are often several rooms to choose from which can be converted into home theaters. However, there is always one room in the home that will provide the very best sound effects, and this is the room we want to target for installation. Once we locate that room, we will contact the architect or interior designer who designed it to gather more specifics of the acoustical qualities of the materials used to build the interior.

Understanding how the room was constructed to begin with will tell us a great deal about what speakers, amplifiers, and controls to install. This approach allows us to use technology in harmony with home architecture in a way that maximizes sound quality, and it makes it much easier to tune the audio systems once installed. One thing that is common to all Houston home theaters and Houston media room designs by ILD is that we do not install wall or ceiling mounted speakers. While such configurations may appear highly sophisticated, they do not amplify nor reflect sound waves correctly in relation to the seating of the audience.

Other components of Houston home theater and media room design are much easier to select once the acoustical qualities of the system have been established. Any number of projectors and screens can be installed for premium high-definition rendering, including DVD Servers that can hold up to 500 DVD’s and CD Servers than can record 12,000 CD’s. Elite home theater seats that electronically recline and a wide range of lighting and home automation control options can top of the home theater system to rival the best of Houston’s public venues-all in the privacy and luxury of one’s personal estate.



Ryan

jenn asked:


we’re making a home theater room and my dad wants to put marble tile on the floor, is this a good idea?Most home theaters i’ve seen have carpeting.
I knew it would mess with the sound. If only i could get my dad to listen to me.

Gabrielle

ryan@thesatellitetvguide.com asked:


A wireless speaker home theater system allows you the freedom to place your speakers anywhere in a room without having to figure out how to hide the speaker wires.

There are two types of wireless speaker home theater systems - add-on systems and integrated systems.

Add-On Wireless Home Theater System

If you already have a home theater system you can purchase an add-on system consisting of a transmitter, a receiver, and surround-sound speakers if you don’t already have them.

The transmitter is connected to the home theater amplifier and sends out the audio signal to a receiver. The receiver, which is connected to the rear speakers, picks up the signal from the transmitter and sends it to those speakers.

Most wireless home theater systems have front speakers and a subwoofer that are connected to the amplifier with audio cables, and rear speakers that are connected to the receiver to create surround-sound audio.

You can purchase a decent amplifier/receiver system for less than $100.

Integrated Wireless Home Theater System

If you’re in the market for a new wireless home theater system, you can purchase a complete system consisting of an amplifier with built-in transmitter, a front center speaker, two front side speakers, a subwoofer, and two rear surround-sound speakers. Some systems also include a DVD player.

Prices for an integrated wireless home theater system start at $175 and go up to $2,000.

Comparing Wireless Home Theater Systems

The best way to get the best price on a wireless home theater system is to try them out in person, then go comparison shopping online.

Start by taking a trip to your local discount or electronics store so you can try out the various wireless home theater system models. Test the controls and listen to the models in your price range until you find the one you like best.

After you find a system you like, go home, fire up your computer, and start comparison shopping online.

Comparing models and prices at an online comparison shopping site will save you countless hours of going store to store or surfing all the Internet stores. Here, in one place, you can find prices for everything under the sun from hundreds of online and offline stores.

The comparison shopping site I use will not only give you a price comparison on wireless home theater systems, it will also give you product specifications, reviews by audio experts, and consumer reviews by people who actually own the product so you’ll know how good the system is.

When you find the store with the lowest price, you can get consumer reviews of that store so you’ll know if it’s reputable and will give you good service.

Some stores even have a lowest-price guarantee so if you find a better price later you can get a rebate on the price difference from that store.

I’ve purchased a number of high-ticket items this way and have always gotten good service and a great price.

Visit the http://www.TheSatelliteTVGuide.com/home-theater-systems.htm to get more information, to compare prices, and to get consumer ratings for home theater systems.

The author, Brian Stevens, is the senior editor for TheSatelliteTVGuide.com and has written a number of articles on home theater systems.



Noah

Alex Olson asked:


A home theater, to put it very simply, is arranging a variety of electronic components in order to make you feel that you are really watching a movie in a movie theater. Watching a movie on a home theater system is not at all like watching it on an ordinary television.

In order to build a home theater properly you will need to try to recreate the same type of elements that you would find in a movie theater. To have a good home theater system, you will have to have the following essentials (and this is a bare minimum):

1. You will need to have a television that measures at least 27 inches diagonally. You should also make sure that it delivers a clear picture.

2. You should have a minimum of four speakers.

3. You will need equipment that is able to split up the surround-sound signal and send it to the speakers.

4. You will need a component that is able to broadcast or play movies in surround sound and something that will give you a clear picture as well.

You will definitely needs a room in your house that will be suitable for arranging all of the home theater equipment.

There are many ways of meeting the above mentioned criteria. Basically, the kind of home theater you will have will depend largely on your budget. You must also rank in importance the different areas of performance and which means the most to you.

If you do not have all that much money to spend but it has been your dream to have a home theater system, then take another look at your television and your stereo system. Perhaps your TV is large enough that you would not have to consider getting a bigger television.

Your home entertainment system could be upgraded into a simple home theater system just by adding some extra speakers as well as some other rather inexpensive components. If your budget only allows for the basics, you just may get away with spending only about $500. This will probably get you a new DVD player as well as a basic surround-sound system.

Of course, if you are looking to have a more advanced home theater that has a much larger TV and a more advanced sound system, then you may be looking at spending about $8,000. If money is no object and you really want to have that true movie experience at home, then for about $30,000 you could set up your own theater inside of your home that is equipped with real theater seats, a projection TV and built-in speakers.

Here are also several reasons why you might want to consider a home theater system:

1. In your own home theater system, you can ask people to be quiet without any qualms of being beat up.

2. You can take off your shoes and feel comfortable when you are at home with your own home theater.

3. In your own home theater system you can rewind the movie if you did not get something the first time, did not understand something or if you just want to see the scene again.

4. You don’t have to put up with screaming children when you view something on your own home theater system.

These are just some of the benefits of having your own home theater system. You will find that in the long run, it will probably save you money as well as the inconvenience of having to go out all of the time to see a movie!



Nath

Ben Anton asked:


As home theaters increase in popularity, many people are trying to design and layout their rooms on their own with little guidance. Where this can save you money initially, it will inevitably cause heartache and money down the line. Home theater installation requires not only someone with technical know how and an eye for room layout. It also takes an audio expert who knows both what equipment is available and what limitations a room may have. Too often people end up with a custom home theater system that does not fit their home or needs because they were unskilled in matching speakers and components with the layout and acoustics of a home. A professional home theater installer is trained in all of these areas and can help ensure that the money invested in a home theater will be money well spent.

When looking for a custom home theater installer, find a person or team that is skilled in home theater design and that they are knowledgeable of all of the equipment options which could help transform a basic home theater system into a custom work of entertainment technology. Here are a few things that you should keep in mind when shopping around for an installer.

Business Focus

When choosing a home theater installer, make sure that you find someone who knows audio and visual equipment inside and out. Look at the nature of the installer’s business. Do they have a primary focus on electronics and home theater entertainment or is their installation service just an added service provided for buying a big-screen television or stereo system from their electronics department? Do they have dedicated installers who do A/V and home theater design as their primary job function or will the installer be an hourly employee who received a basic training course? Take the time to make sure that the person who will be installing your custom home theater layout has both experience with the task and is highly knowledgeable of what it takes to get great picture and sound out of a home theater setup.

Options Available

Different installation companies will have varying options and components available for purchase. Talk to someone at the store and see exactly what is available to you and how you can maximize the enjoyment that you’ll get from your new system. If possible, bring photographs of the room or rooms that you’ll be installing the home theater system in if they are unable to come to the house directly. This way, the designer can see exactly what they’ll have to work with and how much space will be available for speakers and other components. Help them to get a feel for exactly the sort of custom home theatre system that you want, and see whether they’ll be able to create one that meets your specific needs. Be sure to let them know of any special items that you want in the package, such as an HD DVD player, digital video recorder, Blu Ray player, or any other items that might not be included in a standard custom home theater design.

Cost and Value

Research component pricing before you go out looking for a home theater installer, making sure that you have an idea of any specific equipment that you are wanting and how much they are likely to cost. Shop around at different stores, seeing how much each will charge for the custom home theatre system that you want including the price of installation. If you have a budget for how much you want to spend on your home theater layout then try to stay within that budget. A good installer will be able to recommend equipment that may be equal in quality but cost less. Compare the quotes that you receive so that you’ll know which business is offering you the best value for your money. After all, you are the one who’s going to have to use the resulting home theater system, so be sure that above all else you end up with a system that you enjoy and that works well.

~Ben Anton, 2008



Sean

satishsharma asked:


If you are a do-it-yourselfer and you would like to put together a knock down on your house, you’ve got to visit Home storage area or Lows. These companies have the plans, tools, materials and all-purpose assistance to help you complete your project professionally and affordably. If you would like to put together a home theater room, however, you’ve come to the right place. Cinema Source has the plans, for more detail www.auction-words.com tools, materials and assistance to help you complete your home theater room, also professionally and affordably. We’ve been doing this for in excess of a decade at the present and have helped hundreds of Dyers from beginning to end their home theater room projects. Blue-ray Disc Players

You can be sure to take jam-packed advantage of your HDTV with the addition of a BD player. Now that Blue-ray is the sure-fire disc player of the hi-def generation, it’s time to make your investment. A surge protector is designed to block your HDTV and other entertainment devices from ground voltage spikes and electrical surges.  Blue-ray Disc players will not no more than play all BD formats but in addition up convert standard DVDs to 720p or 1080p video resolution on HDTV’s. You’ll certainly come across a use for your HDMI cables, for more detail www.mining-auction-gold.com as well. Blue-ray compact disk players take financial credit of HDMI ports for high-quality audio and video playback. A home-theater system needs a heart and brain in order to function normally-this is the purpose of an A/V receiver.

How we can help you put together your Home Theater Room:

• HOME THEATER IDEAS - Visit our Member’s Home Theater Showcase at Home Theater Village to see what other Dyers have done with their home theater room projects.

• DESIGN ASSISTANCE - We have a lot of Home Theater Design Guides available for free of charge download on this site. We also have an on the go community of other home theater builders on our Home Theater Guide site.

• PRODUCT and MATERIALS - Our Product Section shows you where you can obtain all the equipment and materials for your home theater room project. In good number cases, you can purchase these items from Cinema Source. If we don’t carry something, we will show you the most excellent place to get a hold it.

• ASSISTANCE - Every customer who is building a home theater room is assigned a home theater consultant who helps them throughout their entire project.

http://www.your-own-home-theater.com

http://www.auction-extreme-package.com



Jordan

Jamil T asked:


My current computer speaker’s receiver stopped working. Instead of buying a new receiver i was wondering if it is somehow possible to use a DVD home theater system (Sony HT-C800DP) as the receiver? Is there any special cords i need to connect it to my computer? My computer has no special outputs for the player.

Megan

Chaman kumar asked:


Going out to the movies is becoming a very expensive activity. Not only have ticket prices gone up in the last few years, it seems that drinks, popcorn and candy have all had price increases. Couple this with the drop in prices on high end electronics and recent advances such as Blu-ray, and it is no wonder that ticket sales and continuously been dropping off as more and more people are opting to set up “Home Theaters”.

Today’s dream home theater consists of three things. First a television or projector, a 5.1 or 7.1 sound system and media playing device, for more details visit to www.sale-trigger-generator.com normally a DVD player but more recently Blu-Ray players. This is a simplification of the home theater setup, there are a multitude of options and decisions to make in creating your dream home theater. This article will help you grasp a simple of understanding of the major components

Television or Projector - There are plenty of options here. When considering a television, you must decide on whether you want a plasma screen, and LCD, DLP, or rear projection television. CRT or Cathode Ray Tube televisions are almost obsolete in today’s home theater systems. Each of the aforementioned types has its own advantages and disadvantages. If you want a screen with great flexibility in placement, high quality picture and the price is not a major factor - then a plasma screen is your best option. If space is not a major factor and price is, for more details visit to www.sales-page-rapid-fire.com you can find great prices on high quality rear projection television sets. In either case you need to purchase a high definition television, they are almost standard in larger screen televisions today. High definition is defined by a pixel count of 720 dot per inch (DPI) or higher. In order to take advantage of Blu-Ray quality, your TV should have a pixel count of 1080 dpi. Among 1080dpi sets you have a choice between 1080i and 1080p. The “i” stands for interlaced, and the “p” stands for progressive scan. These terms refer to how and how often the pixels on the screen are refreshed. 1080p televisions provide a higher quality picture, and will of course cost extra. The extra cost is well worth the cost in my opinion. The most recent advance in high definition televisions is 120 Hz sets, these new sets are supposed to better handle motion, especially in regards to watching sports.

Sound System - This is potentially the most complex portion of your dream home theater setup. I say potentially because you can purchase a high quality “home theater in a box” and end up with a respectable sound system for your home theater with minimal fuss, or if you want to extract the maximum quality sound out of your system and are willing to pay what it takes; then building your own system from quality components is definitely the way to go. HTIBs or “Home Theaters in Box” are sometimes maligned by audiophiles as not being serious home theater sound systems, but a little research will show you that in recent years these pre-packaged systems now have components worthy of being part of a dream home theater system. If you want to build your own system the options and decisions you’ll be faced with are numerous. But the homework and research is well worth the final reward. Having a high quality picture certainly makes watching a film more enjoyable, but a great sound system takes you out of the confines of your living room and puts you in the middle of action.

Media Player - Normally this is a DVD player or more recently Blu-Ray players. When buying a DVD player, you should choose one with a video signal upconversion to 1080p. Ask your salesperson if the player uses Faroudja Video Processing, this is considered the best upconverting technology. Most Blu-Ray players will upconvert DVDs. If you are willing to pay between $200-$500, then a Blu-Ray player is definitely worth considering. The format war between HDTV a Blu-Ray is over, so a Blu-Ray is a safe bet. Blu-Ray is also capable of providing highest quality lossless audio (True-HD or DTA-HD Master Audio), allowing your dream home theater sound system to really shine. Eventually Blu-Ray will become the standard home video standard, but the good news is that they will play all your old DVDs as well. But if you are like me, once you’ve gotten used to Blu-Ray quality, it’s hard to go back plain old DVDs.

This is just a quick overview of the major components. There are several other things to consider when building your dream home theater, such as cabling, speaker wire gauge, dipole /bipolar speakers vs. direct radiating just for starters. My recommendation is that if you research and make a well thought out decisions on the major components mentioned here, then many of the choices on the ancillary equipment and parts will begin to fall into place, and creating your dream home theater will be that much easier.



Nath

wood asked:


ok i have a home theater system and need some advice on where i should put the speakers at and how

Arrianne

Nicholas Tan asked:


The cinema is a good place to watch movies and relax. This is because you watch the movie in a wide screen with sound that can make you easily get lost in the movie scene. The picture and the sound is the most entertaining part of the cinema experience. However, if you can bring this technology home and with lesser expense, this is definitely something you will enjoy. This is the concept only a few American homes acquire in the past years. Lately late, however, a good number of American homes are starting to be less interested in going out of their abode to watch movies. This is due to the evolution of home theater system.

A simple home theater is easy to set up. All you need is a television set that measure bigger than 27 inches, a DVD player and three speakers. These are the basic components of a home theater. This may already give you the home entertainment you can enjoy with the almost theatrical experience. Why do I say almost, when I am sure you want the perfect feeling of a movie theater. This is because there are other equipments you might add to complete the home theater experience that will ensure a cinematic experience right in your own living room. As mentioned already, you may still enhance the three basic components by adding home entertainment furniture; however, everything is dependent on the budget you set for your home theater. The size of the room is another consideration of the complete package of your home theater.

A neat advice however by home theater experts is that you need to find a good size television set for you home theater set up. A good size does not mean the biggest you can find in the store. A good size television is dependent on the place in your house where you will set up the home theater. Big is not always good for you home entertainment system. It is a recommendation, however, that the television set should not be smaller than 27 inches. This is because the projection on a smaller television might be too inferior for your home theater.

Another recommendation is for you to find speakers that will give you the surround sound from high quality brand of speakers. In addition, you need to be sure that if you do not find the speaker that gives you enough surround sound, you need to be able to return it. There are speakers that sound good in the store but when you put it in a room, it may not sound well enough that will satisfy your requirement. If the store allows replacement, then that is a good deal. In addition, you may need to choose a good quality DVD player. It is however a belief by home theater experts that all DVD players deliver clear and crisp images, although there are those that promise a flicker-free picture, almost all DVD players provide this feature.

Knowing how big the room where you will set up your home theater will be the basis of how big the television needs to be. The size of the room is another consideration for the number of speakers. If the room is somewhat big, you may need more than the basic three speakers. Adding a subwoofer may also do good to achieve the best surround sound if your home theater is place on a huge room.

All these will give you the best home theater experience only a few in the earlier year’s experience. A home theater designer may be of big help in ensuring you will have the best home theater set up that will give you the best possible movie experience right in your own living room.



Nath