How Home Theater Works?
In the past century, a family had to travel to the local theater to see the latest movie. Admission fees and concession-stand prices were generally low enough that this was a realistic option. But in recent years the cost of going to a movie with family members has increased to the point that seeing the latest film is a real treat (if we can afford it at all).
What’s a family to do?
Fortunately, electronic technology has advanced to the point that home-theater systems are a realistic option for more families. Of course, people have watched movies in their homes for years, simply by connecting a video-cassette recorder (VCR) to the television. This changed the way people saw movies, with many families waiting to see the latest films when they “came out on VCR.”
Of course, the technology has moved forward from VCR to DVD (digital versatile disk or digital video disk). Families continue to watch movies in their homes, connecting DVD players to the television. As with all electronic equipment, the cost of these items has dropped dramatically in the last 15 years or so. Watching a movie on DVD, using the television in the living room, is a great way to enjoy an evening at home.
The next step in watching movies at home is the home theater system. Because movies are made to be watched on large screens at commercial theaters, watching the films on a small television set limits the viewer’s experience. In addition, the speaker systems on televisions are very small, again limiting the experience as compared to the sound provided in theaters.
It isn’t necessary to purchase a projection system and large screen to get the home-theater experience today. With a combination of electronic items, you can get close to the theater experience in your living room or in a room dedicated to movie viewing. Many home theater systems use surround-sound technology to enhance the listening experience. These may involve as few as two speakers that are placed strategically to use the size and shape of the room for the best sound. The best systems can almost imitate the surround-sound of large, commercial theaters.
The second item needed to bring the theater experience into the home is a large screen. Seeing the movie on a large screen helps the viewer become involved in the action. With a television set or screen that is 32 inches in size (diagonal measurement) and a set of four speakers you can establish a great movie-watching atmosphere. When the screen size is very large, it is necessary to move to a project system. With this setup the movie-watching experience is even more realistic. Consider a flat-panel screen and wide-format technology to bring you even closer to a theater in the home.
Arranging the speakers with two in front, near the screen, and two or more in back and at the sides, will provide the best surround-sound experience. At the heart of the system is the receiver, which provides the video signal to the television or screen and the audio signal to the equipment that sends the proper signals on to the right speakers.
Category: Consumer Electronics, Home Appliances, Technology