An audio/video entertainment center that has a large-screen TV and hi-fi system with three speakers in the front (left, right and center) and left and right speakers in the rear. Starting in the early 1990s, video inputs were added to stereo receivers, turning them into audio/video (A/V) receivers. Today, almost all home entertainment hardware vendors make A/V equipment for both listening and viewing (see A/V receiver).
Audio - Just As Important
A good sound system is as critical as the video display in a home theater setup. Realistic, high-fidelity sound greatly enhances movie watching, and in many homes, the audio is the more elaborate and costly part of the system. Although it might seem contrary, people have always been more sensitive to audio glitches than to video. Tests have proven that occasional interruptions in the sound stream of a movie are far more annoying to most people than blips in the video frames. See home theater in a box, soundbar, 5.1 channel, Dolby Digital, digital media server and audiophile.
Home Theater Components
These are the typical components in a 5.1 audio (5 speakers/1 subwoofer) system. More speakers may be used (see 5.1 channel), and rather than an A/V receiver, a separate preamp and amplifier are found in high-end systems. If the TV is rear projection, it cannot be wall mounted. Except for the subwoofer, which always takes up some floor space, speakers range from tiny, wall-mounted units to floor models containing several speakers.
Wide Screen Home Theater!
Just as exciting as today's LCD and plasma TVs were the first "wide screen" CRTs in the early 1950s. Screen sizes jumped from 10" and 12" to the huge 16" screen you see in this 1951 Zenith floor model. Monochrome TV, of course. (Equipment courtesy of World Wide Stereo, www.wwstereo.com)
Audio - Just As Important
A good sound system is as critical as the video display in a home theater setup. Realistic, high-fidelity sound greatly enhances movie watching, and in many homes, the audio is the more elaborate and costly part of the system. Although it might seem contrary, people have always been more sensitive to audio glitches than to video. Tests have proven that occasional interruptions in the sound stream of a movie are far more annoying to most people than blips in the video frames. See home theater in a box, soundbar, 5.1 channel, Dolby Digital, digital media server and audiophile.
Home Theater Components
These are the typical components in a 5.1 audio (5 speakers/1 subwoofer) system. More speakers may be used (see 5.1 channel), and rather than an A/V receiver, a separate preamp and amplifier are found in high-end systems. If the TV is rear projection, it cannot be wall mounted. Except for the subwoofer, which always takes up some floor space, speakers range from tiny, wall-mounted units to floor models containing several speakers.
Wide Screen Home Theater!
Just as exciting as today's LCD and plasma TVs were the first "wide screen" CRTs in the early 1950s. Screen sizes jumped from 10" and 12" to the huge 16" screen you see in this 1951 Zenith floor model. Monochrome TV, of course. (Equipment courtesy of World Wide Stereo, www.wwstereo.com)
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
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- Discussion threads 2009-11-03
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- Discussion threads 2009-10-28
- Onkyo HT-S7200
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- Onkyo HT-S7200 photos
- While its bulky design isn't for everyone, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more full-featured and better sounding all-in-one 7.1 home theater system for the price than the Onkyo HT-S7200. by CNET News.com
- Image galleries 2009-10-27
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- Software downloads 2009-10-27
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- Blog posts 2009-10-26
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- Would you let Wal-mart do your home-theater installation?
- Probably not. Not because its Wal-mart although that has some to do with it, but because I don't know who N.E.W. is. I'd rather trust a first party rather than a third party to install a home theater. Only one point of contact there, no guessing who to contact...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-25
- Would you let Wal-mart do your home-theater installation?
- Above all else, Wal-mart is about offering the lowest prices possible seemingly at all costs, but when it comes to electronics products like HDTVs, being the cheapest only gets you so far. Best Buy has remained strong during the recession in thanks to its service offerings, most notably its Geek...
- Blog posts 2009-10-25
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- Software downloads 2009-10-22
- Ultrasone Edition 8
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- Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q850
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- Sennheiser HD 800
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- (WD TV Live DH Media Player photos)
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- Discussion threads 2009-10-13
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