Home Theater

Home theater, home automation and electronics have been hobbies of mine for many years. I have refrained from actually taking them on as a full time job because I always felt it would limit my time to experiment and work with the latest technologies. Boy I am I glad I did, as these exciting fields are rapidly converging allowing for the creation of some really fascinating home automation and media rooms.

Wireless technology has finally reached the level required to send audio and video around the house allowing for exciting options for watching TV anywhere at anytime along with placing wireless speakers in areas never possible before because of wiring limitations. Wireless systems are now a reality; check out our Wireless Home Theater and Wireless TV sections.

Of course HDTV has provided great advances in video, but what is often overlooked are the advances in audio that HDTV provides. Stereo is no longer the desired solution, much of the media content today, and most in the future, will provide at least 5.1 surround sound, therefore your surround sound system should accommodate at least that. Speaker options are plentiful, from in wall and ceiling to free standing with great looking speaker stands. There are even speakers that can follow you around the room. And of course amplifiers there are multizone audio amplifiers allowing central media rooms to stream content throughout your living quarters.

As previously mentioned, the biggest advances have come in the video field. Not only has the price dropped considerable over the last 2 years but also the quality is exceptional. An 120 inch plasma is now reality (tell me that will not impress your friends), LCD TVs continue to improve in size and quality and projectors are become more the norm rather then the exception. DLP and technologies are making projectors better options then TVs in many cases. Check out our Home Theater Projector Review section where we cover them all.

Last but certainly not least, the Home Theater Accessories are not only super cool, but also extremely functional at prices that are very affordable. An automated Home Theater Curtain for under $100 adds a neat automation feature to any media room. The latest audio and video cables allow for an excellent quality signal over distances not thought possible just a year ago.

No matter what the space you have to work with, today’s technologies provide endless options to make your home media experience truly enjoyable and unique. In our Home Theater Room Design section we have everything you need to know to design an exciting media room that exceeds your expectations, excites your friends and neighbors and stays within your budget.