As the popularity of home theaters has increased, so has the number of home theater magazines. Which magazine is right for you will depend on your level of involvement, the stage of home theater development you are in and your budget. Since someone that has a completed a home theater room is interested in different things then someone just getting started and looking for planning ideas, we provide coverage details for each magazine.
Our home theater magazine review. Electronic House Magazine
This is not a magazine for someone looking to spend $1500 on a home theater setup. It will introduce you to a whole new world of high-end home automation and audio/visual products. If you are planning on installing or having someone install a home theater, this is the home theater magazine for you. And if you are not planning on spending $100k on a home entertainment setup, there are elements of these systems that will be of interest and fall into your price range. This is one of my favorite home theater magazines; the homes displayed in the magazine are typically elegant (My wife actually reads this because she likes looking at the homes.) Probably the best feature of this magazine is that it demonstrates ways to integrate electronics into your living space without having them take over. The reviews are from a user perspective, and focus on usability over technical superiority. Provides an annual Buyer's Guide and Planning Guide.
The Perfect Vision Magazine
This magazine covers high performance home theater. Covering major facets of the home entertainment arena: video (rear & front projection TV, DVD players), audio (speakers, digital power amplifiers), emerging technologies, digital processing, film and DVD reviews. Written by TV/video equipment geeks (that is a great thing). They test everything from every aspect - after all, it's your hard earned money. But here's where they separate themselves from the others - not only do they test out everything in as many ways possible and against as many competitors, they explain both in technical and plain English if they liked it or not and why.
This magazine also covers more then just equipment reviews. It provides a good mix between film and equipment reviews. Including key interviews with entertainment and film dignitaries. A typical issue usually contains 10-12 in-depth home theatre product reviews (covering products at varying price and performance levels). In-depth articles highlighting a particular film maker or film and about 40-45 short film reviews. There is a buyer’s guide in every issue. This magazine is published every other month.
Home Entertainment & Design is a luxury lifestyle publication dedicated to the world's most exceptional home theaters, home automation systems, architecture and interior design.
Widescreen Review
The Essential Home Theatre Resource! Each issue includes content designed to educate and entertain the most serious home theatre enthusiast and custom installer. WSR covers comprehensive high-end hardware and software reviews, and cutting-edge technology and issues facing the home theatre industry.
Lot of variety, not a lot of depth. Probably something in here will appeal to everyone, but there will be little to keep that person occupied or coming back. Great magazine for a waiting room but not sure you will want to subscribe. They do provide straightforward reviews written in simple language that all can understand.
The world's largest entertainment equipment magazine, Sound & Vision is the preeminent source for consumers of home theater, audio, video and multimedia products.
Good product reviews, tips on speaker placement and building a decent system, and reviews of DVDs and CDs. Although a lot of state-of-the-art audio and video components covered are rather expensive, Sound & Vision tries hard to also cover lower-priced systems when they are available.
Founded in 1962, Stereophile is the oldest and largest U.S. publication dedicated to high-performance audio components. Each issue features reports and reviews on audio components, and advice on system installation and use in the home. If you’re a high-fidelity stereo perfectionist, Stereophile is for you.
Reviews based on listening experience by “experts” in the field. No technical analysis or arguing about the technical data. Some argue that many of the experts can not tell the difference when working in blinds tests. If you are interested in having speakers, wire, DVD players etc. described to you based on someone’s listening experience then this is for you.
The Absolute Sound Magazine
Covering high-end audio equipment and music reviews. The Absolute Sound is about music and the reproduction of music in the home. Editorial mission: seek out superior audio equipment, accurately describe the sound of components, provide reference quality music recommendations, and guide readers to maximize their listening experience.
High end is the key term here. This covers that stuff that most will not be able to afford but may be interested in reading about. The Ferrari level equipment of home audio. Published 6 times a year.
Home Theater Magazine covers the latest in audio, video, surround sound, movies and music. Each issue contains system reviews, product comparisons, DVD software reviews, technical updates, and opinion pieces by the industry's most knowledgeable editors and writers. At one time this was an excellent magazine, it has since been purchased by a larger company and many now complain about lack of depth in coverage and the abundance of advertising.
Home Theater Builder Magazine
Home Theater Builder magazine is a unique publication in the home theater industry. Rather than filling pages with flashy images of million dollar home theaters or hundreds of equipment and DVD reviews, they strive to truly educate enthusiast consumers on what is involved in making the theater of their dreams take shape in their own home.
Home theater projects are the core of the magazine, with other editorial including articles on technology, decor, an objective product showcase, home theater start-to-finish. The goal is to educate on the value of buying better equipment and completing more involved projects. Featured projects range from do it yourself to working with a custom designer and installer. If you are looking for a home theater magazine to help with designing your own home theater this is a good choice.
Blink
Del.icio.us
Digg
Furl
Google
Simpy
Spurl
Technorati
Y! MyWeb
