If you're putting together a home theater, you'll of course need to buy equipment to provide the visuals and sound. However, choosing the right home theater equipment can be pretty hard, what with all the choices out there. Knowing whether a given piece of home theater equipment will go with the kind of system you're building can take expertise that not all of us have. Here's some basic information about home theater equipment that might help.
At minimum, you'll need to have a sound system, television or screen, a DVD player, and a receiver. If you're using a screen, you'll also need a projector. Your receiver is the piece of equipment that picks up your cable or satellite television signal, in addition to radio frequencies. You'll also connect the other equipment through the receiver. Look for a model that has a number of different inputs, so you'll be able to plug in everything you need. If you'd like to pipe music in, choose a receiver that gives you the option to control your speaker channels.
The television, or screen and projector, usually take up the biggest share of your budget. Decide beforehand how much money you're willing to spend for this piece of equipment. There are plenty of options, and the expense can rack up quickly. Most televisions available are either LCD or plasma. Depending on the size of your screen, a projector may be less expensive for a comparably sized picture. The size and dimensions of the room are also an important factor in choosing the right television or screen.
DVD players are also important for those who'd like to watch movies. While you can get models inexpensively (sometimes as low as forty dollars), they'll also be less reliable and produce a lower quality picture and sound. Many people who purchase a DVD player for their home theater choose one that can play HD-DVD or Blu-ray discs in addition to normal ones, since these produce a much higher quality theater experience.
Don't forget the sound system. A real home theater features a surround sound system that gives you the feeling of really being in the movie. Generally, speaker systems for home theater setups feature three front speakers and two in the back. Certain spots in the room will be better suited for getting a good sound experience – take this into account when purchasing your speakers and arranging them in the room.
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