Home theater used to be reserved for the rich and famous, but technology has evolved and prices have dropped to the point where true home theater is now achievable for the masses. In fact once you get a home audio system in place and add a 1080p projector you will never want to set foot in the local cinema again.
Today's 1080p projector is seeing continued technological improvements. If you think of projectors in terms of what you see projected on the wall at a business meeting or at your local church service, you are in for a pleasant surprise. A home HD projector properly connected to a high definition source such as HDTV or particularly blu-ray produces a stunning image.
So if you are ready to take your home theater to the next level consider checking out the following popular 1080p projectors:
1. Epson Home Cinema 1080UB - What sets the Epson apart from those in its class is the deep, dark blacks that it is able to achieve, thus the UB for Ultra Black. The 1080UB has an excellent sharp picture, vivid colors and has many flexible placement options due to its strong zoom and lens shift capabilities. The Epson may not be the most "film like" projector out there, but it is a natural choice for those who want to use the projector for viewing HD sports as well as for movies.
2. BenQ W5000 - For those who prefer a DLP projector over an LCD, the W5000 is certainly worthy of consideration. DLP projectors are known for smooth images, strong brightness levels and deep blacks. The W5000 does not disappoint in these areas. While technology has limited the problem over the years, it is still important to be aware of the potential for the rainbow effect that some people have with DLP technology.
3. Panasonic PT-AE2000 - If you are looking for an all around performer the AE2000 may be the choice for you. It offers an incredibly smooth picture with no visible pixel structure, even when viewed up close. It has a very film like image making it an ideal choice for movie lovers, but also is bright enough for HDTV and gaming and has flexible placement options making it suitable for many locations.
4. Mitsubishi HC5500 - This 1080p projector is another popular home HD projector capable of producing an excellent picture on the big screen. It has a sharp image, good color and above average brightness. Its expected lamp life is longer then the competition which figures into the overall value of the projector. Keep in mind that the HC5500 is a bit more limited then some in terms of placement due to a less powerful zoom and limited lens shift.
Each of these fine 1080p projectors would be a fine addition to your home theater. A home theater with one of these home HD projectors will be sure to amaze your family and friends. Just be prepared to be asked to host more movie nights and football parties because of your home theater setup.
For additional 1080p projectors as well as more in depth information on what to look for in a high definition projector check out the Family Home Theater Guide.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jared_Dawson
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Home Theater Surround Sound and How to Get it Just Right
Buying a home theater has become a regular occurrence in today's economy of conspicuous consumption. Car DVD players and car audio systems are popular as well. Better technology has blown the options wide open in this industry. Now there is a knock-off for every budget. A home theater these days usually consists of a large high definition television (HDTV), a surround sound speaker system, and some comfy chairs.
Surround sound really makes the home theater feel like a movie theater. The basics of surround sound include having at least two speakers in front of the viewing audience and at least two on the side or rear of the viewers. The audio channel on modern viewing formats feature split audio channels designed to funnel different sounds around to different speakers depending on the sound's onscreen point of origination.
A receiver-type amplifier receives all the sound from various components and plays them as assigned. A receiver will come equipped with audio and video inputs, preamp, a surround-sound decoder, power amps for each speaker and outputs for the television and speakers. The receiver unit picks up the signal from the component (television, DVD player, CD player, etc.). You choose which component's signal you want fed. The receiver then distributes the signal to the chosen component.
There are several different types of surround sound - analog, digital, Dolby, and DTS are the most common. Dolby has several different options in home theater packages - mostly having to do with speaker size and placement. In fact, all of the differences between home theater surround sound options have to do with speaker size and placement.
Televisions with a cathode ray tube are considered direct-view televisions and they have been the standard in the industry for a while. The advent of flat-screen televisions offering LCD (liquid crystalline display) and plasma technologies are overtaking the cathode ray tube in popularity. An LCD screen is a lot like the screen of a laptop. Flat-screen televisions are also lightweight and thin because they don't need projectors or tubes in them.
Projection technologies have enabled an entire generation of very large screens. Rear projection screens can use a variety of technologies including cathode ray tube (CRT), digital light processing (DLP), liquid crystal display (LCD) or liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS). Size, resolution and screen quality are all criteria by which to judge rear projection televisions. Front projection technologies work pretty much the same way rear-projection units work except in front-projection, the projector is not part of the television case.
Besides deciding which surround sound format you want and which television technology best suits your space, you also have to choose between DTV and HDTV. Soon, all television signals will be DTV, but only specialized HDTVs and specific components gain access to the extra resolution offered by HDTV.
There are a lot of things to consider when setting up your own home theater surround sound system. Complete kits can be found for as few as $250 or as much as thousands of dollars.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anne_Clarke
Surround sound really makes the home theater feel like a movie theater. The basics of surround sound include having at least two speakers in front of the viewing audience and at least two on the side or rear of the viewers. The audio channel on modern viewing formats feature split audio channels designed to funnel different sounds around to different speakers depending on the sound's onscreen point of origination.
A receiver-type amplifier receives all the sound from various components and plays them as assigned. A receiver will come equipped with audio and video inputs, preamp, a surround-sound decoder, power amps for each speaker and outputs for the television and speakers. The receiver unit picks up the signal from the component (television, DVD player, CD player, etc.). You choose which component's signal you want fed. The receiver then distributes the signal to the chosen component.
There are several different types of surround sound - analog, digital, Dolby, and DTS are the most common. Dolby has several different options in home theater packages - mostly having to do with speaker size and placement. In fact, all of the differences between home theater surround sound options have to do with speaker size and placement.
Televisions with a cathode ray tube are considered direct-view televisions and they have been the standard in the industry for a while. The advent of flat-screen televisions offering LCD (liquid crystalline display) and plasma technologies are overtaking the cathode ray tube in popularity. An LCD screen is a lot like the screen of a laptop. Flat-screen televisions are also lightweight and thin because they don't need projectors or tubes in them.
Projection technologies have enabled an entire generation of very large screens. Rear projection screens can use a variety of technologies including cathode ray tube (CRT), digital light processing (DLP), liquid crystal display (LCD) or liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS). Size, resolution and screen quality are all criteria by which to judge rear projection televisions. Front projection technologies work pretty much the same way rear-projection units work except in front-projection, the projector is not part of the television case.
Besides deciding which surround sound format you want and which television technology best suits your space, you also have to choose between DTV and HDTV. Soon, all television signals will be DTV, but only specialized HDTVs and specific components gain access to the extra resolution offered by HDTV.
There are a lot of things to consider when setting up your own home theater surround sound system. Complete kits can be found for as few as $250 or as much as thousands of dollars.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anne_Clarke
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