Anyone know where to look to find information on making a home theatre with a good sound system? I’m looking at a budget of 5-7K including a 50 inch LCD. In ceiling speakers for the front two. Any direction appreciated. Thx.

I was planning on buying a 50 inch LCD, but have been hearing that the projectors are catching on. I would imagine it would be a larger image, but don’t think it lasts as long. What are the advantages/disadvantages?

In fact, according to the Consumer Electronics Association, 9 million households are likely to purchase HDTV products during the next 18 months. Another 30 million consumers consider themselves likely purchasers within the next three years.

This newer technology can be overwhelming for consumers, especially when they are not properly educated about the tools needed for the best setup of a high-definition home theater system.

Four basic elements are needed: picture, source, sound and assembly. Interestingly enough, the CEA says that approximately 30 percent of U. S. homes already have these basic ingredients.

* Picture: Most digital, high-definition televisions feature large screens in widescreen formats that create a theater-like experience right in your home. HDTV delivers crisp images that make you feel like you’re part of the action.

Plasma and liquid crystal display televisions have generated the most excitement so far. These thin, lightweight sets can hang on a wall and only take up four inches of depth. Other examples include the microdisplay rear-projection televisions such as digital light processing sets. These TV sets are thinner, lighter and brighter than traditional projection TV sets.

* Source: Some high-definition televisions have a built-in tuner to receive local high-definition broadcasts. These are referred to as having “HD Built-In. ” Sets without an integrated tuner are “HD-Ready” and need a set-top box to decode the high-definition signal. Starting next year, many digital televisions will come with a high-definition tuner and the cable box built in, simplifying the connection for consumers.

* Sound: Most people don’t realize that the high-definition television format incorporates digital 5. 1 surround sound into high-definition broadcasts, giving you that “in the middle of the action” feel. For a truly engaging viewing experience, it is important to get a sound system that is comparable in quality to your television.

* Assembly: To tie it all together, you need to make sure you have the right cables and accessories to connect your system. Many consumers prefer using service personnel to deliver and set up the system at home – making sure everything is in place, connected and calibrated for the optimal home theater experience.

So how much does a home theater system cost? A wide range of prices are available, depending on an individual’s needs and desires. For example, high-definition televisions sold at Best Buy start at less than $500 and go all the way up to $10,000, with numerous models in between.

The Office is my all time favourite tv show at the moment and I was so unhappy when it was temporarily cancelled due to the writer’s strike. I realise that everyone wants more money but what about what the people need?
Anyway, I heard the strike is over and the writers are returning to write. This means that the sitcom will be returning on air in Apr and I couldn’t be any happier. I am not only glad the sitcom is coming back but I also have a fantastic new HDTV that I cannot wait to try out on The Office.
A couple weeks ago, my little old 19 inch gave out and I knew it was time to take a bounce into the 21st century by buying a shiny new HDTV. All of my friends have been on my case trying to get me to buy a newer tv but I never saw the necessity for it since my 19 inch was perfectly suitable enough for my taste.
Since I had to buy the new tv, I decided on the HDTV as my friends suggested. Ostensibly, I didn’t search it good enough because I didn’t know that in order to get HDTV channels I would have to pay my Dish Co. more money a month!
As if I do not pay enough money as it is and now after dishing out a grand on the television, I will have to pay even more per month. Instead of just succumbing to the realization that I would just have to deal with paying for it, I went online to see if there was a way around it.
I am so pleased I did because I found antennas that will recognize the signals I obtain from my cable Co. . I was dumbfounded to see the antennas were not a ton of money so I purchased one. Anyway, I am looking forward to watching The Office on my new TV.
Maybe Jim and Pam will get married, probably not. Whom I love the best is Michael on the program because he reminds me so much of my old superior. It’s impressive how many of things that travel out of his pie hole sounds a lot like something he would say.
Not only that, a lot of the stuff he says is such a shock that you just can’t help but laugh. Now that I have a new television to watch and many new shows starting up, I just know that it’s going to be the best TV watching experience I have had in a real long time.

this is a new set-up. When using just the TV with cable input I get both audio and video but when I try to play a DVD in the Bose 321 I get only audio but no video.

The TV component video 1 jacks (audio and video) are fed from the cable box.

The TV component video 2 jacks go to the Bose box. The set of wires is 3 heavier wires. I think they are ’special’ for better signal quality for the plasma TV

Other than what is described above the cable box has 2 smaller black (audio I think) wires going to the Bose unit labeled TV jack

Any ideas why I get audio but not video when playing a DVD but I am able to get both audio and video when watching TV thru the cable box?

Nothing says modern status symbol like a quality home theater system. Having the gear to provide a movie theater quality viewing or gaming experience instantly tells visitors to your that you’re a person who has arrived. There’s a lot of home theater systems out there though, and choosing the one that will provide the best quality and impress your visitors can be confusing. To help you get an handle on which home theater system best suits your needs, here’s a few basics:Choosing the display type is the first step in selecting your home theater system. Flat panels, such as LCD and plasma displays, and rear-projection televisions can produce large, wide-screen, high-definition pictures. Front projector televisions can produce razor-sharp images in even larger screen sizes. A good trick for choosing a television for your home theater system is to measure the distance between your couch and where you’ll be putting your television. Then, when you get to the store, stand that distance away from the television you’re looking at. This will keep you from buying a television that’s too large or small for your home theater needs. Also remember that for home theater screens 30-inches or larger, you’ll get the best picture quality from high-definition broadcasts and DVDs if you buy the HDTV model. The display resolutions of HDTV sets vary; typical examples include 720p, 1080i or 1080p, 1366 by 768, and 1024 by 768. The display resolution of your new television may not matter much unless its screen is relatively large and you sit unusually close to it. The difference between 720p and 1080p resolution, for example, isn’t very noticeable on a 50-inch screen unless you sit within about 10 feet of it. Good sound is key to a good home theater experience. However, getting your home theater’s audio just right can be tricky. Basically, you’re going to want a home theater stereo that has 5. 1 sound. This means five speakers, center, front left and right, back left and right, and one subwoofer. Proper positioning of your home theater’s audio gear is key to ensuring quality sound. Your front speakers should be at least two feet behind the television, the center speaker should be either on or near the television, the subwoofer should face forward toward the center of the room with the mesh side open and the back speakers should be positioned in an area that maximizes their ability to add to the ambient sound quality of the home theater system. Once you get all of this snazzy gear, making sure you install it properly is vital to ensuring all that money didn’t go to waste. Improper installation of a home theater system can result in crackling sound an unclear picture and looking like a tool when your friends come over to watch. Avoid embarrassment by picking up a few good do-it-yourself manuals before trying to make sense of all those red and yellow cables or by hiring a pro to set up your new home theater system. A home theater system can literally project your status and taste to guests. Don’t make a mess of your chance to impress. Choose the right gear, put it in the right place and get the right people to set it up.

So you’re in the market for a new home theater system? Why not? Everyone you know either has one or wants one. Are you sick of having to go to your buddy’s place to watch the game on the big screen? Have you been playing that SNES system, circa 1995, since, well, 1995? Is your prized movie collection in laserdisc format? Maybe it is time to invest in a new home theater.

The first thing you ought to do is establish a budget. You could spend thousands of dollars on your new system, so give some consideration to what you are able to spend. There’s no point spending your rent money on a TV, if you will not have an apartment to watch it in.

Once you have decided what you are able to spend, draft a wish list of components you would like. Big screen TV or LCD projector? X-Box or Playstation? What about surround sound? 5:1? 6:1? 7:1? There are so many options, and the possibilities are seemingly endless. Keep it simple. Do you really need a 51 inch HDTV, for your 10×10 living room?

Either way, your system will definitely need certain components to qualify as a home theater. For the sake of being modest, why not consider getting started with a home-theater-in-a-box? These packages generally come with a surround sound receiver, a set of speakers, and a DVD/CD player. These systems are relatively inexpensive, and will leave you with enough cash flow to buy that new Sopranos box set! Capice?

A lot of people like to include gaming systems in their home theater, especially if they are able to play on a big screen. There’s nothing like playing Halo in life size! If you do most of your gaming on your computer, most decent video cards will have a video line out that you can use to connect to your TV or projector. Otherwise, you can incorporate any other console system into your home theater.

Your sound system will likely consist of a number of speakers (left, right, and center front, surround left and right, and a subwoofer). This is the standard surround system. The wattage of the amplifier you are using will greatly affect the sound being produced, so be sure to use one with enough power to effectively supply your system.

As I said, the options are seemingly endless for home theater systems. Be sure to buy from a reputable dealer, and do not buy anything that does not have a 30-day money back guarantee. . . . . . just in case you have to return it to pay your rent!

Choosing the best home theater system for you is a huge decision, as well as a big investment. It is a good idea to do your homework before making such a big purchase, by reading consumer electronic magazines, getting advice from friends and browsing consumer electronic stores. The more you know about home theater systems the better you will be able to decide on the best home theater system for you. Choosing a Quality System The best home theater system for you will be the system you can afford. The price of home theater systems can easily go into the thousands of dollars, and it is important to choose a system that fits not only your taste but also your budget. And it is important to keep in mind that the most expensive home theater system is not necessarily the best home theater system. A Large screen television set should be top priority when choosing the best home theater system for you. 50 inch televisions are a great size, and 60 inch televisions are believed to give the best home theater picture. Large freestanding televisions that come in 50 and 60 inches include the Hitachi HDTV with Dolby Surround Sound, and the Samsung with virtual Dolby surround sound. Sleek and stylish plasma televisions give amazing picture quality, but are out of price range for many working families. In choosing the best home theater system you need to balance cost with quality. Considerations When Purchasing the ‘Best Home Theater System’ Price is not the only consideration when seeking the best home theater system. A theater system that is incredibly complicated to setup and use will prove to be incredibly frustrating. Choose a system you are comfortable with, and one that doesn’t leave you baffled when trying to operate or program the system. You will also want to consider the warranty of your home theater system. A home theater system is a large investment, and keeping your warranties organized will be well worth it if there are any problems with your system down the road. Make sure that the home theater receiver that comes with your home theater system is equipped to handle all of your components from your DVD player and CD player, to your gaming system and even your computer. Quality speakers are incredibly important when attempting to put together a top notch home theater system. It is recommended that a home theater system has five speakers placed around the room, to give your home theater system surround sound. The best home theater system is the one that brings you the most enjoyment. That will be a system that not only brings high quality picture and sound to your home entertainment, it will also be a system that you can afford, and that you can operate without frustration.

The Samsung 52 in TV brings realism to your viewing experience. They are the perfect TVs to use as the focal point for your home theater system. So what makes them so awesome? Overall Viewing Experience The viewing experience is unmatched. Many describe it by saying it’s like watching a scene through a window. Some say it like watching a play. How much more lifelike can you get? Not only is the viewing experience stunning when watching movies, one user reported seeing details that he’d never seen before on his own home movies! Display Details The 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, like that found on the Samsung 52 LN52A650 lends to an amazing image. Black will be more intense, as will white. Samsung 52 inch TVs have 1080p, or full HD. This means 1. 5 times more scanning lines than conventional HDTVs. This leads to more pixels which equals more details and a better picture overall. This is 2 times greater than conventional HDTVs. Connectivity Samsung 52 inch TVs have advanced HD connectivity and networking capabilities. Several devices can be connected to the set through HDMI 1. 3 inputs. There is even one on the side of the TV. You can even control all your CEC-enabled devices using only one remote. So besides your DVD player or Blu Ray, you can connect devices like game consoles and satellite dish components into the rear connections. You can use the side mounted connection for easy access for cameras, laptops and camcorders. The Wheel Key Remote control and the content management interface allows you to access device menus as well as show and manage content. The Samsung 52 inch TV is a home theater owner’s dream. The Samsung 52 inch TV is the perfect pick for someone who wants to set up the a home theater system.