In Wall Speakers

2012-02-07T09:52:00.000-08:00

When building a sophisticated home theater system there are a few ways to go. For some the most important aspects are visual while others are more in tuned to the sound production. In many cases, people want something that is both aesthetically pleasing while still full of rich sound. There are multiple solutions and some great products on the marketplace that fit both requirements.

First let’s take a look at what the options can be. We have to start with room size and configuration to determine the amount of space available to work with. If space is not an issue, than there are plenty of visually appealing speakers on the marketplace. If space is limited than the solution may come in the for of in wall speakers. Not only do they save space they also look great. The functionality is fairly similar to that of an on wall or floor standing speaker but with a much more sleek design. Some sound enthusiasts have avoided this option based on a pretense that the quality is not on par with a larger speaker cabinet and in some cases, that is the truth. That being said, there are a ton of great, high quality in wall speakers available online and in stores.

Some pros to incorporating in wall speakers start with the powerful sound produced but a shallow cabinet. Remember to read reviews and purchase a quality set of in wall speakers. There are plenty of options on the market some being far superior to others. Make sure to buy a trusted brand or from a reputable manufacturer.

Installation is fairly easy when compared to any other speaker installation. You will need to cut into drywall to create a cavity for the bracket to be easily mounted. The finished product will look great. Some grate or speaker covers are even designed to be painted for a seamless, hidden look!

Home Theater Systems

2012-01-09T14:21:00.000-08:00

Buying a home theater system is not as easy as it has been in the past. As technology evolves, more decisions arise. Budget isn’t the only deciding factor these days. As products become more affordable, more options are available to the average consumer. For instance, a 55” LED can be priced similarly to a same size plasma and even a front projector and screen package. The decisions will come down to other factors such as room size, brightness, and personal preference. There can also be many components to a full home theater system. That will also depend on budget and exactly what you want to do with your room.

Let’s first start with video. There are 2 distinct ways to go when determining what video platform you want to use; a flat panel television or a front projector for larger then life images. This is where room size and brightness come in to play. If you are going for a true movie theater style experience then you would probably focus on a front projector. Be careful when choosing this option as you will need an extremely dark room to allow the projector to create a clear and bright picture. You also don’t want the image to be over-powering for the room size. If you prefer to stick to a more traditional style TV, you will probably be researching flat panels. There are three main types of flat panel TVs including plasmas, LED lit LCDs, and traditionally LCDs. LCDs are the cheapest option but all of these fall into a similar price range depending on brand and features. Basically a plasma has the most natural picture and the lowest black levels, an LED is the brightest and has a vibrant picture with a real life feel on 120htz sets, and an LCD is in between with a bright and clear picture. Personal preference will play a big role in determining what set to buy. This is a VERY brief overview of TVs but keep in mind it is meant for beginners.

Let’s take a look at some audio options. The world of audio can be a bit tricky because there is quite a few ways to take your system. There are some decent all-in-one surround sound systems out there but you will probably get better quality and more value if you create your own system. Audio is essential to completing any home theater system. The main components of any system are the speakers, the amp, and the pre-amp. Generally in most sound systems the pre-amp and amp are combined into one piece of equipment called a receiver. To get the best sound out of your system, get a matching set of speakers for the whole room. This should consist of a center channel (most important since almost all dialogue comes from this speaker) two front surrounds, two rear surrounds, and a sub-woofer. You should make sure that your receiver doesn’t put out to many watts or you can damage your speakers. There are more things to consider when choosing the proper receiver but that could be a separate post entirely on its own.

This should help the research process for any beginner looking to set up their first home theater package. Don’t forget to get some decent cables to pull it all together!

Home Theaters and Beyond

In Wall Speakers

Home Theater Systems