Home theater: what is it, why is it needed what does it consist of

Everyone can immerse themselves in the atmosphere of their favorite movies even at home. A set of special equipment will help, which is responsible for high-quality video and sound reproduction with the so-called “presence effect”. As you already understood, today we will talk about home theater: types, functionality, its components and main selection criteria.

Home theater: the concept and types of acoustic systems

So, a home theater is usually understood as a complex of special sound and video reproducing equipment (consumer class), which is designed for installation in private residential premises. Its main task is to reproduce high-quality sound and images close to the cinema. In the market of rubble equipment, we are faced with a variety of types of systems. We conditionally divide them according to four criteria:

1. Selection method for home theater components.
2. The number of components.
3. Placement in the room.
4. Connection type.

So, the division into types of home theaters:

1. According to the selection method , home theaters are divided into prefabricated systems and systems of a closed type or the so-called “in one box” (“in one box”).
   • Closed-loop home theaters are ideal for those who save their time and are not ready for long listening or clarifying connections between components. By choosing a system “in one box” you can find your ideal option without much effort.
   • Prefabricated home theaters are designed for those who are more picky about the quality of their equipment. In this case, the user has the right to independently choose each element – take into account the power and quality of reproduction, the effect of surround sound, cost, manufacturer, and much more.

     

2. By the number of components, home theaters are divided into multi-link, soundbars and monoblocks.
   • Multi-link systems will provide the highest sound quality, but will take up a large amount of space. We explain this by placing the elements in a strict order around the entire perimeter of the room. As a result, we obtain optimal reflection and propagation of sound waves.

     

   • Soundbars combine a subwoofer and a universal speaker. They won’t take up much space, but they won’t provide the maximum volume of sound either. Although it is very difficult for a user without a fine sensitive ear to understand the difference.

     

   • The sound of monoblocks is often comparable to the sound of soundbars.
3. According to the type of equipment placement, home theaters are divided into built-in, floor, shelf and suspended.
   • Embedded systems tend to be the most expensive; but they look organic and quite concise. Here we take into account the interior design and any design restrictions.
   • When choosing between floor, shelf and suspended speakers , we also take into account the specifics of the furniture, the presence of children, animals, etc.

     

     Note! In some cases, rear speakers can be made wireless. To do this, we connect wired speakers to a wireless adapter with an amplifier.

     The functionality of modern home theaters

     Despite the variety of types, the functions of various home theater systems are quite similar. The main ones are:

     • high-quality surround sound reproduction;
     • high quality video playback;
     • playback of various formats;
     • simple, comfortable operation.

     sound

     The surround sound of movies is perhaps the main reason for purchasing a home theater. Rich realistic sound leaves an indelible impression, and creates the effect of presence, the effect of immersion in the movie. The following components are responsible for high-quality sound:

     • a variety of playback modes;
     • the presence of a muted mode;
     • the presence of a viewing mode in headphones;
     • the ability to adjust the sound manually.

     

     Picture coming from DC

     High-quality image reproduction is the task of the TV screen. To obtain the optimal effect, we adjust and adjust the following parameters:

     • brightness, saturation and contrast of the image;
     • scale.

     It is important to have HD, FHD and HDTV functions.

     Playback

     The next option is the ability to play videos of various formats (CD, DVD, Blu-ray, etc.). Some older models only work with one of the options.
     

     Control

     An equally important option is playback control. This includes stop, speed up, rewind, increase the image.

     Note! Only if you have a complete set of equipment, all the options of a home theater are regularly feasible.

     

     Additional functions

     Additional home theater options include:

     1. Sound calibration . Used for the best sound quality. Calibration involves the automatic reading of the natural acoustics of the room and the distribution of the reflection of sound waves.
     2. HDMI sockets . Additional inputs are never redundant. They can be used to connect more speakers or a game console.

        

     3. Support for 3D format . This feature is typical for premium home theater systems. 3D glasses are usually also included in the package. But it is recommended to purchase new ones – better ones.
     4. IPlayer option . Used for online streaming.
     5. Parental control . Useful for those who have children.
     6. External interfaces , etc.

     Home theater components

     Now let’s look at the main elements of home theaters:

     1. One of the main ones is the display device. It implies a TV, liquid crystal or plasma panels . If a separate room is allocated for the recreation center, there is a desire to create a semblance of a real cinema at home – you can purchase a screen and a projector.
     2. The next component is the signal source . In this capacity, the signal of the television provider is used; CD, DVD, Blu-ray, HD players; set-top boxes on the Android platform, Apple TV; or even PC.
     3. AV receiver for signal conversion.
     4. Acoustics . It may consist of such elements as a center speaker, front speakers, loudspeakers, subwoofer.

     Note! It is recommended to purchase speakers from the same manufacturer that are in the same sound key. In this case, the sound will be better.

     In turn, most home theaters in one box consist of speakers (5.1 or 7.1 format speakers) and a Blu-Ray or DVD receiver.

     Specifications for home theater systems

     One of the most important criteria for evaluating DC equipment is its technical characteristics.

     Projector

     When choosing a projector, choose high-resolution matrix technology. After all, the higher the resolution of the image, the clearer and better the picture. The maximum of the existing ones is 4K. The maximum diagonal is 100 inches (254 cm). Commonly used matrices are DPL and LCD. The first type is more expensive, and produces a fairly high-quality image. Often equipped with a 3D function. The second one is more budgetary both in terms of price and quality. When buying a projector, the lamp of the device does not go unnoticed. We refine its power and contrast.
     

     Television

     For home theaters, experts recommend using OLED and LCD panels. The first type is recognized as the highest quality. It has a high screen resolution, compares favorably with others in contrast, brightness, and a large angle of inclination. Equipped with 3D option. LCD TVs are more affordable. The cost is also reflected in the quality of the picture, the speed of TV response to user commands. The recommended minimum TV diagonal is 32 inches.

     Note! Most modern TVs already have a built-in operating system. Thanks to this, it became possible without any difficulty to install new third-party applications, including online cinemas, download games.

     Acoustics

     As noted earlier, acoustics is one of the defining components of a home theater. One of the most common speaker options is 5.1 format, where 5 means the number of speakers, 1 is a
     subwoofer .
     All speakers are recommended to be distributed in the corners of the room. To connect – use wireless interfaces. If this is not possible, a wired connection is used. We also pay attention to the power of the speakers.

     

   • The subwoofer will help improve the sound and enhance the effect of “cinema”. Together with it, a satellite is used, a small speaker responsible for the medium and high frequency ranges.

   

   Important! When placing the components of a home theater, we must take into account all the characteristics of the room, the placement of chairs and sofas, cables, sockets.

   Criteria for selection

   The main
   criterion for choosing a home theater is the expected effect; we take into account the features of the interior and the permissible place for placement. Based on a database of expectations, we make a choice between a projector and a TV, built-in and non-embedded, wired and wireless systems.
   An equally important criterion is the signal reading format. For each viewer, this criterion is individual. Also, according to the wishes of the user, we determine the necessary functions. An important point is the technical characteristics of the equipment. Here, whenever possible, each element of the ecosystem is considered separately. Home theater is a great find for moviegoers. With the right selection and placement of system components, it will create the effect of reality, and will allow you to plunge headlong into the world of films.