Part 3 of 3: Future, Installing and Buying [Home Theatre]
Aug 21 '01
The Bottom Line Now you should know what and how home theatre all falls together.
Guide Title:
Beginners Guide To DVD Sourced Home Theatre – Systems, options, installs, configs…
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Introduction (Parts: 1, 2, 3)
This 3-part guide will hopefully explain a few unclear areas about the whole home theatre game. I will also take you through step by steps of how and why you should do or not do certain things.
Home theatre isn’t quite as popular as some may think, only around 10 to 20% of your country would have a suitable system to call it a home theatre. In its self the words “home theatre” have no real distinct meaning, or price range for that matter. You could spend little over a few hundred and have a home theatre or spend a few thousand and have the same as before. The only difference would be performance and compatibility. As prices increase equipment becomes more future-proof. If any of you bought a DVD player two or even three years ago, you will know how much it cost (upward of £1000 perhaps) and now you’ll see DVD players going for less than 10% of the price you paid. Add that to the fact that these bargain priced players offer similar performance to those older models.
In short, when buying a home theatre – it is better to spend more than less. But more significant than that is you need to know what you want and what you might want in a year two years, or maybe in a decade. Hopefully this 3-part guide will set your decision – if you’re prepared to invest in a home theatre that is. The three part guide will be separated into three major sectors in home theatre (below), each part is posted under specific titles in the same category, and is best read from Part 1 through 3, the last part is posted first, and 1st part last, so they end up in correct order in the list in this topic on epinions. This is a large topic and it requires a heavy reading for beginners, so I think it’s easier to read in separate parts.
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Contents: (Parts: 1, 2, 3)
Part 1: Beginners Brief [Home Theatre]
0.0 Benefits Of Home Theatre
0.1 The Media
0.2 How DVD Comes Into The Picture
0.3 Equipment Introduction
0.31 The DVD Player
0.32 The Receiver
0.33 The Loudspeakers
0.34 The TV
Part 2: Deciding Purchasing and Installing [Home Theatre]
0.4 System Types
0.41 Benefits of Separates
0.5 Installation & Configuration
0.51 All-In-one System
0.52 Separates System
Part 3: Future, Installing and Buying [Home Theatre]
0.6 Additional Hardware
0.7 Living With The System
0.8 Future Upgrades
0.9 Connecting Upgrades
0.10 FINISHED!
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0.6 Living With The System
Now the system is all running smoothly, you can now relax and absorb the exciting new sounds and visual treats of DVD-V, SACD and possibly DVD-A. Whatever system you have chosen the fact remains it will be like the cinema. Since you have the VCR connected to the receiver, you can enjoy Pro Logic (Pro Logic II if applicable) with off-air broadcasts. This enables you to enjoy a new era of home entertainment from soaps, to movies from the antenna or cable box. Watch something like The Simpsons and your receiver will select the appropriate Pro Logic setting for the program automatically. This is the same with many of today’s TV programs. You can also enjoy Pro Logic from your old VHS tapes, this is pretty impressive to hear.
Using the system you can switch between VHS, and DVD, while watching a DVD you can be recording a program on TV. Or switch between the VCR and DVD player if you wish. The thing is, that you can leave things playing so you can do numerous operations, like playing a CD while setting the VCR. The receiver implementations are very versatile, and can be used everyday. And the majority of times are automatically switched to the best sound options. You can switch between DTS (Digital Theatre Sound/System) or DD (Dolby Digital) sound formats and decide which one you like for certain DVD’s. I prefer DTS as it is more powerful and cohesive.
Remember you can also have your Hi Fi components running through this system, a CD player tape deck, Turntable and loads more can all be connected with the vast amount of inputs of the receiver. You can upgrade the components around the receiver, and never need to replace it. You can add many more future technologies to the system too.
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0.7 Additional Hardware
There will be an inevitable point where you want to upgrade to higher performance equipment. SACD, and DVD-A are two major examples of this. You can buy a SACD player, or DVD-A player, or buy an all in one machine for playing both discs (When available). This option is the best one, as most receivers don’t have a 6 channel input for both types, so you might have to switch cables if you don’t have a double set.
These aren’t the only available options today. You can buy a special remote to control all components in the home theatre. Such as the Philips’ pronto, or Sony RM2000. These remotes can operate almost every single component you can think of. And are a learning type, meaning they can learn how you work what you favourite setting is and customize itself for you.
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0.8 Future Upgrades
There are other sound formats I haven’t mentioned. Among DTS, and DD, SDDS is another sound format, most commonly used in small theatres, or Cineplex’s. The SDDS system uses eight channels rather than 5 of DD & DTS. It is a Sony branded format and goes onto the film it is produced on, and decoded to its eight channels. It stands for Sony Dynamic Digital Sound. For more information read here: http://www.sdds.com/ This format is rare to be found on home systems. As it uses a small addition- a box which clamps onto the projector head and reads the film and decoded in a large box.
Apart from SDDS, there are new additions to the normal DD, and DTS. The ES system is an extra channel so it becomes a 6.1 signal. The DTS firm have also used this technique heading for EX similar to 6.1.
These extra channels still need to be decoded by a special decoder, receivers need the decoders, but the DVD players don’t need anything additional.
Some receivers have added a pre-output. This can be used with a mono power amplifier to create the 6.1 sound. However you first need to check whether your receiver can decode and output the 6.1 channel or at least include a pre-output. If it doesn’t have either then you may need to either chose another receiver or upgrade/trade the one you have. However you don’t have to unless you absolutely want that extra channel. Also in the future the 7.1 channel will become available and so making a 6.1 receiver just bought a bit aged already, so you may wish to wait.
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0.9 Connecting Upgrades
However if you’re still hooked on the idea of 6.1 then you can do one of three things depending on your case:
#1: Using the already present 6th channel buy a centre speaker and connect this to the receiver. Set this speaker can be placed behind the centre listening position. Making either a six pointed star or again square room with either SACD or DVD-V, with the centre rear in the middle of the lower line in the square.
#2: Using the pre-out purchase a power amplifier specified by the receiver manual and connect this with a single RCA/phono cable. This can power the rear speaker. Buy a centre speaker and connect this to the power-amp. Set this speaker can be placed behind the centre listening position. Making either a six pointed star or again square room with either SACD or DVD-V, with the centre rear in the middle of the lower line in the square.
#3: Replace/trade/upgrade the current receivers with the 6.1 channel receiver or 5.1 amplified receiver +pre out and do as the above state depending on the one you are in.
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0.11 FINISHED!
Now you should know what and how home theatre all falls together. DVD isn’t exactly the main source, SACD and DVD-A are alternatives too. This whole guide has described how you can include this entertainment revolution into your living room. Don’t be put off by the size of this opinion or the guide, it is only so because it covers all options and possible options in this criteria.
Remember there are key elements to this whole guide:
Your budget; What you want; How Far You Want To Go; What You Want In Five Or Ten Years Time.
Come to think about it, there is a lot more to mention. Such as the SACD format, you won’t exactly be educated as a beginner at that subject or on DVD-Audio either, so check out a few other advice sections in Electronics.
There are other things to consider too, such as the components you chose. Check out this site and what are the best rated DVD-Players, receivers speakers any other possible equipment for help in deciding what to start with.
I have covered about as much as I can in home theatre:
Financing, choices & deciding, installing, configuring, living with the system, and upgrading.
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