Easy Guide To Choosing A Suitable Home Cinema System

By Author: Lucy Carter
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Modern technology has advanced to much these days that you can have an astounding cinematic experience from the comfort of your own home. The problem however is there are so many different types of home cinema systems on the marketplace that it can be hard deciding what will suit you individual needs best. Whether you're happy with a modest but quality setup that fits your budget, or want the best and latest system that money can buy, the following guide will outline the features you need to look out for when shopping around.

Budget-friendly home cinema

Even if you're on a tight budget, you can still find a home cinema system that thrills the senses - possibly for much less than you might think.

Viewing

Firstly, for screen display quality, an LCD is the perfect choice as they deliver impressive colours, vibrancy and brightness. These are available is sizes from 19 inches up to 52 inches. Depending on your budget, there are a range of models available to choose from. Those on the lower price end might lack the advanced features of their more expensive versions, but you can still expect a satisfying ...
... standard and high-definition picture quality. Even the least pricey models offer at least one set of component HDMI and video connections, along with in many cases an integrated Freeview tuner.

Audio

When it comes to sound quality, an all-in-one home cinema system keeps things simple and well within budget. These types of packages provide your cables, speakers, amplification and other features in one tidy bundle, so you'll have everything you need to get going without any fuss. It's ideal to look for a system with a Blu-ray player since this is increasingly the trend. While they might be more expensive than the DVD options, they make up for it with enhanced sound and picture quality.

Connections

If you decide not to go for an all-in-one package, you will need to add a disc player to your system. A DVD player is the least expensive option, and due to improvements in technology you can expect enhanced detail and resolution to near-High Definition levels, plus 5.1-channel surround sound. While Blu-ray players are more expensive, the price has dropped significantly from when they were first introduced - you can now pick one up for around £100.

Mid-range home cinema

Viewing

Moving on from entry level models, a plasma TV is an excellent choice. These offer a picture quality that many feel is better than LCD screens because they deliver bright, true-to-life colours that contrast perfectly with truly dark black shades, ensuring you get a very rich viewing quality. Without stretching the pocket too far, you'll be looking at sizes from 42 to 65 inches.

Audio

To get a truly enhanced sound quality, it's advisable to go for a separated home cinema system. A dedicated receiver allows not only improved sound but the ability to fine tune performance to suit an individual room as well as your specific preferences. AV receivers are a good choice as they're loaded with extra connections for plug-in's such as games consoles. You will really fill the room with life if you add a 5.1 surround sound speaker with dedicated subwoofer and satellite speakers. It's also a wise idea to buy quality speaker cables if you want to get the most from the surround sound. If you're worried about these cables getting in the way, you can always choose flat cables which are designed to go under carpets. Alternatively, a wireless speaker will get rid of the need for cables altogether.

Connections

Plasma TV's are an excellent option for connectivity - many models offer multiple HDMI inputs as well as an Ethernet connection for internet updates. More expensive versions will provide Wi-Fi connection for streaming video over the internet and a media card reader to play back picture you've taken. For outstanding HD picture quality and surround sound, an added Blu-ray player will impress over a DVD player, without costing an arm and a leg. It's recommended you hook these up to your system using a HDMI cable for the best audiovisual experience. The latest Blu-ray players boast HDMI 1.4 - this technology is in line with advancements soon to become standard such as 3D TV and will also ensure you can get the best out of Blu-ray discs. Another thing to look out for in mid-range systems are extended media playback features, such as DNLA for connecting with other products in your home.

Top-range home cinema

Viewing

For the best cinematic experience available, an HD projector is the only way to go. These lightbox wonders boast a picture of up to 300 inches horizontally, with the most high-end models matching the Odeon experience in terms of detail and contrast. It's also important to buy a quality screen to project onto since they reflect much more light, which will give you a clearer, brighter picture than a white wall. Another option is a monster sized flat panel offering 50+ inches of display and packed with the latest image processing features. The newest LED screens offer excellent home cinema quality with solid contrast and impressive colours. Those with the super-thin LED panels allow for border-less viewing, meaning the image goes right to the edge of the screen. Another good choice would be 3D compatible models as this is the upcoming way of the future.

Audio

As with mid-range models, a separated system is the best option for maximum sound quality. A high-end receiver will allow for enough HDMI inputs to use it as a hub for Blu-ray, an HDTV set-top box and games consoles. Both picture and sound will travel through the receiver and out to your TV via a single HDMI cable, keeping clutter at a minimum and conveniently letting you to control every aspect of your audio from the receiver. They can also output more audio power than mid-range receivers, letting you get the best out of larger speakers.

Connections

Opting for a high-end Blu-ray player will give you maximum image and audio quality. They also convert and process high quality surround sound, before outputting it to an amplifier through analogue cables. Top of the range players have a solid build which means less vibration and thus less sound signal interference for the best audio experience possible.

Whether your budget stretches near or far, the above top tips will give you the right boxes to tick so that the home cinema system you choose will keep you satisfied.
Barry Knightly owns a