How to Compare Home Theater Systems

The home theater changed the way home entertainment works. With a good budget, your home entertainment can rival that of a cinema.  However, there are hundreds of home theater brands, and thousands of variations in sound and video delivery. Thus many people looking to buy a home theater system are confused on the model and configuration to pick. For examp,e what is best 2.1, 5.1 or 7.1? Which speakers go well with what video player? What equipment is best for video gaming? These are questions that come up when you compare home theater systems. Here are a few tips on how to go about the comparison.

Receiver channels

A home theater’s receiver is the box that gets the connections from cable, Bluray, gaming consoles and other devices. The more channels a receiver has, the richer the sound experience. A 2.1 channel receiver is able to support 2 speakers and a subwoofer. A 5.1 channel receiver has 5 speakers (2 front speakers, a center speaker, 2 rear speakers and a subwoofer). Some models have 7, 9, and even 11 channels.

Receiver and speaker size

This is an important consideration as the right size delivers quality sound while leaving adequate space in your living room. The soundbar design has speakers in one holding container that can be placed in front of the TV for better sound delivery. If you have space, you can go for stand-up tallboy speakers or designs that can hang from the ceiling.

Speaker power

Speaker power is directly related to sound quality. The more power a speaker has, the higher it can produce more volume without distortion. Speakers for domestic use are usually rated 8 ohms at 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.

Connections

The HDMI connection is standard in home theater receivers, carrying both sound and video in the same cable. If you plan on using older machines like old CD players, you should look for more connection ports including RCA, DVI, and phono inputs.

Networking

Today’s home theater receiver connects to different gadgets including Blu-ray players, gaming consoles, laptops, and mobile phone. For example, you can play games on your mobile while using the TV. Wireless connections eliminate the need for cabling and better placement of different gadgets. Networking options include Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Bluetooth gadgets are able to connect directly with each other, while a Wi-Fi connection needs an enabling device.

Convenience add-ons

While add-ons can make a significant difference in price without a significant difference in performance, consider them when you compare home theater systems. Is there an app to ease controls? Is the control panel touch responsive? If you have the budget, go for quality and convenience.