| The home theatre. The pinnacle of modern domestic | | | | an entire room specifically designed for watching |
| achievement. When our ancestors flocked to the initial | | | | movies. Such rooms, which can cost in excess of |
| cinemas to gaze up in awe at the "picture shows," little | | | | $100,000, will often boast sophisticated acoustical |
| did they guess that their descendents would one day | | | | design elements and will doubtless include |
| snub such locations in favor of mammoth flat screen | | | | audiophile-grade sound equipment. An audiophile, for |
| TVs and the latest in home theatre audio equipment. | | | | those unfamiliar with the term, is a person who is |
| Because after all, why go out for dinner and a movie | | | | enthusiastic about and uses high-fidelity sound |
| when you can stay in? | | | | reproduction equipment. |
| The home theatre system is the latest stage in | | | | Not surprisingly, it is impossible to separate the visual |
| America's ongoing romance with the television. What | | | | from the audible when it comes to home theatre. The |
| began as a simple black and white box has evolved | | | | different levels of HTiB mentioned above are all |
| into full-scale, no-holds-barred, virtual movie theatre that | | | | associated with televisions of varying degrees of |
| dominates at least one room in the average American | | | | quality. Whereas the most basic system will probably |
| home. And what is a movie theatre without sound? | | | | use a standard CRT television, a mid-range setup |
| And not just any sound, but in-your-face sound that | | | | might utilize a high-definition television and a matching |
| blows you out of your chair and makes you feel like | | | | video format. As for the specialized theatre rooms, |
| you're actually in the building that just collapsed (or the | | | | well, they often include actual cinema mini-screens |
| space ship that just took off, or the semi that just | | | | complete with projection booths. |
| jackknifed...). Yes, sound is the key to the home theatre | | | | To say that there are lots of different HTiB |
| experience, and when it comes to choosing an audio | | | | manufactures out there is undoubtedly an |
| system to grace your den or family room, there is no | | | | understatement. Samsung, Panasonic, Philips, Sony, |
| shortage of options. | | | | Bose...all offer a variety of options when it comes to |
| An integrated home theatre audio system is often | | | | home theatre audio. Not all brands are created equal, |
| referred to as "home theatre in a box," or HTiB. A | | | | of course, and certain labels have better reputations |
| basic system might include a 2.1 speaker system with | | | | than others. It is therefore advisable to do a |
| left and right speakers and a small, 8-inch subwoofer. | | | | reasonable amount of research before purchasing a |
| The most inexpensive such system will be no more | | | | home theatre system. Factors that should be taken |
| than a few hundred dollars. A step up from the basic, | | | | into account include not only desired quality and budget, |
| costing several thousand dollars, might include a | | | | but the space within which one has to work. It would |
| several-thousand-watt home theatre receiver with five | | | | be unfortunate, for example, to spend $5,000 on a |
| to seven surround sound speakers and a powered, | | | | top-of-the-line system only to discover that there is no |
| twelve-inch subwoofer. Finally, for those truly | | | | place in your den for a twelve-inch subwoofer. |
| dedicated to their DVD collections, it is possible to build | | | | |