Best
Home Theater Books
Reviews and Suggestions
Books are
your only way to research information in a time efficient manner. Grab a
good home theater book as your reference guide and you are on the fast track
to a thorough understanding of home theater.
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Books featured here are available from Amazon.com
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Home Theater for Dummies -
2nd Edition
By: Danny Briere & Pat Hurley Published
on: July 2006 Paperback: 384 pages
Well researched. Great for
anyone interested in home theater. A good overall primer for newbie's. But
it's more than just a primer.
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It all started when a friend of ours asked if we can recommend a 'good home theater book' that covers home
theater basics in plain English.
What he wanted was to get enough insight into
the subject to be able to choose the right equipment, put it all together,
and set up his home theater. It was then that we came across an interesting
book with a rather misleading title...
This is a great home theater book that can serve as a quick reference
guide to anyone interested in home entertainment - in particular, to those
who did not keep up to date with the latest developments.
It covers the subject in simple plain English - possibly this is the reason
why it is named ' ...for Dummies'. In this respect,
this is somewhat misleading. Why?
Home Theater For Dummies
takes a detailed comprehensive approach to the subject - clearly explaining
the latest developments in home theater systems.
It starts with budget issues and then goes on
to defining home theater basics. It covers important topics like choosing a
room, organizing your gear, explaining audio systems, choosing the video
display, home theater cables, home theater PCs, remotes, and speaker
placement.
It also discuss issues related to hooking up
of A/V systems, and home theater room design issues such as light and sound
proofing, etc.
Overall, Home Theater for Dummies is a very good general reference book especially for the
new comer. Highly
recommended.
...back to reviews index
The two home theater
books that follow are better defined as generic home theater guides. Mind
you, they are written in plain English and can easily serve as a primer to
the novice. But they can get somewhat technical. These are not the type of
book you read cover to cover at one go, but surely, they will prove a
useful complement to any home theater library.
Home Theater For Everyone takes a
practical approach with loads of information about Audio and Video systems -
possibly with a bit too much emphasis on Home THX.
It starts with a detailed explanation of
source components such as DVD, HDTV set-top boxes, etc, and then continues
with AV systems, video displays, speaker selection, etc.
AV receivers, controllers,
and power amplifiers are dealt with in substantial depth. A good effort has
been invested to help the reader understand what to look for when it comes
to home theater equipment selection, including budget issues and magazine
reviews evaluation.
Other topics include home
theater accessories, racks, equipment placement, cables, hook-up tips and
equipment set-up and protection.
Home Theater for Everyone is in need for an update
now in that it misses out on a few of the latest technical developments. Furthermore, it does not tackle the issue of home theater room design with all that it
entails, like room acoustics, lighting, room size, viewing distance, home
theater seating, etc.
Other than this, 'Home Theater For Everyone'
is a good practical guide with loads of useful information especially on A/V
systems.
...back to reviews index
This home theater book is very similar in content to 'Home Theater for
Everyone', except that it is updated yearly in October; the latest edition
being that for 2010. It discusses practically the same list of topics -
HDTV, digital television and satellite receivers, surround systems, DVD
players, digital video recorders, accessories including power line
conditioning equipment, equipment installation, connection guide, etc.
An interesting section worth looking into is
the one dealing with problem solving.
And like 'Home Theater for
Everyone', Practical Home Theater is not the type of book that would help you in
your home theater room
design issues. But then this home theater book will surely answer most of your audio and video
questions.
In view of the yearly updates, this is also one of
those publications that covers some of the latest AV
developments. Thanks to its clear presentation of the topics under discussion,
it will help
you find your way in the complex world of today's audio and video
technologies. ...back to reviews index
The next home theater book review deals again with one
of those books that are primarily intended for the
novice. Actually, we got hold of this one at the time when we were reviewing
'Home Theater For Dummies'; it also comes with a somewhat similar descriptive
title.
A
well written guide that will help the novice in home theater get a better
understanding of everything from audio and video systems to room design. It
also includes an interesting discussion on budget issues.
In this respect, there is nothing to complain
about except that you will not find anything in this book that is not well
covered in 'Home
Theater for Dummies'. What's
more, ...for Dummies appears better researched and is surely more up-to-date. It
is for these reasons that we can't really recommend 'Complete Idiot's
Guide to HT Systems'.
...back to reviews index
Generic guides can do
a great job in helping the reader get a better overall understanding of
home theater. Yet, when it comes to specialized issues, their role has to
stop at just triggering the reader's awareness - they simply cannot deliver
the necessary detail and the only way forward is a book that deals
specifically with the subject.
The two specialized home
theater books that follow in this short review are surely among the best
within their sphere of discussion.
This home theater book is written by an authority in the field of home
entertainment interiors design.
It guides the reader through the necessary steps to create the home theater
of her or his dreams - within the limitations of available space and budget
- while taking advantage of emerging technologies in the rapidly changing
world of home theater.
It starts with an insider's approach to home entertainment. Step-by-step, it
examines current technology, space planning, acoustics, functionality,
lifestyle, and overall aesthetics. The goal is to help you plan and design
an entertainment system that's right for you.
In the process, it
addresses the important issue of available space - from small urban
apartments to spacious, multipurpose living areas, to full-blown dedicated
theater spaces. Highly recommended.
...back to reviews index
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Audio/Video Cable Installer's Pocket Guide.
By: Stephen H. Lampen Published on:
January 2002
Paperback: 412 pages
The
definite guide to audio and video cables. Great for anyone in the sphere of
home theater - from hobbyist to professional.
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This is the pocket guide that
you will surely refer to it again and again. It covers the subject in
exceptional detail, with illustrations that clarify the methods,
procedures, and tools required for the job.
It starts with the very
basics - through an in-depth discussion on cable anatomy.
It then goes on to discuss the different types of audio and video
cables - both analog and digital - pointing out important wire
specifications. It is designed to help the reader get a better understanding of which type
of cables are most appropriate for the different applications.
A whole section is also devoted
to project planning and handling.
More than a home
theater book, this is a wiring guide, but it will surely find its way in the
home theater. Though very technical in nature, the author has done a great
job in rendering complex topics interesting and readable.
A must have book for anyone interested
in A/V cable installation and entertainment systems hook-up.
...back to reviews index
The
Practical-Home-Theater-Guide.com
Choice:
We would not tell you - do
not be tempted to pick a never-ending list of home theater books -
as instead is the case with home theater magazines. But investing in a couple of well written and up-to-date books is surely
worth considering. In this respect, the selection listed below represents a
good starting point.
In order of
preference...
Practical Home Theater:
A Guide to Video and Audio Systems
Home Theater Design - Planning and Decorating Media-Savvy Interiors
Audio/Video cable Installer's
- A Pocket Guide
Home Theater for Dummies is also worth considering especially for the
new comer to the world of home entertainment.
Complement the above selection of home theater
books with a good magazine and you are on your way to home theater success.
For our reviews and recommendations on some of
the best home theater magazines, check our
Home Theater Magazines
review page.
A complete line of books on
audio/video topics is available at our on-line
store.
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