Practical Home Theater Guide
explains it all
No more driving to the crowded movie theater...
true cinematic experience within the comfort of
your home is a reality!
Are
you in the market for a new TV or AV receiver? Would you like to know how to go
about designing a home theater within the limitations of your budget, or how to
select the best projection screen for your needs?
Are you confused by the different audio formats? Do you know what it takes to enjoy the best 3D TV experience? Would you like to have a true understanding of the latest TV specs without the hype that often surrounds the latest technology?
Practical Home Theater Guide is all set to serve as a most comprehensive guide to all aspects of home theater—from the art and science of home theater design, to home theater systems installation and product reviews; all articles are complemented by easy-to-follow information and practical installation tips to help you get started.
 55EM9600 55" OLED Cinema 3D Smart TV From what we can see at CES 2012, OLED TVs are the HOT new arrivals for this year, with both LG and Samsung exhibiting the first 55-inch OLED TVs for the consumer market. The new 55" LG OLED TV featured here is said to deliver exceptional deep blacks, has a TV panel that is extremely thin - 4mm in all, and comes with an frameless design thanks to a bezel that is just 1mm thick. The ultra-thin profile calls for a separate wireless media box that connects with the TV. OLED TVs have the potential to surpass any other current TV display technology in picture quality but... expect these 55-inch HDTVs to be exceptionally expensive - with a price tag that can range from $5000 to $8000! |
Home theater systems can do a remarkable job towards achieving a great cinematic experience.
It is all about an intermix effect brought together by the different systems - the big screen TV or home theater projector/projection screen setup, the AV receiver, home theater speakers, room decor, etc. These all play a key role in the cinematic experience.
Even what may appear as an ordinary sheet of stretched fabric on the wall—the projection screen—can do a lot to help support the cinematic effect.
Through the information published on Practical Home Theater Guide, we show you that it is all a question of selecting the appropriate gear for your room, and of following the necessary implementation principles for a correct home theater setup.
It is not true the bigger an HDTV is, the better, or that you will enjoy better sound by pumping more power into your sub-woofer! Just follow through the articles appearing on Practical Home Theater Guide to discover more.
Website Objective
We hope that Practical Home Theater Guide will serve as a comprehensive reference source with easy-to-follow information covering all aspects of home theater.
Our aim is to help you achieve through your own home theater system that same magical experience we enjoy at movie theaters. We are therefore presenting a series of informative articles and setup guides that discuss the various aspects of home theater.
Practical Home Theater Guide covers various sections targeting specific areas of interest:
- HDTVs Installation guides and product reviews
- Home theater video projectors
- Projector screens and projection screen paints
- Multi-channel sound, home theater receivers and wireless speaker systems
- Home theater calibration and setup discs
- Power supplies and equipment protection
- Digital and satellite TV systems
- 3D TV Viewing
and much more...
Each section includes the relevant home theater guides that discuss in detail the respective design criteria, setup constraints, equipment selection, and overall equipment integration. Related home theater system reviews are also included, while links to manufacturers' sites and major online suppliers are provided whenever possible.
We are also featuring an interesting series of Home Theater Design guides that takes a full 360o approach to the subject, starting with the basics in design concept up to final implementation. Topics covered include: basic home theater room planning issues such as budget and available space, room acoustics, lighting, room decor, home theater seating, screen size, equipment and speaker placement, home theater wiring, etc.
On our part, we are committed to continue developing our website into a complete resource of free home theater guides and product reviews.
We therefore encourage you to subscribe to our free e-zine 'Practical Home Theater Guide Update' to remain abreast with the latest additions to our site. To subscribe, simply fill the form below:
Remember also to subscribe to our RSS news-feed for the latest news and updates at Practical Home Theater Guide. To know more what an RSS news-feed is, click here.
Please feel free to use the site Contact Form to post in your comments, suggestions or queries. You can also leave your comment in the Facebook Comments Box at the end of this page.
We hope that you will enjoy and profit from the articles appearing on Practical Home Theater Guide.
Practical Home Theater Guide
Website Index - Main Section Categories
HDTV Guides: Plasma, CCFL & LED LCD TVs, and CRT
LCD
TV Guide:
Discussing LCD HDTV sets - both CCFL and LED - starting with the basics of LCD TV
technology to flat panel TV installation.
Plasma Television Guide:
Plasma TVs are capable of delivering the best TV picture. Discover the basic
operational principles, pros and cons of plasma vs. LCD/LED TVs, and the
features to look for when making a plasma TV purchase.
Digital
TV
A series of guides covering digital television - from converter boxes to DTV
antennas.
Comprehensive online guide to Digital Satellite TV
With its exceptional picture and sound quality, digital satellite TV is
delivering entertainment to millions in the USA; it represents a great choice to
complement your home theater and a great source for HD broadcast content.
3D TV
We experienced 3D in movie theaters; now 3D has come to the home thanks to the
latest 3D HDTVs but... It takes more than just a 3D TV to enjoy the best 3D
viewing experience; more in this series of 3D TV guides.
Achieved Articles
CRT TV Guide:
The days for the CRT TV are over but there are still millions of CRT TVs in US
households. This comes to no surprise as CRT TVs are relatively robust and offer
excellent picture especially with respect to LCD TVs.
Flat-Panel TV Reviews: LCD, LED and Plasma HDTVs
LCD
TV Reviews:
Covering some of the best LCD HDTVs—from expensive LED LCD TVs to affordable LCD
televisions in the so-called 'value category', often incorrectly referred to as
cheap LCD TVs!
Plasma TV Reviews - discovering the best plasma televisions!
A series of plasma HDTV reviews covering some of the best yet affordable plasma
television sets available on the market.
Best HDTV
Roundup
Helping you pick the best HDTVs irrespective of brand or display technology.
Video Projection Systems - Guides and Product Reviews: Rear projection TVs, Video Projectors and Projection Screens
Projection TV - the center of attraction in home entertainment
In search of BIG fun; look to the big screens of Projection TV. A complete guide
to front and rear projection television systems.
Front Projection: Business and Home Theater Video Projector Reviews
Multimedia video projectors can serve many purposes. Our video projector reviews
can help you discover the best-selling business and home theater projectors
available today.
Rear Projection TV Reviews
A selection of Rear Projection TV reviews covering major top-selling systems for
home theater use.
Home Theater Screens - the Secret behind Great Image Projections
Home theater screens are usually the last to be considered when setting up a
home cinema; many choose among the cheapest available but this is a BIG
mistake...
Achieved Articles
DIY
Projection TV Guide
There was a time when video projectors were super expensive and many tried to
experiment with DIY setups to produce a big TV image on a wall. This is no
longer but it is still fun producing a real life-size image without spending a
fortune! DIY projection TV can make this a reality but...
Home Theater Audio: Multi-Channel Sound
Guide
to Home Theater Sound
Complete guide to home theater sound - covering Dolby and DTS surround sound
formats, THX certifications, DVD-A, DualDiscs, and SACDs. In the process, we
also discuss AV amplifiers and home theater speaker systems as further detailed
below:
Guide to AV Receivers:
Here is all you need to know before buying a home theater receiver. Issues covered include features to look for, 5.1 vs. 7.1 home theater receivers, amplifier specs, amplifier power, and time delay setting in surround sound. We also review some of the best AV receivers within the mid-range category.Guide to Home Theater Speaker Systems:
An introduction to multi-channel speaker systems, covering multi-channel audio speaker requirements, speaker buying tips, speaker placement, and speaker specs.
Home Theater Cables: AV Interconnects and HDCP
Home Theater Cables: Guide to AV Connectors and Speaker Wire
Do not underrate the importance of quality home theater cables; the quality of
your AV connectors and speaker wire will impact system performance. Read here to
discover more.
HDCP: A Guide to
the most debated Digital Content Protection
Discover what HDCP is all about, why it impacts HDTV viewing, and how it works.
Is there an alternative to noncompliant HDTV devices - what about the use of
HDCP strippers?
Home Theater Guides: Home Theater Design, AV Racks, and System Setup
Towards
a Successful Home Theater Design
A correct home theater design is crucial for an immersive movie experience.
Discover more in this series of home theater guides.
Home
Theater Setup DVDs
Calibration discs can help you get the best out of your system without calling a
professional. Discover how setup DVD discs can come in handy during equipment
setup.
Guide to Audio Video Equipment Racks
AV Racks come in all shapes and sizes, and helps you keep your gear organized
and safe, essential for long-term trouble-free operation. But AV racks represent
more than a storage space for your system components; more in this series of
home theater guide.
Home Theater Pictures - Visitor's Gallery
A collection of Home Theater Pictures submitted by Practical Home Theater Guide
visitors, to help you discover what others have done to build their home theater
masterpiece.
Movie
Posters - a great way to re-live your favorite movie magic!
Movie posters can help recreate the magic of the movie theater in the home.
Learn more about the fascinating world of movie pictures, poster sizes, poster
books, and poster light boxes.
Wireless Home Theater: Headphones, Speakers & Media Players
Guide to Wireless Headphones and Dolby Headphone Technology
Ever told to turn it down? Wireless headphones may be a solution. However, you
need to combine the flexibility of a wireless headset with Dolby Headphone
technology to enjoy a great sound experience.
Wireless Home Theater: A Buying Guide to Wireless Speakers Systems
Wireless speakers offer greater flexibility especially when in-wall wiring is
not an option. This wireless speakers buying guide should help you identify the
best solution for your needs.
Wireless Media Players
Are you ready to expand your wireless networking from a simple home-office to a
fully integrated wireless home entertainment system? Today's wireless media
players make this easily achievable.
Home Theater Books and Magazines
Home Theater Magazines and Books - Reviews and Suggestions
Grab one or two home theater magazines and a few 'good' home theater books, and
you are on a sure way to avoid costly mistakes when planning a home theater or
making a purchase.
Free Electronics Catalogs
Now you can get some of the best Electronics Catalogs from major companies
covering top electronic gadgets and home theater gear, free of charge. More info
here.
Power Protection: Line Conditioners and Surge Suppressors
Power Protection in the Home Theater
A guide to power protection in the home theater: Power line conditioners, surge
protectors, and AC regenerators surely represent an effective insurance policy
for your home theater gear, but not only.
Useful Links
Home Theater Resource Directory
A selection of home theater guides and informative articles from specialized
home theater sites, with links to related web resources.
Useful
Links - Home Theater
More useful home theater links on Practical Home Theater Guide, sorted by
category.
Practical-Home-Theater-Guide.com Home Theater Store
The Home Theater Store with the movie 'magic' in mind!
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See who is behind Practical Home Theater Guide, and discover
how this site came into existence.
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