Home theater systems are designed to provide high fidelity audio and video entertainment, often in conjunction with a large-screen television. They’re available in a wide range of prices, from affordable stereo receiver/speaker packages and soundbars to top-of-the-line dedicated screening room technologies with projectors and a half-dozen or more speakers set up just like in a movie theater (see home cinema projection).
A home theater system can be either wired or wireless. There are benefits and drawbacks to both, but it really depends on your preferences and whether you’re planning to expand or upgrade the system in the future. Wireless home theater systems tend to be more flexible, easier to install and can be controlled via your smart device. However, they can suffer from loss of fidelity when compared to wired home theater systems.
Many modern home theaters are built around a Blu-ray player, 4K media streamer or other smart TV platform that can play both AV and Internet streaming content. These devices typically have HDMI inputs that connect to your AV receiver, which in turn powers the speakers and displays the video on your TV screen. Some of these sources are also capable of delivering Dolby Atmos surround sound, which can create the sensation that sound comes from all directions, even from overhead, when watching movies encoded with this format.
Most home theaters include at least two front left and right speakers, plus a center speaker that’s placed under or above your TV’s screen, or in the case of an acoustically transparent projection screen, right in the middle of it at ear height. The most important part of a surround sound system, the center channel is responsible for delivering most spoken dialogue and it’s essential that this speaker be matched to the rest of the speakers in your home theater system. Ideally, the center speaker should come from the same brand and if possible the same model series as the left and right surround speakers.
In addition to a center channel speaker, most surround sound systems feature a pair of left and right surround speakers and one or more subwoofers for delivering deep bass and adding to the immersive experience. A 5.1 surround sound system can be enhanced to 7.1.4 or 5.2.2 by adding extra ceiling speakers for Dolby Atmos-encoded movie content.
A good home theater will provide a quality audio/video experience that will make it almost as entertaining to watch TV or movies at home as going out to a real movie theater. As the technology has improved, creating a home theater that rivals the cinema experience has become more within reach for most people, thanks to a wider variety of affordable and easy-to-use components. You’ll find that the best home theater systems are those that are easy to set up, produce great audio and video quality, and offer high fidelity at an attractive price. This is the kind of experience that makes a big difference for a lot of movie lovers, whether you’re a serious cinephile or just a casual viewer.