Mini Home Theater Systems
In the modern world of technology, watching movies, listening to music and playing video games with good picture quality and high quality sound facility has become easy with home theater systems. It provides a stupendous movie experience within the confines of our home. Its popularity is increasing day by day, as people want to entertain their family and friends without having to go out of their homes.
What is a Mini Home Theater System?
Not lagging in any way in performance, the mini home theater system is both cost and space effective because of the comparatively small size of its audio and video components compared to the dedicated home theater system. For example, a dedicated home theater system would have a 60 plus inch visual display, while a mini version would include a 30 inch LCD TV. Latest technology in mini home theater systems would include models which are portable, would have an LCD TV that can be folded and kept in a bookshelf.
Mini home theater systems, like its dedicated version, is a collection of different audio-video devices. The system includes a television or media PC along with good quality speakers, amplifier and a DVD/CD player, etc. It also has an infrared remote control designed to operate all the audio-video devices. All these components are configured in such a manner that they perform together, share resources and interact with each other to give a synergistic output. Watching movies or photos (on your HTPC), listening to music and playing games is altogether a different experience than normal television. You can buy a pre-configured mini home theater system available in the market or purchase components of your choice and get it configured.
It is not difficult to configure a mini home theater system, if you keep certain things in mind. Basic knowledge of the various components is essential to make a wise selection in creating a well-balanced home theater system. Assemble the system, according to your own needs and not to forget, budget.
Home Theater System Essentials
You need to decide which room in your home will be ideal to install the system and whether to keep it in open area or enclosed in a cabinet. The type of video display to be installed will depend on the size of the room. Let's take look at the major components in a mini home theater system.
Visual Display Devices: Visual display devices are picture displaying devices. Some options in these devices are LCD or Plasma TV, and the less expensive rear projection television or RPTV. If you are tech savvy or a do-it yourself enthusiast and have a video projector, you can build it into a cabinet with your RPTV to form a unified display device specially for your mini home theater purpose.
Audio Devices: The basic audio devices used in a mini home theater system are tuner, pre-amplifier and multi channel amplifier, which can be purchased as separate devices or you can go for a multi-channel audio-video (AV) receiver, which combines all three functions. The speaker system should be chosen to get the best surround sound quality, keeping in mind the size of the room.
Source Components: Source components can be either Blu-ray disc player, DVD player or CD player.
Another deciding factor would be whether you want to include any of the options for viewing primary television programming, that is antenna, cable or satellite. If you are not going in for a wireless home theater system, then the various components have to connected with the help of cables.
According to the specifications and your budget, different audio and video elements can be chosen. There are many brands available in the market such as Sony, Panasonic, Samsung, Yamaha, Bose, etc. If you are buying the components separately, then it is suggested that you shop by brand, to get the advantage of best sound and viewing quality out of your home theater.
Some Useful Buying Tips
- The golden thumb rule for optimum viewing distance from the TV screen is 2-2-1/2 times the width of the TV screen.
- Check the full potential of the speakers system, before you select. The best sound projectors offer many sound mode settings.
- If you are planning to go for a wireless mini home theater system, seeking advice from a audio/video technician would be helpful.
