Dec
4
Creating a Home Theater
Filed Under Home Theater Construction, Home Theater Design | Leave a Comment
Congratulations! The renovation came in on time and under budget! The whole country’s going digital, so your timing is perfect. And those new, comfortable chairs—well, if furniture could talk, they’d say “what time is the movie?” You are about to create a home theater, and you and your family can hardly wait.
Only two considerations remain—equipment and a consultation with your lighting specialist. The following tips will help you make good choices to get your home theater up and running.
Choosing Equipment: Home theaters are based on one of two kinds of technology—projection-based and TV-only. Both have advantages and distinctive features.
Projection-based equipment features screens up to 100 inches—this is the real lights-camera-action big-screen experience. Think a bit about your room before you decide whether you want more information on front- or rear-projection units.
If you expect to use your theater room strictly as a theater, either system will work well. If, on the other hand, someone will likely be reading the paper, playing a game, or doing needlepoint in one area of the room, look at rear-projection systems. A front-projection system generates a light stream that can be interfered with by light needed for other activities. A rear-projection system is self-contained, and those who wish to turn on a lamp can do so without conflicting with the show.
Although screens are smaller (50 to 60 inches), TV-only theaters provide a great theater experience. Two types of TV displays are available. Again, issues of light may help you decide which display is best for your room. Plasma screens have a reputation for strong definition between dark and light tones, clear detail, depth, and true-to-life colors. The gas cells of a plasma screen do not permit any light-leaks between cells, giving truer and deeper black levels than LCD screens.
Anyone who owns an LCD flashlight knows that LCD means light and plenty of it. An LCD screen features brighter display and more intense colors than plasma. An LCD screen is the perfect choice for a room with high ambient light, whether from daylight or adjacent areas.
Close examination of both kinds of TV-only display systems will reveal no major differences in picture quality. You may well find that both perform equally well in your room, advise experts.