Movie night isn’t what it used to be. Theaters used to be a place where one could go and know they will be able to unwind. Today it can be either a nice way to relax or an unexpected stress inducer depending upon the random size and civility of the theater crowd. Thankfully technology has advanced to the point where adding your own home theater system is now within reach of almost everyone. Below are a few tips and tricks to bring that theater experience home.
BUDGET THEATER SETUP
For those of us without a spare 400 sq. ft. room to turn into a theater, a living room can be an acceptable substitute. What you’ll need is a large high definition TV or projector, surround sound and some lighting controls.
SCREEN SIZE
Before you’re able to credibly refer to your viewing area as a “theater,” you’ll need to back that statement up with a TV screen size of 60” or greater. If a projector setup is desired then opt for a 120” motorized screen so you can roll it up at the push of a button. An excellent budget motorized screen is the FAVI HD-120 for $197 with free shipping from Amazon.com (www.tinyurl.com/PROJSCR).
BUDGET PROJECTOR
The unquestionable leader in budget HD projectors is the Epson Power-Lite Home Cinema 6500UB 1080p 3LCD Home Theater Projector ($1,900 from Amazon.com, www.tinyurl.com/HDPRO). With full HD resolution and stellar reviews, this projector is sure to brighten up your day. Downside: projectors typically require a darkened room to not wash out the picture and at 1600 lumens, this Epson isn’t quite bright enough to tackle the mid-day sun. This projector is best suited for semi-bright to darkened rooms only.
DREAM PROJECTOR
When high-end projector costs range from four to the high six figures, it is impossible to pick out a clear winner. However Digital Projection (www.digitalprojection.com), an extremely high-end projector manufacturer, has some of the best 2D and 3D projectors in the world at some of the best price points in the industry. When screens are upwards of 10 – 15 ft. you can count on Digital Projection to deliver a superb home theater experience.
BUDGET HDTV
The biggest bang for your buck will be the Panasonic TC-P65S2 65-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV. That’s 65” of pure plasma fun for only $1843 w/free shipping from Amazon.com (www.tinyurl.com/65HDTV). While this HDTV only comes with three HDMI inputs, no internet connectivity and certainly no 3D, there isn’t a TV of this quality and size in this price range. It’s part of Panasonic’s Viera line, which has delivered a high-quality picture and black levels that can only be compared to top-of-the-line sets costing thousands more.
The above story continues in the magazine. Please purchase an the November 2010 issue to continue reading. In the meantime please tell us about your home theater setup and any tips/tricks you can share by leaving a reply in the comment section below!
