When it comes to home theater equipment it's easy to spend lots of money very fast. Since the surround sound speaker systems needed for a true home theater experience are made up of 6 speakers including the subwoofer, they can be a substantial part of the cost all by themselves. However, price is not always the governing factor in whether a speaker system is high quality or not. In fact, sometimes the best surprises come in inexpensive packages. Here is a home theater speaker review on the Athena technologies Micra 6 home theater speaker system:
One of the biggest challenges to home theater equipment buyers is in the installation of the the products that they buy, and the speaker system can be the most problematic of all since there are more wires that run farther distances than any other component in the surround sound setup. Happily, Athena makes the installation as painless as possible by providing the speaker wires in the box already, and a very clear wiring diagram that should be able to be used successfully by even the most technically challenged among us.
If you wish to mount your speaker setup to the wall or hang them from the ceiling they have already thought of that too and included handy swivel mounting brackets for that kind of job.
The system itself consists of satellite speakers that are small and stylish enough to blend in with almost any surroundings and yet capable of great sound in an average size room. Of course, if your listening area is in a very large room you may have trouble filling it up with sound, but that is to be expected at this low price level.
The 8 inch subwoofer is adequate and blends well with the other speakers in the system without overpowering them. All in all, the sound is very impressive from a speaker system that is so inexpensive.
The best part of this whole system is it's cost which is under $400 on some online sites. And considering how easy it is to spend thousands on a home theater surround sound speaker system, that figure is very easy on the pocketbook. So if you want to step up to a surround sound experience for your home theater system, but just can't afford the big bucks right now, consider this home theater speaker review of the Athena Micra 6 and see if it doesn't fir the bill.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Wall Speaker Systems
In-wall speaker systems are an effective method to enjoy outstanding music while keeping the speakers hidden. Also known as in-ceiling speaker and recessed ceiling speaker, an in-wall speaker system is most ideal in a home theater environment. Open back, semi-sealed, and sealed systems are among the different types of in-wall speaker systems.
In-wall speaker systems have many advantages over a conventional speaker system. The main advantages of in-wall speaker systems are that they don’t occupy any floor space and are easy to hide. Further, it can be installed across any flat surface including ceilings and floors. Cost effectiveness, custom installation, compatibility, flexibility, increased power handling and easy installation are the other advantages. In-wall speaker systems are most suitable for multi-room audio systems. Usually, two styles of in-wall speaker systems are available in the market, one intended for home theater and the other for whole-house audio.
An in-wall speaker system functions in the same way as a regular one. But, the only difference is that, instead of installing within a cabinet, it is generally mounted in the ceiling. In-wall speaker systems use wall cavity as enclosure, and come attached with a grill and frame that can be painted according to the color of the ceiling or floor. A guide or manual demonstrating the step by step installation are available at the time of purchase of in-wall speaker systems, which makes the installation process quite easy.
In-wall speaker wires or cables and subwoofers are important for the proper functioning of in-wall speaker systems. In-wall speaker wires are available in both 14 and 16 gauges, and specially certified wires known as UL Class 3 rated cables are used for the better performance of in-wall speakers.
However, in-wall speaker systems have certain disadvantages. Since an in-wall speaker system is fixed in a particular area of the room, it is difficult to make further modifications. Diffraction loss also affects the performance of in-wall speakers. Another disadvantage is that the labor costs of in-wall speaker wiring are high.
In-wall speaker systems have many advantages over a conventional speaker system. The main advantages of in-wall speaker systems are that they don’t occupy any floor space and are easy to hide. Further, it can be installed across any flat surface including ceilings and floors. Cost effectiveness, custom installation, compatibility, flexibility, increased power handling and easy installation are the other advantages. In-wall speaker systems are most suitable for multi-room audio systems. Usually, two styles of in-wall speaker systems are available in the market, one intended for home theater and the other for whole-house audio.
An in-wall speaker system functions in the same way as a regular one. But, the only difference is that, instead of installing within a cabinet, it is generally mounted in the ceiling. In-wall speaker systems use wall cavity as enclosure, and come attached with a grill and frame that can be painted according to the color of the ceiling or floor. A guide or manual demonstrating the step by step installation are available at the time of purchase of in-wall speaker systems, which makes the installation process quite easy.
In-wall speaker wires or cables and subwoofers are important for the proper functioning of in-wall speaker systems. In-wall speaker wires are available in both 14 and 16 gauges, and specially certified wires known as UL Class 3 rated cables are used for the better performance of in-wall speakers.
However, in-wall speaker systems have certain disadvantages. Since an in-wall speaker system is fixed in a particular area of the room, it is difficult to make further modifications. Diffraction loss also affects the performance of in-wall speakers. Another disadvantage is that the labor costs of in-wall speaker wiring are high.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Requirements of Speaker systems
The audio of a good home theatre system is very important. Though a lot of HDTVs may deliver good quality audio, not all built-in speaker systems will be satisfactory. If you have invested a great deal of money in getting a system that gives you top quality images then you may not want to compromise with the audio. You will require high-end audio to enjoy your home theater system. For this you will require a good set of speakers and a receiver.
Home theater and the standard stereo receivers are alike - the home theater receivers will support more channels. While the stereo receivers have only about two channels the home theater receivers support up to either five to seven channels.
Receivers must have enough output power. They must have the power to drive a large number of speakers. High power is required to get ample volume and noise-free sound. The HDTVs cannot deliver 10 watts on each speaker. In home theater systems it can be between 30-50 watts or maybe even more on each channel. High power will help you enjoy your home theater system better, but remember, high power is expensive.
Receivers must have lots of ports and different variety of ports as this will help connect other devices you might want to use through them. You will need two HDMI that is High Definition Multimedia Interface ports and you will have to attach other components like video and speaker connectors. You could also have an FM-tuner and satellite radio receiver fixed to it.
A speaker system consists of three speaker sets. If you cannot get extra speakers then you could use the stereo system already available at home. If you have extra speakers and your receiver has seven channels then you can have multiple speakers and connect each speaker to each channel.
To make your system one of the best and the most powerful ones you could use five speakers. You could use front-channel and surround system speakers on both the sides and one speaker at the center called the center-channel speaker. A special sixth one, an extra speaker that is called a sub-woofer may be added.
The speaker at the center, called the center-channel plays the conversation and the left and right units produce background and other sound effects. There may be a certain amount of overlapping between sources in any system otherwise it could sound unnatural.
The sub-woofer carries very low frequency sounds like the special effects in movies, gunshots, crashing buildings, jets etc.
The surround speakers are placed behind or onto the sides of the system and they produce the three hundred and sixty degree effect that all of us are used to from multiplexes and theaters. In addition to this, 3-D audio may also be added.
You must get a video-shielded system as the modern day HDTV sets do not have an electron gun and are not sensitive to magnets that are in the speaker systems.
Any set you buy has to be synchronized. Most manufacturers make sure that the speakers they offer for sale have seamless integration. Before buying a system you must ensure that it is able to produce a realistic, high-end audio experience.
Home theater and the standard stereo receivers are alike - the home theater receivers will support more channels. While the stereo receivers have only about two channels the home theater receivers support up to either five to seven channels.
Receivers must have enough output power. They must have the power to drive a large number of speakers. High power is required to get ample volume and noise-free sound. The HDTVs cannot deliver 10 watts on each speaker. In home theater systems it can be between 30-50 watts or maybe even more on each channel. High power will help you enjoy your home theater system better, but remember, high power is expensive.
Receivers must have lots of ports and different variety of ports as this will help connect other devices you might want to use through them. You will need two HDMI that is High Definition Multimedia Interface ports and you will have to attach other components like video and speaker connectors. You could also have an FM-tuner and satellite radio receiver fixed to it.
A speaker system consists of three speaker sets. If you cannot get extra speakers then you could use the stereo system already available at home. If you have extra speakers and your receiver has seven channels then you can have multiple speakers and connect each speaker to each channel.
To make your system one of the best and the most powerful ones you could use five speakers. You could use front-channel and surround system speakers on both the sides and one speaker at the center called the center-channel speaker. A special sixth one, an extra speaker that is called a sub-woofer may be added.
The speaker at the center, called the center-channel plays the conversation and the left and right units produce background and other sound effects. There may be a certain amount of overlapping between sources in any system otherwise it could sound unnatural.
The sub-woofer carries very low frequency sounds like the special effects in movies, gunshots, crashing buildings, jets etc.
The surround speakers are placed behind or onto the sides of the system and they produce the three hundred and sixty degree effect that all of us are used to from multiplexes and theaters. In addition to this, 3-D audio may also be added.
You must get a video-shielded system as the modern day HDTV sets do not have an electron gun and are not sensitive to magnets that are in the speaker systems.
Any set you buy has to be synchronized. Most manufacturers make sure that the speakers they offer for sale have seamless integration. Before buying a system you must ensure that it is able to produce a realistic, high-end audio experience.
Home theater speaker system components
Finding the best home theater speaker system
With all the makes and models of home theater speaker systems on the market today finding one that will suit your needs can be a real chore. But there is an easy way to get the system you want at the best possible price.
First we'll take a look at home theater components, then I'll show how to get rock bottom prices on a quality home theater system.
Home theater speaker system components
While home theater systems can be bought all in one package, buying individual components, including speakers, lets you get the best of every element.
Like any good audio system, the best home theater speaker systems will have midrange speakers, a set of tweeters, and a sub woofer. It's the speakers that give you the full surround sound experience.
Home theater speaker system features
Home theater speaker systems come in wired and wireless designs. Compare them both for their sound quality and how easy or difficult they will be to install.
The best home theater speaker systems have good crossover design. While the speaker driver is important, good crossover can make any driver sound good, while bad crossover can make even a good driver sound bad.
Music playback is a good way to judge sound quality. Most DVDs do not produce great music signals, but if your speakers can handle a CD, then you know they are going to sound good playing a DVD.
Decide how many speakers you need. Many small speakers provide surround sound while large tower speakers are good for stereo effects. Small speakers also work better with a single sub woofer. The ideal home theater speaker system has five speakers for surround sound.
You may also prefer one surround sound system to another. The most popular surround sound systems today are Dolby Pro Logic, Virtual Dolby, and Q Surround.
How to compare home theater speaker system prices
Start by visiting your local electronics stores to get an idea of system capabilities, features, and prices. Make sure you listen to each system so you know how they sound in person. Then go online to get product reviews and price comparisons.
The comparison shopping website I use provides independent comparisons of products as well as unbiased reviews of home speaker systems by consumers like yourself. You also get price comparisons for various home theater systems, pictures of each system, plus detailed product information. They even rate the various retailers so you'll know which ones are reputable.
Click on the links below to visit this online service and have fun comparison shopping.
The author, Brian Stevens, is the senior editor for TheSatelliteTVGuide.com and has written extensively on home theater speaker systems.
With all the makes and models of home theater speaker systems on the market today finding one that will suit your needs can be a real chore. But there is an easy way to get the system you want at the best possible price.
First we'll take a look at home theater components, then I'll show how to get rock bottom prices on a quality home theater system.
Home theater speaker system components
While home theater systems can be bought all in one package, buying individual components, including speakers, lets you get the best of every element.
Like any good audio system, the best home theater speaker systems will have midrange speakers, a set of tweeters, and a sub woofer. It's the speakers that give you the full surround sound experience.
Home theater speaker system features
Home theater speaker systems come in wired and wireless designs. Compare them both for their sound quality and how easy or difficult they will be to install.
The best home theater speaker systems have good crossover design. While the speaker driver is important, good crossover can make any driver sound good, while bad crossover can make even a good driver sound bad.
Music playback is a good way to judge sound quality. Most DVDs do not produce great music signals, but if your speakers can handle a CD, then you know they are going to sound good playing a DVD.
Decide how many speakers you need. Many small speakers provide surround sound while large tower speakers are good for stereo effects. Small speakers also work better with a single sub woofer. The ideal home theater speaker system has five speakers for surround sound.
You may also prefer one surround sound system to another. The most popular surround sound systems today are Dolby Pro Logic, Virtual Dolby, and Q Surround.
How to compare home theater speaker system prices
Start by visiting your local electronics stores to get an idea of system capabilities, features, and prices. Make sure you listen to each system so you know how they sound in person. Then go online to get product reviews and price comparisons.
The comparison shopping website I use provides independent comparisons of products as well as unbiased reviews of home speaker systems by consumers like yourself. You also get price comparisons for various home theater systems, pictures of each system, plus detailed product information. They even rate the various retailers so you'll know which ones are reputable.
Click on the links below to visit this online service and have fun comparison shopping.
The author, Brian Stevens, is the senior editor for TheSatelliteTVGuide.com and has written extensively on home theater speaker systems.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Favourite Components For Home Theatre Systems
So you have picked out your favorite components for your new Home Theater System. Now you want to custom install everything into your home and get the best viewing and sound. You will need to plan for the best location of the HDTV, the speakers and how to route the many connecting wires and cables. If done right, you will have an incredible system with the best picture and sound possible.
First the flat-panel HDTV should be placed either on a stand, an existing piece of furniture or on the wall. A bad location is opposite a window that gives a lot of sunlight if you plan for daytime viewing. It is actually better to place the screen on a stand in front of this window. The sunlight may have to be shaded with curtains or blinds, but some filtered light is also acceptable. If the window is not a problem you can consider mounting the screen on the wall. Be aware of children and passers by that might accidentally come in contact with the screen and damage it. The best safe location is either higher on the wall or have a lower piece of furniture like a credenza or shallow table of some sort below the screen. Remember to get help to avoid personal injury to your self when moving or lifting a heavy HDTV.
Next you want to consider the placement of the sound system speakers. The bass sub woofer is best located in front of the viewer but it can be behind as the lower frequencies are difficult to locate (Omni-directional.) The center speaker needs to be positioned above or just below the HDTV screen. The front left and right speakers should be placed as far wide as possible to the side of the screen. This will give a more panoramic sound.
Finally the rear left and right speakers should be placed to the sides and just to the rear of the seating area. You may have to experiment with the locations of the rear speakers due to chair height or other obstructions. I have found that if they are placed too far back they are harder to hear. If too close you may only hear the one next to the side you are seated.
Last you will need the speaker wires and cables placed where they will be least noticeable. Use heavy 16ga. lamp cord wire (not coaxial) which can be had at your favorite hardware or home improvement store. Most of the wire that comes with a sound system is barely adequate. If you want loud sound, you need heave gage (low resistance) wire. You can hide the wires along the edge of the wall (behind baseboards) or under carpets or rugs. If you have the luxury of running them under the flooring, better yet.
You will most likely need to buy audio cables for connecting the input devices to your surround sound Amp. The new DVD players and Digital receivers now use DVI or HDMI cables. You can save on all of these at a discount TV store online. Make sure you purchase cables long enough to reach the location you choose for each component. Usually 6 foot cables will work best. You should now have everything in place and connected. Enjoy an outstanding picture and sound with your next movie or HDTV show.
First the flat-panel HDTV should be placed either on a stand, an existing piece of furniture or on the wall. A bad location is opposite a window that gives a lot of sunlight if you plan for daytime viewing. It is actually better to place the screen on a stand in front of this window. The sunlight may have to be shaded with curtains or blinds, but some filtered light is also acceptable. If the window is not a problem you can consider mounting the screen on the wall. Be aware of children and passers by that might accidentally come in contact with the screen and damage it. The best safe location is either higher on the wall or have a lower piece of furniture like a credenza or shallow table of some sort below the screen. Remember to get help to avoid personal injury to your self when moving or lifting a heavy HDTV.
Next you want to consider the placement of the sound system speakers. The bass sub woofer is best located in front of the viewer but it can be behind as the lower frequencies are difficult to locate (Omni-directional.) The center speaker needs to be positioned above or just below the HDTV screen. The front left and right speakers should be placed as far wide as possible to the side of the screen. This will give a more panoramic sound.
Finally the rear left and right speakers should be placed to the sides and just to the rear of the seating area. You may have to experiment with the locations of the rear speakers due to chair height or other obstructions. I have found that if they are placed too far back they are harder to hear. If too close you may only hear the one next to the side you are seated.
Last you will need the speaker wires and cables placed where they will be least noticeable. Use heavy 16ga. lamp cord wire (not coaxial) which can be had at your favorite hardware or home improvement store. Most of the wire that comes with a sound system is barely adequate. If you want loud sound, you need heave gage (low resistance) wire. You can hide the wires along the edge of the wall (behind baseboards) or under carpets or rugs. If you have the luxury of running them under the flooring, better yet.
You will most likely need to buy audio cables for connecting the input devices to your surround sound Amp. The new DVD players and Digital receivers now use DVI or HDMI cables. You can save on all of these at a discount TV store online. Make sure you purchase cables long enough to reach the location you choose for each component. Usually 6 foot cables will work best. You should now have everything in place and connected. Enjoy an outstanding picture and sound with your next movie or HDTV show.
Entertainment Through Home Theatre System
Now that you have installed your new Home Theater System, you will want to adjust the picture and sound for the best overall entertainment. This requires a little planning and set up at the beginning but should require little if any daily maintenance.
First the HDTV screen settings may need adjustment for the room lighting. If the room has a window that allows sunlight for daytime viewing then you will need more brightness and possibly more contrast too. Some advanced remote controls may have a day/night settings button. If not, you will have to experiment on what looks right to you if you want a nominal setting that you do not have to change. Some DVD movies are also darker than others requiring adjustment each time.
Your surround sound system has many adjustments, some you may not be aware of. First, the typical treble and bass settings need to be adjusted for the sound reflecting or absorbing elements in the room. Curtains, wall board and furniture can cause a dead sound and some interiors may give a slight echo effect like being in a hall. Both of these can be enhanced using adjustments available on your Surround Sound amplifier.
To add color to a dead sound you might like the DSP Mode adjustments. Some include a choice of CHURCH, THEATER, HALL, or STADIUM sound. If you have Dolby adjustments, you can adjust the Panoramic, Center Width, Dimension, and Automatic Balancing controls. Some amplifiers include Pro Logic II for even more custom sound parameters. Read your manual to see what affects you can adjust for an improved sound.
You should be able to adjust the volume of each speaker channel too. This takes some trial and error. Some systems have a Test button that will buzz each speaker one at a time to insure all are working. The Sub Woofer will need to be tested using a movie with some heavy bass sounds like explosions. And finally save all adjustments by pressing the Memory button.
The large screen HDTV, the Surround Sound all seem impressive right out of the box, but you will enjoy your Home Theater System a lot more by making these final adjustments to add improved viewing and listening quality.
First the HDTV screen settings may need adjustment for the room lighting. If the room has a window that allows sunlight for daytime viewing then you will need more brightness and possibly more contrast too. Some advanced remote controls may have a day/night settings button. If not, you will have to experiment on what looks right to you if you want a nominal setting that you do not have to change. Some DVD movies are also darker than others requiring adjustment each time.
Your surround sound system has many adjustments, some you may not be aware of. First, the typical treble and bass settings need to be adjusted for the sound reflecting or absorbing elements in the room. Curtains, wall board and furniture can cause a dead sound and some interiors may give a slight echo effect like being in a hall. Both of these can be enhanced using adjustments available on your Surround Sound amplifier.
To add color to a dead sound you might like the DSP Mode adjustments. Some include a choice of CHURCH, THEATER, HALL, or STADIUM sound. If you have Dolby adjustments, you can adjust the Panoramic, Center Width, Dimension, and Automatic Balancing controls. Some amplifiers include Pro Logic II for even more custom sound parameters. Read your manual to see what affects you can adjust for an improved sound.
You should be able to adjust the volume of each speaker channel too. This takes some trial and error. Some systems have a Test button that will buzz each speaker one at a time to insure all are working. The Sub Woofer will need to be tested using a movie with some heavy bass sounds like explosions. And finally save all adjustments by pressing the Memory button.
The large screen HDTV, the Surround Sound all seem impressive right out of the box, but you will enjoy your Home Theater System a lot more by making these final adjustments to add improved viewing and listening quality.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Home Theatre Entertainment At Home
Entertainment is a part of life of a human being. Everyone finds some time to enjoy the life in one or more ways. There are many ways to have entertainment at any phase of life. Some enjoy reading books, some love watching movies and some other want to play games. Watching a movie or the favourite programmes on a TV in the home is very common in the households. It has taken place in the heart of viewers for a long time. Now the aura is expanding and exploring itself.
The idea of watching movie in home is getting huge popularity in the UK market. People now want to have a theatre experience in their home itself. The system has many attractive features which gives a thrilling experience to the users. You can enjoy the amazing sound quality and picture resolution of home theatre. It gives a real experience of watching a better size pictures sitting in your home. It is a fun to watch your favourite stars on home theatre which provides an unmatchable enjoyment.
We all have been watching a movie in the theatre by spending money for buying tickets. The cinema hall is designed in a way that it makes to realise that you are too a part of the characters of the movie. Now, this opportunity comes in your home after invention of Home theatres. You can watch your favourite movie without paying cash everyday. All you have to do to go a megastore and book one for you. You can also browse different websites and select the best one for you. There are certain points that should be taken care of when you decide to purchase a theatre system.
* First of all, the picture quality must be of high standard as it gives the real impact. Suppose you are watching the Spiderman movie, so the scenes like flying or throwing enemies should give a real experience of watching. A Home theatre is more than a TV. So, it should be placed in a bigger hall so that it can accommodate more people to watch.
* The sound system should be brilliant so that it can give you the similar sound quality of a theatre. It comes with 3-4 speakers but you can use 6 speakers too depending on the size of the hall. These speakers should be placed to all corners of the hall.
* The interior design of the theatre room should also influence the experience of watching a movie on your system. The factors such as colour schemes, lighting, the seats, air conditioning and many other things should be adequate.
Therefore, it is better to spend some more money to get a system since the quality is very significant in this case. Also you should invest money to find a better quality sound system in order to convert your theatre room to a cinema hall. Basically, there are four equipments generally found in a Home theatre system. These are as follows.
1) A DVD player capable of scanning process
2) A television with the measurement of 40 inches
3) A receiver with multi-channel facility. The number of channel should be at least 5.1
4) Minimum 6 large speakers capable of producing a digital sound quality.
There are many online options which provide you a good quality Home theatre system at a reasonable price. You can also take benefit of different offers and deals there. The market share of Home theatre system is rising in the consumer durable goods industry. The lowering price has also helped in this direction. The manufacturing companies are raring to go to capture the undiscovered markets. Hence, it is going to be a win-win situation for both the manufacturers and the consumers.
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