If you are thinking about installing a home theater system in your house, cost might be the one thing that’s holding you back. However, with some smart shopping, you can get the four components needed to transform your room into a home-grown cinema.
Projectors
These are the main staples of the whole system, so it’s OK to splurge a bit here. There are several factors you should take into account before purchasing one.
- Resolution – There are a couple choices, but the standard these days is 1080p.
- Lumens – This is the brightness rating, and you want one high enough to be seen in the daytime.
- Lens life – Be sure to note the cost of replacement bulbs as well
- Other factors – Moveable lenses and an extended lamp life are two more factors to consider.
Screens
The picture from the projector will appear on a screen at the appropriate distance. Here’s what you need to know about the options.
- Roll down or fixed? You can have a screen that you pull down when you want to use it or one that’s always in place.
- Contrast – Many screens claim to offer a better viewing experience based on the contrast, but this factor likely is not as important as you might think.
- Size – Get at least a 90 inch version, or you can go bigger
Speaker
Your choices here depend on whether you want surround sound – which requires audio cables to be run all over the room – or not. If that’s not important to you, try a wireless system instead. It offers simple setup and good sound.
Media Player
Of course, you will need a machine that will play movies or television or whatever you want to watch. Buy the best system you can afford that offers the functions that you desire.
A home theater system can be a great investment if your family enjoys watching movies on a big screen. You don’t have to spend thousands getting your system going, either.
