If you want to create a high end home theater, there are many components that you’ll have to consider. Recreating the feel of a proper cinema isn’t easy, or cheap, but it can be done. This is really an entertainment investment, so you have to be prepared to shell out a lot of money. For spectacular quality picture and sound, it’s going to cost into the thousands. But, once you have that environment, you’ll find that you never want to go to the cinema again.
Probably the most important component, and the one that you’ll have to consider the longest, is which type of picture you’ll want to use in your high end home theater. There are two basic types of screens that lend themselves to this, flat screen HDTVs, and home theater projectors. A home projector is a great way to get a large high quality picture like you’d find in a cinema. But this will require a lot of space, and is better reserved for large home theaters. Also, cost is a huge factor, as a high quality projector will cost you well more than a television set.
If you decide to go with a flat screen television, you’ll have two major choices, Plasma and LCD. Both have different advantages and disadvantages. Plasma screens are widely regarded as the highest quality, but are also the most expensive by far. Plasma can also suffer what is called screen burn, when a static image is displayed on the screen for too long, which can ruin your television. LCD doesn’t have the same risk of burn in, but also doesn’t offer quite the same picture quality. LCD’s are much cheaper however, and also tend to have longer lifetimes. Both are fully capable of high definition however, so you’ll have great picture quality no matter which you choose.
Another key component to finish off the feel of your high end home theater will be speakers. The movie experience is only half complete if all you have is a great picture. You need to really listen to a movie’s sweeping soundtracks and atmospheric sounds. To fully envelope yourself, you’ll need a surround sound system. These can be very expensive, but are worth a significant investment so that you can buy a top brand like Boston Acoustics. These speakers will last a very long time, and maintain spectacular sound. Typically a home theater speaker system will cost you $800 and up for a really good set.
To purchase these components, you’ll need an electronics retailer. Preferably a big store so that you can accurately test a television and speakers before making a final purchase. Always test both, so that you’ll be completely happy with your choices in your high end home theater. A store like Best Buy is a good place to start your shopping, as they offer you the ability to test any television brand, and pretty much every speaker type. Make sure you put in the time, as a high end home theater only gives back the quality that you put into the system.