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Want to Enhance your Flat Panel TV With Quality Sound?

Johnny Waymire asked:


So you’ve already shelled out big bucks for that flat panel TV, but what about sound? Stereo sound enhances television and movies by immersing you in the on-screen action, surrounding you in atmospheric music and sound effects. Get the most out of your plasma or LCD flat screen purchase by investing in a quality sound system.

Basic Speaker Setup

Not every home theater needs an expensive, state-of-the-art surround sound system. Depending on your room size and budget, you may find that a simple two-speaker setup is all you need to enhance your TV-watching experience with stereophonic sound. A two-speaker setup is best positioned in front of the listener, preferably with one speaker placed on each side of the TV. Different audio channels produce different types of sound, which vary by manufacturer. Testing a pair of speaker’s sound quality in store before buying is recommended.

Home Theater Surround Sound Setup

For a truly immersive TV-watching experience, go the extra mile and invest in a multiple speaker setup to create a home theater with surround sound. A basic home theater setup (4.0) requires four speakers to create surround sound, but adding a subwoofer will provide those rich, deep, low bass sounds that round out the overall effect.

Below is a quick breakdown of surround sound speaker setups:

- 4.0 Setup: 2 Front Channels (Left & Right) + 2 Rear Channels (Left & Right)

- 4.1 Setup: 2 Front Channels (Left & Right) + 2 Rear Channels (Left & Right) + Subwoofer

- 5.1 Setup: 1 Center Channel + 2 Front Channels (Left & Right) + 2 Rear Channels (Left & Right) + Subwoofer

- 6.1 Setup: 1 Center Channel + 2 Front Channels (Left & Right) + 2 Rear Channels (Left & Right) + Subwoofer + 1 Rear Surround

- 7.1 Setup: 1 Center Channel + 2 Front Channels (Left & Right) + 2 Rear Channels (Left & Right) + Subwoofer + 2 Rear Surrounds

Speaker Layout and Positioning

Not many people know that different speaker layouts are recommended for viewing versus listening. For general TV and movie viewing, place the front channel speakers at the edges of your flat panel TV, pointing toward the seating or viewing area. The center channel speaker should be positioned either above or below the flat panel TV. Rear channel speakers should be positioned either high up on left and ride side walls, or set just behind the viewing area in a dipole setup. For music listening, all speakers should be placed in a manner that surrounds the listening area in a circle with all components equidistant from the center.

If your TV viewing or music listening area seems too small to fill with so many speakers, consider purchasing specialty speaker stands and mounts to save on space. Some types of speaker mounts enable you to install speakers into your walls and ceilings, freeing up much-needed floor space and surface area. Smaller speakers can also be placed on tabletops and bookshelves. Many pieces of home entertainment furniture have special built-in shelves or cabinets for holding speakers. Large speakers can be mounted or, depending on personal taste, left freestanding on the floor.

Speakers can usually be purchased in complete sets. Many stores sell surround sound systems that consist of a group of speakers, a subwoofer, plus an audio receiver component. It is almost always more cost-effective to purchase speakers in sets like these, and you’ll find they’re easier to set up as well. Now that you’re familiar with the basics of stereo speaker sound, you’re on your way to creating a great sound setup to compliment your new flat panel TV!



Filed under Home And Family
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Important Home Theater Basics

Carlie Edwards asked:


A new home theater system is fun and exciting. Here are some tips to help you with your new purchase.

The All-Important Television

The centerpiece for your new home theater system is your television set. Several factors will affect your choice, such as the size and shape of your room. The television is going to play an important role in your home theater system; therefore you don’t want one that’s going to be too large or too small for the size of your room. Don’t forget to keep in mind what type of components you’re going to be adding to your new system, this will also make a big difference in the television you decide to purchase.

There are several factors that you want to take into account when you start looking for a good home theater projector. The picture quality of the television is very important as well as the color, contrast and sharpness of the picture. Try to envision what the television will look like with the additional components that you will be purchasing. Remember that your overall home theater design is important and all of these factors will need to be addressed prior to making your purchase.

You will find there are many options available for your home theater system. Some of the options for the television set will be, flat screen, LCD, flat panel plasma and naturally the regular tube type of television. In order to make a well-informed decision be sure that you are familiar with the different types of television sets as well as the pros and cons of each one of them. You will find a wealth of information available to help you compare the different types of televisions and brand names that will best suit your personal needs.

A Brief Look at Speakers

Your television speakers may not be adequate enough to give you the type of surround sound that you are looking for. Purchasing additional speakers for your home theater audio will help you to complement your home theater system. The market for speakers is very much like the market for televisions; there are many styles and options available to choose from. Seeking professional help will enable you to decide what type of speakers you’ll need to best suit your personal needs and the type of home theater system that you want to set up. Home theater professionals will also be able to help you with any of the additional equipment that you may need such as your receivers and any other type of items that will help pull your system together to make it effective and solid.

What about Home Theater Seating?

The arrangement for your home theater seating is extremely important for your home theater system so be sure to keep this in mind when you’re making your seating selections. With proper seating placement you will be sure to get that surround sound that you’re looking for. Comfort and style are important but remember that you should be able to hear the sound all or round you. You will find many styles and fabrics to choose from.

Finally, try to keep in mind that the system you’re putting together should make you happy and have all the features that you personally want. Professionals and salespeople can give you a lot a great advice but when it comes right down to making the choice it’s always yours. If you choose wisely and check into all of your options, you’ll have a home theater system that you and your family will enjoy for years. Learning the basics of a home theater system can be a lot of fun.



Filed under Electronics