Arroyo December 2018

—ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT—
skimp on screen size or features. This will be your companion on most nights,
or days if you’re unemployed.
Determining what size screen to get is a matter of room size and how
far away most viewers will sit. Naturally, you’ll want the biggest screen you
can get, and most home theaters have about a 55-inch screen or bigger.
Screen resolution is another factor, and here’s where it can get technical
and tricky, with all sorts of acronyms thrown around. In general, an OLED
(for Organic Light Emitting Diode) TV is considered top of the line, a picture
so sharp and clear that you’ll feel a part of the action.
SOUND
Once you’ve solved the TV, the sound system is the next
consideration. Here, it all starts with the receiver, which will allow you to
hook up various speakers. Make sure you get one with enough inputs to
accommodate all of the devices you wish to put into it. Some receives
offer a Bluetooth connection for streaming and multiple inputs that will
allow you to set up speakers in various places in the house, should you
desire.
A standard home theater receiver is a 5.1-channel system, consisting of
five speakers and one sub-woofer. From there, you can go up to a 7.1 or even
higher, should you wish to be absolutely immersed in sound no matter where
you are in the house.
SPEAKERS
For those with discerning ears, you can pick and choose a speaker that
truly customizes your system. Standard on a 5.1 channel receiver are two front
speakers, a central channel, two rear speakers and a sub-woofer. The central
channel is key, as it allows the mid-range of vocals to cut through the rest of the
aural clutter. That’s key when you’re watching a film or listening to music.
For those who’d rather not bother with sorting through the speaker jungle,
there is also an option called Home Theater in a Box (HTIB).
This is the fast solution, including all of the speakers needed that you plug
into your system. Just make sure it includes a sub-woofer, as some of the kits do
not.
COMPONENTS AND ACCESSORIES
Most TVs will have a lot of the inputs you will need to connect to
various add-ons, including video gaming consoles, a Google Chromecast,
Roku, Amazon Firestick, Blu-ray player, DVD player, or multiple CD players.
Obviously, determine what you will want to add now and in the future when
contemplating your TV purchase.
So there you have it. Now it’s time to get the popcorn and pizza ready,
gather the family and your friends, and get set for a night of entertainment
that was formerly available only by leaving the house. The only thing you’ll
miss is the hassles. And perhaps the theater’s candy selection. ||||
12.18 | ARROYO | 27