A Low Cost Home Theater Speaker Review

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.

Home Theater Speaker System – Quality Counts

The right quality and type of speaker can make or break our home theater system as 50% of its impact is sound. If we want the perfect home theater system, it has to go hand-in-hand with an ultimate home listening experience that surpasses all others. The speaker is an important choice for those who are creating the ultimate in entertainment in their home.

If the installation of the home theater system is to be installed in the home, some time may need to be carefully considered before purchasing a speaker system that will work fully, at least to the level that you need it to. There are several name brands on the market.

Is one of these speaker brands better than another one? It is always about preferences and what is affordable to the budget. That is because for each person, there will be a different need, a different product and a different price range. Luckily, there are plenty of speaker options to select from on the home theater level.

A theater speaker should be chosen to fit the exact needs of the consumer. For example, it is important to select a speaker system that will work well for the specific home’s size needs. The larger that room regardless where it is, the more the speaker sound needs to fill it – with several speakers if needed. If the speaker does not provide a clear enough range of sound, the theater system is nothing more than just noise and no impact.

Also, depending in the area of the home that the speaker and home theater will work, there are specifics to consider. The basement area of a home that is turned into a home theater may be ideal for some. But, the speakers should provide for enough coverage without sounding hollow, as some rooms in addition to the basement have the ability to do.

An excellent manufacturer of surround sound, the SRS Labs has developed patented surround sound technology for the home entertainment market, along with others. Their technology is found in over 600 million hardware and software products from leading brand names. So, when considering what speakers will be needed, make sure they are a high quality brand and decent sound to carry throughout the room – this is what makes the “theater sound” that we love.

Consider the home theater’s size as the first consideration for the system’s speakers. Some speakers are simply cheap, with a tinny sound. Get good advice from professionals and talk to people who know about speakers. It can also be quite important to insure that the speaker is within our specific budget range too, as they can become rather pricey.

Home Theater Speaker Configuration

Lot can happen over the positioning of speakers. Placing speakers in proper position will help a lot in getting good and expected sound. Having knowledge of speaker placement will certainly help to make the best choice of speaker system for your room.

Center Channel Speaker

It should be directly above, or below the TV, if possible.
It should be equally distant from left and right speakers, to give proper sound output without any much distortion or sound diffracting or overlapping effect.

Front left and Right speaker

Best way to put front left and right speakers, are to put it in an arc. So, that front left, center and front right speaker are at equal distance from where you sit.
For the best sound, tweeters should be at the ear level. Although, most floor-standing speakers are designed with this thing in mind but smaller should be put on stand or mounted on wall.

Surround Speakers

Ideally, these should be in line with your position (to left and right of it) or a little bit behind it.
Height of surround speakers should be more than front speakers else they will overpower them as these are nearer to you. General rule of thumb is to keep height of these equal to your standing height.i.e. www.audiovideoking.com

Placing your front speakers next to a wall will increase the bass by a little factor. And, a room with too many reflective surfaces like window or tile will certainly add to the harshness of sound because of reflection. Possible solution at cheap cost is to add carpet or drapes to make sound feel more

Home Theater Installation Home Speaker Installation Surround Sound Installation

How To Extend Speaker Wiring? Home Theater Installation Tips

Step 1: Initially unplug your music system

Step2:  Now disconnect your speaker wire from the music/home theater system. As you go through the wire you can observe that the wire originating from each speaker consists of two metal wires covered by flexible latex which works as insulator.

One wire is the ground, while the other is the positive

The tips of the wire towards the Y junction must be peeled up to half inch.

Step 3: Buy some roll of wire the matches the one which is same as your speaker wire. This information is given in the literature of your system or some times written on the wire itself. Along with these buy some wire connectors or nuts and electricians vinyl tape.

Step 4: According to the distance you want the speakers to be from them system, cut the purchased wire. Then make a Y junction by splitting the ends of the wire. Remove the insulation over the metal wire up to half – inch.

Step 5: The only thing you have to do is to connect the old set and the new set of wires. It can be done in many ways. Among all soldering these two wires is the best option but a bit unsafe if you are soldering it for the first time. Using wire nuts is the best option in such cases. i.e. www.audiovideoking.com

Step 6: You can follow the same steps for multiple speakers.

Step 7: Finally you have to connect the extended wires to the amplifier. Generally the positive goes into the red one and the ground wire goes into the black one

Reconnect your system and enjoy music or movie of your choice

Home Theater Installation Home Theater Installers

Home Theater Speaker System

With so many brands and models of home theater speaker system out in the market nowadays getting one that will best go well with your requirements can be also a difficult task. However, thereâ??s an easy means to obtain the system that you badly want at the best achievable price.

Firstly, let us skim through the components of the standard home theater, and then the process on how you can get quality home theater speaker system at lower prices will be explained, too.

What are the standard components of home theater speaker system?

Although home theater systems can all be purchased in just one package, buying the equipments separately will allow you to get only the best of each part. Just ensure that the speakers can work well together.

If you want the best home theater speaker system, you will have to buy midrange speakers, a sub woofer, and set of tweeters. It’s a fact that speakers are the ones that provide the full surround sound experience.

Some features of home theater speaker system

Typically, home theater speaker systems can be either wired or wireless. So you can choose from these two types, just weigh them up for their sound quality and the ease of setting them up.

Also, take note that a good home theater speaker system will have a great crossover design. Though the speaker driver is vital, a good crossover can definitely make any driver create pleasant sounds. Listen to some music so you can judge the quality of the sound.

The ideal number of speakers for a home theater is 5 to create a surround sound, but you can choose to have less if thatâ??s what you prefer. At any rate, there are different surround sound systems available for you today, so pick which one you think is the best. Some popular types of surround sound systems include Virtual Dolby, Q surround, and Dolby Pro Logic.

How to get a good system for less

Simply drop by some electronics stores in your area to gather a few ideas about the systemâ??s features, prices, and capabilities. Try to test all the system that you like by listening to the sound that they produce. You can also check for some reviews and price comparisons online.

In that way, you will be able to see which one has the better feature and at the same time, which is the more affordable for you. By weighing things up, you will finally come up with the best home theater speaker system for you.

Home Theater Cables: Storing Your Speaker Cables Out Of The Way

For most people with a home theater system installed in their house, the cables are one of the biggest logistical challenges. The cords and cables for all the various components inevitably become a tangled, jumbled mess, making it nearly impossible to change the configuration of your system or any of the components. Most families don’t put in the time to organize and hide their cables to improve the aesthetics and safety of the home theater room. With just a few simple changes, your home theater cabling mess can be easily cleaned up and put under control.

All of the components in the home theater system have a power cord that must find its way to a wall socket, surge protector or power strip. To keep the power cords neat and tidy, use a label machine to identify the cord before you plug your home theater components in. This will help when you need to know which plug to pull to move your speaker system or to replace your DVD player.

To clean up the knots and clutter caused by the constant wrapping and unwrapping of cables around each other, start by unplugging everything, including the cables that connect each component to the others, and separate them out. Figure out exactly where you want each component to go, and then set them up again and neatly run the cables without twisting them around each other. You may need to write down reminders for where everything goes if you are not accustomed to setting up the theater. Use twist ties or zip ties to the cables every foot or so when there is more than one cable running in the same direction to keep them from becoming tangled and out of control. This same organization can be applied to the power cords that lead to the same power outlet.

If your home theater is set-up such that some of the cabling must come out from behind an entertainment cabinet or floor speakers, it is recommended that some sort of cable hide be used to ensure that these cables do not become snagged by people walking by or grabbed by small children or pets. To keep power cords out of view and safe from tampering, use a cable hide designed to run along the wall and keep your cables protected and covered. These cable hides can be great for anywhere that your cables hang out in the open. If you are building your home theater from scratch, you can ask the installer to build the cabling into the wall or molding of the room in much the same fashion. You will not have to worry about tripping hazards or about your new puppy chewing through your power cables if the cords are neatly hidden and out of the way.

Your home theater speakers provide another potential problem, since you might want speakers around the room with speaker cables becoming a huge problem. To keep this problem down, the best option, though complicated, is to run the wiring for the speakers through the walls. This prevents them from dangling or getting in the way, and if you have the necessary tools and skills, you can run your speakers just about anywhere in the room.

Cleaning up home theater cabling does not have to be a chore. With some simple changes and proper storage, you can have a clean looking, safe home theater room for your family.

~ Ben Anton, 2007

Home Theater Setup (surround Sound Speaker Setup)

Home Theater Setup (Surround Sound Speaker Setup)

I am going to assume that you already have a surround sound or home theater amplifier or receiver. There are 3 main home theater speaker configurations which you will see termed 5.1, 6.1, and 7.1 channel surround. You will also see mentioned the terms Dolby Digital, DTS, and Dolby Pro-Logic. There are some other formats such as Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Pro-logic IIx, Dolby TrueHD, DTS neo:6.1, DTS-ES, TrueSurround XT, and undoubtedly more, but they do not need to be addressed separately as the information below is also relevant for them.

Let’s dispense with Dolby Pro-Logic first: if your receiver is only Pro-Logic (only older receivers at this point) you do not need to worry about 6.1 or 7.1 surround because your system can’t use the extra speakers. The two factors relevant to our discussion are:

1. how many channels does your system permit, and
2. Do you want to buy that many speakers?

All the receivers that support more than 5.1 channels will also work fine with a 5.1 channel setup. Obviously, 7.1 will provide better surround sound than 5.1, but at the expense of two extra speakers. If you have a limited budget you will have to decide whether to buy 5.1 higher quality speakers, or go for cheaper speakers to allow for 7.1 channels. By the way, the .1 channel is the home theater subwoofer. The subwoofer is really needed for home theater. A system will work without it, but I don’t recommend going without for home theater. The center channel is also very important for home theater, serving to anchor the sound to the video screen. These are the recommended placements according to Dolby Labs.

5.1 surround system:

A). Center speaker centered on video source

B). Subwoofer(s) in an arc with the main L & R speakers between speakers and video source

C). L & R front on a 22-30 degree angle from the sitting, on an equidistant arc connecting the center channel and subs

D). L & R surround equidistant and on a 90-110 degree angle from the sitting position

6.1 surround system:

A). Center speaker centered on video source

B). Subwoofer(s) in arc with the main L & R speakers between speakers and video source

C). L & R front on a 22-30 degree angle from the sitting, on an equidistant arc connecting the center channel and subs

D). L & R surround equidistant and on a 90-110 degree angle from the sitting position

E). Rear center 180 degrees (directly behind) the sitting position

7.1 surround system:

A). Center speaker centered on video source

B). Subwoofer(s) in arc with the main L & R speakers between speakers and video source

C). L & R front on a 22-30 degree angle from the sitting, on an equidistant arc connecting the center channel and subs

D). L & R surround equidistant and on a 90-110 degree angle from the sitting position

E). L & R rear equidistant and on a 135-150 degree angle from the listening position.

The descriptions above are the specifications for speaker placement according to Dolby Labs.

Subwoofer Setup

Your subwoofer may have a switch for Dolby Digital / Pro Logic. If your receiver is only capable of Dolby Pro Logic (only older systems) you need to use the Pro Logic inputs and set the crossover frequency properly to match with your main speakers. You may use an 80 Hz setting and adjust the volume properly for a reasonable output. I will not go into this further as almost all systems are capable of Dolby Digital output. If you have a Dolby Digital capable receiver (assuming you are using the sub for home theater purposes) set the switch to Dolby Digital even if you are using a Pro Logic source. The reason for this is that it allows your home theater receiver to manage the bass output & crossover frequency of the bass information. Your receiver will ensure the proper output to the sub in the case of Dolby Pro Logic source material. If you use the Pro Logic inputs only, Dolby Digital programs may not be reproduced properly. The same goes if you have multiple inputs on your sub. If your input is labeled LFE it is the equivalent of a Dolby Digital input. You want to use the input to the RCA style plug (or plugs) if you are using the subwoofer in a surround system. If you have speaker level binding post inputs, these are almost always for using the subwoofer in a non surround sound speaker setup. Preset the subwoofer level control to about halfway before running the white noise test tone to calibrate your receiver speaker levels. You absolutely must run the test and balance your speaker levels to have the surround system perform properly. Don’t worry about the crossover frequency control on the sub for Dolby Digital or better systems. For Pro Logic set it to the point where bass in your main speakers drops off, (or 80 Hz if you can’t find any info, and adjust from there for best sound) which will require looking at the documentation for your speakers.

If you are not using your sub in a surround system, you may, with advantage, use the speaker level inputs on the back of your sub. If you have relatively small speakers without much bass output this can provide a substantial sound quality advantage. The receiver left and right channels are connected directly to the subwoofer, and the left and right speakers connect to the speaker out connectors on the subwoofer. What this does is allow the sub to produce the low bass that the main speakers can not, which of course the other types of connections would do also. The advantage here is the fact that with the subwoofer connected this way, it filters the bass out of the signal to your main speakers, so they speakers never try to produce the bass that they can’t handle. This results in clearer, cleaner sound and more volume capability from your main speakers.

Subwoofer placement is generally as below for other speakers. It is true that bass is omni directional and so you should be able to place a subwoofer anywhere, but as usual this depends on your situation. I play music loud, and can detect where the subwoofer is located by the feel of the vibrations. I find it very distracting to have the bass seem to come from the front of the room, but the vibrations of the bass coming from another direction. I therefore always prefer a subwoofer to the front of the room. The subwoofer should be adjusted in accordance with the setup (pink noise test) procedure of the amplifier it is being used with, if on a surround system. This usually means a crossover point of about 80Hz. If you have a phase switch or knob, set it to the position where the bass sounds the loudest. I also notice that most manufacturers recommend the sub be placed to the front of the room on a horizontal line with the main speakers. (Actually, to make all the speakers an equal distance from the listening position, they would form an arc.)

How to get the most out of your speakers & How to improve your sound quality for no extra money (unless you need speaker cable!)

The first consideration with a new speaker system is placement, and the second is wiring, both of which deserve consideration. We will cover wiring first with some generalities that apply to all kinds of speakers. The placement part will cover in home speakers only.

Wiring your speakers

First and foremost, wire selection can be very important. If your speakers are to be installed in-wall, you will need speaker cable rated cl3 or equivalent. If outdoor speakers, you should try to use what is termed a “direct burial” cable or equivalent.

Next, if you care about the sound quality at all, 22 gauge cable is not recommended. It can be used for very short runs, and is smaller for hiding, but due to resistance you will sacrifice some sound quality. I would recommend 16 gauge wire for most runs, unless you really want to get the best out of your speakers, in which case use 12 gauge or larger. For a long run I would recommend larger than 16 gauge cable. Click here to see our cable article and distance chart. I personally use a good audio quality 12 gauge cable myself, but you will pay more for cable this large. The advantages are better dynamics, and the amplifier can control your speakers better due to low resistance wire. As always, let the price point of your speakers determine the cable. Don’t put expensive cables on cheap speakers, and vice versa. BTW, don’t try to use romex (house wiring) instead of decent quality audio cable. Really, just say no. For so many reasons.

One common question is if fancy cable makes any difference. I must state here that many persons consider the very subject to be so much snake-oil. I personally believe that I can hear some differences, depending on the quality of the associated system. In other words, any hearable differences in cable will be more noticeable in a system with more resolution. Also consider that many listeners not selling cable claim to hear a difference. Consider any double blind tests carefully. I usually can pick holes in the logic behind most of these tests, and point out factors not considered. One perfect example was an amplifier test (by a major audio magazine) that level matched the amps, did a double blind test, and asserted the amps sounded identical, so they recommended that everyone buy the cheaper amp. Here’s the rub: Under their exact conditions, which are not normal listening conditions, the amps sounded the same. Consider this unmentioned idea: The cheaper amp had less power output than the other, and under normal listening conditions, say with loud rock music, and inefficient or difficult to drive speakers would have pooped out before reaching satisfying listening levels, not to mention clipping and distorting from overdriving the amp. One problem with the double blind tests is, in order to be accurate, they have to control every factor in the universe that could affect the results, even unknown factors. The other is, in order to compare everything on an even playing field, they purposely diminish or nullify the differences, then triumphantly proclaim they are all the same. The perfect example from above is level matching at a volume level that does not stress the more easily stressed amp.

Polarity or Phasing of your speakers is very important. This means finding the wire with a stripe or writing on one side, and connecting that wire to either the + (red) or -(black) on the amplifier and the speaker. It does not matter whether the stripe on the wire connects to plus or minus, as long as it is the same at both ends, and on all speakers. I always connect the plus to the stripe, just to be consistent. If you get this wrong you will lose almost all your bass response, and voices will float around instead of being centered when they should be.

Home Speaker Placement

Ideal placement for best sound is going to vary with the type of speakers you have, but we can supply some good generalities. Obviously, for a surround system, you have some built in limitations. The center channel needs to go above or below center of your television, (or perhaps centered behind a projection screen) and the left and right front need to go to the left and right front. So on for the rest of the speakers. It should be added at this point that for surround sound placement the ideal is all 3 front speakers an equal distance from the listener. This actually places the front speakers on an arc. It is generally good to put rear surrounds a little higher than ear level so that all listeners get a better chance to hear all the speakers. Leaving aside the obvious details of surround sound, here is how to improve the sound of your system for free.

First, don’t put anything in front of your speakers, and if they are placed in a cabinet make sure that the front of the speaker is even with the front of the cabinet. Also, keep in mind that some speakers such as the rear ported variety perform very poorly in cabinets. Make sure speaker ports, which may be in the front, rear, side or elsewhere, are not blocked. This goes for subwoofers also.

Stability is also important, your speakers need to remain stable at high volume levels. If they move with loud drum beats, your system will be robbed of punch and impact. If you use speaker stands make sure they are stable enough for the size of speakers you have. One quick tip is to use some blu-tack or mortite putty between the speaker and stand to improve the coupling and add stability. Spike on the bottoms of the stands work well for carpeted rooms.

Next, check out the sound of your speakers. Generally, most speakers sound better when aimed directly at the listener, and located at ear height. This is not always the case, however. If the treble or voices sound a little too sharp, then perhaps the speakers will sound better aimed straight out instead of at the listener.

Listen to the bass. Is it boomy, or lacking? If your speakers sound a little boomy, like they are in a barrel, bass response can probably be improved by moving your speakers farther from a wall or corner. If your speakers are too lightweight in bass, they may sound better closer to a wall. Remember not to block any bass ports. If the speaker is rear ported it needs a little space out from the wall and clearance on the sides of the speaker to perform properly.

One little tweak you might try: some speakers sound better with the speaker grills off. Try removing them and see if they sound better. In many cases there will be no noticeable difference, but it costs nothing to try.

Other issues:

If your speakers are correctly phased as described above but voices are not sharply locked in location you may have your speakers too far apart. This generally applies to stereo, not surround sound.

If not used on a surround system, the subwoofer crossover point should be adjusted to coincide with the drop off in bass from your main speakers. You may find this listed in your documentation, usually on the order of the -3db point. If your speakers still don’t seem to perform like they should, you should consider whether the amplifier attached to them is up to the task of driving them. There are more issues here than power, especially impedance. An amplifier that has high wattage may drive 8 ohm speakers well, and do very poorly on 4 ohm speakers if the amplifier is not designed for “high current” or rated into 4 ohm speakers. In addition, many amplifier (or receiver, home theater amplifier, etc) manufacturers use various methods to exaggerate the wattage ratings on their amplifiers. The true rating to look for is called the RMS rating, and should be rated into a specific impedance (4 ohm, 8 ohm) etc and at a specific distortion rating. This does not imply that all amplifier & receiver manufacturers that use terms such as a ‘Dynamic Power Rating’ are trying to deceive consumers. In some instances (such as with NAD equipment) such figures can be very meaningful. Just make sure you are comparing apples with apples, and use the RMS rating as a baseline for comparison. If ALL other factors are equal, the one with a higher dynamic power rating can have more punch and impact.

Any information on this page may be freely copied, as long as the link below is included.

Buy home theater speakers by BIC America

http://www.smartbuyspeakers.com

Finding A Reasonably Priced Home Theater Speaker System

If you have a home theater already, you know the importance of having a good sound system to go along with your home theater. The sound quality is almost as important if not just as important as the picture quality. A good sound quality will give you the honest feeling of being in a real theater. With all of the options for home theater sound systems on the market today, it is likely that you will spend a fair amount of time choosing one that is right for you without breaking the bank. We will try to take a look at the components of a good sound system, then look at ways to get them at good prices.

While buying a complete system in one box allows you to get a great discount in most cases, buying each component separately allows you to get what you want and allows you to get the best of every component. Any good audio system will have 3 basic sections of speakers. The midrange speakers, a set of tweeters, and a subwoofer together make up the surround sound quality that we are all used to in a theater setting.

Home theater speakers come in wired and wireless design. The wireless are typically more expensive, but have the greatest option for placement. Check both options if you are able to see which has better sound quality and fits your needs better. The best speakers have crossover design. While the driver is important, good crossover can make any driver sound good. On the other hand, a bad crossover can make a good driver sound bad. Music playback is a good way to test the waters of a sound system. Most DVDs and television shows do not have great sound quality and fluctuations, but if your home theater system can handle a good CD, then your DVDs should sound great.

Decide on the number of speakers that you think you will need. Many smaller speakers create good surround sound while larger speakers are good for stereo effects. Small speakers also work best with a single subwoofer. The ideal home theater speaker system has five speakers for surround sound. You may also prefer one surround sound system to another. Dolby, virtual dolby, and qlogic are just a few of the most common choices.

When you finally decide that it is time to make the big purchase, start by visiting your local electronics store and get an idea of the system capabilities. Make sure to listen to each system independently to see how they sound in person. Before you buy anything, comparison shop at other electronics stores in your area. Then go home and check online. You may be surprised at the deals you can find online simply because many online retailers do not have the overhead of a storefront and greater number of employees. There are comparison shopping sites online that offer details about products and their pros and cons so you can shop from the comfort of your easy chair.

Finding a reasonably priced home theater speaker system is actually a lot easier than many people think it will be. Start out online and you will find that the time you spend researching could save you a lot of money in the long run.

How to Find the Best Home Theater Speaker System at the Best Price

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.

Visit the http://TheSatelliteTVGuide.com to get more information, to compare prices, and to get consumer ratings for home theater systems.

Tips on Home Theater Speaker Placement

Home theater speaker placement is equally important as the system itself. Even if you have the best speakers, if you do not consider the proper home theater speaker placement then your equipment will not produce the best effect.

However, there are so many things to consider in home theater speaker placement that the task can be really confusing. You have to think about the shape and the layout for a home theater as well as the placement of the furniture. You also want to think about placing the speakers and wires safely away from young children or pets. Of course, you want a home theater speaker placement that will make the room organized and pleasing. With all these variable factors, you should know that there is no single best home theater speaker placement. It will depend on your specific situation.

Then again, there are some basic guidelines that you can use to determine exactly where to put each of your speakers. First, sit in the middle of the couch, which should be directly facing your television. Place the center channel speaker straight across from where you are sitting, either right above or below the TV. Then, place the front left and right side speakers about thirty degrees from your position in the couch. Also from the same point, place the left and right surround sound speakers about 100 degrees. They should also be 2 feet above your ear level when you are seated. With the subwoofer, you would need to experiment with its placement. Putting it under a table or in a corner will produce deeper bass. One of the most basic rules of home theater speaker placement is to position all of your speakers with 1 or 2 feet distance from the walls.

A major concern in home theater speaker placement is dealing with the wires and cables. They can make your home theater look cluttered and people can trip over them. Some people use carpets to cover them up or the wires are either fixed on the wall corners and borders or hidden behind the walls. There are two solutions to this problem – first, just hire a professional to do the home theater speaker placement for you. They will of course take care of hiding the wires, too.

A better option is to go for wireless speakers. This option is not necessarily cheaper than the first one. It just eliminates the need of hiring people because you only have to think about where to place the speakers and you can easily move the speakers around yourself.

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