Does Home Theater Need Yet Another High Definition Format?
September 15, 2008 by Joe Boyle · Leave a Comment
With Blu-Ray finally starting to become finally become the accepted format for high defintion recordings amongst the majority. It comes as some what of a suprise to many that Sim2 (a high end projector company) have decided to partner with digital media producer Entertainment Experience who produce products for the professional theatres, universities and commercial display markets. Read more
noneHigh end home theater upgrading when it’s time to say no…
July 19, 2008 by Joe Boyle · Leave a Comment
High End Home Theater systems can be a huge investment and as you might have imagined their is rule that additional expenditure does not automatically lead to a pro rata improvement in your home theater experience.
Let me explain exactly what I mean … basically as you get to the higher end of home theater and audio equipment you can start to suffer from a bug well now to audiophiles and hi fi enthusiasts which is upgrading for the sake of it with little or minimal improvement.
This means instead of watching movies you get hung up with looking for problems with sound, and video which are so small unless you are looking for them you would never even see them…. crazy i know but I guarantee if you are serious about home cinema at some point you will get bitten by the bug.
Is there an appreciable difference between a bargain basement system that retails for under $200 and an entry level set of components that will cost $500? Yes of course there is.
At this sort of budget you would expect to notice a significant improvement plus a distinguishable difference in quality and function. One may or may not think the difference in price warrants the purchase based on their assessment of the differences, but there is a pronounced difference and I will strongly recommend this as a first upgrade as soon as your budgets allow.
There is a probably an even more pronounced difference between a $500 system and a $1,000 system. The sound will be better; the number of useful features will be greatly improved. You will be able to tell what that extra $500 is buying.
But let’s notch things up a little and look at upgrading a $1000 to $2000 system (or individual AV component) . Of course you are going to notice differences the build quality will be better and strangely enough you will probably find less flashing lights and gadgets (it seems these attract low end buyers)
However, the more expensive system is unlikely to set itself apart from the cheaper version to the same extent we have noticed in previous comparisons.Once we enter the realm of very expensive high end, technology this becomes increasingly apparent. There is, in all reality, very little if any discernible difference for most people between a $8,000 and $12,000 system. They may have different specifications and the more expensive rig may offer more, but the actual apparent difference for most of us will be negligible.
On higher end products, only those obsessed with video or true audiophiles will be able to discern any truly important difference in quality. In essence, the cost for better technology becomes greater even though the edge that technology has over the next cheapest alternative is minimal.
This study of the law of diminishing returns has some real utility for those considering the purchase of a home theater system. It teaches us, in essence, that investment in very high-end equipment is probably a very poor idea for most of us. We simply will not get a real bang for our buck on higher end goods unless we are sufficiently expert to recognize and appreciate very fine nuances.
For most of us, a good middle-of-the-road system will suffice. We will be able to sense the improved quality of our viewing and listening experience, but will not feel as if we overspent in order to create a good home theater.
There are, certainly, those who want the very best regardless of cost. This crowd includes those whose life, in large measure, revolves around the home theater industry and those for whom money simply is not an object. The rest of us fall somewhere between the bargain hunter looking for anything he can hook up for a few hundred bucks and the millionaire who is seeking an audio/visual toy simply to own the very best that exists.
When you are buying home theater components, consider the law of diminishing returns when selecting equipment. As you work your way up the quality and price ladder, check carefully to see if you can sense the kind of quality difference necessary to justify the more expensive purchase. At the point the prices are growing faster than the quality increases, it may be time to consider stopping right there.
Home theater purchases come in a variety of sizes. From cheap throwaway boxed sets to awesome reproductions of the full cinema experience that may cost tens of thousands of dollars. Most of us fall somewhere in the middle, seeking a system that will provide us with impressive entertainment but that will not become our largest investment. By thinking about the law of diminishing returns as it applies to home theater equipment, we can meet our needs without significantly overspending or settling for less than what we need to be happy.
Tags: high ed home theater, home theater, home theater enthusiast, upgrading home theater
Your home theater system when is it time to upgrade
May 19, 2007 by Joe Boyle · Leave a Comment
Have You Outgrown Your Home Theater System how do you know when it’s time for an upgrade?
When I first got started in home theater I brought myself a Toshiba TV with integrated dolby logic and stereo and it completely changed how I watched movies for ever. Lets not forget we are talking the forerunner to dolby pro logic this was just enhanced stereo and was I impressed.
I was the first in our street to get stereo TV and this new stuff just blew me away ….My neighbours were all pretty green as well.
Many times, people experiment with a relatively inexpensive home theater system to get a feel for owning one and to determine whether or not home theater is for them and whether it increases their enjoyment of movies and television.
At the start most people a cyncial and feel that the demo they had in the home theater store or when they listened to a buddy’s system is just going to be the same in their living room or den.
But I can safely say almost without exception NO ONE WOULD GO BACK!
That’s right once savored home theater is a keeper 99 times out of 100 (the other 1% were just beyond help so we on’t worry about them : > )
When you find out how much you enjoy having a home theater system, you then start to look for a new system to replace their old starter system well that’s the case with most home theater fanatic’s
If you feel you have outgrown your existing home theater system, but aren’t sure what to do next, you may want to consider a few of these observations.
First, don’t throw away your old system.Unless like me it becomes so out of date you can’t even give it away…
I still have 6 center speakers, several surround speaker sets an a couple of early pro logic amps cluttering up my garage so when I move I am going to have to have a huge clear out so apply logic before sentiment.
As long as it is still operable, there is no reason to get rid of it with of course the above proviso.
Your old system may be a great way to build a secondary system or to supply some of what you will need for a new system depending on what you had. Or you might want to let a less fortunate friend or the kids have it for their bedroom or their den.
Additionally, if your old system is still functioning it can serve as a backup just in case you encounter problems with your next home theater system. This is big one my TV packed up a few months ago just before the Superbowl and I had to get out the old Front Projection TV which still delivers a high quality picture but I was glad I had hung on to it.
Second, consider building up the new system with the old components as a foundation. Instead of simply scrapping the old and buying all new stuff , carefully analyze the components of your old system to determine if there are any pieces that remain usable as you grow your system. In many cases one or more of the components from an older system can still be used as one part of the new.
By building a system this way you not only maximize the return on your original equipment investment, it also serves as a way to cut costs on the new system.You should always consider upgrading piece by piece if the existing components are of anything close to adequate quality. Especially if your love of home theater is bigger than your budget like most of us.
Finally, when it comes time to build your new system, approach the matter with all the caution and care you did with your first. Do your research properly.Search for bargains this site will help you with that. Do not be in such a hurry to acquire a new home theater that excitement takes over common sense and you buy a bunch of junk you never even listened to.
Home theaters can bring a great deal of fun and entertainment into any home but it is easy to make the wrong upgrading choices and feel the additional investment was not worth the additional improvement. (been there, done that, got the T shirt). Bottom line is don’t pay for features the magazines tell you are important only to find you never use them.
If you feel your current home theater or home cinema system is lacking in some areas , you should take some of the ideas mentioned here to heart before leaving your home to guy buy a new system don’t buy something for the sake of it a few hundred bucks on an unecesssary upgrade will buy a lot of movies!
Make use of what you have, consider alternative uses for your existing system, and approach buying your new home theater system with an eye toward maximum value after conducting adequate research
Don’t forget your best research tool is your own eye and ears….
Have a great day
Tags: dolby, entertainment, home cinema, home theater system, home theater upgrade, projection tv, speakers, Toshiba
