Let's face it, there's more to a true home theater experience than meets the eye, and it can be a confusing place for those of us who don't revel in A/V lingo and audiophile jargon.
That's why HP designed this home theater guide—to help ease the confusion that can often cloud the home theater and consumer electronics landscape.
A basic home theater consists of four main components: a television (or projector), video source (DVD, VHS, cable/satellite box, etc.), A/V receiver, and audio speakers. Once connected, these four components can transform your living room into a movie theater, complete with vibrant color and highly tuned surround-sound.
First, it's important to know the basics. A home theater is generally set up in a "5.1" format. This number simply refers to the number of speakers your system is capable of handling. Currently, 5.1 is considered the standard for any home theater setup, and most devices, including the HP Digital Entertainment Center, are equipped to handle this format.
Besides representing the number of speakers, 5.1 also indicates specific speaker placement and duties: Five speakers team up to handle higher and mid-range sound frequencies, while a lone speaker (the subwoofer) handles the lower frequencies. Higher-end systems are now beginning to feature 6.1, 7.1, and 8.1 formats for an even more enveloping experience.
When connected to an A/V receiver or the HP Digital Entertainment Center, a DVD player or high-definition (HD) tuner delivers five sound frequencies. These frequencies are connected to five speakers: left, right, center, and two surrounds. The center channel handles the majority of a film's dialogue and sound effects, while the left and right speakers generally handle musical scores. Finally, the surround speakers are placed slightly behind and to the side of your optimal viewing area. These speakers handle "moving" sound effects and occasionally even reproduce musical scores.
The subwoofer, ideally placed in a corner or close to a wall, produces deep, low-frequency sound, like onscreen explosions and other bass-heavy sound effects.
HP understands that the right connection (and cable) can mean the difference between stunning and dismal sound and video, which is why we've designed the HP Digital Entertainment Center with connectivity in mind: From DVI to optical, if you have the component, you can connect it to the DEC, or in most cases, directly to the HP television.
A/V connections are primarily audio- and video-based, meaning that each connection has a specific role. For example, audio cables (optical, for instance) carry only audio signals, while video cables (DVI, for instance) only carry video signals. However, other connections such as cable/satellite and antenna RF connections simultaneously handle audio and video signals, but deliver lower quality.
A great audio connection between your HP Digital Entertainment Center and your DVD player can mean the difference between a thrilling surround-sound adventure and a regular old movie. A great cable and connection results in less static, buzzing, and visual distortion that can sometimes occur when lesser quality cables are used.
A great audio connection between your HP Digital Entertainment Center and your DVD player can mean the difference between a thrilling surround-sound adventure and a regular old movie. A great cable and connection results in less static, buzzing, and visual distortion that can sometimes occur when lesser quality cables are used.
You've got the components and understand the formats and technologies. All that's left is setting them up. In actuality, the connecting process is as simple as matching colors. The tricky part comes with the placement of your monitor or television. Is it OK to place my TV on a wall? What about in a corner? Read on. HP has the answers.
The ideal placement for any home theater television, plasma or otherwise, is directly across from your primary viewing position. This type of placement allows for direct viewing of the monitor (resulting in greater image quality), as well as easier front and surround speaker positioning. Plasma and LCD screens may also be mounted on walls, freeing up room space (MDTVs cannot be wall-mounted, but are still slim and space-saving).
Keep in mind, however, that not all wall materials are ideal for flat panel mounting. Brick and masonry walls provide a picturesque viewing experience, but may not be able to adequately bear the weight of the screen. If mounting the screen over a fireplace, be sure to measure the temperature of the wall where the screen will be placed. If the temperature is above 85 degrees Fahrenheit during your evening fire, your new plasma screen could be damaged.
The easiest way to make a great speaker sound bad is to place it in the wrong location. Room acoustics often affect audio quality more directly than power or amplifier wattage. Follow these tips for the most effective speaker placement.
The front center, left, and right channel speakers should be placed on top of, and on each side of, the television, respectively. Distances between speakers should be as uniform as possible to aid in speaker balancing.
Surround speakers should be placed to the rear of your optimal viewing position and, if possible, elevated so the sound is directed down toward the audience.
Since bass and low-frequency effects are omni-directional (meaning the sound is felt more than actually heard), placement isn't as critical for the subwoofer as it is for the front or surround speakers. If possible, place your subwoofer in a corner—the walls reflect the bass frequencies, adding depth to the rumble.
Before purchasing your components, measure the distance from your component rack to your television, and from the television to the surround speakers. Add a couple of feet to both measurements, and then purchase enough speaker wire to cover the distance.
The benefits of transforming your living room into an integrated theater system are obvious: Inspiring sound, breathtaking quality, and an overall enhanced experience make home videos and movie nights much more enjoyable.
What’s the downside? With all of these capabilities come extra cables, connections, and boxes, transforming your once clean and organized living room into a mass of cords and components.
Until now. With HP's home entertainment digital makeover, every critical piece of home entertainment gear is ingeniously centralized in one integrated, sleekly designed package: the HP Digital Entertainment Center.
The DEC is designed with you (and your sanity) in mind. By combining a digital video recorder (DVR), A/V receiver, cable/satellite box, DVD player, and personal computer, the DEC is capable of handling anything you throw at it, including high-definition (HD) broadcasting and DVD recording.
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