There was a time not too long ago where a "home entertainment center"
consisted of a 21-inch TV on top of a small wooden stand with a
separate stereo system somewhere close by. But with the technology
available to us now, those days have become a distant memory.
As
technical evolution would have it, the home entertainment center has
taken on a whole new persona. With the integration capabilities between
sight, sound and information transfer, a good home entertainment system
can create an environment of audio-visual euphoria.
All
manipulated by the touch of a few buttons on a remote control device,
the rumble of subsonic bass speakers rolls beneath our feet. At the same
time, a crystal clear image of a movie or sporting event comes to life
on a screen that could be at least five or six times the size of that
old table-top model and in 3-D to boot.
Building a Home Entertainment System
The process of building a home entertainment center can range
from relatively simple to mammoth depending on the layout of the room
and the type of system you desire.
There are many variables, but
let's say you're building a basic home entertainment system with
slightly above-average audio and video equipment and some computer
connectivity thrown into the mix. You will need a large multi-level
shelving unit, especially if you plan on using a 50-plus-inch TV. You
will also need room for some or all of the surrounding components, such
as a stereo receiver, DVD player, any cable boxes. Your shelving unit
will have to be large enough to handle all of the HDMI cable required to
hook the system together. It must have plenty of holes available to
allow for cables to connect to any power sources and adequate
ventilation. A/V equipment is notorious for the amount of heat it puts
off.
Always keep safety in mind when dealing with electronics.
Make sure all power cords are Underwriters Laboratory (UL) classified.
When doing anything with power cords or wiring, it's always a good idea
to cut the power off to the room you are working in. Never plug too many
cords into one power source. It's best to have a surge strip with
multiple outlets and a built-in surge protector. This will allow you to
assign one outlet per power cord.
Other Components and Cabling
The
personal computer (PC) is quickly becoming a routine component within
home entertainment systems. There may be some connectivity issues at
first glance, but these have been quickly resolved in many cases with
the advent of HDMI cables. By making your PC part of the home
entertainment system, you can watch online videos on your big screen or
play songs from your vast music library using the surround sound system.
Your PC can also become a fine-tuning and adjusting source for your
home entertainment system.
For many home entertainment system owners these days, one
big-screen TV is not enough. There will sometimes be two, three or maybe
even more televisions around the house. With the use of a video
splitter, the signal from your computer source can be replicated and
distributed to multiple screens.
Try your best to keep cabling
neat and organized. This is not always easy. Many of the home
entertainment systems we come across display a dense jungle of cables
and wires. When possible, use cable ties to wrap cords together, trying
to make them straight as possible in the process.
In simpler
times, there were only a few power cords and "wires" to deal with when
configuring home audiovisual equipment into a single system. But the
sensory experience today's systems provide is worth all the work that
goes into the setup process
