How about a movie?

When investing in a home entertainment system, people should make sure to pay attention to the small details.

If you haven’t already purchased a big-screen television, there are a few tips you should keep in mind. There are currently two types of big screen TVs on the market. Professionals say you should first determine where the TV will be placed, making sure it will not be in direct sunlight.

Plasma screen televisions, which start at 42 inches, provide a very defined image. Liquid crystal display televisions are available only in smaller sizes, but fare better in rooms with a lot of light, as they produce less reflection.

When it comes to sound, which usually makes the home entertainment system, it is better to buy a sound system in a set. What is the point of having a high-quality amplifier if your speakers are only mediocre?

A good sound system is made up of an amplifier, speakers, and a subwoofer.

According to experts, the most important component is the amplifier, which controls and directs the sound. The DVD and CD players, as well as digital cable, such as Illico, are also plugged into the amplifier.

It may come as a surprise to some, but it’s not the wattage that determines whether the amplifier is of high quality. “Regardless of whether or not your amplifier is high quality, if your speakers are only mediocre, you won’t be able to benefit completely from the amplifier,” said Francis Bolduc, store manager at Stereo Plus. In total, a home entertainment system should have at least five speakers.

The subwoofer is the component that makes viewers feel like they’re part of the action, vibrating with the special effects. “It really gives off that feeling,” Bolduc said. “It doesn’t make you hear the sound, but it makes you feel it.”

But be careful! If the subwoofer is turned up too high, it will bury the sound coming out of the speakers. But, on the other hand, if it’s set too low, you won’t notice it at all.

“You have to make sure all the pieces you buy are of the same quality,” Bolduc said. Home theatre systems can go between $2,500 and $15,000, experts say. “Generally, the price reflects the quality of the item,” Bolduc concluded.

(Translated by Elyse Amend)

(Photo: Courtesy)