Home Theater Systems

The space-saving Bose® CineMate® 1 SR Home Theater Speaker System should appeal to apartment dwellers yearning to immerse themselves in TV surround sound without fretting over where to put five or more speakers. The centerpiece of the system is a 37-inch long soundbar that Bose refers to as a “speaker array.”

Home-theater sound has evolved into highly sophisticated components that put movie theater-going listening right in the home. Boston Acoustics’ latest speaker system, the SoundWare S 5.1 Home Theater Sound System, is a high-performance, six-speaker system that adds more power and dynamics to the surround-sound experience.

To turn your TV into a home theater, you could install an A/V receiver plus at least five speakers—or you could add a single soundbar containing five smart speakers. The new Bose CineMate 1 SR Home Theater Speaker System takes the latter approach.

Audioengine has been making classy-sounding, décor-pleasing speakers for use with a computer and other audio components since 2005. This month a new model arrives in three different cabinet finishes that even an audiophile could love.

A home theater is most like a movie theater when there’s a projector in the room. Even with flat-panel TV sizes growing, if you want a diagonal measured in three digits, you need to project the picture at some distance from the screen.

Home theater systems, whole-house audio systems and their corporate equivalents are big business these days. Of course, B&H carries everything that home enthusiasts and professionals need to assemble these systems. Whether it’s flat-screen TVs, home-theater systems, audio amplifiers, speakers, computers or any kind of related accessory, B&H is your go-to resource.

Onkyo has announced that its most capable 9.2-channel network home theater receivers yet—the TX-NR5009 and TX-NR3009—will be available in early September. These THX Ultra2 Plus-certified receivers deliver a caliber of power, performance, audio/video processing and connectivity that A/V enthusiasts demand and home network users expect.

Just because the outdoor drive-in movie complex has largely disappeared from American suburbs doesn’t mean you can’t set up your own theater—in the driveway. You may already own some of the components, and they don’t necessarily have to be seated in a convertible.

Music lovers who once collected CDs or downloaded-to-own now have another streaming service to consider: Spotify. The European-based service went live in the United States on July 14 as a competitor to such streaming jukeboxes as Rhapsody, Pandora and Slacker.

Whether you love plasma’s deep blacks or fast refresh rates (perfect for keeping up with high-speed action and 3D performance), you’ll be drawn to newly-shipping TVs from Panasonic, plasma’s biggest backer.

Ever-more capable home theater receivers are representative of a recent trend, with the latest example being the Onkyo TX-NR809 Network A/V Receiver.

As the main component housing an amplifier/switcher/tuner, an audio-video surround receiver plays the crucial role in managing all your home theater components. So, it’s important to think about how the receiver will serve your needs, going forward.

Now that you’ve decided to upgrade your TV audio with a Home Theater in a Box (HTiB) sound system, there are a few things you can do to make sure you’re hearing the best possible results.

Beyond perching your new TV on a wood-grain or metal/glass tabletop or bolting it to a plate in the wall, you can set up your home theater in a number of novel ways.

Eyesight and hearing can deteriorate as people age, yet watching TV and reading are activities that never grow old. If you assist parents or grandparents with technology in their homes, you can help them choose appropriate products, then follow up by adjusting the equipment for optimal usability.

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