How Stuff Works
Shopping for Gear: Receivers vs. Separates
Ask the average guy in the street what makes a home theater a home theater and you're likely to hear one of two answers: "A honkin' big screen" or "Five (or six or seven) speakers." It would be hard to argue with either answer, because a great picture and sound coming from all around you [...]
Electrostatic loudspeakers - Buyer’s guide
There are two generally available types of loudspeaker, and the other type is known as the electrostatic. Conventional moving coil speakers based on two or more circular cone/dome drivers in a sealed or port vented enclosure have the advantage of simplicity and design flexibility. You can get acceptable sound from speakers not much bigger than [...]
Why Are Audiophiles Afraid of Powered Speakers
From my days in high-end retail, now more than a decade ago, to today’s current home theater market, I have always been perplexed as to why Americans are hesitant to invest in powered speakers. Seemingly stashing your amp neatly inside of your speakers provides a host of advantages including more rack space, less heat, potentially [...]
How to get HD sound
HD DVD and Blu-ray aren't just about high definition pictures. Along with these formats comes the possibility for much improved sound. The multichannel digital audio that we've become used to on DVD continues with the new disc formats but it can be expanded to more speaker channels and delivered at much higher quality.
Given that [...]
What Else Do I Need for My LCD Television?
Basically, here is what you need to budget for in addition to your LCD television in order to use it to its full potential:
1. A place to hang it or place it on a stand.
2. Input sources: DVD, VCR, video game console, satellite or cable box, [...]
Understanding Video Terms
The
world of audio and home theater is littered with often confusing terms
that get tossed around freely by salespeople and writers. Nowhere is
that more prevalent than in the world of video. You may have seen some
of these terms on the menus of your bigscreen TV, but rarely are they
ever defined. As an ongoing feature, we plan [...]
How To Get More From Your iPod
A few simple, affordable adjustments can make your digital music listening experience better and easier. SmartHouse shows you how.
1 Protecting your asset
So, you've just splashed your hard-earned cash on a smart, new MP3 player? Now, surely it's sensible to spend a few more bucks on a cover to keep it shiny and new [...]
How To Buy A Home Theatre System
Mass market resellers are 9 times out of 10 bullshit artists. They will only sell you what they make the most margin on not what is best for you and that applies to selling you a home theatre system that does not necesarily perform. Here are some tips to help you.
