Post Two

Home Theater Madness

I'm a big fan of Michael J. Nelson (of Mystery Science Theater 3000 fame).  His wit and sardonic writing style is right up there with the best ever.  Now, among other things, he writes a back page editorial for a magazine called Home Theater.  His articles are always a fun read, and he makes this crazy hobby fun for me even though I have been at it for almost 15 years.  And believe me, that's no easy feat.  For home theater is a hobby that is both glory and curse all in one.  I do not exagerate: it's power and allure has been known to drive it's disciples to such depravity as sacrificing the first born...well I exagerrate...only the second born.

MJN and Friends



Why?  What could cause rational people to literally lose their minds over something that isn't religion or the particcular eastern philosophy that is currently en vogue in Hollywood?  The answer varies for each of us addicts, but speaking only for myself, I can say that my desire for the best home theater is the desire for audio and video perfection.  And since that isn't possible, I'm hooked for life.  And yet my wife still loves me.

So, if your still interested in the home theater hobby after reading the above prose, then I both feel sorry for you and welcome you as brother and sister.  Unlike me, though, you have the benefit of entering this hobby at a time when it will not cost you an arm and a leg...just the arm (ha).

Seriously, though.  This hobby's cost is at an all-time low and bang-for-your-buck is out of this world.  It's still easy to make mistakes, though.  The Internet is full of information overload for the beginner, and I intend by this article to get you out of the muck, and start on dry land.  And for God's sake don't go to Best Buy for advice.  You know more than they do.

Some things that I must convey to you before I begin:

You have a signficant other who will tolerate this hobby.  I can't stress this point enough.  The last thing you wil ever do is bring home a 60" LED-LCD flat screen television; I mean it; it will be the last thing you ever do.  So, get permission, or go home.  It's not worth your life or your relationship.

You have space to dedicate to a theater.  It can be a living room, but again, prior appoval from the other person is a necessity.  Don't expect to bring home a dual 18" subwoofer that weighs more than Jets coach Rex Ryan, and expect to see the dawn.

  New York Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan: I hate this guy.



You have some extra money to spend.  It's not worth even thinking about home theater unless you have extra cash flow.  Believe me, I am speaking from personal experience that the last thing you want to do is have three mortgages; your first, your second, and your home theater.

You must have patience.  All this pretty technology is amazing, and believe it or not has become less complicated from the early days where one needed arcane degrees in Quantum Mechanics.  But it still requires a healthy dose of valium to complete a typical upgrade.  Remember, keep all sharp objects locked away, and for Heaven's sake no firearms within easy reach.  It's just not worth it.

And finally, you must be humble.  You don't have all the answers.  Believe you me, if you think your problem is unique your dead wrong.  The Internet has made it possible to have access to geniuses, who, for a small price, may or may not help you.  These home theater Gods are fickle, and have the power to fry your electrical grid for the next hundred years.  So be nice to them, and your problems suddenly will seem much smaller.

Now, after all this, you still want a home theater?  Your my kind of person.

Over the next few posts I will address one component of home theater in all the detail my experience can muster.  I hope you enjoy the ride. 

Component One: The Display

The display is the most important part of a home theater.  Get it wrong, and no matter how good the other components are the end experience will be disappointing.  For home theater, the minimum screen size is 50 inches diagonal.  Your screen size should be dictated by your viewing distance and the resolution of the source material.  With the advent of HD sources we can now sit much closer to the screen than in the good ol' days of DVD and analog cable. 

First, let's take a look at resolution.  You do not want to consider any display that has a resolution less than 1280 x 720 (usually abbreviated 720p).  Ideally, you will want a full 1980 x 1080 display (1080p) which is the resolution of nearly all Blu Ray discs.  Cable and satellite, while both offering a myriad of HD programming, do not broadcast in 1080p; the bandwith is simply too great for even fiber-optic cables.  Instead, their broadcasting is either done in 720p or 1080i (or interlaced; slightly less pure than a true 1080p source). 

Next comes viewing distance.  In the old days, we had to sit a minimum of two times screen width in order to not see all the nasty artificats in the transfer that would simply ruin your viewing experience.  Now, with HD sources, we can safely go to as little as 1.2 times screen width (I prefer 1.5, but I'm old school).  A 50 inch diagonal display has a screen width of 44 inches.  So, your minimum viewing distance for HD sources would be about 6 feet.  Practically speaking, that distance can  be a bit close .  You can  move back from that distance to say, 8 feet, but understand that any further, and you likely will want a bigger display.  In displays, as with other things, size matters.

A display less than 50 inches diagonal would be an acceptable alternative.  In bedrooms, I think such a size is fine.  However, for the living room or dedicated space you will want to go bigger.  And I am not talking about, as the English would say, a bigger "tele" anymore.  Now, we are moving into what home theater is all about: tbe projector and screen.

In the old days (20 years ago is ancient history in this hobby) one could shell out $200,000 for a 9" CRT projector with line doubler.  Even a budget CRT projector was north of ten grand, and it would not do HD so it wasn't even future proof.  Not to mention these beasts were as heavy as a tank, and had to be professionally cared for and installed (unless you were a techie Bob Villa).  In short, they were the domain of the truly mad, or ultra rich.  Or both.  Also, CRT projectors were notoriously dim, and could only be viewed in a bat cave.

                       The Beast From Italy:  Vidikron Vision One 9" CRT Projector

Now, we have no need to spend such princely sums on a projector.  A good 1080p LCD based model will run you about $1,500.00, and a good 92 inch diagonal screen about $500.00.  So, for the cost of a good 50 inch to 55 inch display you can have a projector that in theatrical impact will simply slaughter the television. Another great thing about a modern projector is that you don't have to have it professionally installed.  I have mine on a cabinet, and it took about a half hour to connect and focus the lens.  However, if you wish to ceiling mount your projector you need to be handy, or hire a professional.  The downside to projectors?  Not much, other than bulb replacement which can run you about $300 every 2000 hours.   

Finally, the most important aspect to displays has nothing to do with the physical display itself.  It's all about the settings, dude.  You ever wonder why displays in a Best Buy or Wal-Mart look so bright and pop like a fireworks show?  It's because these displays are in a bright showroom, and in order to sell a display the employees generally max all of the picture settings out to obscene levels.  The result is a bright, but totally inaccurate picture. 

The goal of the video side of home theater is to calibrate the display to get as close to a reference standard as possible.  There are many standards that apply, but the three most important factors are color temperture, color accuracy, and contrast.  How does one accurately set your picture controls?  Get a calibration disc like Digital Video Essentials or the new disc from Spears and Munsil.  These discs are a God-send to newbies and veterans alike.  They will walk you through step-by-step on how to set each picture setting accurately.  You will be amazed at the results. 

I will now make recommendations for displays, and provide you with links that I have indispensable in my journey. 

Display Recommendations

                                            Panasonic 50" Plasma Display

Plasmas in the 50 inch to 54 inch range.  Usually these displays street price for around $1,000.00 and are excellent entry level movie watching displays.  They are not as bright as similar priced LCD's, but make up for it by providing superior black levels and better off-axis viewing.  In my opinioin, there is no better bang for your buck in home theater at the entry level.

                                            Sony 55" LED-LCD Display

LED-LCD's in the 55 inch  range.  At around $2,000 street price these displays are the top dog for television right now.  Spending more on a bigger screen is a waste, in my opinion, and you really should go the projector/screen route at that point.  LED-LCD's blacks are as good as a plasma display, and they have brightness to spare.  Wonderful displays and they keep coming down in price every year. 

                                            Epson 8100 1080p LCD Projector

LCD 1080p projector and a 92 inch screen.  For about $2,000.00 you now have a real home theater.  No need to go to the movies anymore because I assure you, once the pricture is dialed in, you'll have a better picture than your local cineplex. 

Brands I Trust and/or Use

Plasma Display

Panasonic http://www.panasonic.com/

LED-LCD

Samsung www.samsung.com/us/
Sony www.sony.com/index.php

LCD Projector

Epson www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/jsp/Projectors/Home.do

Screen

Carada http://www.carada.com/
Da-Lite http://www.da-lite.com/

Calibration Disc

Digital Video Essentials www.videoessentials.com/
Spears and Munsil www.spearsandmunsil.com/

Where to Buy

Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/
Best Buy http://www.bestbuy.com/
Visual Apex http://www.visualapex.com/
Projector People http://www.projectorpeople.com/
Carada http://www.carada.com/

Useful Links

http://www.projectorcentral.com/
http://www.projectorreviews.com/
http://www.avsforum.com/
http://www.hometheatermag.com/

Next, I will take a look at the second most important component: Speakers.