The snow is falling, the relatives are coming and the presents are expected. What better gift for your cold, indoor-bound family than a shiny new home entertainment system for marathon TV watching?
If the task at hand overwhelms you, don't worry. Crafting the perfect TV space in your home is easy, as long as you have the 9 questions below fully figured out. Have some good entertainment center tips of your own? Let us know in the comments below!
1
What Is Your Budget?
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Before you start shopping, make an absolute budget for yourself and don't look beyond that. Whether you can spend $900 or $90,000, creating the perfect experience IS possible. You may dream of having a tricked-out home movie theatre with stadium seating, surround sound and projectors, but be realistic. For inspiration at any price, check out these tips for building a sweet entertainment system.
2
Can Your Devices Communicate?
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A home entertainment system is not JUST a TV, a DVD player or a sound system. It is all the pieces coming together as one. Making sure that your devices talk to one another is the trick to having a smooth operation. Use audio and video receivers to connect various devices and help you switch between video game console, Blu-Ray, DVD and whatever else is in your sweet system.
3
What Size TV Do You Want?
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Keep your space in mind when shopping. Even if you can afford a 60-inch screen, will that be the best fit for your entertainment center? Try to break out of the "bigger is better" mentality -- you’ll just end up having to do that first-row-of-the-movie-theatre neck crane. And no one likes that.
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4
Where Should You Place Your TV?
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Consider ergonomics. Is your couch at a weird angle from the wall? Will foot traffic interrupt your tube time? Keep all possible annoyances in mind when it comes to the chi of your TV space.
5
What Specs REALLY Matter?
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Does your TV need to be razor thin? Light as a feather? Are you looking for an LCD, LED or Plasma screen? While you are the only one who knows the perfect TV for your living space, pixels and clarity is certainly something important to pay attention to. The Sony 4KTV has over 8 million individual pixels, making it four times clearer than your average HDTV.
6
What Kind Of Sound Do You Want?
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Sound is the unsung hero (pun intended) of a home entertainment system. Speakers are similar to a drum set, in that they come in a variety of sizes and functions. Do you want surround sound? An incredible subwoofer? Check out this speaker guide to figure out the right system for you.
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7
What Kind Of Lighting Are You Looking For?
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Nothing ruins an incredible television experience like an annoying, glaring light. Making sure you don’t place your TV near somewhere that gets a lot of direct sunlight can help alleviate that. In addition, you may want to consider low lighting and dimmers for the ultimate screen-watching experience.
8
What Furniture Are You Including?
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Should your TV be mounted on the wall or sit on top of furniture? Will it live on a table, or are you planning on getting a custom-built unit? These are integral questions to consider when designing your entertainment center. Furniture is important to the overall budget and look of your system, so make sure to keep it in mind!
9
What Bells And Whistles Are Most Important?
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Even if you are not one to install a beer dispenser in your armchair, or strobe lights underneath your table, basic luxuries are good to consider while putting together your unit. Some things to keep in mind: reflective surfaces could affect the acoustics of a room, and distracting wall art could take away from what's on the screen. That being said, feel free to jazz up your area with whatever fly features speak directly to you!
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