Home cinema, also known as home theatres or movie theatres, are modern home entertainment sound-enhancement systems which project a movie theatre style atmosphere and ambience to a room or garden of a private residence. The term is often used interchangeably with high definition video (HD), but there is some difference between the two. High definition (HD) provides brighter, crisper pictures than standard definition. It is generally accepted that any movie watchable at a large portion of quality HD resolution needs a home theatre system of some sort. But what kind of a home cinema system is right for you?

There are several factors to consider when choosing your home cinema system. Consider how much you want to spend on the set-up and what type of home cinema experience you are looking for. Do you want to take in the whole movie with the speakers alone, or do you want the sound to be amplified by a personal computer or surround sound speaker? Do you want the full movie experience, or are you more satisfied with the convenience of a DVD or VCR tape recorder?

One common household home cinema system is a combination of electronics such as a television, VCR or DVR (digital video recorder) and a high-end home cinema system consisting of a Blu-ray disc player and a video projector. Although a high-end home cinema system may consist of components such as a Blu-ray disc player/cdromi, video projector, home cinema system, home theater speakers and a home cinema system sound system, the best home cinema experience will result in the purchase of a home cinema system complete with a home cinema set-up consisting of one or two major components, depending on your individual preference and budget limitations. Let’s take a look at the basic components of any home cinema set-up.

Home cinema systems can be broken down into audio and video components. The audio component refers to the speakers themselves, the audios that come with your home theater system, the surround sound speakers most home cinemas include and other audio components such as floor standing speakers, subwoofers and so on. Audio-video components refer to the technology used to combine them all together. For example, a home cinema system might incorporate DLP (digital Light Processing) technology to produce sharp, clear images. Other technologies that are popular in audio-video home cinemas include Dolby Digital and DTS, as well as High Definition Multimedia Systems (HDMI).

Home cinemas also come equipped with a large-screen high definition (HD) television, or an LCD or plasma TV, as well as projectors capable of displaying wide screen images like a theatre screen. The television is the primary display device for your home cinema system, and is also where your television is connected to your home theatre system. Plasma televisions and LCDs offer a large number of viewing options, such as pan and zoom, picture-in-picture (PIP), and screen wipes. These viewing options can make your home cinema experience even more enjoyable.

In addition to the television, most home cinema systems come equipped with a set of oversized speakers, or sound bars. The sound bars contain speakers designed to handle the largest portions of a large room, or a group of rooms. Some projectors have the ability to add speakers to the bottom of the room for larger groups of people, or to the side for those who want a bit of separation from the main sound blasting from their speakers. Many commercial cinema screens use a similar setup.

In addition to speakers, many home cinema units come with a CD or DVD player, and sometimes even a Video Game System (such as a Nintendo Wii). You can hook your home theatre system up to your television if you like, or you can connect it to a DVD or VCR for movie watching. A DVD will allow you to watch movies on your computer without having to leave your chair!

AudioScaleurs that may be missing in your home theatre is the audio component. While plasma TVs and LCDs with surround sound are the latest technology, home theatre enthusiasts still enjoy good old fashioned headphones. Wireless headphones offer the perfect solution because they eliminate any potential problems with wires or reception. You can now listen to music or movies without leaving your chair!