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| Tired of using multiple remotes to control your equipment? Wish it was simple enough that a guest could use it? Universal Remote Control has a solution for every budget from a simple hand-held capable of controlling 10 or more devices, to a full-color touchscreen with nearly limitless control possibilities. Take control of your entertainment. |
Home Theater
Speaker. L-C-R. For
stealth
installations. In the
ceiling, out of sight.
Speaker. L-C-R. For
stealth
installations. In the
ceiling, out of sight.
| Home Theater comes in as many different sizes and shapes as your family room. Some systems are elaborate, some are very simple, but they all have the same basic elements. 1) Speakers. Combinations of 5, 7 or even 9 speakers, arranged as follows: L,C,R, which stands for left, center, right and are the front channels of your system. Most of the dialogue comes from the center channel, with the balance of the dialogue and effects coming from the left and right. With some configurations of flat panels, the center channel is left out and the receiver combines the left and right channel output for what is called a "phantom center". Surround speakers are located just to the side and rear of the listener in a 5 speaker configuration. (2)Surround and (2)surround rear speakers make up a 7 speaker configuration. Surround, surround rear and front "height" speakers make a 9 speaker configuration. The "height" speakers add spaciousness to the soundstage. 2) The subwoofer. Can be powered or passive with an outboard dedicated amp. Supplies the low frequencies for effects, and warmth in music. You can have more than one subwoofer. 3) The display. Something to display the image, be it a flat panel TV or front projection screen. Bigger is better for movies, for a theater feel. No, it won't overpower your room. 4) The source. The cable box, sat box, DVD player, media server etc that is supplying the image/content to the display. HD is preferable, even necessary for a large image. 5) Control: Each piece of equipment comes with it's own remote, which creates a mini-juggling act when turning on the system. A universal remote combines all these features, and with a learning capable, PC programmable pro remote the system can be automated to single button presses to turn on or off the system, select sources, inputs etc. 6) The Audio Video receiver: The receiver provides the amplification that powers the speakers as well as the processing that decodes the digital soundtrack and sends the right sound effects to the right speakers. If something is located on the right of you, that's where you want to hear it, otherwise it distracts you from immersion in the action. The receiver also sends the audio signals to the subwoofer, and many incorporate video switching capability so that only one cable needs to be run to the display. This also makes it easier to switch between sources, instead of having to switch inputs at the display. Video up-conversion is also a feature of many receivers, a feature that upgrades the resolution of content to match the resolution of the display. Don't be confused though, a program may be enhanced to "near HD quality" but it isn't HD. |
| An example of ceiling LCR speakers. |
| An example of floor standing speakers. |
| An example of flat panel speakers with a phantom center. |
| An example of an LCR sound bar under the display. |
Gordon's Light and Sound
Home Theater for Your Family Room
407-221-4768