Movies, music, magic: Home Theatre Systems

Home theatre systems don’t just deliver great music; they greatly enhance your movie-watching experience: particularly modern movies which make such extensive use of sound effects.

The main parts of a home theatre system are the speakers and the receiver. Systems typically have five to seven speakers and a subwoofer for delivering bass. They are often named by the number of speakers; for instance the Yamaha 6.1 system has 6 speakers (the “.1” stands for the subwoofer). The speakers are placed in specific positions: the centre speaker usually goes on top of your TV with two satellites on either side. The surround speakers go behind your seat while the subwoofer can be placed almost anywhere in the room.

The receiver accepts inputs from devices like your DVD player and TV and transmits the corresponding signal to the speakers. Receivers usually come with an FM tuner and some also have a built-in DVD player.

Before buying a system, try to test it with your favourite music and movies; for instance make sure that the sub-woofer delivers on movie scenes with heavy bass. Obviously you should also check that the system you buy will fit properly in your living room.

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