HDTV gets the glamor, but surround sound makes a home theater go ’round. If you’re investing in a 5.1 surround system — two front speakers, a center-channel speaker, two rear-channel speakers and a subwoofer — use your ears as a guide. Alan Lofft, former senior editor of Audio magazine in New York and for 13 years editor of Sound & Vision magazine in Canada, has a simple, five-point formula for buying a surround system.
1. PATIENCE PAYS. Don’t buy speakers in a rush, even if you’re only buying two for a stereo setup. Listen to them with your favorite recordings. “Vocals are a good test,” says Lofft, now resident expert for Axiom, an online-only loudspeaker company in Dwight, Ontario. Visit several retail stores, using the same recordings. Stores may favor recordings of their own that have enhanced bass, an unrealistic test of speakers.
2. OUTSIDE THE BOX. Beware of “home-theater-in-a-box” systems that include speakers and a DVD receiver. “The electronics,” says Lofft, “are usually fine — the DVD player and receiver — but more often than not the speakers are really mediocre to poor.” Instead, look for recognizable brand names, companies that specialize in building speakers. For a home-theater receiver, Lofft recommends these brands: Pioneer, Denon, Harman/Kardon and Yamaha.
3. MATCHMAKER, MATCHMAKER. Be realistic about matching loudspeakers to your room. “Tiny cubes are decor-friendly,” Lofft says, “but if you try to put them in a big room and want to get any impact, forget it.” Lofft says bookshelf speakers suit a room smaller than 2,400 cubic feet (that would be 20 feet long by 15 feet wide with an 8-foot ceiling). Larger rooms demand floor-standing speakers.
4. A MUSTHAVE. Want to hear the deep-bass sound effects on DVD soundtracks? A subwoofer is a home-theater essential. In a smaller room, get one with a 10-inch driver. A larger room requires a 12-inch driver.
More Top Picks Foodsaver V2244
5. SPREAD THE WEALTH. Budget the same amount of money for an HDTV and surround system. You’ll get sound quality that matches the high-definition, high-resolution image from your HDTV.
———-
home&[email protected]