Home Theater 101

Basic answers to basic questions - about TVs, speakers and everything A/V.


Do you have a general question about home theater that you’ve been too embarrassed to ask? No problem; we’ve all been there. The following is a list of FAQs about home theater basics. Scan through them, and stop on the one(s) you’re wondering about. And the best part: No one’s looking. No one’s judging you. If someone peeks over your shoulder, you can casually click to another page. And remember: Technical people don’t know everything either.



What is home theater?
Home theater can be a lot of different things. But we generally regard it to be an audio/video system with a 32-inch display screen or larger and a surround-sound system.

What’s a surround-sound system?
A surround-sound system is an audio setup designed to envelop you in sounds from movies, TV shows, even music. A typical surround-sound system has five main speakers, or channels, plus a subwoofer. The five main speakers consist of the three front ones placed near the screen and facing the audience—these are called the front left, center and right channels—plus two surround speakers positioned along the sides or in the back (to the sides is recommended). A subwoofer plays only low bass for thundering booms, explosions and deep tones in music.

If you’re just starting out, you can find more useful info at [Link: electronichouse.com]