Home Theater Screens

by Owen Jones.

When it comes to choosing a screen, the first consideration is the type of screen you want or even need, If the room where you are setting up your home theater is large, then you will have to have a home theater projection screen (or maybe you just want one anyway) but if it is smaller, you can just use a regular or a flat screen TV.

I, personally, like the idea of having a drop-down screen, but sometimes you have to have one even in a modest home theater. It converts your living room into a home theater – you recline in your chair; click a button and a screen drops down; click a button and the lights dim; click another one and the movie begins!

it sounds great, doesn't it? Just like Dr. No.

However, if you prefer a television screen, then you might be considering buying a new one. They say that a 27 inch screen is big enough, but I do not think it is. I think you need 48-60 inches, but then I’m a baby-boomer and my eyes are  definitely not what they once were.

If you are buying a new TV for your home theater, I think you should aim high. HDTV is upon us and since February 2009 the USA is committed to High Definition. So, I would make sure that your new TV is capable of receiving it, if I were you.

Then I suggest that the new home theater screen be a flat one to reduce the annoying glare that could ruin the experience. (This could be another reason for opting for a projection screen). However, this will not be a problem if you get heavy black-out curtains for your home theater room.

Then you should ensure that the new television has enough  input and output sockets for the equipment you plan to use and you are done. So, to summarize, I would go for:

→ More than a 27 inch screen
→ Flat screen
→ HDTV compatibility
→ Plenty of input and output plugs
→ Satellite compatibility

I recommend satellite compatibility because it is probably the future or near future at least. If you get a satellite TV connection you will have access to HDTV downloads which you can watch whenever you like.

Try to read around the subject of broadcasting before you commit any money, because broadcasting is changing rapidly and there are many options.

For example, I know a few people who receive all their television and films via the Internet. You need to have a pretty good Internet connection and virtually unlimited bandwidth, but they watch TV stations from all around the world. They watch live channels from Great Britain, the USA, Australia, Canada and all over Europe.

So, a lot depends on how deeply you want to look into the modern possibilities and how much you understand what you read. It might be wort you talking to an expert about your home movie screen and receiver.

Good Luck with your home theater,
Owen.