Choosing a Home Theater in a Box

If you’re tired of listening to the tinny speakers on your TV, upgradating to a surround sound home theater system can transform the way you watch movies and listen to music. However, building a surround sound system from individual components can be expensive and requires a lot of knowledge about audio technology. To help consumers get started, component manufacturers have created the home theater in a box (HTIB). An HTIB is a package that combines a DVD or Blu-ray player with a multichannel audio receiver, surround sound decoder, remote control and set of speakers.

Choosing a Home Theater in a Box

When choosing a home theater in a box, you want to look for one that has all of the features that you need and will work well with your television. This can be a difficult task, as many of these systems look great on a web page or in a catalog but may not sound the same in person. One of the best things you can do is go out and try a few different home theater in a box systems before making your final purchase. It’s important to find a system that looks good in your room, sounds good and is priced right for you.

The most basic home theater in a box systems will include a DVD or Blu-ray player and a multichannel audio receiver. This type of system is sometimes called a 2.1 home theater. Higher-end systems will have five or more speakers, a center speaker and left and right rear “surround” speakers, as well as a subwoofer. Some manufacturers also make home theater in a box systems that are compatible with Dolby Digital and DTS, which adds another dimension to the audio experience.

Home theater in a box systems can also be connected to other types of audible media, including compact discs (CDs) and records, but are typically best for standard video content. This is because the speakers included with most HTIBs are not designed to handle the nuances of these more complex audio formats.

Other Features to Consider

Depending on your needs, other features that you might want to consider when buying a home theater in a box include HDMI inputs and outputs, Bluetooth technology, Wi-Fi capabilities, a built-in DVD/Blu-ray player, and remote controls. You’ll also want to think about how much space you have available in your home and whether you need a wireless or wired system.

Compared to purchasing individual components and building your own system, a home theater in a box can save you time, money and frustration. Having all of the components in one package makes it easy to set up and use. Moreover, it helps ensure that all of the components are compatible with each other and will work together. As an added benefit, most home theater in a box systems are cheaper than their individual components would be. For example, you can purchase a complete system from Onkyo that includes a 6-disk DVD changer, a 5.1 channel receiver, 4 small speakers for corners and a center speaker for around $600.