Excellent Example of Electronic Evolution

No one had a clue during the early days of television the incredible impact that this device would have over people and their daily lives nearly a century later. I can hardly believe the difference between the television offerings of my childhood and the vast number of quality shows, channels, and information that is available by simply turning on the television. In addition to that, the quality of sound that can be achieved through the simple act of adding a receiver and surround sound speakers to your television is day and night when comparing before and after.

I do not think for one second anyone could have possibly anticipated the global impact that televisions have introduced. Add to that the entertainment value and the fact that we are now using our televisions for much more than simply watching and you have opened up a whole new world of entertainment. Surround sound not only works wonders with movies and (some) television shows but is also an excellent enhancement for video games and even music.

Televisions are also being used for more purposes now than ever before. With each generation of video game system there are new features added that require more from the televisions and speaker systems we spend so much of our time enjoying. From the days when people first gained the ability to check their email on their television sets, the technology seed has been planted for greater things to come. Each year new televisions and new surround sound and home theater systems hit the market with amazing success among consumers. We all want more sound, better pictures, and more functionality from a piece of technology that is not yet a century old. It's amazing the progress that has been made already and the rapid rate at which this technology continues to evolve.

Surround sound is only one example of the great possibilities that exist in the entertainment industry, it simply happens that this is one piece of the technology puzzle that enhances so many other of the things that we enjoy so much on a daily basis. From gaming to music to movies, all are enhanced by the technology and premium sound that a good surround sound system with high quality speakers can provide. When purchasing speakers for your surround sound system, be sure to make sure that they are THX certified in order to assure that you are getting top quality speakers for your surround sound system or home theater.

You will find as you sort through the various surround sound systems in the market today that there are many options available to you. I hope that you will take the time to find the one that you like best and keep an open mind when you bring it into your home. It is important to remember that you may find the system doesn't sound as good in your home as it did in the store (acoustics are going to be different). If this is the case with your system, make a note of the differences that you find troublesome, and return the kit to the store, then ask for recommendations on systems that might work better in your home. You should also include things like the size of the room, the types of walls and flooring you have (all of these things affect the acoustical quality of your room). Most importantly, make the most of the advances that technology has allowed and enjoy.

Why Surround Sound?

If you are one of the many people around the world who hasn't yet switched to surround sound or a home theater system of some sort you may be wondering what the big fuss is all about. Can it really make that much of a difference to watching the television? The answer to that is that unless you have difficulties with your hearing, surround sound can make a marked impact on your overall movie viewing, computer gaming, and music listening experience. There is nothing like being in the center of the action and surround sound puts you in just that spot.

You can hear the sounds the victim hears in your favorite crime drama from the same direction from which she hears those same sounds. You are literally in the middle of the action right along with her. Your heart will beat right along with subwoofer as anticipation builds (courtesy once again of the surround sound system) in your favorite suspense thriller. It's almost indescribably the way in which surround sound enriches the movie watching experience for even the most casual of movie watchers.

I will be the first to admit that I'm notorious for knitting or reading while watching television or movies and only looking up when something captures my attention-generally something I heard or a flash on the screen. This means that sound actually makes me pay attention to what is going on in the movies that I am listening to. I have noticed a marked difference in my interest in movies and television shows since adding surround sound to our home theater system. More and more often I am noticing that scarves and such take twice as long to accomplish and I blame it entirely on the superior sound that is part and parcel to our surround sound system.

You may not be someone who watches all that much television or even that goes to the movies all that often. If computer games happen to be your thing then you are going to love what surround sound can do for you. In case you've forgotten that little bit about it placing you in the center of the action, this works wonders in game and provides important hints to you as to what is going on around you. You can hear the bad guys (or merely the other side) as they attempt to sneak up on you and know where they are coming from. You can hear the hoof beats in the distance or hear the fires burning in barrels off to your left. You can hear the starships flying by as if you were right next to them in the middle of it all. It's truly an amazing boost to game reality and to the fun of gaming.

For music lovers, you can feel as though you were sitting right in front of the orchestra or on the front row at a concert for your favorite band. If you are playing music that is recorded live you will really enjoy the feeling of being in the middle of the crowd without the smoke and other fumes that might otherwise detract from your good time. Whether your first love is video, movies, games, or music surround sound has a way to make each of those experiences even more enjoyable in the comfort of your home.

Haste Makes Wastes of Time and Money

It's a jungle out there, especially when it comes to the wonderful world of electronics and electronics components. The competition is fierce among industry leaders and there are wide gaps in prices and quality from which to choose. Even among the private sector there are such variances in price and quality that it is difficult for most to make truly informed decisions when purchasing a surround sound system or a home theater.

One of the best things you can do for your search is grab a few sound intensive movies, a favorite CD or two and head out to your local retail sales center for electronics. Best Buy may not always be the best place from which to buy but they generally have a good selection of surround sound systems and home theaters that you are able to test out and compare with one another. It's always a good idea to try before you buy and taking an afternoon or a Saturday to browse through your options is good investment of a day if you ask me.

By listening to the different systems you can get a feel for the features that you prefer, those you don't care much for one way or another, and those you would rather do without. This list will be extremely valuable when it comes time to narrow down the systems you would like to further investigate from those that simply aren't best suited for your music and sound requirements. There is nothing wrong with identifying what you want and making efforts to get it. In fact, it's a savvy decision on your part if you ask me.

Once you have a list of the systems you like and a few reasons why you like each system it's time to begin comparing prices. The Internet is probably the best way to do this. You can use prices that compare prices among major competitors and see what others are charging for these items in comparison with what your local stores are charging. If you are feeling up to bargaining you can try to arrange for your local store to match the online price. This works with some stores and not with others. It's a toss up even with the larger chain stores as to whether or not they will acknowledge prices received online as a 'competitors' price in order to meet it. It's worth a shot if you prefer the convenience of shopping locally; otherwise if the best price is online (even after shipping and insurance) then your best bet is to make the purchase online.

There is no magic formula when it comes to purchasing home theater and surround sound equipment other than to make sure you are pleased with the quality of the merchandise. If you listened and made notations about your likes and dislikes, chances are that you have just purchased a sound system that you like, which means you should be thrilled with the fantastic sounds coming out of your brand new speakers for quite a while to come. Taking your time in the beginning in order to make sure you get the system you really want and will be happy with is well worth the wait when compared to the price you pay for haste and purchasing a system with an inferior quality of sound.

Surround Sound Gaming Blows the Competition Away

In the worldwide realm of online gaming surround sound is becoming an important tool for obtaining and maintaining an edge over the competition. Sound provides important clues to things that are taking place around us, this is no different in the cyber world and made possible through the use of emerging technologies and the copious use of surround sound technology and equipment. The good news for gamers is that you do not have to have a computer room or home office that is filled with speakers and surround sound equipment. If your computer has a sound card that is set up for surround sound, there are plenty of headphones on the market that support this sort of sound setup.

In fact, this is becoming a growing industry in the realm of computer gaming and simply increasing the quality of sound as computers are more and more often used as media centers rather than mere portals to the World Wide Web and all ports of call in between. We are demanding more and more from our personal computers today than ever before and savvy professionals are consistently creating software and hardware that meets our growing demands. Video and sound cards that support real time gaming action and better than real life quality sound are certainly only a few of the ways in which computer technology is improving at the speed of light and yet they are often the points where that evolution is most noticeable.

It's nearly impossible to tell whether or not the rate at which computers are evolving is the hardware makers trying to keep pace with the software creators or the other way around. Either way it means more realistic and action oriented, real-time games are hitting the market without bogging down the systems or overtaxing the technology that is currently in place, provided of course that you are upgrading at least every two years in order to keep pace with emerging technologies.

If you haven't checked out some of the top of the line PCs of today you really should check out all they can do. Don't go to your local Wal-mart and see the best of their best, as it is not going to be a good indicator of superior quality computing. You should instead go with online companies such as Alienware and check out their top systems. The functionality and speed at which these systems operate is simply staggering. The lowest end laptop that they offer can outperform my home PC on any given Sunday and probably with one processor tied behind its back. Add to this type of functionality the addition of surround sound and you have a system that is well worth drooling over (not that I would drool-ever).

Regardless of whether you are easily impressed by technology it is quite difficult not to be impressed by the rate at which the technology of sound is improving-particularly when it comes to surround sound systems that are available for both home theaters and computers in the market of today. Whether you use your personal computer for gaming or media viewing and manipulation there is a lot of entertainment that a good sound card (with surround capabilities) and a nice set of surround sound headphones can add to your overall sound experience. Check out the options on the market today and compare them with what is in your computer at the moment. You just may be blown away by the competition.

Surround Sound for Meager Budgets

Buying a surround sound system or home theater on a budget doesn't have to be mission impossible. In fact, it is quite easy to work with almost any budget when purchasing these systems in today's marketplace. The thing you have to remember is that you do most often get what you pay for and the higher quality systems are going to cost more money. It is often difficult once you've experienced the difference in sound quality of the higher end surround sound systems to make the decision to purchase one that fits within lower budget requirements but you can get sound quality for a lower price and stay on budget if you shop very carefully.

The first thing you need to do is set priorities. If you are looking for a surround system, then focus on that rather than flitting back and forth between home theaters and surround sound systems. You will do much better economically and quality wise to go with a surround sound system rather than a home theater in a box sort of kit in the same price range and the only major difference is that a home theater kit in a box often comes with a DVD player. The sacrifice usually lies in the speaker when you purchase a kit such as this for your home. You can not only save money by purchasing the surround sound system as a stand alone system you can get better quality in both the sound system and the DVD/DVR if you purchase them separately rather than together.

You can find speakers and components for surround systems in all kinds of price ranges. You want to make sure that if you are purchasing a box set for your surround sound system that it has all the parts and components you will need in order to get theater quality sound. These sets and systems can be found at amazing prices in large retail chains around the country. If you are willing to wait for sales you can even get better prices on them.

Set a budget before you begin shopping however and do not allow yourself to be talked into something that is outside your budget. There will always be temptations to spend more when it comes to electronics. That bigger screen, the larger subwoofer, the better amplifier-there's always one more temptation to get your dollars. The thing you must be prepared for is not only to try to get the best quality and greatest functionality for the least amount of money but also to stay within a certain budget limit in order to accomplish your goal. If you overspend now, it will result in delays for upgrades or additions later on.

Another thing you can do in order to stay within budget is to purchase a 5.1 surround sound system with 6 speakers (5 plus the subwoofer) that can expand to a 7.1 speakers with the addition of speakers over time. This allows you to expand and improve your system in time but gives you a good starting point, provided that you have good quality speakers. There really isn't enough that can be said about the budget friendliness of a system that can be upgraded and expanded over time. If you get a nice base system it is possible that you will be able to change the speakers over time as your budget becomes more flexible and electronics friendly (you will need to check and make sure as to matters of compatibility however).

Despite the high price of many surround sound and home theater systems, it is quite possible to own a system of your very own and greatly enhance your home television viewing and sound experience greatly without going to debtor's prison on the process. Take the time to compare prices, learn what you absolutely need and what you can live without, and start small, then build up to a better system rather than going into the buying process with an all or nothing attitude. You just might find that you have a far superior system over time with half the investment others have made in theirs.

Space Saving Surround Sound Solutions

Space has become the final frontier when dealing with many things on this planet rather than off. In our homes, space is often a premium, particularly that oh so valuable floor space that is always inviting something to occupy it. The good news is that they surround sound systems of today have gone a long way towards conquering the old dilemma of needing too much prime real estate in your living room, media room, or home theater. While floor speakers still offer a superior sound in many cases over the satellite speakers that have traditionally been on the market technology is evolving and the quality of these smaller systems is rapidly catching up to the quality of their bulkier predecessors.

It seems that retailers are growing savvy to a problem that is rapidly becoming a worldwide problem, especially in the age of modern technology. People have more stuff and yet we seem to have less space in which to put all that great stuff. For this reason, there has been a recent trend of making things smaller, slimmer, stream lined, and most importantly when it comes to surround sound systems, portable. The invention of wireless speakers for surround sound systems that can sit on shelves or be hung on the walls is one of the greatest advances we've seen in sound technology in the last few years.

Even better is the fact that competition is fierce in this particular market which actually works to keep prices lower than they would be if there weren't so many companies competing for your business. If space is your biggest limitation when it comes to purchasing a surround sound system for your home, you no longer have to put off enjoying the theater quality sound you've desired for your movie viewing pleasure. You can now have the best of both worlds: sound and space, and live with the results. The quality of these smaller surround sound systems is quite good if you take the time to know what you are getting before you buy.

In addition to the great space saving ability of these smaller systems, you can also find some real bargains if you opt to purchase a 'home theater in a box' or surround sound systems as a set rather than individual components. I've always been one to shy away from the box sets from fear of inferior quality (which has been true in the past). I'm proud to say that I am now a convert as I have watched even my favorite brands (and quality that I trust) leap into the box system market. I have also noticed the much nicer price tag associated with purchasing systems rather than buying individual components and the savings are significant.

In other words, these systems are not only saving space but are also saving money. You can't really argue with that kind of a deal when your limitations may have been limited to money and space in the past. If you happen to be worried about power you really shouldn't. Quality is still important in your speakers, it will always be of monumental importance but you will not need nearly the amplification in a small room that a larger room or theater would require. This means that these smaller systems really are ideal for the space that you have.

When space is your limitation we live in a world where creating more space is next to impossible now and really will be impossible in the future as the amount of space we have is finite and the population continues to grow and take up more of that valuable space. Our best bet is to learn to maximize and utilize the space we have. Making speakers smaller, more easily portable (by being wireless), and allowing them to hang on walls or sit on shelves rather than occupying valuable floor space we are making the most of what we have and are still able to enjoy some of the good things in life we desire.

Speaker Quality Speaks Volumes

There are many pieces, parts, and components to a home theater system. One of the most important when it comes to achieving the overall 'movie going' experience is surround sound. While there are many pieces of equipment for the average home theater that can be purchased over time, surround sound is typically one component that needs to be purchased together if possible, at the very least it is wise to purchase the speakers as a set rather than mixing and matching quality and sounds.

Just as the surround sound system is one of, if not the most important components in a good home theater system, the speakers are the most integral and important component of any decent surround sound system. You can skimp on some aspects of quality in amplifiers, receivers, and even tuners but if you skimp on the quality of your speakers it will not matter how much of an investment you've made in everything else because the sound will be inferior.

People define their movie going experiences differently. For some, it is the smell of freshly popped popcorn that defines the experience and others find that the dark colors and the sweet smell of the syrup from the soda fountains is part of the experience (some things simply can't be imitated easily at home). There are many however, who find that sound is what sets the theater apart from home movie viewing and the one thing that keeps them coming back despite the interruptions provided by other patrons with cell phones, hungry children, or frequent trips to the restrooms.

The one thing that sets a theater apart for many people is one thing that we now have the technology to bring into our homes. Even better is the fact that the price tag on this particular technology is decreasing as competition, supply, demand, and technological advances increase. There is never too much to be said about how quickly the newness of electronics expires in order to be replaced by something newer and better next year. I remember a time when DVD players were priced well over $300 for the most basic of models. You can purchase them now for a mere $30 if you can find a decent sale and those models have more features than the originals. Can you imagine how little surround sound systems will be selling for an a few short years?

We are already seeing significant price drops in the box systems that are being sold on the market today. Gone are the days when these systems were merely the off brands trying to generate some sells by offering a low price and questionable quality. The boxed surround sound systems of today are carrying well-known names as their brands and providing some pretty stiff competition to those who aren't willing to offer the box sets when it comes to price.

That being said, you will want to take the effort to listen to any system you are considering before you buy it. It takes no small investment of time and energy in order to set up a surround sound system and while there are no guarantees that a system will sound the same in your home or apartment as it sounds in the store having a clue as to any problems before getting it home and setting it up will save both time and money in the long run. If the speakers you buy aren't adequate quality for the system you have purchased the sound will disappointing to say the least. My favorite scene for testing the sound quality of surround sound systems is the first 10 minutes of the movie Top Gun. Buy the DVD and take it with you whenever you try out systems for your home. If you find one set or system that blows you away with the quality of sound you should seriously consider that for your home theater and surround sound system.