There’s no place like home. This common
expression sums up the reason why so many homeowners choose to build their very own grand home theatre in
their residence.
With the technology of televisions and surround sound systems growing in sophistication every day, not to
mention the lavish cinema-style seating currently on the market, it really is possible to bring the entire
theatre-going experience directly into your own home.
One of the most important determinants of which TV you buy is the amount of natural light in the room and
whether or not it can be controlled. LCD TVs provide a clear image even with light entering the room, whereas
plasma screens tend to be more reflective. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t advantages to the latter.
Murat Erbatur is the chief operating officer of Intelligent Living, a Vancouver-based company specializing in
home theatre installation as well as home automation since 1994.
“If you can control the lighting, plasma will give you the best picture,” he says. “But if you have windows
that are immediately to the front of it or to the side of it, you’re going to get a substantial amount of
reflection on the screen itself.”
In terms of screen resolution, Erbatur believes there is only one real option. Most televisions come equipped
with a resolution of either 720p or 1080p. Erbatur prefers the latter. “At this point in the technology,
there’s only one resolution to go with and that’s 1080p,” he says. “I wouldn’t consider anything less.”
A further advantage of 1080p is the fact that Blu-ray players, the high-definition version of the DVD player,
can only reach their full potential on a 1080p screen. Blu-ray movies contain roughly eight times more data
than traditional DVDs, resulting in a clearer, sharper image.
The audio component of a home theatre system is equally, if not more important than the video. A high-end
surround sound system can really make the viewers feel as if they are right there in the middle of the
action.
“In any home theatre, picture is really half the story,” says Erbatur. “The sound is just as important as the
picture because it’s an immersive experience and sound is an integral part.”
Surround sound systems are categorized by the number of speakers they comprise. For example, a 5.1 system
would have five speakers and one subwoofer while a 9.1 setup would have nine speakers and a subwoofer.
Erbatur recommends at least the 5.1 setup.
“In an ideal environment, you should have 7.1,” he says. “And 5.1 would be the absolute minimum. It’s not
something you should scrimp on. It’s a vital part of the overall experience.”
Another important aspect of enjoying your home entertainment experience is selecting the most appropriate
type of seating. The most popular option for furniture in a home theatre seems to be the cinema-style
seating, which replicates the seats you would find in grand movie theatres. And the one thing customers
aren’t lacking when it comes to furniture is choice.
“There’s a wide range of products out there, from your typical seating in theatres with the reclining backs
to the very plush and soft chairs and leather and other materials with cup holders and footrests. The gamut
is quite the range,” says Erbatur.
But while comfortable seating is a clear essential for home theatre enjoyment, the importance of having the
right remote control is perhaps a more crucial factor to be considered when constructing your home theatre
experience.
Millson Technologies, also based in Vancouver, has been working
for years to design and develop custom electronic system solutions that are both elegant and simple to use.
Gordon Taylor, Millson’s experience and relationship development associate, says simple and comprehensive
controls are integral to enjoying any electronic home system.
“It is all about the experience. The interface to control the technology is key,” he says. “The most advanced
technology has no value if it is difficult to operate and unreliable.”
A single remote control that is simple to use is key to a seamless entertainment experience, says Erbatur.
“The most important accessory is your remote control,” he says. “In any kind of a theatre environment, you
want to have a remote control that’s going to control all the functions.”
And it’s not just the ease of such remotes but also their revolutionary properties, something that is seen
with advanced products on the market and something Taylor strongly believes Millson excels at.
“Apple products like the iPad and iPhone are changing the way we control our homes,” says Taylor. “In the
same way, they revolutionized how we connect to the Internet, email and enjoy music and movies.”
In fact, with home automation growing more and more sophisticated, it’s possible for users to control many
different things around the house armed only with their home theatre remote control. Apart from changing the
audio and video of the TV screen, the remote control can change the lighting around the house, adjust the
thermostat, check the cameras (if they’re set up) and even unlock the front door if you hear the doorbell
ring.
At Millson, all custom-designed systems are built on the innovative Apple platform and run the Apple
operating system to provide home users an experience that is highly intuitive with an unprecedented level of
reliability.
“As the new iPad commercial states, ‘When technology gets out of the way, everything becomes more delightful,
even magical,’” says Taylor. “We use technology to deliver an experience that we, and our customers, believe
is better than any other.”
To benefit from the full effect of a delightful home experience, homeowners must also evaluate the size of
the room when choosing their equipment and setup. When it comes to screen size, the simple answer is that it
depends on the room and the desired setup. As a rule of thumb, Erbatur says that the distance from the screen
should be about two to three times the size of the screen itself.
“It’s not necessarily true that the bigger the better,” he says. “There are certain ratios that you need to
stick to. For example, if you’re four feet away from the screen and you get a 65-inch plasma, you’ll more
than likely end up with a serious headache.”
According to Erbatur, each home theatre should be tailored to the specific needs of the client.
“The key is the size of the space and how much time you’re going to spend there because the cost of setting
up a home theatre could range from under $5,000 to well over a million dollars,” he says. “So it’s all a
matter of budget, time and space.”
Taylor agrees that taking the time to plan out your customized system is vital to enjoying your home to the
fullest.
“Like a well-designed space, music and light enhance the way we feel,” he says. “We harness technology to
elevate the joy our homes provide.”
So what are you waiting for? Instead of making your way to the theatre, make the theatre come to you.
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