One of the most exciting things about building a new home (at least for me!) is finalizing what entertainment system to buy. Today, the process often starts with searching online for which brands are well-reviewed, followed by visits to different showrooms. Then, receiving a veritable sea of options ends up confusing people with models, specs, and configurations. The best way to avoid this trap is to have a clear idea of what you’re looking for before you begin your search, as the term home entertainment is an ambiguous one and covers multiple applications and systems.
Where will this system be installed?
This will be defined by the layout of your new home. If you have a dedicated room for your home cinema, the system you would choose might rely less on aesthetic look and more on pure performance. Conversely, if your living room also doubles up as your home entertainment room, you might prefer concealed speakers or good-looking floor-standing speakers.
What is the purpose of the system?
Do you want to watch movies? Listen to music? Or both? If a system is purely for music, then a stereo setup with just two speakers and a good amplifier works best. If you want to use the system for movies as well, or only for movies, then you need a full home cinema setup.
Should you use a TV or a projector?
A dedicated home cinema room lends itself to a projector – it is only with a projector and screen that a true cinema experience can be recreated at home. If you are using your living room for your home entertainment space and there is a lot of natural light, then a projector won’t work well during the day, and a TV is better. You could also go for a hybrid solution, with a TV as well as a motorized dropdown projector and screen.
How much should you spend on the different components?
All electronic components have a shelf life, which is especially true in India where we struggle with intermittent and variable power supply, dust, and other conditions. Also, electronic technology changes rapidly, so expect what you buy to become outdated in a few years. In the entire chain of a home entertainment setup, one of the only components that are non-electronic are speakers (in most cases), which form the final interface to the human ear. Speakers are also like a fine wine – they age well and sound better over the years and can last decades if properly taken care of. It is always better to invest more in speakers than in anything else and expect to upgrade the other electronic components such as TVs, projectors, and amplifiers every few years.
Should you just buy everything online and set it up yourself to save cost?
While it might be tempting to buy your home entertainment products online to save money, it’s always better to pay a little more and buy it from an authorized dealer who can help you with system design and making sure you choose matching products, installation, and the all-important service and warranty.
What media will you watch or listen to?
Purists still prefer using Blu-Ray players for movies, and CDs or LPs for music as the video and sound quality are unmatched with these media. On the other hand, a lot of people prefer the convenience of streaming services such as Amazon Prime, Spotify, and Netflix and don’t mind compromising sound and video quality. If you are a purist, you would need to have space to store all your media, as well as add on media players and other equipment. If however you prefer streaming your content, you would need to make sure you have high-speed Internet connectivity, preferable with wired Ethernet instead of WiFi so you can enjoy what you are watching and listening to with no interruptions.
These are just starting points to think about before embarking on your search. Above all, remember to have fun, while experiencing your music and movies like you never have before!
