There's a wide range of home theater features available on the market, but only a few products that deserve your attention. Since sifting through what's available on the market can be very time consuming, a more focused approach is essential. Sevens Home Theater has installed every type of home theater system out there, so from screens to speakers, we have a pretty good idea of what type of equipment and features you should be looking for.

  • Widescreen - When it comes to building a home theater, a widescreen television is essential. A widescreen television presents films in the same format as a theater and they're an excellent first step towards building your home theater. With widescreen becoming the new standard format, buying a widescreen television (regardless of the size) is essential.
     
  • Receiver Channels - Receiver channels are oftentimes marked with the amount of speakers first, which is then followed by the amount of subwoofers (marked with a dot). Surround sound requires more than a 2.1 channel system, since a subwoofer and two speakers cannot provide the proper depth to create a proper "surround sound" experience. 
     
  • High Definition - It's safe to say that movies look much better in High Definition (HDTV) and customers should invest in such technology. Although most movies and programs are usually not broadcast in HDTV format, the number is constantly growing. In addition to being affordable, HDTVs are superior to older television sets.
     
  • Speaker Wattage - It's important to have your speakers adequate and match the receiver wattage. For example, speakers rated at only 80 watts will not match a 100 watt receiver (per channel), and as such could lead to damaged speakers. So before you purchase, it's important to buy your receiver first and then purchasing your speakers. To protect your investment, it's important to purchase your speakers with higher wattage than your receiver.
     
  • Receiver Wattage - It's worth noting that customers should consider the stereo receiver power output. A full frequency ranges from 20 to 20,000 and shoppers should consider these power ratings. To put these numbers into perspective, the minimum recommended receiver (per channel) is 80 to 100 watts. Since numbers marked on a receiver can often be confusing, the measure of a good receiver often involves its weight. The heavier the receiver, the more power the transformer has inside and it can pull/put out more power from the socket.