Speaker Systems

So you’re in the market for a new home theater system? Why not? Everyone you know either has one or wants one. Are you sick of having to go to your buddy’s place to watch the game on the big screen? Have you been playing that SNES system, circa 1995, since, well, 1995? Is your prized movie collection in laserdisc format? Maybe it is time to invest in a new home theater.

The first thing you ought to do is establish a budget. You could spend thousands of dollars on your new system, so give some consideration to what you are able to spend. There’s no point spending your rent money on a TV, if you will not have an apartment to watch it in.

Once you have decided what you are able to spend, draft a wish list of components you would like. Big screen TV or LCD projector? X-Box or Playstation? What about surround sound? 5:1? 6:1? 7:1? There are so many options, and the possibilities are seemingly endless. Keep it simple. Do you really need a 51 inch HDTV, for your 10x10 living room?

Either way, your system will definitely need certain components to qualify as a home theater. For the sake of being modest, why not consider getting started with a home-theater-in-a-box? These packages generally come with a surround sound receiver, a set of speakers, and a DVD/CD player. These systems are relatively inexpensive, and will leave you with enough cash flow to buy that new Sopranos box set! Capice?

A lot of people like to include gaming systems in their home theater, especially if they are able to play on a big screen. There’s nothing like playing Halo in life size! If you do most of your gaming on your computer, most decent video cards will have a video line out that you can use to connect to your TV or projector. Otherwise, you can incorporate any other console system into your home theater.

Your sound system will likely consist of a number of speakers (left, right, and center front, surround left and right, and a subwoofer). This is the standard surround system. The wattage of the amplifier you are using will greatly affect the sound being produced, so be sure to use one with enough power to effectively supply your system.

As I said, the options are seemingly endless for home theater systems. Be sure to buy from a reputable dealer, and do not buy anything that does not have a 30-day money back guarantee……just in case you have to return it to pay your rent!

Filtration

Hepa filters are the most effective air cleaning systems sold for home use. They are used in hospitals and doctors recommend them above other air filtration systems for patients with asthma or severe allergies. They aren’t energy efficient for whole house filtration systems due to the amount of energy needed to run them. For this reason, most are intended to treat one space. You may need to purchase one for the bedroom and another for the living area.

Hepa is an acronym for High Efficiency Particulate Air filter. This method is more effective at removing small particles from the air than any other filtration media. They can be used alone in an air cleaner or combined with another method, such as an electrostatic air purifier. These filters are sometimes used on another appliance, such as a vacuum cleaner or humidifiers in cold weather or a dry climate.

Effectiveness of Hepa Filters

The effectiveness of a filter is measured by the size of the particles it can remove from the air. This is stated in microns. The smaller the number, the more particles will be removed from your air. In general, you should look for a filter that will remove 99.97% of all particles 0.1 microns or larger.

These filters remove a wide variety of contaminants from the air. They are very effective at removing dust mites and pet dander, which are two very common allergens in homes. They also reduce smoke, pollen and mold spores from the air.

For the air cleaning system to be effective, it needs to fit the room. Most air purifier models are marked for the number of square feet they cover. Find out the square footage of the space where you intend to use the purifier before you go shopping. Choose one that works for a slightly larger area for best results. For example, if the room is 300 square feet, look for a system that will treat 400 square feet. A purifier that works for only 300 square feet will be less effective at removing all the particles in your air.

In most cases, these filters are disposable. For the system to be effective, the filter must be changed as needed. Follow the directions from the manufacturer for how often it needs to be changed. The more the air cleaner is used, the more the filters will need to be changed. In general, you will need to change it every three to six months.

Hepa Vacuum Cleaners

If you have an air cleaner, but you use a traditional vacuum cleaner, the air won’t be as clean as you would like. Dust and other particles in the carpet is kicked up into the air by vacuuming. This causes more irritants in the air for you to breathe. Hepa filters are being used in vacuum cleaners. The filter traps particles inside, leaving fewer irritants in the air.

Some vacuum cleaners use a single filter, while others use multi stage or multiple filters. These filters are cleanable and need to be replaced yearly. For the system to be effective, you should look for a filter that is capable of catching small particles. When replacing filters, be sure to buy the right size for your vacuum.

Projector Bulb

The replacement of projector bulbs is an all-too-frequent occurrence for anybody that has owned a home theater projector for any length of time. While a two thousand hour lifespan may sound like a lifetime to some people, rest assured it is not long before the projector lamp will need replacing. There are however, some general tips that can help to expand the life of a headlamp for the projection unit.

Do not touch the lamp with bare hands
One of the most frequent problems encountered is people replacing the bulbs with their bare hands. While this is fine for an ordinary light bulb, it is not a good practice for a projector lamp. The lamp in a projection unit burns much hotter than any regular light bulbs. The effects of touching it with bare skin are equally magnified and problematic.

Touching a projector bulb with the bare skin leaves traces of oil on the lamp surface. While this may seem a very minor detail, it is detrimental both to the bulb and the quality of the resulting multimedia display. The oils will get burnt onto the lamp and drastically reduce the lifespan. As the oil is baked into the surface, it actually diffuses the light being projected, reducing the lumens actually being sent to the refractive surfaces. The light will not be enough to project the image that has come to be expected from the home theater projection system. While the problem may not be noticeable at first, over the course of a little time, the quality will degrade to the point of not being viewable.

Turn off the projector power after turning off the lamp

It is highly recommended to turn the power on the projector to the “off” position only after having turned off the lamp and allowing it to cool. This will allow the cooling fans to do the job they were designed to do. While rapid cooling and heating result in repeated contractions and expansions of the bulb filament, it is much better that it be done more quickly with the cooling fans. Likewise, turning the projector on and allowing the cooling fans to run for a moment before turning on the lamp will help as well. This will add hours to bulb life expectancy and allow for longer hours of viewing pleasure on the home theater projection system.

Constant Movements

Constantly bumping or moving the projector, especially while it is hot can be very detrimental to the projector lamp. The filament in the bulb loses almost all tensile strength when it is heated during normal usage. It is much the same as the filament in a camp lantern. The principle is the same; the filament effectively becomes almost the same consistency as ash, making it extremely vulnerable to damage when it is hot. Even after proper cooling, the lamp filament is very sensitive. Care should be taken when moving the projector for whatever reason. While it is always a good idea to be careful with electronic equipment, some aspects of the home projector are actually a bit more sensitive.

It will usually be necessary to move the projector when cleaning the filters. As always, it is a good idea to move it carefully without jerking it around or bumping it any more than needed. Taking an extra moment or two to check the projector mount and make sure it is still securely fastened can also be beneficial and prevent slips and movement which may otherwise be harmful.

With a little care and a little preventative maintenance, the projector lamps will still need to be changed, but not nearly as often.

Flat Screen TV Online

When it comes to shopping for a flat screen TV, consumers have the option of browsing the local retail store, internet shop or mail-order catalog. Because of it's convenience, many choose to shop online and leave the heavy lifting to someone else. In exchange for a shipping fee, consumers can have the product delivered directly to their doorstep.

When shopping for any product online, including a flat screen TV, there are several ways for the customer to make sure that their bargain purchase doesn't become a real pain. There is something to be said in the old adage, which declares that if something is too good to be true, then it probably is! Anyone shopping for a flat screen TV should familiarize themselves with the retail price of the particular model that they are interested in purchasing. If the buyer comes across an unrealistic low price for this item, this may throw a red flag to indicate a questionable offering. Technology is expensive and no business, no matter how great or small, can afford to practically give away their merchandise. Extremely high shipping fees combined with low pricing is also a legitimate concern among internet shoppers. Because of the weight of a flat screen TV, consumers can expect to pay a larger shipping fee, but only within reason.

As with most new technology, a warranty is generally available from the manufacturer. During an occasion when a customer purchases a flat screen TV online, they need to make sure that the guarantee is from an American warranty. In addition, customers should pay close attention to exactly what is covered under the warranty, the period covered and which party is responsible for shipping costs if applicable.

Before making any purchase, including that of a flat screen TV, consumers should always check out the business's reputation with the local Better Business Bureau in their area. It is also a good idea to learn about the company's return and/or exchange policy in the event that a problem should arise. While it is important to purchase a flat screen TV from a reputable dealer, the sales approach should never be an aggressive one. Even if the company is legitimate, a pushed sale is never a good idea.

As a final thought, when purchasing anything online, including a flat screen TV, consumers may wish to consider doing so with a credit card. The majority of credit card companies offer a dispute process, which enables the customer to gain a full refund if the product is not as advertised or if the company refuses to stand behind their product. Each credit card company retains a unique policy when it comes to customer disputes, which is outlined in the Terms & Agreement paperwork included with their card.