Dos and Don'ts in Home Theater Systems

You have probably bought the best home theater system of your dreams and the last thing you want is for it to reach entertainment overload and go kaput.

The following are the dos and don’ts in home theater system use:

? Don't torch your TV. That is, do not raise your TVs bright settings at its highest peak. Whether it is an HDTV, plasma, LCD, or CRT (picture tube) it is also prone to wreckage if it is not used properly. The higher you raise the bright setting the shorter the life span of your TVs DLP/LCD projector bulb or plasma panel. Contrary to most assumptions, you will most likely get a better color viewing if you scale down the bright and contrast levels.

? Don’t raise up the intensity of your surround speakers to the extreme just to hear them more clearly. The surround speakers are only used for ambience special effects to enhance the audio experience. You are not supposed to hear them in the usual way. It is not for the purpose of blasting you with sound accuracy apart from the hard-mixed sounds that happen off-screen or not in the vicinity gun fights or whatever colliding car sequences it may be. Surround systems are only used to add realism to your viewing experience.

? Don’t raise the subwoofer to maximum levels. Begin first at its lowest level as you play a selection of, not a movie, music, and then progressively raise the volume until you make out the foundation of deep bass. Then steadily elevate the subwoofer level until it is adequately in equilibrium with the midrange and treble.     ? Don't set up your subwoofer in just any corner. You must consider its strategic placement for maximum entertainment. Try placing it in different locations in the room and see where it is best suited and give its ultimate performance. Subwoofers rely very much on room dimensions and positions.

? Do place your surround speaker and center channel speakers to the "small setting". Setting the center channel speaker to a "large" setting will hold back dialog lucidity and frequently add up some unwanted tonal problems. Placing the surround and center channel speakers to the "small" setting will direct deep bass to the subwoofer and the main right and left speakers which is where the bass belong.

? Do think about obtaining a test or set up DVD that might help to standardize the surround sound levels and the video display. Paying extra for a Sound Level Meter won't hurt much if it will help you more in terms of getting superlative performance out of your home theater system. You can even buy these test discs online.

? Don't be alarmed in case you perceived a loud deep bass noise when you switch on the AV receiver, subwoofer, and speakers all together with your TV. This little problem is easy to repair. This noise is only the "ground loop" and it is a fairly familiar by-product of connecting altogether the cable or satellite TV equipment, subwoofers, audio, and video equipments. To get rid of them, you only have to set up a ground-isolating transformer sandwiched between your TV display and incoming cable-TV feed. Or you can also just plug the powered subwoofer unto a different AC outlet inside the room.

If there are problems with your home theater system that just overwhelms you, who you gonna call? The home theater technician.