HED Mag

Many home theater owners ultimately find themselves upgrading from cable to satellite service, in order to better take advantage of their high end televisions. Satellite service is unparalleled in terms of picture quality and wide-spanning programming options, delivering hundreds of programming options only one click of the remote away from your enjoyment. Still, when ordering satellite television, the choices extend beyond just DirecTV and Dish Network. While yes, these are the two primary service providers, there are avenues by which to bring either of these services into your home. Using DirecTV as an example, here’s a more comprehensive look at your alternatives.DirecTV.com The official DirecTV website will take you directly to the source itself. This easily casts aside any doubts as far as the legitimacy of what you are purchasing.BestBuy.com You can purchase DirecTV through other vendors as well, such as major retailers like Best Buy (the DirecTV Store at Best Buy), which partners with DirecTV and offers some rebate options on other Best Buy products ( i.e. Best Buy gift cards). (more…)

Surround sound systems have become increasingly affordable for most homes. This is a fundamental must have for anyone who is a fan of television, sports, movies, or video games. So what is the proper installation method for your surround sound system?

First you have to look at your room’s architecture before you install any speakers. If it is perfectly square then you won’t have a problem installing a 5.1 or a 7.1 system. A 5.1 system features five speakers, one for each corner of the room and one right in front of the (more…)

Surround sound is an awesome way to get a better overall viewing and listening experience from TV, DVDs and CDs. The basic idea is that the receiver or amplifier will send different signals to each speaker, decoded from the source you are using. So if you are watching a TV show, the sound will not only be from in front of you, but also from the rear and sides. This allows the sound to be all around you, hence the name.
Surround sound systems (more…)

So you went over to your neighbor’s house last week and they have a brand new home theater system that is the envy of the neighborhood . Well, maybe you should kick it up a notch at your place and do the same. It’s not as hard as it used to be and to be honest anyone can do it no matter what experience you may have.

The first things you will need are a drywall saw , http://www.ez-ier.com/content/kett_drywall_electric , a sturdy screw gun, a tape measure, zip ties, and wire cutters as well as (more…)

With surround sound speakers covering the nooks and crannies of your home theater system, assuming you splurged a bit, there’s no better place to let the Christmas spirit ring out across the household, heck, even for the neighbors to hear. Consider it your very own brand of electronic Christmas caroling. This Christmas season, give the gift of sound to your loved ones and those around you. The perfect package for any home theater enthusiast is a set of upgraded speakers and a holiday themed CD to test it out with. Or perhaps, just an iTunes gift card. Here’s a quick price guide to some choice speakers out there, depending on how many dollars your good tidings might require.2,000KEF KHT 5005.2 Brings everything but the big bang. The black, thin, wireless speakers are as unintrusive as possible and sound quality is as crystal clear. However, with any such size reduction in speaker mass, there is ultimately a lower noise-producing ceiling. The majority of home theater owners would never notice, but for those planning on throwing 100 people raves that carry out into the yard, the people in the way back might want to bring their own boom box.1,000 to 2,000Aperion Intimus 4T Hybrid SD 6 pieces, elegantly designed sure to only enhance the auditory and aesthetic appeal of any home theater. Featuring large, full-size speakers, were the sleek design any less perfectly refined, such volume-enhancing commodities might seem obtrusive, however, in this case the tight rope is walked flawlessly, combining an optimal blend of style and sound. (more…)

There is simply no viewing experience, including the movie theater, quite like watching a Blu-ray DVD in all its fine picture quality from the comfort of your own couch with the people you love. Here’s a look at our picks for the best releases this month as titles new and old make their way from the silver screen to the home screen, at never before seen heights of image resolution.October Blue Ray Releases:Rocky (I-V) If you’ve never seen Rocky battle the likes of Apollo Creed and Ivan Drago, there’s no better time than now. Introduce your family and kids to one of America’s most storied athletes, across the lines of fiction and nonfiction in these inspiring tales of grit and determination. (Available Oct 5)My Bloody Valentine Just in time for the Halloween Holiday, this 3-D story of a small mining town on terrifyingly wrong can now jump out and scare you no matter how tightly your doors are locked. (Available Oct 05)How to Train Your Dragon A children’s instant classic released for the first time since its theatre debut, this fantasy tale transports imaginations to a world in which dragons and Vikings are constantly fighting, until one young Viking looking to prove his valor ends up taking compassion on an injured dragon, forever altering society in this mythical village. (Available Oct 15)

Though the hype is mostly over, the Nintendo Wii seventh generation gaming system is far from out dated. Breaking the record for best-selling console in a single month, the Wii has changed gamers’ expectations forever. If you’re looking to keep your home theater connected to the latest and greatest gaming technology, a Nintendo Wii is a must.If you decide to invest in a Wii, you’ll need to pick from the hundreds of games and accessories available for your gaming pleasure. Before choosing, you should know that the Wii isn’t a regular sit-on-the-couch-and-press-buttons kind of game. The controllers are more like magic wandswhen you move, the object on the screen moves. For this reason, the games available for the Wii aren’t your typical games. (more…)

Considering the amount of technology available today and the ever expanding variety of home entertainment options, serious home theater owners need a remote control that offers just what the device’s name implies, control. Stopping just short of launching secret missiles from far away locations and controlling major metro area traffic patterns, the Logitech Harmony One is the most top of the line, multi-functional universal remote to hit the market.The Harmony One is unassuming in its aesthetic presence, avoiding both the oversized frame and clunky feel that has plagued the most advanced universal remotes in its past. The model is both sleek in design with its sharp black finish, and easy to use with a very logical layout and readable button design. The Harmony One also sports a touch screen LCD interface that allows for simple navigation of onscreen menus and toolbars. The device is compatible with both Windows and Mac systems and can be programmed from the internet. In total, the remote can control up to 15 separate apparatuses, giving you a one stop source to operate even the most complex home entertainment set ups. (more…)

The speakers for your home entertainment center depend on the size and space you have available and the overall viewing experience you are hoping to get out of it. Whether you are hard of hearing or strive to be hard of hearing as a result, speakers can come with as much wattage and power as you see necessary. All it takes to turn your standard recliner into a dually functional massage chair is the right bass heavy speaker set up. Dolby, offers a variety of packages catering to the needs both casual TV watchers and home entertainment enthusiasts.While each basic plan includes a subwoofer that delivers low-frequency sound information, three different speaker options are available to provide both simple and complex sound sources. Those opting for a concise straightforward approach to their entertainment experience may find the Dolby 2.1 plan satisfactory. The 2.1 includes 2 speakers in addition to the subwoofer, placed on the left and right side of the primary viewing area. Using the television screen as a zero degree point, the speakers should be placed approximately 22-30 degrees in both directions, along the TV-facing viewer’s line of sight. (more…)

If you can get past the idea of using what was developed as a gaming console for your primary home video device, the Playstation 3 Slim offers unparalleled value and versatility in the home entertainment market. A first rate name in the video game world, the Playstation 3 Slim moonlights as an upscale Blu-ray DVD player equal to the quality of any free standing Blu-ray player available today. By comparison, top notch Blu-ray players can run you north of 150 in their own right, the Playstation 3 Slim is priced just under 300, only adding 150 for its gaming capabilities, built in web browser, free online gaming capabilities, built in Wi-Fi and 120 GB hard drive. Its streaming video capabilities allows you to access to content from external sources such as Netflix in addition to Sony’s own online video store, making it a jack of all trades as far as home video devices go. The model also provides HDMI output making it compatible with the most advanced televisions on the market, the true focal point of any home entertainment center. (more…)