Combination Televisions Not Always Best For Home Theaters
Combination Televisions Not Always Best For Home Theaters
Formulating the ideal home theater is a big undertaking. To create a room that's perfect for movie watching and also is relaxing and inviting takes some planning, clear ideas and, of course, a good budget.
Naturally the electronic components are a big deal. A good home theater includes a television, a DVD player, a VCR, a cable system, a sound system and a receiver to make them all work together well. This can be very costly, however, especially if major top of the line items are desired. A home theater on average can cost between $1,500 to more than $50,000 to put together and that's just the electronic components.
But what about combination systems that turn multiple purchases into a single one?
The answer is they are both good and bad. Very well made TV/DVD/VCR combinations can serve a home theater well, but there are drawbacks. On the upside, the cost makes them a lot easier on the wallet than a jumbo projection TV or a wall-mounted plasma. Plus, you don't have to buy an extra DVD or VCR.
Let's take a look at the pros and cons of such a purpose for a home theater:
Pros:
Requires only a single buy for up to three major components for a home theater.
The cost makes them more affordable for many.
They can come in flat screen and even offer HDTV capabilities, which are good for home theaters.
The combination ensures that there are no glitches in getting the television, DVD or VCR to work together and work together well.
The sizes generally go up to more than 30 inches, which falls in above the bare minimum for a good home theater.
They work well in constrained spaces, making better use of space than three separate and larger components would.
Cons:
They're not always as versatile as a separate television unit when it comes to size and shape. In the case of those who really want a big television that's formatted for wide screen viewing, they generally won't do.
If one part breaks, the whole system goes down for repairs or must be replaced.
The bells and whistles of many of the more advanced systems with separate components may be missing.
The versatility of buying different components as standalones is lost in a combo, but the choice is really up to the buyer. These systems can be great for those on a budget, but folks with larger wallets will still generally prefer the freedom of purchasing the separate components.
