A typical home theater system is designed around certain vital components like an audio/video receiver, a Bluray/DVD/CD player, speakers, and a TV. Home theaters sound systems generally fall into one of two categories:
- Home Theater in a Box (HTiB) systems
- Separate component home theater systems
Home Theater in a Box (HTiB) systems are designed to be all-in-one-packages. They come with all the audio components you need to set up a home theater. A typical Home Theater in a Box includes 5 or 7 directional speakers and a subwoofer. A wireless remote control, color-coded cables, and wires are also included in the box. Some manufactures even make packages that come with DVD or Bluray Players and truly offer everything you need for a complete home theatre (except the TV, couch, and refreshments of course).
Separately purchased home theater components on the other hand, offer more options for customization, upgrading, and expandability, in addition to typically offering greater performance than HTiB systems. In this case you would purchase each home theater component separately and assemble them into one cohesive unit. This would involve picking the center channel, front & back speakers, subwoofer and then connecting them all to a home receiver, which in turn would be connected to your TV & Bluray/DVD player.
Most HTiB systems are designed to be compact and look stylish. They are also very easy to set up because all their components are made by the same manufacturer and are compatible with each other. The Home Theater in a Box is typically more affordable as well due to the fact that the speakers are usually smaller & less powerful and the receiver doesnt have as many inputs and options as a stand a lone receiver. Home Theaters in a Box come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and prices. Low end systems can be had for as low as $200. A high-end Home Theater in a Box system could cost upwards of $3000.
Although there are many advantages of going with a Home Theater in a Box, there is some compromise as well. Its performance compared to separate component home theater systems is simply not as mind blowing. Since the makers of HTiB systems usually specialize in electronics and not loudspeakers, most HTiBs wont be able to reproduce high-fidelity audio. When you buy components separately, you can carefully select the best products and upgrade your system with the latest components whenever you like. If you are an audiophile at heart, it is worth it to spend the extra bucks and buy separate components. Keep in mind, however, they are more difficult to set up and operate. On the other hand, you can choose the size, cabinet color and finish, as well as speaker type (like floorstanding or bookshelf) when you buy separate components to create a home theater that looks and sounds exactly the way you want.
If you have a small room and are planning on using your home theater mostly for TV viewing and some movie watching, the economical Home Theater in a Box is a good choice. If you are bent on high-quality, true-to-life sound, want to upgrade your system over time, and enjoy hooking up the latest high-tech electronics, separate component home theater systems are made for you.
