by Garet Harris

Created on: April 16, 2009

When it comes to home theatre systems it can be very difficult to make heads or tails of what is available out there. The various offerings by companies is diverse from price to features. For the beginner this dilemma can prove to be to much as the choices are endless. For the beginner to have a successful first experience on a do it yourself level a boxed kit or system is really the only way to go. Most kit systems supply every last item required for a basic installation, and they supply simple to follow instructions that even the most inexperienced installer can follow. This makes it possible for novice home theatre fans to have a decent surround experience without paying for an installer. Lets take a look at the differences between a box kit and a component system.

A component system consists of a lot of different pieces that the purchaser must chose to get a complete functioning system. These components are many and varied in there application and can be quite expensive. To have a complete system the purchaser must select a surround amp unit that has all the features they want, then they must select the speakers and subwoofer, deicing on either 5 to 1 or 7 to 1 encoding along the way. Then you must select speaker wiring and connection cables as well as a DVD player to round out the package. It sounds simple right, well the problem is that not all speaker systems sound good with different amplifiers, some systems can incorporate automatic room setup that requires speakers designed in conjunction with the surround amp. If you happen to chose the wrong speakers the room wont correct right due to frequency anomalies that occur in various driver designs and configurations.

A box system on the other hand is designed to work as a system right out of the box with out much headache. There is still some obvious setup required, but typically the system can be up and running with about an hour worth of work. A box system normally supplies all needed components to install and use your system without any extra purchases. Many box systems can even be found with an integrated DVD and vicar player for cheaper than you can add on the extra components separately.

The system you choose should not only fit your budget and needs, but your level of skill as well. With so many offerings out there, a system can be found to fit almost anyone's needs. Remember to be realistic in your understanding of the components involved before trying to purchase either type of system.

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