what are the benefits of having a home cinema?

benefits of a home cinema

In a good home theatre it is like being at the movies ... but:

- without having to go out in bad weather and travel long distances to the cinema (or possibly smoke filled sports bar) showing what you want to watch;

- without being annoyed by other people eating and talking;

- with the ability to pause when you want to, for instance for a biological or tea break;

- without the high cost of actually visiting the theatre (if you include admission, parking, baby sitting and maybe a dinner out this can easily be over a $100)

- with the ability to schedule what you want to watch and when, rather than working to a commercial schedule (and this includes changing your mind if the film turns out to be not what you are in the mood for); and,

- with the ability to adjust sound levels to your preference.

And -- best of all -- you always have the best seat in the house!

These benefits are available with any home theatre, but in my view they only fully apply if the image and sound approximate what you would see at the cinema.

I built ours around a front projector and 100" screen with good surround sound, and programme material available from an HDTV satellite DVR and DVD player. Since we set it up neither my wife nor I have had any inclination to go to a "real" cinema ... in fact we invite the neighbours over to our place! I actually find it not so good , because a person hardly gets more kick out of 5 channels.