GET YOUR HOME CINEMA READY FOR TODAY’S ENTERTAINMENT
It may be hard to believe, but home theaters have been around for almost 40 years. But since we’re in Beverly Hills, California and the heart of the motion picture industry, it’s even longer than that as some in the film business replicated the equipment of commercial theaters in lavish homes. For the most part, however, it’s been since the 1980s that the equipment to reproduce the magic of cinema sight and sound has been available for home environments.
The longstanding history of home theater means many homes already have one. But home theater experiences have evolved significantly since the 1980s, especially as digital audio and video formats and the internet have reshaped content distribution and availability. That means some home cinema equipment as little as 5-7 years old may not be offering viewers the ultimate watching experience. Since we’re a home theater company, we’d like to tell you three ways you should consider upgrading your personal cinema space so you can enjoy immersive movies, TV shows, and more with the latest high-performance components possible. Please keep reading below!
SEE ALSO: Home Theater 102: The Basics of Surround Sound
4K AND 8K PROJECTORS
Higher-resolution projectors in true 4K didn’t take off as fast as their flat-panel TV counterparts. So a high-end projector of only seven years ago may only have been HD. Now, 4K is the standard, and higher-end 8K models are also available. Beyond higher resolution, better image processing from faster chips and HDR compatibility means that today’s projectors are capable of sharper and more vivid pictures than ever before. Add to that the wider availability of laser lamps for superior brightness and longevity, and a projector becomes a must-have upgrade for home cinema if you are still running HD.
DOLBY ATMOS IMMERSIVE AUDIO
Dolby may have introduced surround sound for homes in the late 1980s, but arguably it took a giant leap forward in 2015. The introduction of Dolby Atmos added another dimension to surround sound, allowing audio engineers to mix up to 128 sound sources into a film soundtrack for 360 degrees of immersive sound experiences.
Dolby Atmos currently supports up to 64 channels of surround sound, far more than ever. However, most theaters don’t need 64 speakers to recreate the immersive effects. Upgrading to one or more sets of ceiling speakers and 11, 13, or 16 channels of surround sound will deliver next-level audio for today’s soundtracks. With almost every home theater audio processor supporting Dolby Atmos and an ever-increasing amount of movies and streaming content supporting it, you can enjoy enveloping, three-dimensional audio soundtracks like never before.
SEATING AND ACOUSTICS
With higher-resolution screens and immersive audio, other areas you might want to revamp are seating and acoustic treatment. Higher resolution screens alter the ideal seating distance, and more speakers for audio information also require thinking about seating to ensure every seat enjoys the same visual and aural performance. You can change from informal to more formal theater lounge seating or go from traditional loungers to a mix of casual and formal seating. You may want to go with multiple tiered rows or change your screen to adapt to a flat room floor. For ultimate audio performance, with different seating and speaker configurations, you will likely need to revisit the room’s acoustic treatments as well.
YOUR BEVERLY HILLS HOME THEATER COMPANY
Ready to bring your home theater up to today’s standards? As one of the leading home theater companies in the Los Angeles area, Malibu Wired is your local expert. Contact us by giving us a call, filling out our online contact form, or chatting with an expert in the chat window below to schedule a no-obligation consultation. We look forward to working with you!
