Abandon Nest

Now that you have your display set up and are getting all the visual stimulation you can handle from your gaming console or DVD player, it’s time to start thinking about the aural experience.

The benefits that pictures gain from sound is enormous. To take advantage of your stellar video setup, you’re going to need 5.1 surround sound at the very least (there is also 6.1 and 7.1, but they are obscure and most movies/games do not take advantage of the setup.) So what should you look for in a sound system? As an audio novice, here are my less than specific recommendations.

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Your TV (or projector) will most likely be the focal point of your home entertainment system. As such, it makes sense to spend the biggest part of your budget on this piece. I’ve already stated that high-definition is a must, but what else is important for your biggest set piece?

• Size - Many people are impressed by big TVs, and for good reason. Generally the bigger the set the more expensive it was. Also, a big set can give you that mini-theater setting that a lot of people desire. Size is a critical factor in the success of your home entertainment center. Consider how far you’ll be sitting from the screen. If you’re close, a 27″ set may seem like a monster. If you’re 20′ away, you might consider something bigger adequate.

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Yesterday I pointed out the 4 things that I think are absolutely necessary for any home entertainment system. Today I’d like to point out an increasingly frequent addition to the modern home theater. That is the gaming console.

As gaming has become more and more mainstream, it often becomes a primary focus of the entertainment system. In fact, with the release of the XBOX 360 many people who had not previously done so went out and bought an HDTV. As we approach the next generation of gaming consoles, it’s clear that there are three choices for gamers everywhere.

• XBOX 360
• PlayStation 3
• Nintendo Wii

For those looking for home entertainment, the Nintendo Wii is probably ruled out. It does not focus on a full media experience, concentrating completely on gaming instead. The XBOX 360 and PlayStation 3 are vying for a spot in your living room. Which do you choose? They each have their benefits.

The XBOX 360 has a planned HD-DVD adapter in the near future. It costs $399 for the premium edition with a price dropped rumored to be coming soon. In addition, it acts as a media center extender right out of the box. This is great for streaming music and eventually movies to your TV and surround sound system from your computer. It’s already available, so you can pick one up right now.

The PS3 is going to drop later this year or early in 2007. There are reports the price is going to be $499-599 for the system itself. What do you get with that? Well, you get the processing power of the PlayStation 3, which is going to be pretty incredible. In addition, the PS3 will ship with a Blu-Ray player built in. The thing that’s working hardest against the PS3 is the extreme price point. For $600 you can buy a nicely equipped Dell with a flatscreen monitor.

So what do you do? XBOX 360 or PS3? Personally, I’d go with the XBOX because it’s available now and can extend your PC right out of the box. The PS3 has potential, but only time will tell the outcome.

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