All-in-One Solutions

We like having work done for us. This is one of the reasons the all-in-one home theater systems, often referred to as home theaters in boxes are so popular. They reduce effort and confusion by bundling together the basics needed for a home theater system.

In its most basic sense, a home theater involves a television, receiver/amplifier, speakers and a means of playing recorded media. Those with larger budgets and more lofty goals may also set aside a full room of a home for the home theater, including special lighting, highly comfortable seating and other extras. However, before one can run, they are usually required to learn to walk. Those who are only now taking their first home theater steps may want to consider an all-in-one home theater package.

These boxed systems involve a set of speakers, a receiver capable of pushing surround sound and a DVD player. They generally do not include a television or monitory. One can use their own television or buy one separately. A twenty-seven inch television is usually considered a reasonable size for home theater beginners.

A chief advantage of all-in-one systems is the lower prices. Many of these systems cost fewer than two hundred dollars and they can be a great deal when one thinks about all you get. These systems have made home theaters more accessible to those who may not be particularly wealthy.

The all-in-one home theater systems are designed with non-experts in mind. They assemble and install very easily and anyone capable of interpreting a simply installation manual can have their system up and running in a hurry.

They are also a convenient item. There is no need to shop about for separate pieces or to worry about getting all the requisite cabling or connectors. Everything is included in the one box in which everything comes. They are a simple, one transaction means of creating a home theater with a minimum of effort required between purchase and sitting down to watch one's favorite movie.

Space is an important issue when setting up a home theater. If you don't have a lot of room, a home theater in a box is just what you need. They are really compact and don't take up a lot of space, which is perfect for setting up a home theater in a room designated for something else, such as the family room.

These affordable home theater systems, however, do have some negative characteristics. Their quality is generally not up to par with the kinds of components one can purchase separately. Those who tend to be very sound conscious may be disappointed by all-in-one home theater systems.

These systems also lack versatility. They are designed for watching movies using the included DVD player. You can use them as stereos for DVDs in many cases, but they are not true stereo systems. They are generally very limited with respect to carrying additional inputs or outputs, too. They are, simply, limited systems.

Al-in-one solutions also risk complete system shut down in the event of one problem. A single broken cable or one problem with the receiver can render the rest of the set virtually useless. One cannot simply replace on part of the system. It is generally an all or nothing proposition. The lack of flexibility can be frustrating for some. If you necessitate a full-featured home entertainment system that can continue to grow with technology and your interests, these cheaper systems may be a bad investment.

When deciding if an all-in-one solution can work, ones needs must be kept in mind. One must simply know what they want the end result of their home theater experience to be. For some, this will lead to an inexpensive purchase. For others, it will produce a need to buy more expensive and higher quality components. If you are looking for a very simple and inexpensive means of trying out the home theater experience in a limited space, however, all-in-one systems may be the perfect way of doing just that.