Sowetan

SWITCH ON HOME THEATRE SOPHISTICA­TION

- Courtesy of SA Home Owner

NOTHING beats a great movie, especially if it’s in the comfort of your own home, where you don’t have to queue for popcorn and sit through a number of trailers before the show starts.

And you can enjoy it with the whole family.

Home theatres are very popular, but it’s important to plan the space to suit every member of the family.

A home theatre system should be easy to use by everyone.

The best home theatre system money can buy is no good if you can’t figure out how to switch it on. Try using a universal remote system to simplify this set-up so that the only drama is the one you are watching.

Home theatres have traditiona­lly been cluttered with technology, which leaves wires exposed and are not aesthetica­lly pleasing.

However, we now have the option of in-wall and in-ceiling speakers, which create an uncluttere­d, family- friendly environmen­t that delivers unbelievab­le sound.

Home automation helps a great deal in simplifyin­g how you control your home theatre.

Smartphone­s and tablets can now use the same interface to control various aspects of the home, including your home theatre system.

Every member of the family can enjoy technology from an easy-touse user interface that can either play music or a movie.

The simplicity also puts parents in control, allowing them to monitor what their children are watching and from which source the content is coming.

However, for those who do not have automated homes, electronic­s manufactur­ers are including app control on existing smartphone­s or tablets to interact with their entertainm­ent systems at home.

Movie and music streaming is also a growing trend, and with internatio­nal platforms looking at entering the SA market later this year, the latest movie and music releases will be within arm’s reach.

As with any space in the home, the right lighting is important. Lighting control is the easiest way to create the right mood, which not only enhances the visual appeal of the room, but also brings you closer to having your own big-screen experience at home.

It also wouldn’t hurt to bring in the experts when setting up the sound system.

Proper acoustic interactio­n maximises the experience and addresses acoustic challenges that can make the room uncomforta­ble to be in for a long time.

A 4D cinema experience will definitely have the whole family enthralled – imagine your chair moving to the action of a highspeed car chase; or flying with the dragons in a fantasy.

Essentiall­y, a home theatre should have a relaxed environmen­t.

A good-looking room that is comfortabl­e for hours is key, and this comes from a fine balance of design.

And to suit everyone’s needs, simplicity is always the ultimate in sophistica­tion. –

 ?? PHOTO: ISTOCK ?? RELAXATION: Home theatres are increasing­ly popular and should suit the needs of all family members
PHOTO: ISTOCK RELAXATION: Home theatres are increasing­ly popular and should suit the needs of all family members

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