1) Multiple Screens: Back in June, our blog featuring Sports Themed Rooms showcased one room with four screens. Well this isn’t a one off, this is a trend amongst new aged home theater room. The room we were speaking of had the main big screen and then an additional three on a shot clock as well, giving you the illusion of being in an arena or stadium. With “entertainment” rooms now exploding in popularity, having multiple screens will give you the feel that you’re in a local bar with different options for things to look at while you’re socializing. 

2) Social Networks: We’re all apart of it and there’s no escaping it. Social networking has taken over our lives and it’s also being implemented in home theaters. Smart TV’s were featured in our blog back in July. Smart TV’s can connect you directly to social media sites where you can share what you’re doing and what you’re watching. The addition of tablets and smartphones has also become integral to home theaters. We are truly connected to one another all the time and social networks makes that even easier to do. You can tweet while you’re watching the Super Bowl or Stanley Cup Final or even live tweeting with your favorite TV show like Criminal Minds or Sons of Anarchy. 

3) Floor and Soundbar Speakers: Since floorstanding and soundar speakers produce clear audio, more consumers are deciding to change from wall mount or in wall speaker systems.

4) Apps: Yes apps are now controling our homes from lighting to fire places and our TV’s and entertainment systems. Home Theater Apps, our blog from October will give you the most used and most beneficial apps to use in your home theaters. 

We’re all looking for the best value our money can buy so it’s important to ensure you make your home theater suit your needs. Make sure the benefits you look for are a part of your home theater room. This holiday season, there will be a lot of products to choose from. Ensure you get what’s best for you and not what you think you need. Do your research and enjoy your home theater to the fullest. 

We always appreciate your comments and feedback so contact through Facebook, Twitter, email or by phone.

Canadian Head Office
Unit 406, 17665 66A Ave.
Surrey, BC V3S 2A7
Tel. 604-575-8310
Fax. 604-575-8329

U.S. Head Office
1927 Boblett Street
Blaine, WA 98230
Tel. 1-800-490-1595

email: sales@elitehts.com

A recent article in the Longview, Texas News Journal, entitled “Home Theaters Rivaling Stadiums”, stated technology has given the consumer greater opportunity to own big screen TV’s since the price has dropped so much over the past few years. With LCD, LED, and Plasma TV’s as well as state of the art sound systems, the need to go to a busy stadium isn’t necessary.  With TV stations all in HD, the quality is just as good at home than it is in the stadium itself.

The article mentions the seating in an arena or stadium, comfort is usually not thought of. In a home theater environment, seat selection can be customized to your liking which makes the home environment ideal for sports viewing. Dependent on the size of your home theater room, you can have the layout that best suits your needs. Having friends and family over to watch a big game can be shared with the exact number of people you want around. If you all cheer for the same team, the intimate setting can make for exciting times. Instead of 20,000 to 70,000 people screaming and chanting, you have close friends and family all cheering for the  same team.

Thearticle, “Home Theaters Rivaling Stadiums” made mention of how important draft beer is for many beer drinkers.  At one time you could only purchase draft beer in bars or events such as concerts, sporting events, or in restaurants. Nowadays, the home owner can purchase a home keg refrigerator so you can pour your own draft beer in the comfort of your own home. If this isn’t of importance to you than a home keg is not needed at all. If you’re not a big drinker you probably don’t like being around all those in the stadiums that do. You can be free of the drinking environment in your own home.

An important cost not mentioned was the price of tickets. Going to an NFL or NHL game can cost you  a lot of money. According to Ticketmaster, a Seattle Seahawks game ranges from $65.00 to $425.00 . Let’s not forget to mention travel expenses and the travel time. Fuel prices are at a high everywhere.

To view the Longview, Texas News Journal article, please click the here. With the new NFL season starting in the next few weeks, we may be able to see if this article is accurate. Will attendance be down at these games or will people still attend like they have in previous years? It really depends on your situation. If you like the crowd and the environment or if you prefer the commentators on TV and the intimacy you can only have in your home. Watching sporting events in the home is a positive environment that brings people together as well.

Your feedback is always appreciated so let us know what you think is the ideal sporting environment. We would love to hear it.

Canadian Head Office
Unit 406, 17665 66A Ave.
Surrey, BC V3S 2A7
Tel.  604-575-8310
Fax. 604-575-8329

U.S. Head Office
1927 Boblett Street
Blaine, WA 98230
Tel. 1-800-490-1595

email: sales@elitehts.com

New features to NHL 13 include True Performance Skating, EA Sports Hockey I.Q., Free Skate, create your ultimate fantasy team with Hockey Ultimate Team, and Hockey Moments Live, (where you can watch scenes from past games). This version allows the goalies to sprawl, dive, and move at a quicker pace then previous years. The clip below demonstrates the new feature, True Performance Skating. NHL 13 uses real-world physics to replicate the momentum a player uses when he starts to skate.

The demo features the Stanley Cup champions, the LA Kings and the team they beat, the New  Jersey Devils. Download the demo here and let us know what you think. With so many dedicated home theater game rooms being built, we can imagine the fun you and your friends will have playing NHL 13. The comments left by fellow gamers on the NHL 13 Facebook Page is relatively positive, fans like the new graphics and changes.

NHL 13 and a special Stanley Cup Collector’s Edition are set to be released on September 11, 2012 and can be pre-ordered here.

Give us your feedback on this or any other home theater related experience. We would love to hear it.

Canadian Head Office
Unit 406, 17665 66A Ave.
Surrey, BC V3S 2A7
Tel.  604-575-8310
Fax. 604-575-8329

U.S. Head Office
1927 Boblett Street
Blaine, WA 98230
Tel. 1-800-490-1595

email: sales@elitehts.com

XPand 3D Cinema System has been added to over 5000 movie theaters worldwide. You may have not heard of them before but it is more than likely that you have witnessed their technology while watching a movie at your local theater. 3D technology for the home has increased since 2010 when Samsung released the worlds first 3D LED HDTV. XPand has decided to introduce their 3D glasses for home theaters. 

What makes these 3D glasses different is how they operate. 3D technology depends on stereopsis, (perception of depth produced by the reception in the brain of visual stimuli from both eyes in combination).The XPand technology uses alternating shuttering of the lenses. Since this is done so quickly, the human eye cannot tell. So while the right eye is blocked, the left is visible and when the left is blocked, the right is visible. These glasses are not the plastic disposable kind you receive at a movie theater. These 3D glasses start at $119.00. There are three styles to choose from, YOUniversal Electronic 3D Eyewear, Universal 3D Glasses, & DLP®-Link Edux 3D Glasses. 

For the 3D glasses to work, the AE125 IR emitter is needed.  By placing the emitter at the back of your home theater, the emitter projects to the screen. As this occurs, the signal then bounces off the screen directly to the 3D glasses.

There are three kits available:

1) The QC Cinema Kit includes: an AE125 Emitter, Mid-Range, Wide Angle-25 degrees, and 10 X103-C3 Infinity glasses.

2) The QC Pro Kit includes: an AE125 Emitter, Mid-Range, Wide Angle-25 degrees, and 10 X103-C1 Infinity Pro glasses.

3) The XPAND VIP Cinema Kit includes: an AE125 Emitter, Mid-Range, Wide Angle-25 degrees and 10 X104 LX1 YOUniversal Glasses.

For more information on XPand, please visit their website. With the popularity of home theaters and the popularity of 3D for the home increasing at such a rapid rate,  XPand 3D could be an essential in 3D home theaters in the near future.

Google has now released the Google Nexus Q.  Through Google Play, you can play music or movies through your Android phone or from your media tablet via Google Play Music. You can watch YouTube however Netflix is not available. Nexus Q is equipped with Bluetooth connectivity, an amp, & analog speaker outputs, Apple TV has neither of these options. The Nexus Q retails for $299.00 USD. The following video will give you a better understanding of the Nexus Q.

With devices like these there is no need to purchase physical DVD’s and CD’s.  All the contents are either streamed or stored on your computer.  For those of you who enjoy owning the physical DVD or CD, this may deter you from purchasing it. Those of you that don’t care to own any physical format, this can be a new way to enjoy movies, concerts, and sporting events.  Your home theater can have an unlimited catalogue, dependent if iTunes has what you want to watch (if you choose Apple TV).

Home theater can benefit from devices like these and it’s up to the consumer if they would like to move away from traditional media platforms.  Now your home theater can feature family vacations, weddings, & birthdays.  Just how popular this will become is unknown however, do your research. If you believe this form of technology will enhance your home theater experience, please leave us a comment regarding your choice.