Ty Ince, owner of Lion Sound and Security, has set up home theater systems all across the United States, including Utah, Hawaii, Arizona and Indiana, and says it is important to install kid-friendly items and equipment that are easily upgraded in years to come. Ince says there are several steps to follow when deciding to install a home theater system.
First, look at the size of the room and what kind of projectors and screens you will need to get the desired effect. Ince suggests determining who will be the primary users of the room, whether it will be mainly children or the entire family. This will help in determining what kind of equipment you will need. “Most of the time, kids get a better hang of electronic things than adults do,” Ince says.
Second, Ince says to look at your budget and spend accordingly, making sure to include equipment that is compatible and easily expanded (for future upgrades). “Put more in than you need to make sure you are prepared for future things that may become a necessity,” Ince says. “A dream system costs about $40,000 to $60,000; but if you have a TV and DVD player, you could spend about $1,800 for speakers and a receiver, including labor.”
Third, make sure the equipment is accessible for kids and big enough for gaming systems, which are some of the popular things Ince installs for families with home theater systems. “Right now the most popular items with the kids are the Wii, the Xbox 360 and the Play Station 3 or Play Station 2,” Ince says. “The ideal kid-friendly theater would have all the regular stuff in it, but also have the latest video game console.”
Finally, it is important to have a universal remote and a technician willing to program it. A great tool is the Philips ProntoPro, with a touch screen display that is able to control single- or multi-room home entertainment systems. This control eliminates a table full of remotes for everything from your DVD player, television, VCR, sound system and much more. It has easy-to-navigate color buttons on a touch-screen and the ability to customize it to your preferences and system.
Ince suggests having a little fun with your home theater system by giving the surrounding room a little character. “I get tired of seeing beige in most of the home theater rooms around this area—have some fun decorating your theaters,” Ince says. He suggests using favorite movie themes, such as Harry Potter or Star Wars, or a fun movie theater theme, complete with movie posters in lights or a popcorn machine.
“The most kid-friendly system I have installed is my most recent in Silver City,” Ince says. “It is simple to use, has two game consoles, room to do more and is so easy to use that everyone from the 9-year-old to the parents can all work the system.”
The type of equipment you buy is important as well, says Ince. Brand names, like Sony, Pioneer and Yamaha, make a difference by providing better contrast and having longer lives. Ince says it’s also important to buy equipment in High Definition because “it is the wave of the future.” A basic home theater system includes a television, DVD player, receiver, five speakers and a subwoofer.
Ince specializes in structured wiring, security systems and surround sound, in addition to taking several gaming systems, DVD players and stereo equipment, and rolling them all into one easy-to-navigate system.
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