Premium Home Cinema: Overpriced or Quality Justified

The simplest home theater (DK), equipped with modern functions, due to its technical indicators, cannot be supplied by the manufacturer at a budget price. And the premium technology is even more so. For its production, high-strength materials are traditionally used, as well as advanced technologies that provide the user with maximum opportunities in using the acquired system. Today we will consider the main differences between the premium line and budget analogues, as well as formulate the determining criteria for choosing a high-quality home theater.

About product

First of all, it is worth noting that the external design of elite systems is not much different from the “mass consumption” recreation center. When selecting premium equipment, the buyer must, first of all, focus on the functional indicators indicated by the manufacturer in the device passport.

The main distinguishing features of home theaters of this segment, as a rule, are considered:

• manual work in the production or assembly of individual system components;
• exclusivity of “finishing” materials;
• HI-End or HI-FI type audio system (the term HI-End is traditionally used to denote high-quality sound-amplifying equipment, in particular hardware and software, that does not meet any generally accepted quality standards; when talking about a Hi-Fi system, often we mean the most “clear” sound , in turn, corresponding to the requirements of GOST);
• the ability to display images in the highest quality extension - HD or 4K;
• availability of THX Lucasfilm LTD certification;
• built-in equalizer, giving the user the ability to adjust the playback of video or audio stream;
• the need to install and configure such a system by qualified installers in accordance with the Technical Design.

How to choose

Having found out what really explains the high cost of the premium line of home theaters, it is further advisable to carefully study the list of elite equipment selection criteria below.

1. The power of the speaker system. This characteristic should be evaluated by the buyer in terms of area and features of the room in which the direct use of equipment is planned. It is important to take into account the quadrature of free space, as well as the presence of third-party objects that potentially impede the uniform distribution of surround sound. The optimal indicator of the total power under the condition of operating an elite home theater in the average room of a house or apartment without foreign objects on the walls and ceiling is considered to be at least 1000 watts.
2. Equipment. Given the high cost of elite home theaters, it is logical that there are a sufficient number of system components supplied as standard from the manufacturer. Traditionally, the buyer of premium equipment receives: 3D video projector with the ability to scale 4K; 4K screen with a diagonal of 60 inches; multi-channel amplifier (9 or 11 channels); AV - receiver; an acoustic system consisting of 7 to 10 speakers distributed around the perimeter of the room.
3. Sensitivity. It is a mistake to assume that the higher this indicator is, the louder the sound will be the selected device. In fact, the ratio of the sensitivity of the acoustics to the power of the receiver is decisive. In other words, low sensitivity should be “compensated” by high power and vice versa. Sufficient sound volume have home theaters with a capacity of at least 90 dB.
4. Material.It is worth emphasizing that the vast majority of materials used in the production of the housing and functional parts of a home theater have a high degree of resistance to external damage, so the likelihood that the equipment purchased by the buyer will regularly “serve” for a long time is quite high. However, in view of the greatest compactness and lower weight of the structure, it is advisable to opt for plastic DC systems.

Having sorted out the necessary issues regarding the technical indicators of quality systems of premium home theater systems, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the following list of the best models, deservedly included in the top rating of theaters for installation and use at home, which are actively gaining popularity in 2019.

The best models

Harman / Kardon BDS 880

• Amplifier frequency range: 20 Hz - 20 kHz
• Sensitivity: 90 dB
• Impedance: 6 ohms
• 1 speaker power: 65 W
• Subwoofer Power: 200 W
• Multimedia: MPEG4, DivX HD, AVCHD, WMA, MP3, JPEG, BD (Blu-ray Disc), Blu-ray 3D, CD, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD, DVD R, DVD RW
• Additional options: support for iPod, DLNA, BD - Live, support for AirPlay, compatibility with Android and Windows devices, built-in FM tuner, built-in Bluetooth

A high-quality “representative” of elite technology, capable of not only perfectly coping with its “direct functional responsibilities”, but also simply pleasing the user's eye with its futuristic appearance.

Onkyo HT-S9800THX

• Amplifier frequency range: 20 Hz - 20 kHz
• Sensitivity: 83 dB
• Impedance: 8 ohms
• Total speaker power: 1035 W
• Multimedia: SACD, DVD-Audio; built-in decoders: Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD MA, DTS: X
• Additional options: the ability to adjust the balance, treble and bass, the presence of AM and FM tuner

This model of a home theater will not only fit perfectly into any interior, thanks to its universal appearance, but will also give its user the opportunity to immerse themselves in the content reproduced on it, thanks to the volumetric transmission of clear sound using 7 high-quality speakers.

B&W 684 S2 + NAD T748

• Speaker Frequency Response: 48 Hz - 50 kHz
• Sensitivity: 87 dB
• Impedance: 8 ohms
• “Output” power: 40 W / channel
• Built-in Audio Decoders: DTS, DTS HD, Dolby Pro Logic II, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD
• Additional options: bass reflex, magnetic shielding, the presence of FM - tuner, progressive scan

A high-quality model of a HI-FI-type speaker system, due to its functionality and stylish appearance, fully "justifies" its high cost compared to the analogs of the segment under consideration.

Denon AVR-X2300W + Monitor Audio Bronze 6 5.0 Black

• Speaker Frequency Range: 37 Hz - 30 kHz
• Sensitivity: 90 dB
• Impedance: 8 ohms
• Power of acoustic “pressure” of acoustics: 113 dB
• Amplifier Power: Up to 120 W
• Additional options: 2 phase inverters, presence of FM tuner, progressive scan

The ideal price-quality ratio for a premium home theater capable of reproducing high-quality HI - End sound under any conditions, while eliminating any inconvenience associated with its installation and further operation.

HECO Elementa 5.0 B + Denon AVR-X1300W

• Speaker frequency range: 20 Hz - 50 kHz
• Sensitivity: 92 dB
• Impedance: 8 ohms
• Rated Power: 690 W
• Amplifier Power: 80 W / Channel
• Multimedia: MP3 / WMA, JPEG; Built-in Audio Decoders: DTS, DTS HD, Dolby Pro Logic II, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD
• Additional options: bass reflex, magnetic shielding, FM tuner, progressive scan, wireless playback, built-in WI-FI and Bluetooth module

High-quality home theater of premium class, ideal for lovers of the purest surround sound achieved through the use of versatile functionality, in particular, wireless connection or WI-FI module.

Of course, the “premium” equipment is significantly different in cost from its analogues, however, it is important to understand that this feature is due to the high quality of the materials used for its production, as well as extensive technical capabilities. Given the high cost of such home theaters, it becomes obvious the need for a careful approach to their choice. Having carefully studied the information presented above, the buyer can easily cope with the selection of the device that best meets his expectations.