Home Theater 101 Page 2

DON'T BUY IT BY THE POUND
Today, many stores sell home theater by the pound. By the pound? Every Sunday, the "Big-Box" stores sell large screen televisions $1999 for a 60" screen or $299 for 600 total watts receiver. You've seen the ads; it's as if bigger and cheaper is the key to total customer satisfaction.

Buying a good home entertainment isn't much different than buying a good suit. Consider this: buying a cheap suit invariably results in low quality of materials, sloppy construction and poor design. The result is a lousy fit, and ultimately a low value transaction. Why? You don't like it so you don't wear it.

When you've experienced a quality suit, you feel the quality of materials; the suit fits perfectly, you appreciate expert tailoring and people comment on the quality of design. But most importantly, you wear it a lot, and because of its superior quality, it lasts and lasts. That's great value. Why? You love it. You wear it. For years. Can you imagine Georgio Armani or Albert Nipon selling suits for $19.95 per pound? Hickey Freeman suits now available with 14 pockets. Ridiculous isn't it? That's not what quality manufacturers are all about. Those that shop for top-quality suits recognize that value isn't derived by getting the most cloth or features for the dollar, it's getting the best suit for the dollar. Home theater is very similar. It's not about buying the biggest screen you can squeeze through the door or the receiver with the most buttons, knobs and watts per dollar. Buying a home theater is simple. It's about buying quality over quantity.

PERFECT FIT FIRST, MATERIALS LAST
What's one of the key points a tailor insists on? A perfect fit. First, the tailor measures your unique dimensions. Next the tailor asks about how the suit will be used: special occasion or business? evening or day wear? From this the tailor selects the appropriate materials. Then lastly, a plan or a pattern is developed.
But would you buy your materials without having a plan? Many people make the mistake of buying the equipment first then trying to find someone to hook it all up. They're approaching it backwards. You want to build a house? You engage an architect. Why? To develop a plan. No one buys the wood, windows and doors and tells a builder to put it together. What's considered first is "proper fit". The who, what, where and how "it" will be used, and from that a plan is developed, and the materials specified. That's how you a get a suit you wear, a home you love, and a home theater that you enjoy. Everyday, for years and years.