Is There Really Such A Thing As Home Theatre in A Box?...Do You Know?
Don’t understand a thing about players, speakers, and subwoofers? Then you’re probably looking for a home theatre in a box.
A home theatre in a box will save you from all those compatibility issues and costs of buying each part of your home theatre separately. It’s easy, convenient, and it comes with a lot of models. All you need to do is find the right one for you. Curious to know more about it? Read on to know what it is, what components are included, and the pros and cons of owning one.
What is a Home Theater in a Box?
A home theatre in a box, commonly known as HTIB, is a whole home theatre system that has both audio and video components. It has a DVD or Blu-ray player, a set of speakers (either 2.1, 5.1, or 7.1 surround sound), a subwoofer, connection cables, and remote control. Unfortunately, the TV is going to be a separate item except when the store has a TV- HTIB bundle they’re selling.
Essentially, it has all the audio devices you need so that you can play videos and music without having to buy each item separately. Most budget HTIB s are sold with a 2.1 surround, while mid-range to high-range models have either 5.1 or 7.1. These numbers refer to the number of speakers the sound system has.
Pros and Cons of a Home Theater in a Box
You’re probably thinking if this is too good to be true. Of course, it is! However, just like any other all-in-one device, they have their own set of pros and cons.
Pros
If there is one thing that you will definitely get from all HTIBs, it’s the all-in-one feature. In fact, being an all-in-one home theatre is their main selling proposition. You’d be surprised by how many people are uncomfortable with picking a set of speakers to go with their TV and Blu-ray player, so the HTIB is going to be their natural choice.
Another advantage of the HTIB is convenience. Just think about it - you don’t have to plug so many wires to each device, and you don’t have to worry about not finding them compatible. Because they come in one set, they’re definitely compatible with each other, so there’s no need to worry! They are easy to install, and you don’t need to search it online. Just read the manual, and you can get it running in no time.
And if you’re wondering about the price, lower to mid-range home theatres in a box are relatively more affordable than if you buy each device separately. The most affordable ones come with just two speakers, but that’s okay especially if you really just want to amp up the home system a bit.
Overall, you would find the HTIBs very convenient because they won’t cause trouble. They were made for people who do not have basic knowledge in electronics, and so you can expect these home theatre systems to be user-friendly and easy to set up.
Cons
As mentioned earlier, the HTIB is bound to have its own set of flaws. To tell you honestly, it might have more cons than pros, especially if you have an electronics background and you’re critical about the audio and video quality.
First of all, HTIB is not flexible. When it comes to the quality of the audio, there’s not much you can tweak and change. If the set comes with terrible speakers, then you have no choice but to endure the sound that comes out of it. It won’t be that bad, for sure, but if you’re critical with the sound, then it might give you an awful experience.
To add to the lack of flexibility, HTIB s have set audio settings. It’s not just the devices that you can’t tweak, it’s also the actual audio settings. Most systems have pre-set modes that you can choose. This doesn’t leave enough room for you to find the sweet spot for the audio.
Another disadvantage of the HTIB is it doesn’t have a good sound quality for larger rooms. This is mostly because they’re compact that they don’t have the surround sound you’d expect from an actual surround sound system. If you have a large room, you might end up hearing “booming” sounds that just ruins everything. You don’t even have to have a trained ear to notice.
Should You Get a Home Theater In a Box?
In the end, it all depends on you, your preferences, your needs, and your budget. If you don’t have a lot of budget, a mid-range home theatre in a box might be something that can help ease the burden in your wallet. Of course, the price varies from brand and model, but HTIB s are a lot cheaper.
If you aren’t a techie person and you prefer something that is compact and easy to use and install, you will find the HTIB perfect. You don’t even have to be an electronics expert to figure out your way through the cords and components. Even a teenager can figure it out.
On the other hand, HTIB is not for those who want high-quality sound. Sure, it can give high-quality video, but the sound will definitely trail behind in terms of quality. There’s also not enough flexibility on the EQ for you to tweak the sound.
An HTIB wouldn’t be compatible with those who love building their own home theatre either. If you find picking different components and mixing and matching them, then you are better off with building your own surround sound system. At least with this, you have the freedom to pick all sorts of speakers, subwoofers, and players.
Conclusion
The HTIB was made for people who want compact and easy-to-use home theatres. It’s definitely not for everyone, so decide wisely. Always consider the price, the brand, and the components included. Although they are more or less the same, other sets offer other features and components that will make your home theatre experience great.