So you’ve set up your flat screen TV to be a wireless entertainment portal. You can access YouTube, check your stock values and even use social networks to chat with your friends, all from your stylish HDTV featuring a TV picture frame. Now you’d no doubt like to use wireless technology to make other areas of your home theater more efficient, right?
Your home network can do much more than just allow your “connected” flat screen TV to connect to Internet widgets. There are so many gadgets out there, from AV receivers to gaming consoles to Blu-Ray players, that utilize network technology as well. Some of these allow you to connect devices without the need for cables, while others allow you to access online information without being hardwired to the Internet. Ready to upgrade your home theater to a truly networked experience?
Next to your flat screen TV, the two most important elements in your home theater are your video and audio inputs – your center and rear speakers, surround sound setup, subwoofer, Blu-Ray player, DVD player, radio receiver, multimedia center and so many others. These are the content-producers, the things that allow you to enjoy high-def videos and high-res audio. And they can all, in one way or another, benefit from that home network that you set up.
Let’s start with video. Blu-Ray players are quickly becoming the favorite for videophiles and movie fans, because of their 1080p output and their internal decoding of the latest audio formats, among other things. Many Blu-Ray players have a Profile 2.0 feature, which in effect is their ability to connect to the Internet and bring you extra content. A Profile 2.0 Blu-Ray player offers access to BD-Live, which has features that are unlocked based on which BD-Live compatible discs display. Some can access behind-the-scenes exclusives, others can access fact sheets on the actors and other members of your film, while still others will give you access to contests and surveys. Newer Blu-Ray players have expanded wireless capabilities, such as photo streaming from your PC or access to movies from your Netflix account.
The audio side of wireless technology is a huge marketplace, and it’s easy to get lost in the offerings. Ranging from wireless satellite speakers that compliment your sound system to whole-house wireless audio integration, your choices for wireless audio are nearly limitless. In particular, a multi-room audio system might offer you the ability to connect to the music stored on your home PC and stream it to several rooms of your house. To take it up a notch, some of these systems are now offering the ability to connect to online music services, such as Pandora Radio or Sirius Satellite Radio.
Other items in your home theater can benefit from your home network as well. Some gaming consoles can connect to the internet, most notably Xbox 360. The Xbox Live feature supports user profiles, multiplayer online gaming and much more. iPods and iPhones can connect to your local network, and many audio systems and all-in-one systems have docks to connect the wireless capabilities of these portable devices to your home audio system.
Enjoy the new connectivity and the new freedom from miles of cable that your home wireless network opens up to you. And remember: A flat screen TV frame from HD Envy is the perfect complement to a crisp and clean wireless system.
Tags: audio/video, Home Theater, Speakers
