Practical Home Theater: A Guide to Video and Audio Systems, 2009 Edition [Paperback]

Mark Fleischmann (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1932732101 | ISBN-13: 978-1932732108 | Publication Date: October 1, 2008 | Edition: 8th,Updated

How can an average person navigate the maze of audio/video technologies in a home theater system? Turn to Mark Fleischmann's Practical Home Theater: A Guide to Video and Audio Systems, now in its eighth edition, thoroughly revised and updated for 2009. The ultimate answer book, it tells you everything you need to know when shopping for HDTV and surround gear-including how to read a spec sheet, how to separate fact from hype, and how to get good value for your money. It weighs the pros and cons of HDTV display technologies such as plasma, LCD, DLP, and tube-based sets. It explains the differences between Dolby and DTS surround, including the new Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master standards. It dispels the confusion surrounding such topics as HDMI and 1080p. And it covers all formats under the sun including the new Blu-ray disc and anything that plays in an iPod. The book also explores often ignored topics such as buying a DTV antenna, power-line accessories, and cables. A richly detailed connections chapter tells how to hook up every component and how to solve common problems. By knowledgably guiding readers through the briar patch of video and audio, Practical Home Theater has become the standard reference work for home theater buffs. Future annual editions will continue to track changes in home theater technology.

Editorial Reviews

Review

For less than the cost of a DVD, it'll remove the power of intimidation from your home theater. -- Kevin Hunt, The Hartford Courant

If you've been looking to have all your home theater questions answered in one place, this book will do it. -- Brian C. Fenton, Sound & Vision

Mark is well qualified to write about this subject.... An excellent primer for consumers, retailers and manufacturers. -- Steve Smith, This Week In Consumer Electronics --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Mark Fleischmann has been a technology writer and expert on home theater for more than 20 years. He has served as founding editor-in-chief of etown.com, senior editor of Video Magazine, a columnist for Audio Video Interiors, Premiere and The Village Voice, and audio critic of Rolling Stone. His writing has appeared in Bloomberg Personal, Details, E-Gear, Entertainment Weekly, Home Theater, The Men's Journal, Newsday, Spin, The Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, The Washington Post, and many other publications. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 284 pages
• Publisher: Quiet River Press LLC; 8th,Updated edition (October 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932732101
• ISBN-13: 978-1932732108
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,301,153 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Author of Practical Home Theater and Happy Pig's Hot 100 New York Restaurants, Mark has been a technology writer and expert on home theater for more than 30 years. He currently serves as audio editor, news columnist, and reviewer for Home Theater. He has also served as founding editor-in-chief of etown.com, senior editor of Video Magazine, audio critic of Rolling Stone, and columnist for Audio Video Interiors, DigitalTrends.com, Premiere, and The Village Voice. His writing has appeared in Bloomberg Personal, CrutchfieldAdvisor.com, Details, E-Gear, Entertainment Weekly, The Men's Journal, Newsday, Spin, The Ultimate AV Guide, The Washington Post, and many other publications. He has lived in New York City since 1975.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Got the Home Theater bug? If so, then get this book!, January 19, 2009

By 

Kimo "Aloha Hiker" (Alabama) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Practical Home Theater: A Guide to Video and Audio Systems, 2009 Edition (Paperback)

Do you hesitate to go into the home theater dept at Sears or Best Buy because you don't speak or understand the "techno jargon" of home theater gear? Are you afraid to buy home theater equipment because maybe you'll discover later that it was something you didn't really need because you didn't KNOW what the heck you were buying in the first place? If you answered "YES" to one or both of these questions, then you NEED this book! I really like it because the author does a superb job of helping novices understand the complex world of home theater equipment. However, he also provides experienced consumers with more insight into all of the latest developments in the Hi-Def entertainment world such as: How Blu-Ray players interface with new & older AV receivers; Exactly what's the diff between HDMI 1.0, 1.2, 1.3 and why you need to know; What really separates one HDTV different from another, etc., etc. While I've owned a fairly complex home theater system for several years now, and read just about every magazine article I can regarding the subject, I still found this book to be very helpful. So, go ahead and order it today.., you'll be glad you did the next time you go into the home theater dept. at your favorite electronics retailer.

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical Home Theater is very practical indeed!, January 6, 2009

By 

James Bradbury "Theater Freq" (Calgary Alberta Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Practical Home Theater: A Guide to Video and Audio Systems, 2009 Edition (Paperback)

We are in the process of building a fairly large home theater and have found this book to be a valuable resource. It explains things clearly and does so without talking down to the reader. You can read it cover to cover (I did) and you can use parts of it that apply to your situation. I have no hesitation recommending this book and will buy any new version that comes out.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Lacks Graphics, March 19, 2009

By 

David S. Lott (Beaufort, South Carolina United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Practical Home Theater: A Guide to Video and Audio Systems, 2009 Edition (Paperback)

This is a reasonably comprehensive entry level guide to the basics of choosing and installing a home theater. It's adequate for verbal learners, but very weak in photos and diagrams to supplement and illustrate the text. This is a detriment for all users of the guide, and a fatal flaw for visual learners.