1. Harman International
Sales Primer
Home Theaters - A discussion
Ravi Lakkundi
Product Manager, India
Harman International India (Pvt) Ltd
Published on: 05th Nov 2012
2. Harman International
Sharath – Hey Ravi iam looking to buy a Home theater system and I have seen an AVR package with good set
of speakers. Its from brand X.
Ravi – Sharath, Oh good – So you must be having lots of devices in your home for you to connect to AVR – Like
an iPhone, Disc player, Smart Box, Gaming systems and other audio/video devices. Also I guess you are
looking for some serious amplification ☺
Sharath – No Ravi, I just want to have a good sound. I want to watch TV and enjoy quality sound on good
speakers
Ravi – Sharath, why do you want to buy an AVR then, are you looking for a serious listening – with lots of DSP
effects for video and Audio?
Sharath – Ravi, that’s kind of scary – the answer is again No. Actually I wanted to gift it to my parents for their
newly built home
Ravi – Sharath, haven’t you heard of Integrated HTiB’s?
Sharath – You mean a Home Theater in a Box right?
Ravi – Yes, an HTiB – Why don’t you gift an Integrated HTiB solution to your parents for their new home?
Sharath – Please explain why I need to take one HTiB instead of AVR + Speakers?
Ravi – Sharath, AVR is for people who want to manage lots of connected devices in their homes. For Ex: Bluray
players, Sony PS3, Apple Devices, Smartphone’s, Smart Boxes etc. AVR at times acts as a route, a switching
devicer, routing the selected media to your TV and connected speakers.
Sharath – So what’s wrong in taking an AVR?
Ravi – AVR menu are complex at times, AVR come with many inputs – Optical, Aux, HDMI etc. and while
playing you may have to set inputs and your parents may not be able to do all the maneuvers. When you have
only one or two devices and are looking for ease of operation I suggest you go for an Integrated HTiB
Sharath – You made me ponder now, how about speakers?
Ravi – Integrated HTiB’s have speakers packaged with them, tuned for particular amplification unit (called
headunit). HTiB’s also have spinning media player (DVD, Blu-ray etc). When you buy an AVR you may have to
mix and match speakers by yourself, looking at various speaker specifications, also called as component based
system
Sharath – You mean when I buy AVR I need to select speakers and match them based on specifications and
also need to buy a separate Bluray player?
Ravi – Yes, thats true. Sometimes the Component systems (AVR + speakers) are packaged by
salesmen/dealers, but then it still becomes a component system meaning AVR + Speakers. Your need is having
a simple plug and play device. I recommend you buy an HTiB, instead of a complex AVR
Sharath – Thanks Ravi !I think an HTiB is a right choice for my simple needs
3. Harman International
Introduction
Lots of people often get puzzled while buying home theaters. They intend to buy a so called ‘good’
Home theater system and get confused with their requirement. Home theaters are categorized into
Integrated HTiB (Home Theater in a Box) and component based Home Theater system (HT). Component
based System primarily is made up of Audio Video Receivers (AVR’s) and Speaker packages. (Integrated
HTiB is also referred as HTiB for ease of discussion)
Home theaters have now become central hub of one’s home entertainment system. They do more work
than just sound processing and amplifying sound. Many times their lies a fine line of difference in high
end Integrated HTiB and a component based Home theater system. AVR’s (component based HT’s) have
a different purpose as compared to Integrated HTiB, needless to say have a different look and feel. So
what to choose and when? – will be answered here in this paper
This primer gives typical features of AVR’s, differences between modern day AVR’s and HTiB receiver
unit. Also giving some design philosophy of these two categories. Knowing this classification and
differences will help prospective buyers to make an appropriate decision – In favor of either Component
Based HT’s or Integrated HTiB
So what are the differences between Component Home Theaters (AVR +
Speakers) System and Integrated HTiB System?
Before we get to differences let’s get an example of each of these system
4. Harman International
Above shows an example of typical Harman Kardon Integrated Home Theater in a Box system and a
component based (Haman Kardon AVR + JBL Speaker System) Home theater system.
Terminologies used
A Home theater system typically consists of:
Disc player/Source player (Blu-ray Player) + Amplifier Unit + Speaker System
A component based HTiB has all these 3 systems separately. However in an integrated system – Bluray
player + Amplifier are a single unit (Blue Box in above figure), as in example above BDS570.
For specific parameter comparison below we focus on Integrated HTiB Headunit (Bluray Unit) and AVR.
We will not be concentrating more on speaker used in these two packages, as the differences mainly lie
in the Headunit used (AVR or Integrated-Bluray).
Comparative Parameter HTiB (Integrated) Component HT (AVR + Explained …
Speakers)
Primarily Known for … Ease of use, simple Amplification and HTiB are known for
installation special DSP processing easier installation, at
effect – Audio and times no installation
Video engineer is required.
Integrated Yes, They have No, AVR’s are known AVR act as Audio Video
Bluray/DVD/CD integrated Disc Players for amplification and processing units – they
+ Amplifiers DSP processing. They will take any source
are Audio Video through inputs –
Receiver units where Optical, HDMI, Co-ax
they can process lots of etc and process. While
inputs and act as router building a Component
at times and select based HTiB, customers
media (post processed) will also have to shop
to be played on TV and for Bluray player to
speakers connect to AVR
Complexity Simple, looking at the Quite involved system. Backpanel of AVR will
above example BDS570 Primarily intended for have more number of
backpanel – the HTiB audiophiles looking for inputs and multiple
5. Harman International
has a simpler backpanel serious mix and match outputs at times. AVR’s
– primarily because of inputs and outputs. also support multizone
purpose is integrated People having lots of AV systems
home entertainment inputs in their homes
system. Not many can opt for such an AVR
inputs are needed to be based component
connected to it; it’s a system. On Screen
simple hassle free Display at times gets
system. The On Screen very involved and
display also is simpler complex for setting
Amplification Reasonably sufficient AVR focuses on At a set price band
amplification power for amplification, needless comparison between
basic needs and also to say superb sound AVR and HTiB, HTiB
excellent quality of have comparable
sound (price Vs quality). amplification to AVR.
Equal sometimes
Speaker Mix and Match Speakers come as a AVR come with detailed
package with Bluray specs. Knowledgeable
receiver unit. At times Customers can actually
some brands do not build their own home
give exact amplifier theater using AVR and
power and ratings for choose different
customer to match speakers and match
other speakers with specs themselves
unit (Not required) (Impedance, power
rating, sensitivity etc).
Connectivity options Minimal connectivity AVR have extensive Integrated HTiB receiver
options. Focusing on connectivity. Lot many
units lack the routing
home entertainment HDMI, Optical input and
capability, reason being
and ease of use – HTiB output options. At their focus is to deliver
often have what is times AVR’s act as entertainment content
required router, routing HDMI
on to television and
inputs to various other
speaker attached. AVR
input or output. Many
on contrary are
time for an averagerequired to also act as
customer these will be
routers (sending media
too much! from one path to
another, say HDMI to
Optical)
Configuration Popular format being AVR come in lot of Clear differentiation on
5.1 multichannel configurations - target customers –
system in Integrated 5.1,7.1,7.2,9.1,9.2,11.2 Audiophiles, who want
HTiB system etc to build home theater
system component by
component, with multi
channel more than 5.1
choose component
6. Harman International
Home theater
Media Processing Not much of audio and Packed with advanced AVR are media
video processing. Audio and Video processing hubs. These
Mostly has an Audio processing. Also has audio and video
upscaler (Dolby PLII or video upscalers, audio processing maybe
Logic 7) – for converting upscalers, Auto EQ required for some
stereo to 5.1. Video customers. If a
processing is not customer had an HD TV
available in most and want to play a
Integrated System. Also standard definition
has a Auto EQ for video, AVR can actually
equalizing sound to upscale the video to
listening position some reasonable
quality for playback on
TV. Many Integrated
HTiB lack upscaling
functionality
Networking and other Wifi, FM Radio, Internet All of HTiB features and Many times HTiB have
features Streaming, Youtube etc, many more advanced attractive and simple
DLNA features (Read as OSD (On Screen Display)
advanced, not essential as compared to
for average customers) Component HT
Reading the contents above can be actually overwhelming for not so knowledgeable customer /on-
ground sales staff. So a basic question, what is the recommendation?
Standard response to such a question is – It depends!
If you are not a technology enthusiast and are not having many digital content delivery devices (phew …
that’s new term – basically meaning .. Smartphones, Tablets, Smartboxes, Gaming Consoles,
Microphones etc) at home and want to have a simple, good sounding system for your daily
entertainment – You should start your search with Home Theater in a Box system first (HTiB), if you
aren’t satisfied you can always step up and search for component systems.
But if you happen to be an audiophile (Many just do not read this primer!, but just for records) or have
graduated from an HTiB and now are looking for a more powerful central media entertainment system –
start your search with a component based system.
7. Harman International
Conclusion
This primer discusses Integrated HTiB and Component based HT systems, with some typical feature
comparisons. Buying a Home theater for many is an investment they make for years to come and
decision should be carefully taken to choose one such Home theater. This primer is a starting point for
their quest of having great Home Theater system.
References
For the ones who wish to read more here are some reference World Wide Web links
[1] www.harman.com
[2] www.jbl.com
[3] www.harmankardon.com
[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_theater_in_a_box
[5] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AV_receiver
