| Only a few years ago, home theaters consisted | | | | devices in a home theater to connect to the |
| of large tube-based TVs, VCRs, and stereos with | | | | Internet and a home network. The receiver |
| two speakers. Today, home theaters consist of | | | | distributes audio and video from a home theater |
| flat-panel HDTVs, receivers, surround sound | | | | to multiple rooms. Note, the simple 5.1 surround |
| speakers, DVD players, and more. So what | | | | sound receivers of today are not capable of this |
| components will make up the home theater of | | | | function. Newer receivers with multiple-zone |
| tomorrow? Audio, video, and data distribution will | | | | outputs will be necessary for a home theater |
| be key to any future home theater, which will | | | | network. Finally, the HTPC functions as a source |
| soon morph into a home theater network. | | | | for audio, video, and data. For example, the HTPC |
| Today's home theater is limited to a single room. | | | | can be used as a central server where an owner |
| For example, a show recorded on a DVR can | | | | can save all of his music, video, pictures, and data. |
| only be viewed on the TV to which the DVR is | | | | An HTPC also has the ability to serve as a DVR, |
| connected; music heard from the speakers of a | | | | and record TV shows. Since the HTPC is a |
| home theater can only be heard in the room in | | | | computer, its capabilities are essentially endless. |
| which the speakers are placed. However, by | | | | As prices drop, more people are trading in their |
| establishing a home theater network, owners | | | | large, tube-based TVs and stereos for thin, |
| expand the capabilities of their home theater by | | | | high-definition TVs and multi-zone output |
| creating a system capable of sending a recorded | | | | receivers. Also, more people are building home |
| TV show to any bedroom, or playing music on | | | | networks with their laptops and multiple |
| speakers throughout the property. | | | | computers. The merging of the home theater and |
| The equipment needed to change a home theater | | | | home network into a home theater network will |
| into a home theater network includes a router, | | | | arrive in the not-too-distant future. Your first |
| receiver, and a home theater PC (HTPC). The | | | | home theater network lies just around the corner. |
| router distributes data and allows Ethernet-capable | | | | |