A flat screen TV, a stereo and a computer will make a decent DIY entertainment center.
You can spend thousands of dollars on a pre-packaged home entertainment system. If you're on a budget though, or just resent the idea of shelling out that kind of money on audio visual equipment, chances are you can put together a perfectly respectable set-up with the AV components you've already got in your home, saving yourself a small fortune in the process.
Instructions
1. Make a plan of the best place in your home for your DIY entertainment center and how you're going to arrange your components. Think about the ambiance of the room, its acoustics and whether or not you're likely to be constantly disturbed there. Think about whether you want to mount your television on the wall or have it sitting on a table.
2. Connect your computer to your television. Most modern TVs have multiple inputs available meaning that you can connect an array of units. Disconnect the RGB cable that links your computer to its monitor and plug it into the RGB port at the back of your television. If you're using a laptop you can buy an RGB cable at a computer store or online.
3. Insert the 3.5mm jack plug from the audio cable to the audio out port of your television and connect the phono plugs to one of your stereo's auxillary channels. If your TV does not have an audio out port, use the one on your computer. Only the audio played through your computer will be routed through your stereo if you do this.
4. Play a DVD or music file on your computer and move your speakers around the room to find the best sound for your DIY entertainment center. If you have surround sound speakers, experiment beyond simply putting one speaker in each corner of the room.
5. Connect any other units that you have to your television. If you have a separate cable receiver, a games console or any other AV equipment that does not run through your computer, plug these into the back of your television. You can switch between units at the push of a button on most modern TVs.
6. Watch movies and Internet television channels on the big screen and listen to your digital music files through your stereo with accompanying visuals.
Tags: your computer, your television, through your, your stereo, audio port