What percentage of people in the U.S. knows what the term "home theater" actually means?

Question

Please include an opinion about where in the U.S. (City or State) you think knowledge of home theater is greater.

Answer 1

I'm in So Cal and I've got a great home theater.

Answer 2

"Home Theater" is going the way "High Fidelity" went in 60's. Originally, High Fidelity meant very high quality components carefully selected by listening. True High Fidelity was always expensive. Then the term caught on with the marketing people, and any little box could be called a HiFi, but they weren't even close.

Now home theater really means a large screen HDTV (there is some argument about where to draw the line, but a 40" or less widescreen screen certainly isn't HT). Plus, a decent sound system is required, one like the High Fidelity system decribed above, plus surround speaker along with a good A/V receiver to decode Dolby Digital or DTS sound. Now, however, we are seeing "Home Theater in a Box" and home theater has become a marketing gimmick.

So to answer your question, i would guess that less than 10% of people in the US know what home theater really is.

A real home theater should be like going to the movies: the picture and the sound should "envelop" you; the screen should almost fill your field of view (technically this means the screen width should subtend a 30 deg angle from your eyes). You don't watch home theater while doing other things. That is not a theater.

Fortunately, 60" and 70" rear projection TVs are coming down to reasonable price ranges, and these can form the basis of a real home theater in a modest-sized room. All they need is the addition of a decent sound system.

My guess that in So. California there is the greatest awareness of what HT should be, mainly because of the influence of the film industry.

Answer 3

Surround sound is not home theater that's why not many people know what is the true meaning of Home theater. From audio & video source and acousticly treated walls and high bandwith cables. There is a lot going on in the true meaning of "home theater"

Answer 4

Everyone that bought a Surround stereo

Answer 5

up to 200%
all are crazy on it..perhaps..