Now Showing at a Home Theater Near You – Billings Gazette

Gone are the days when a films opening credits would blow out house speakers, prompting homeowners to head to the movie theater.

With streaming services replacing DVD stacks, and other technology increasing audio and video quality, cinemas are competing with households for the best theater experience.

The summers biggest box office hit can be at your remodeled home office or spare bedroom with the guidance of local home entertainment gurus.

Clay Brun, co-owner of Home Theaters and More in Billings, is in the business of home theaters, or media family rooms.

What sets the company apart from big box stores are the trained technicians who adhere to safety measures, ensuring equipment is properly installed and not damaged in the process.

Your box stores will not do interior wiring, or crawlspace or attic (work), Brun said.

Home Theaters and More specializes in retrofits and remodels. Seventy percent of their business is new construction, he said.

Wiring has become a mess of the past, so todays homes new and old can have hidden cords conveniently tucked away from kids, pets and other hazards. While wireless options seem to be the best in the business, Brun says cords are still the way to go.

One of the big misconceptions is how good the wireless is these days. Anytime you run a wire, its going to be better, he said, noting that sometimes wireless may be the only option.

Wireless still has a purpose, especially with home automation, which can connect a home theater to an app that controls not only entertainment, but lighting and security, too.

How much you want to do with automation, music especially, its endless, Brun said of the service that starts at $750 and expands into hundreds of thousands of dollars. Our system ties into one app. Whether you use your TV, touch screen, remote its exactly the same interface.

Most homes that Home Theaters and More automate have eight zones of audio and minor automation with an estimated value of $5,000 to $10,000. For CK Tech in Billings, a home theater consists of at least six channels of audio.

Home theater in regards to automation would refer to the ability to press a single button on a remote or with your smart phone to do things like turn on a movie, lower the blinds and set the lights to a specific level, all with a single piece of equipment that has the ability to talk to all the devices in the home, said Craig Kahnke, owner of CK Tech.

The newest format for surround sound is Dolby Atmos, which can be up to 12 channels, he said. A home theater should also have 4K resolution, which is four times the resolution of standard 1080P.

Thats four times the resolution of a Blu-Ray, said Brun.

Youve gotta be cautious on the 4K because theres a very limited amount of movies or broadcasters that are doing anything in 4K. Its very cool for the very small amount of material you can use it for, he said.

Home theaters can be a remodeled spare bedroom, basement, office or other under-utilized living space.

The amazing thing about the theater room is you can decorate it any way you want, Brun said.

And when not in use, Brun says they are great reading rooms because they are traditionally quieter.

While home theaters may be an investment, its often more worthwhile than spending an average of $100 at a cinema where you vie for seating amid sticky floors and rude customers.

(Its) easier, cheaper, more control, more intimate as compared to going to the theater, Kahnke said.

Brun adds that if parents want date night at the movies, they have to get a babysitter. Instead, youre home safe with your kids, and probably the rest of the neighborhoods kids, too.

Youre the one who knows where the kids are because everyones at your house, Brun said.

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Now Showing at a Home Theater Near You - Billings Gazette