Best Home Theater Add-ons and Accessories

The Darblet, from Darbee Visual Presence is a small plug-and-play video processor that you place between an HDMI source (such as a Blu-ray Disc player, upscaling DVD player, cable/satellite box, or home theater receiver) and your TV or video projector.

However, unlike other popular video processing devices, the Darblet does not upscale resolution, supress background video noise or edge artifacts, and does not smooth motion response.

Instead, the Darblet adds depth information in the image using pixel level real-time contrast, brightness, and sharpness manipulation (referred to as luminous modulation). This process restores the missing natural-like "3D" information that the brain is trying to see within the 2D image. As a result, the image seems to "pops" with more texture, depth, and contrast range.

If used appropriately, the Darblet makes a great addition to the TV and home theater viewing experience. In fact, it has garnered quite a following amongst a growing number of consumers and professionals.
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The DVDO Edge is a feature-packed, affordable, standalone video scaler and processor that delivers what it promises. Anchor Bay VRS technology enables the DVDO Edge to deliver the best possible image on an HDTV from Composite, S-Video, Component, PC, or HDMI sources. In addition, other features, such as 6 HDMI inputs (including one on the front panel), a complete array of NTSC, PAL, and HD output resolutions, variable zoom adjustment, mosquito noise reduction, and audio synch give the DVDO Edge a great deal of flexibility.
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You've spent a lot of money and collected a lot home theater components over the years. With each upgrade or addition you have another power cord to plug in. After the number of wall outlet options run out, you add a surge protector, then another one, and then you still run out. One solution to this mess is to get a centralized power management system, such as the Panamax M5400-PM that not only provides all the outlets you need, but also includes additional connectivity organizes coax and ethernet cable connections, provides a practical way to both monitor and regulate your voltage level, and aids in clearing up power interference.
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Home theater has certainly given us more and better options for enjoying home entertainment. However, it has also given us the clutter of remote controls. Many of us have a half-dozen, or more, remotes on the coffee table. The quest for a remote control that can do it all is the true "Holy Grail" of home theater. There are many "universal remotes" that can than replace some of the functions of your remote control collection, but the Logitech Harmony One Advanced Universal Remote Control can just about do it all and is not any larger than most single component remotes.
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Also available, the Logitech Harmony 900, which has both IR and RF transmission capability - Comes with RF receiver and additional IR blasters.
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Also available, the Logitech Harmony Touch. This control unit builds on the features of the Harmony One with the incorporation of a 2.4-inch color swipe-touch-screen in combination with a very stylish ergonomic design.
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Although HDMI carries audio/video signals using a single cable connection, one issue is that it is effective only over short distances, unless signal boosters are employed. This is a problem when using HDMI in home theater and whole house audio/video installations where connection distances of up to 100 feet or more may be required. To solve this, a converter can be used that allows signals that normally travel via HDMI to travel over the Cat5E or Cat6 cables used in computer networks. Check out a look the Atlona AT-HD-V40SRS HDMI to Cat5E/6 Converter Kit.
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The Accell UltraCat HD - HDMI Over Cat5e/6 Extender provides a practical way to send several types of signals over long distances via a single Cat5e/6 cable. HDMI audio/video, Ethernet, as well as IR and RS-232 control can be sent simultaneously in parallel, or individually, to distances up to 328 feet.
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The Sunfire Universal Wireless Subwoofer Kit allows consumers to make a wireless connection between any subwoofer with LFE or line inputs and any home theater receiver with subwoofer preamp outputs. By plugging the SDSWITX transmitter to your home theater receiver and SDSWIRX wireless receiver to your subwoofer, you can eliminate the long, and unsightly, subwoofer audio cable that is usually required. An added benefit is that you have more freedom in placing your subwoofer in spot you need to place it in for best low frequency response - as long as you have an AC outlet nearby to access power for your subwoofer and the SDSWIRX wireless receiver.
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Also, the SDSWITX transmitter can be used with up to two wireless SDSWIRX receivers, allowing the wireless connection of two subwoofers for your system, if you so desire. Some of the features of this kit are: 25 foot transmission range via 2.GHz band, 16 bit audio resolution, and 48hHz sampling rate capability. The price for the SDSWITX transmitter and one SDSWIRX receiver is about $160. Priced separately, both the transmitter and receiver are priced at about $80 a piece.
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You've spent a lot of money and collected a lot home theater components over the years. With each component upgrade or addition you have another power cord to plug in. After the number of wall outlet options run out, you add a surge protector, then another one, and then you still run out. One solution is to get a centralized power management system that provides all the outlets you need, monitors your voltage level, and also provides battery backup. One product that might do the job for you is the Panamax MX5102.
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Here is an interesting twist on a home theater add-on, the Wilson Electronics SignalBoost DT Desktop Cellular Signal Booster. The reason this product may make a great add-on for your home theater room is that if your home theater setup is in a basement or a location that has a weak cell phone signal, it can be a hassles to always leave the room just to make or receive a cell phone call, especially if you use the room for other activities or projects. The SignalBoost DT from Wilson Electronics solves this problem by providing a strong signal to your cell phone in your home theater room.
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