Have you thought about how you’ll keep yourself entertained at home overseas? If music and movies rank high on your list, you’ll need to consider that your current home theater system probably won’t work abroad.
Expat Home Theater Systems Combat World Conversion Conflicts Abroad
Welcome to the confusing world of voltage conversion, foreign video conversion, DVD region codes and Blu-Ray region codes. Click on these links to understand how this world coding system can impact your ability to play your favorite media. For example, a DVD disc from Region 1 (USA and Canada) won’t play on a DVD player from Region 2 (Europe and Japan.) And there are a total of 6 regions worldwide. The good new is, there’s a simple solution to all the confusion.Multisystem, Region-Free Home Theater Systems Solve The Problem
The best home theater systems for expat living are multisystem and region-free for use worldwide. They’re manufactured by top brands like Panasonic, Pioneer, Yamaha, Sony, Samsung, Klipsch, LG and Bose. But they’re not available through most retailers. The model choices and brand selections may be limited (if you can find them at all) in your foreign expat destination. Specialty retailers’ online stores typically ship worldwide. And in many cases, shipping may be free. Modern home theater systems require at least one display device and a sound system. Sounds simple, right? But CEPro, a leading trade publication for professionals involved in the custom electronics business, cites these 6 Hot Home Theater Trends for 2016:6 Hot Home Theater Trends
1. Multiple Screens: Gives you more than one viewing option in a media room. 2. Hybrid Space: Includes family room, game room, media room in a single space. 3. Social Networking: Post social network updates while watching television. 4. Networking Media: Internet-connected Blu-Ray Players, Gaming Consoles, Apple TV and other. 5. Floor Standing Soundbar Speakers: Fills your room with the clearest audio. 6. Value: Get high performance, feature-rich components at a lower cost.
The typical expat living scenario may not call for multiple screens. But the trend for creating a "hybrid space" seems pretty spot on, wouldn't you say? And free-standing speakers and soundbars accommodate your flex space better than built-ins. Not to mention you get much higher quality sound from your speakers when they're not enclosed. Once you've agreed how to configure your media room, you can focus on how to configure your home theater. Regardless of the sizes and numbers of screens and speakers you choose, there are a few standard features you should make sure you include for the best electronic experience abroad.5 Top Standard Features In Home Theater Systems For Expats
1. Region Free Coding: Plays Blu-Ray DVDs, Standard DVDs and CDs from anywhere in the world.
2. Multisystem support. (Supports NTSC, PAL, SECAM) 3. 110-240 volts 50-60 hertz 4. USB input (Play media from external devices, like your phone or camera.) 5. HDMI Output (Connect HDMI compatible devices, like a Blu-ray player.)Add Smart Features For The "Most Flexible" Media Experience
- 3D Blu-ray Playback: View 3D movies with special 3D glasses.
- Wifi Built-in: Avoid the cable clutter with wireless connectivity.
- Internet Streaming capabilities: Stream from Youtube, Netflix, Amazon, Vudu, Picasa, Pandora and a multitude more apps.
- Bluetooth capabilities: Stream audio wirelessly from your cellular phone, tablet, computer or any other Bluetooth compatible device.
- Networking Capabilities: Connect external streaming devices like Apple TV or Fire TV. Or gaming consoles like Xbox or PlayStation
"By 2019, more than 50% of TV households in Japan, the US, the UK, France and Germany will have smart TVs [ according to IHS]," writes a Broadband TV news correspondent.
