Gadgets  

A quality home entertainment system is a great investment of your money. While going out to a movie at a theater can easily cost $30 for the tickets alone, you can invest that money in quality equipment for your home and watch all the movies, shows and games you like.

Consider these four signs that it is time to replace your old entertainment system with new equipment.

Poor Performance

Some home entertainment products, particularly televisions, start to exhibit a poor performance after about seven years of use. In most cases, televisions cost as much or even more to repair than to replace. Some systems wear out even sooner, such as heavily-used DVD and Blu-ray players. If you are constantly having to reset or troubleshoot any of your home entertainment system's components, it is time to consider replacing your equipment.

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Incompatibility

If you want to buy a new game or accessory, it may not be compatible with the parts of your existing system. You may even find that there is no longer any customer support for the older parts of your home entertainment system. Once a manufacturer has gone on and made newer versions of a product, they stop supporting the old product. This leaves you out of luck when you have a problem or need to replace a cord, controller or game. Replacing your equipment ensures that all of the parts will be compatible with each other.

Worn Cords

Over years of use, the power cables and cords that connect your home entertainment system can become worn. Frayed and damaged cords present a serious risk for overheating and fires. Companies such as Americord produce dependable replacement and specialty cords that can be used to connect new and vintage electronics to your computer and speakers.

Too Many Remote Controls

If you have a remote for the TV, Blu-ray, DVD, Xbox, PlayStation and all of your other home entertainment systems, you may feel overwhelmed. Keeping track of all of the remotes and supplying them with batteries can be a challenging task. When remote controls are taking over your family room and littering your couch, it is time to upgrade your home entertainment system. Today's newest systems can make use of a single, universal remote for added convenience.

Replacing your home entertainment system allows you to make the most of your leisure time. A new system can make for quality entertainment for your whole family. Upgrading your equipment will enhance your entertainment experience.

By  Lizzie Weakley

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About the Author: Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. She went to college at The Ohio State University where she studied communications. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and long walks in the park with her 3-year-old husky Snowball. If you are looking at getting a STEM related education, Lizzie suggests that you consider an electrical engineering master’s degree from the University of Ohio.

 Gadgets  

Read this information to make sure you are ready to add these details to keep your home wired for technology.

Modern homes today should be a technology-friendly environment. New advancements and appliances make our lives easier than ever and should be seamlessly added to any new home. You should be wired (and wireless) for everything a modern home requires. If you’re ready for a modern update and new design, make sure you add these details to keep technology wired into your everyday living.

Web Access

Many of today’s consumer electronics technologies are now web-inclusive. This means your home should include internet access throughout, whether through built-in wiring of Ethernet, or through Wi-Fi access points all around the home. Even in a large house, homeowners may have excuses for not having Wi-Fi extending to all points. If you do have a large space consider an internet repeater or antennae which can spread the signal throughout various rooms in the home. When guests visit, they should be able to seamlessly integrate their smart phones or other internet-capable devices with your network. Perhaps a temporary lift on the password can be sufficient to allow guests to freely use the network, or a small note on each closet door added for guest’s convenience.

Entertainment Centers

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Most of us have a main hub for watching movies, streaming shows, and catching up on daily news. Your entertainment center might include DVDs, Blu-ray discs, computers with streaming internet services such as Netflix or Hulu or connected devices that allow you to access internet on the TV itself. These are great ways to entertain those living in the home, and guests who may visit. Flat panels in large gathering areas are also great types of devices that lend atmosphere to this kind of digital entertainment. Make sure your surround sound devices are properly installed and can reach the ears of everyone on the couch.

Lighting and Temperature Options

It is always a great idea to have various types of lighting and t temperatures appropriate to certain types of settings. For example, during a daytime children’s party, you might want to have the air conditioning turned to a cool setting and have the lighting bright and cheerful. And maybe during an evening viewing of your favorite movie, you might want the house a bit warmer and the lights dimmer to enjoy the show. Temperature options might allow for a smart air conditioner thermostat unit. These allow programmable features that can learn the users’ preferences of home, and can be controlled outside the house by smartphones and the like. These can be useful in determining what kind of temperatures the homeowner prefers, and even help save money on the power bill.

Shutters and/or curtains will be something to consider to keep out unwanted light during the night or day and to help save on temperature costs. Smart curtain control is also available in a technology-friendly home. Large windows might require Miami plantation shutters, while smaller ones could be left open to provide light and save on electricity. Go through each room and find where the sun hits hottest and longest. These windows should be outfitted with blackout or dark curtains to keep the whole house more comfortable.

Having smart devices throughout your home can do a lot to increase the functionality and ease of basic tasks everyone is used to doing. These devices can seamlessly offer the homeowner something that can be modern and power-friendly, while also possibly increasing the resale value of the home. These modern appliances and devices can give the homeowner something that makes life both more convenient and fun in the long run.

By Brooke Chaplan

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Author Bio - 33rd Square contributor Brooke Chaplan is recent graduate of New Mexico University where she studied journalism. She loves to hike, bike, run and explore around her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She also enjoys blogging about health, fitness, fashion and many other topics.