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An entertainment system that produces cinema-like quality of pictures and digital audio effects in a domestic setting is called a home cinema or a home theatre. Today, home cinema is used synonymously with cinematic experience. Some of the companies that provide high-quality home theatre systems include Bravia, Sony, Samsung, LG, Toshiba and Panasonic. The home theatre system segment is targeted by various manufacturers of consumer electronics as it is a lucrative business.

The concept of home movies has its origins in the 1950’s, with the introduction of Kodak 8mm film projector and camera. Subsequently, home movie systems became popular in several American and European homes. A system that projected films onto a portable screen with the help of a movie projector and mostly without any sound reproduction was, in essence, the first home theatre system. The affluent people, mainly from the film industry, had 16mm to 35mm projectors installed in their homes during this period.

The 1980s saw the evolution of laserdiscs that further sparked the sales of home theatre systems worldwide. The public demonstration of the first (officially recognised) home theatre system in 1982 at the Summer Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago, Illinois was a grand success. Within the next three days, manufacturers, retailers and the press were introduced to the world of powerful multi-channel surround sound and high-quality video.

The mid 90’s saw the launch of CRT or LCD projections with the S-VHS players and laserdiscs. However, the launch of DVD format and the 5.1 channel audio with excellent picture quality was a major boost for the home cinema viewers. Presently, with the launch of high definition videos, HDTV’s and new HD display technologies, home cinematic experience continues to evolve for the better.

Today, several home owners design home theatre seating arrangements within their homes with amplifiers and massive speakers installed (often within false walls). They often have a room-in-room construction that restricts sound and makes for an ideal listening experience. Observing the ever-increasing sales trend of home theatre systems, it certainly looks like the home cinema products are here to stay.