A home theater surge protector is a piece of equipment meant to protect the devices in a home theater system from power surges. It also can contain filtration systems to eliminate interference between devices. If a home theater surge protector's housing is made out of strong metal, it might be able to withstand very powerful surges, saving a homeowner a lot of money in repair or replacement costs. A home theater surge protector can be used within a home, but any surge protector that is used to protect a theater's equipment can be referred to as a home theater surge protector.
It's important for homeowners to know that the more expensive equipment is, the more sensitive it can be to power surges. Consumers should look at a home theater surge protector as a type of insurance instead of an optional extra. If homeowners are willing to spend a lot of money on electronic equipment, they should be willing to spend a fraction of that cost to protect their investments.
Homeowners can protect a theater using a basic home theater surge protector, but they would do well to consider buying as much surge protection as possible. More surge protection simply means more protection from surges. In addition, using extra surge protectors can have the effect of stabilizing a home theater system. Power fluctuations within the system can be monitored and equalized by the protectors so as to improve the sound and performance of the system.
Homeowners also might want to invest in coax surge protection. Satellite dishes and antennas can be lightning rods, because they commonly are positioned outside of the home and in the air. If all of a home theater's sources can be found in one location, only one surge protector might be needed. However, connections in multiple locations might need to be addressed by placing a coax surge protector between raw cables and a television, videocassette recorder (VCR) or direct-broadcast satellite (DBS) receiver. Surge protectors might also need to be purchased for those who use standard cable, because power surges can travel through cable lines as well.
Although many might forget to protect them, phone lines can be an important part of a home theater's functionality. DBS receivers, TiVo® or replay units can be connected to phone lines, and if a power surge travels through a phone line, it can effect these units in a home theater system. Installing a surge protector for phone lines also can protect computer modems that operate in conjunction with a phone line and the theater.