Posts Tagged ‘home theater’

Cinema Quality Sound At Home

Monday, July 4th, 2011

Do you like going to the movie theater and get lost in the realism that their top-quality sound systems create? If you do, then I bet you are also one of those people who dislikes going there, only to have a potentially wonderful evening ruined by noisy people talking through the movie or letting their cell phones ring.

I used to love the movie theater, but that was in the time when people respected the rights of others to listen to a movie in silence. There were no crying babies, ringing mobile phones or noisy youths in cinemas and if they got in they were soon kicked out if there was any row.

These days, cinema managers seem to take the easy route of letting these people spoil it for others. As a result, more and more quiet people are staying at home and the cinemas are becoming even noisier. If you are one of the stay-at-homes, but miss the cinema, why not recreate one in your home?

Build yourself a home cinema with surround sound. You will never regret installing surround sound in your home, because you will be able to play your favourite films, the TV and your music through it. The distinction between surround sound and stereo or even quadraphonics is breath-taking.

Different people have different desires, expectations, finances and even hearing ability, so it is tricky to suggest a system to a mass audience, but there are strategies for going about the purchase of your own home theater system. A lot of people buy a kit home theater. This is OK, if funds are limited, but you will want to upgrade the screen and the speakers before very long. If you just want to put a home theater in a small spare bedroom and do it quickly and easily, then this approach is for you.

If, however, you want a bit more, then you might prefer to get a bigger screen and make do with the speakers that came with the kit. These can easily be renewed later. If you want to get everything part by part, you will need a screen, speakers and DVD player. If you want to play games too, replace the DVD player with an Xbox.

But back to the speakers, whether you are renewing or putting your own system together, the strategy I suggest hold true. Write down the dimensions of your room or better still make a little plan of it to scale. Take this around the shops and malls and try to listen to a few set-ups in a room similar to your own. This could be difficult, but you might be fortunate.

Decide whether you need a 3.1; 4.1; 5.1; 6.1 or even 7.1 set of compatible surround sound speakers. Basically, it all depends on the size of your room, but the shop assistant will be able to demonstrate and advise you. As a guideline, a 5.1 surround sound set will be sufficient for most rooms. The figures stand for normal speakers and sub-woofers: ie 5.1 means five normal speakers and one sub-woofer.

The placement of the speakers depends on the size and shape of the room and on your personal preference, but the standard layout would be: one speaker the far left and far right of the screen and one beneath it with two more speakers slightly apart from each other at the rear of the audience. The sub-woofer can go at the front or the rear.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with wireless home theater systems. If you are interested in a Home Movie Theatre, please click through to our site now.

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Selecting A Screen For Your Home Theater

Monday, October 11th, 2010

If you are considering setting up a home theater system, then there are three basic components to consider. They are the screen, the speakers and the player. Two of these components are directly linked to the dimensions of the room in which you will be sitting and where you will be seated.

All DVD players over a certain price are fairly good and you ought to listen to a couple to make up your mind. The same with speakers, although how many you will need is dependent on the dimensions of the room. The screen is more important and that is what I want to talk about here.

It will not actually be of very much help to you to just walk into a department store which stocks fifty or sixty television sets all in rows. You may find that you have a preference for one screen’s colour display over another, but the colours are controllable anyway by brightness, contrast and colour mix. You need to view the screen as it will be seen in your home theater.

In order to do this, I always recommend getting a pen, paper, preferably graph paper, and a rule. Draw in the dimensions of the room to the largest scale that the sheet of paper allows, maybe one inch for two feet or there abouts. Then draw a line to symbolize the screen against whichever wall you choose and finally add a few squares for the seats. Now measure the space between them and write that figure down, because it is very important.

Using our scale above, if the gap on paper between the screen and the seats is five inches, the distance in the room will be ten feet and ten feet is 120 inches. A good rule of thumb, when trying to work out screen size is the same one used for paintings, which is that the ideal viewing distance of a picture is between three and five times its diagonal measurement. Therefore, in our example, the ideal screen size should be between 40 and 24 inches. However, many experts put a minimum screen size for a home theater at 28 inches.

That may come as a bit of a surprise to many of you, because a lot of people think that the solution is the bigger the better. However, primed with this information, now go to the TV store and look at the TV’s again. You will find that if you get up too close to some sorts of screen the picture becomes rather poor, particularly with conventional television screens. Plasma and HDTV allow you to get a little closer without losing quality.

Another factor is your age, or at least, the quality of your eyesight. Would you rather watch the film with your glasses on or off? Off for me, so I would tend towards the higher end of our scale or maybe even go above it. My eyes are not going to get any better, but I can always put my glasses on when the time comes that I cannot see my screen properly any longer. However, I want to put that time off for a while yet, so I would go for a 48 inch screen in this illustration for my home theater. Plasma, if I could afford it.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on many topics, but is currently involved with Home Theater Screens. If you are interested in a Home Movie Theatre, please click through to our site.

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How To Build A Custom Home Theater System

Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010

Watching movies is a great way to escape from the stressful life we all lead these days. Watching movies on a wide screen with surround sound can transport you away from that stress into the plot of the movie you are watching. You live the plot it as if you were really there in the movie itself.

Until recently, we could only experience this sort of escapism in a movie theater. However, modern technology is able to recreate the same visual and sound experience right there in your own living room. We will discuss the basic components of a home theater system in this article. Read on to discover how these starter components can deliver the best cinematic experience possible in a custom home theater system.

Home theater enthusiasts state that the most important consideration in setting up a custom home theater system is the size of the location where you will set up your custom home theater system. The most important component of the home theater system – the television – is dependent on the size of the room, although the recommendation is that a 27 inch television screen is the minimum necessary for your home theater installation.

It is also recommended that a flat-screen television be used for a home theater system because it shows less glare and creates a crisper image. Another major component in a custom home theater system which is again dependent on the size of the location, is the loudspeaker system.

The number of speakers for your custom home theater system depends on the size of the location. You should have at least three loudspeakers to create a decent surround sound, but you may need up to six loudspeakers, if you want a more realistic sound. The addition of a subwoofer may also be a good way to achieve a complete surround sound like in the movie theaters. Three speakers should be considered the bare minimum, but you may need go up to six if the room is large.

Another major piece of kit for your custom home theater system is the DVD player. It is recommended that DVD players with a progressive scan are the best choice. This is because a progressive scan reproduces a sharp , flicker-free image. However, this depends on the choice of television unit; you will need to make sure that your flat-screen television set supports ‘progressive scan’ protocols. You may also want to get DVD player with a five-disk carousel. This will mean you don’t have to get up from your chair to change the discs so often.

A minor consideration is the power of the DVD player as that will determine how loud your speakers can be played. Of course, almost all this depends on the size of the room in which the home theater system is going to be set up. Small rooms require only a few types of equipment, bigger rooms may require more and adding custom home theater furniture to your home theater system will make a big difference. A bigger room therefore requires more investment. A smaller room might require less, but nevertheless good quality equipment to avoid a too basic feel in the home theater system.

Finally, you may consider hiring a home theater expert in order to create a beautifully designed home theater system. If you can afford it, this is the best, because the home theater expert will be able to effectively design and set up your home theater system.

The custom home theater specialist may also recommend installing some additional features like a specialized home theater seating structure and even other home theater furniture, such as small tables for snacks and drinks in order to make your custom home theater system more complete and thereby make it more closely resemble a real movie theater. Having the finest and highest-quality custom home theater system you can afford, will give you a most enviable set up, one that you can really be proud of and one that will enable you to enjoy your movies to the fullest.

Do you want to install a Custom Home Movie Theater? Then visit our site at Home Theater

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Home Theater Lighting

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

Light fixtures are things that not many of us think about very often. However, the way we light a room can cause us to feel a certain way or enhance the atmosphere we want to create in that room. There are many types of light fixtures, fittings, bulbs, shades and stands to suit all areas of the home. That means both indoors and even outdoors where you might want to emphasize some special landscaping design.

Are you planning to redo a room? In this case, I know it concerns a home movie theater room, because my friend, Owen Jones, asked me to give some advice. I definitely think that you should consider light fixtures as one element to change. For instance, you could start by altering the central, overhead incandescent bulb or tube light for sure.

I suggest that you install four or even six small wall-lights. They need not be expensive and come in hundreds of colours and sizes to suit any purse. The only disadvantage of wall lighting for your home theater, is that the wires should really be chased into the wall so as not to be visible.

However, you could get around this by buying standard lamps. These are also available in a myriad of designs, but they come with two disadvantages: namely trailing wires and a higher cost. They are very easily moveable though. Small, table lamps is a sub-class of this alternative, but you may need more electrical sockets.

Once you have decided on what you want, have each lamp dimmable either in unison or separately, up to you. You should probably keep one fairly powerful light at the business end of things in case the equipment needs seeing to, but it too could be on a dimmer.

The effect can be quite incredible. And all from just changing the pre-existing light fixtures and fittings. You could even increase the level of reality and have an exit sign over the door or a few romantic mood lamps higher up out of line of sight so that they are not distracting, say, a replica 1970s style lunar lamp and a fibre-optic lamp, for amusement or as a talking point while waiting for the film or snacks to be got ready.

So, whatever style home theater lighting you are considering, contemporary or old style traditional, you will find many options to choose from. From different colors to different sizes and styles, there are many. You can find them on the Internet or in home improvement shops. I have made a link to one of my online favourites below.

Furthermore, when you do implement the changes, you will notice that your home theater has taken on an ambiance all of its own and it will “definitely” enhance your home movie theater experience. In fact, it may be these subtle changes, room by room, that make you see your home in a very different light.

Are you considering installing a Custom Home Movie Theater? Then visit our website at: Home Theater

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Wireless Speakers For Home Theaters

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010

Wireless speakers are not the pinnacle of technology that they were not so long ago, but they are still fairly new. The good news is though that the price of good quality wireless speakers has come down to an affordable level for most people. However, the constant march of technology continues and it is almost unfeasible to be on the forefront of it for more than six months before something new comes out.

So, I have come to a deliberate decision not to be on the forefront of technology any more. Twelve months behind is good enough for me these days. It can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars to make that decision. I am sure that you are already aware how much items like computers, in particular laptops, and plasma TV screens have come down in recent times.

So, now is the time to get into wireless speakers. They are a good idea in any circumstances, because you can move speakers around without needing extension leads, but they are particularly useful in a home theater because people will not be able to trip over the wires in the dark.

Wireless speakers have come down in price because there are more manufacturers making them, which is the normal reason why this occurs. Many of the newer manufacturers are in the Far East, which is also nothing new, but the quality is just as good. They are just cheaper.

Wireless speakers are one of the first up-grades you should think about if your system is a couple of years old. Wireless speakers allow so much more freedom to move your speakers around to get the best sound out of your home theater system.

One suggestion if you want to try to save a bit on your purchase of wireless speakers is to buy online. But, do not rush into it. First of all do the round of the shopping malls and find out which wireless speaker systems you like. Take a note of three brands or models. Then go online and check the prices for these models.

You should note down the models, the online prices and the URL of the store where you saw them online. Then, go back to the stores where you first saw those models and ask if they are willing to equal, or better, the price. If they are willing to price match, all well and good. You have won because, if there is a problem you can return them locally. If they will not, you must weigh up the value of a local purchase to you.

You can easily end up with a top quality home theater system with wireless speakers by going about buying your up-grades in this way. You really ought to go the way of wireless speakers and if you do not believe me, just walk around the shopping mall one Saturday afternoon, you will soon be persuaded.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with wireless home theater systems. If you are interested in a Home Movie Theatre, please click through to our site now.

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Home Movie Theater Projectors

Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

Going to the movies is a very popular recreation especially for those young professionals living a considerably stressful life running corporate affairs. However, for those who cannot afford to waste time traveling to and from movie theaters, the answer to this recreational dilemma might be just inside their own house.

Why not recreate the visual and sound systems of the movie theaters with your very own custom home theater system? The best custom home theater set up certainly can include high quality components that are capable of recreating the entire movie theater experience without having to drive from your house to the movie theater spending time and effort waiting in heavy traffic. This modern technology can give you the relaxation and experience that full-sized movie theaters provide.

The basic components: a wide screen and loudspeakers with clear and flicker free images from a high quality DVD, can easily create quite an authentic movie-going experience. Home theater professionals recommend that before you choose the final set-up and equipment for your custom home theater system, the dimensions of the room must be the first thing to think about.

Therefore, if you have a small size room in mind for your home theater system, a television set may be best placed in the center of one wall and three speakers, placed on the left, right and center, could be enough to create the surround sound you desire from a custom movie theater. However, if you have a larger room, a home theater projector might be the better bet for recreating that big screen experience.

Home theater projector screens can provide an authentic movie theater experience. If you have a very rather room for your home theater system, in conjunction with your home theater projector and home theater projector screen, you could add some more loudspeakers around the room. Another useful tip is that a sub-woofer may also help to provide the optimum surround sound to allow you to produce that true sound of a movie theater in your own living room.

There are various designs and models of home theater projector you can choose from. You will need to understand the features of each one, before you decide on which one to buy. It may also be necessary for you to enlist the services of a home theater designer in order to get the home theater package that will give you the best entertainment. This will mean not needing to spend an unreasonable amount of time and money on your home theater system and home theater projector.

It is very easy to buy equipment with more capacity than you need for your home theater, especially if you not acquainted with the possible choices and the various requirements that your home theater may have due to the room’s measurements. The diagonal width of your home theater projector screen should be a function of the size of your custom home theater and the equipment in your custom home theater. For example, from where you intend to sit to the screen should be between two and five times the diameter of the screen. Therefore, looking at it another way, if you want to sit 10 feet (120 inches) from the screen, then the screen should be 24-60 inches, but it is subject to personal preference and depends on the viewers eyesight.

Your home theater expert might also propose options for your home theater that may not include a television set. Why? The reason for this is the technological innovations employed by computers and home theater projectors. Home theater projectors like InFocus screenplay models, for example, can be hooked up with a computer in a small room set-up. Home theater projectors are also lightweight and can be transported effortlessly. Therefore, a projector is very useful for employment in custom home theaters and business presentations.

Home theater projectors and home theater projector screens do help provide a true cinematic experience. This type of installation is particularly handy for business presentations and therefore it is becoming ever more in demand. This combination of your custom home and custom office theater systems is a brand new phenomenon, which only a few smart customers have dreamt up.

I am sure that being aware of all these facts: that is, that a basic television, three speakers and a DVD player can be enough for those people who only want a start-up home theater, you may well come to the conclusion that you do not really require a home theater projector, especially if the room set aside for your custom home theater system is not that big.

You can enjoy a cinematic experience right there in your own home by considering your options carefully. You can then experience the relaxation a movie theater can provide without having to put up with boring traffic jams on the way back and fore to the movie theater.

Do you want to install a Custom Home Movie Theater? Then visit our website at Home Theater

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Which Screen Is Best For Your Home Theater?

Sunday, June 27th, 2010

If you do not buy your home theater in one box, as many people do, then you will have to choose a screen at some stage or another. However, not only that, but you may be faced with choosing between a TV-cum-monitor unit and a drop down canvas screen.

It really all depends on the dimensions of the room you want to use as your home theater. If you are going to convert the box bedroom into a movie theater, then a 28 inch TV screen might be enough for you, but if you are going to use a long room and people might be quite a few yards from the screen, then a projector and drop-down screen would almost certainly be the right answer.

However, for most people, a normal TV screen would be satisfactory. There are several kinds of television sets on the market at the moment, so we will take a look at them in turn later. Firstly, I would like to mention the dimensions. It has been standard practice for hundreds of years to place a painting five times the diagonal of that painting from the viewer’s eyes. In other words, if a painting or a screen or a window, is two feet diagonally, then the best place to view it from is ten feet away.

This is a general rule, it is not written in stone. Personal preference and eyesight come into it too. Therefore, if you used a 28 inch television set, the optimum viewing distance would be about 12 feet away. So, 28 inches would be plenty for most spare bedrooms, but perhaps not for a converted attic or basement. This relationship between screen and room size is the most important to get correct, otherwise the rest is a waste of money.

It all boils down to: do you like to sit in the front of the movie house or at the back? [We are only discussing viewing the film here]. If you like to be dominated by a huge screen, then the proportions I gave you must be decreased, otherwise they should be about right. Assess yourself: how far do you like to sit from your TV? Is it more or less than 5:1?

There are essentially three types of view screens and they are: plasma, rear projection and front projection screens. The first is the modern flat screen TV, the second the conventional TV and the third a system with a projector.

Plasma Televisions

These televisions provide the best quality, especially for watching movies that are formatted for wide screen viewing. They have a much larger viewing area than traditional televisions and they also come in a wide variety of sizes in order to adapt to many varieties of home theater needs. The biggest problem with these beauties is the price, but that is dropping every month too.

Rear Projection Televisions

This is the standard cathode ray tube TV that we have all been watching since were born. Their major problem is that they are lumpy, but that was not a problem for decades, so if it suits your room, do not let it be a problem to you now,

Front Projectors

This is what you see at the movies or on old Cine 8mm – the drop-down projection screen. But, do not write it off. It still produces high-quality images and for larger rooms, it is really the only screen for your home theater.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on many topics, but is currently involved with Home Theater Screens. If you are interested in a Home Movie Theatre, please click through to our site.

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Common Home Theater Mistakes

Friday, June 18th, 2010

A home theater requires a sizable investment of money, thought and installation, particularly if you have a high quality home theater. Therefore, it is a shame that so may people just connect all the pieces in a room without giving any thought to what other things they should be doing to improve it. Unless you hire a professional adviser, you might not achieve the full potential of your home cinema system. However, it is not necessary to hire an adviser, if you just pay attention to a few common blunders made by a lot of home theater owners

The lighting in any cinema is very important, as I am sure you already know. Why is it then that many people do not treat it as important in their own home cinema? You never see external light – sun light – in a specialized movie theater and you should not want any in yours either. Hang heavy curtains over every window in the room and let them extend beyond the window by a good border.

Heavy curtains will not only keep external light out, but they will also dampen street sounds, something else you never hear in a real movie theater. If you have neighbours close by, it will also help to preclude them from being bothered by your loud films or music.

Do not try to save money by purchasing poor quality speakers. Do not mix and try to match speakers either, unless you are sure you know what you are doing. If you need five speakers and a sub-woofer, but can only afford three and the sub-woofer, buy speakers from a well-known brand that you know you can get hold of again.

Do not buy end of line speakers, as you will find upgrading hard. The best approach for the novice is to get a 5.1 surround sound set of speakers. Then, if at some point in the future you want to upgrade, you can quite easily, either by buying more or exchanging the lot in one go. One thing is for certain, a lot of the magic of going to the theater these days lies in the surround sound and you need to reproduce it at home.

It is not rocket science to put a home theater together whether it comes in kit form or not. However, if you do not feel comfortable setting it up, you would be better off having it done for you. Clearly, it is up to you how you go about this, but you could ask a relative or friend or neighbour or hire someone from the shop where you got it. My speculation is though that any reasonably competent eighteen year old has already seen one set up before and can do it for you.

Your movie theater, if it came in a kit, will or should have thorough instructions for you to follow. Please read the handbook before you start plugging things into each other. Read the manual and inspect the parts until you are well acquainted with the installation procedure and the recommended positioning of the equipment.

Make sure that the voltage is adjusted correctly before you plug it into the mains. Most equipment is made abroad for sale to many countries, so they often have some sort of selector for the voltage. Get it wrong and you could blow a part of the equipment, probably the amplifier, the DVD player or the screen. that could mean replacement of the module or poor reproduction of sound or picture.

It is not hard to get the installation of your home theater right, but you do have to pay some attention to detail, if you want to get the best out of it.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on many topics, but is currently involved with home theater speaker placement. If you are interested in a Home Movie Theatre, please click through to our site now.

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Home Theater Set-Up And First Rate Speakers

Saturday, May 22nd, 2010

Home theaters are very popular in the West now for many reasons, but partly due to the recession. However, I predict that after the downturn is over, home theaters will take off like a rocket. In my opinion, this is because, the recession has forced people to examine their spending, which normally means cutting back. Going out, eating out and movies are all in the front line of these cuts. However, the slump is upsetting and people have to get some enjoyment from somewhere.

In the medium to long term, it is cheaper to build a home theater for a family than take them to a proper movie theater every week. Taking a family of four to the movies costs $50-$100, whereas a modest home theater might cost $1,000. It does not take long to recoup those costs. And it saves you the hassle of travelling there and back, the noise and mobile phones during the film and high prices for candy and snacks.

OK, maybe people at the moment are buying cheap packages of home theaters, but one of the first things they will replace when they get a bit of money again will be the speakers, I bet. Evidently, you need a good quality, large screen, but after that, it is the sound and the bulwark to good sound is usually poor speakers.

The most important factor in the design of your home theater is the dimensions of your room. If the room is small, you will not have need of so many speakers. Perhaps three speakers will be sufficient, if the room is small. However, if you only need three speakers and a sub-woofer, get good ones.

If you have a bigger room however, the basic three home theater speakers may not be enough. You may need to put up to six speakers and a sub-woofer around the room. The position of these speakers is up to you and can depend on the shape or and size of the room anyway, but typical layouts are:

3.1 system: one speaker to the left of the screen, one to the right and one underneath it. You can put the sub-woofer on top of the central speaker or at the back of the room. Try it and see.

5.1 system: as 3.1, but with two speakers at the back of the room too.

6.1 system: as 5.1, but with another speaker between the rear speakers, as in the front.

7.1 system: as 6.1, but with two speakers central rear, slightly away from each other. You can move the existing rear speakers around to the sides too.

This set-up requires a lot of wires as you can envisage. Now, you could staple the wires to the skirting board, but you should only do that after you are dead certain that you have the speakers in the right places. Or you could hang the speakers on the walls. However, although that sounds good for music, it does not always sound good for a movie.

The best choice is wireless speakers. Wireless speakers can be moved around to suit the number of people watching the movie or moved out for cleaning or redecorating purposes. You do not want to bash your nice, new, expensive speakers with the vacuum cleaner, do you?

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on many topics, but is currently involved with wireless home theater systems. If you are interested in a Home Movie Theatre, please click through to our site now.

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Home Movie Theater: Screens

Sunday, April 18th, 2010

When it comes to choosing a projection or TV screen, the first thing to think about is the kind of screen you want or even may need. If the room where you are setting up your home movie theater is a big one, then you will need to have a home theater projection screen or maybe you just want to go down that route anyway.

I, personally, like the idea of having a drop-down screen, but sometimes you have to have one even in a modest home theater. It converts your living room into a home theater: you recline in your chair; click a button and a screen drops down; click a button and the lights dim; click another one and the movie begins!

However, if you prefer a television screen, then you might be considering buying a new one. They say that a 27 inch screen is big enough, but I do not think it is. I think you need 48-60 inches, but then I’m a baby-boomer and my eyes are definitely not what they were.

If you are buying a new TV for your home theater, I think you should aim high. HDTV is upon us and since February 2009 the USA is committed to High Definition. So, I would make sure that your new TV is capable of receiving it. Then I suggest that the new home theater screen be a flat one to reduce the annoying glare that could ruin the experience. (This could be another reason for opting for a projection screen).

Then you should ensure that the new television has enough input and output sockets for the equipment you plan to use and youre done. So, to summarize, I would go for:

More than a 27 inch screen

A flat screen

HDTV compliant

Enough input and output plugs and sockets

Satellite enabled

I recommend satellite compatibility because it is probably the future or near future at least. If you get a satellite TV connection you will have access to HDTV downloads which you can watch whenever you like.

Do you want to install a Custom Home Movie Theater? Then pop along to our website at Home Theater

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