The Wii console is a great video game system, but adding a few extra parts will turn your Wii system into the ultimate entertainment experience.
Here are 4 key items that will take your Wii console to the next level…
- High Definition (HD) TV
- Wii Component Cable
- home theater surround sound
- Wii Internet Channel
High Definition (HD) TV
Although the Wii doesn’t have High Definition (HD) capability, its graphics are still great to look at. Although there’s no HD, you can dial the Wii’s graphics quality up a notch by connecting your console to an HDTV.
When looking for an HDTV, the ones to look at are the newer 1080 pixel HDTVs. These 1080 TVs are marketed as “true HD” and offer the best picture quality for watching TV shows, DVDs and playing video games.
While the original HD TVs in the US only offered 720 pixel resolution, 1080 pixel HD has already been around in Europe for a few years. If these numbers sound confusing, the most important thing to keep in mind is that the higher the number, the better the image quality.
Another important part of buying an HD TV is choosing the right size TV. HD TVs come in different sizes, from 19 inches to 112 inches. The size of the television you buy is determined by the size of the room in which you are going to place it. Talk to an expert at your local electronics store. They will be able to recommend the right TV size for you.
However, no matter what size TV you buy, connecting your Wii to a 1080 HDTV will take your Wii’s graphics to the next level.
Wii Component Cable
You’ll notice a big difference in the Wii’s graphics when you connect it to an HDTV, but you can still get a little more out of the graphics by using a Wii component cable.
The Wii system comes with a standard audiovisual (AV) cable packaged in the box. This standard AV cable has a single video cable to carry the Wii image signal to your TV.
An image signal is made up of 3 different colors: red, green and blue. These color signals travel to your television and are combined to form a full color image.
With the standard Wii AV cable, all 3 color signals have to fight their way through the single video cable. This causes a loss of image quality as colors struggle to get to the other end.
However, the Wii component cable has 3 separate video cables. Each cable carries its own color signal from the Wii console to your television. This means signals don’t have to fight their way to the other end of the cable and results in a higher quality picture on your TV compared to a standard AV cable.
The Wii component cable is relatively cheap. You can buy the original Nintendo Wii component cable or one of the good quality third-party cables, which are usually a bit cheaper than the Nintendo version.
home theater surround sound
Home theater and surround sound systems have become very popular in recent years. Most home theater systems come with 5 speakers placed around the room and a subwoofer on the floor for added bass. These home theater/surround sound systems are commonly known as 5.1 surround sound.
Most CDs and DVDs are created with 5.1 surround sound programmed into them. So when you play a CD or DVD in a 5.1 home theater system, the sound is programmed to come out of all 6 speakers to create the perfect cinematic experience.
The Wii system does not have 5.1 surround sound programmed directly into it. Instead, the Wii has a technology called Dolby Pro Logic II. Dolby Pro Logic II directs Wii sound to every speaker in the room, as if 5.1 surround sound was actually programmed into Wii games.
To use the surround sound features of the Wii, you will need a home theater/surround sound system with a Dolby Pro Logic II setup. Most modern home theater systems have Dolby Pro Logic II as standard, and this shouldn’t be too hard to find.
Connecting your Wii to a surround sound system creates a theater experience. The sound of Wii games immerses you as they play across the room, giving you an even greater sense of being ‘in the game’.
Wii Internet Channel
The Wii Internet Channel is a web browser designed specifically for the Wii console. With the Wii Internet Channel you can browse all your favorite websites directly on your Wii.
Unfortunately, the Wii Internet Channel does not come preloaded on the console and you will need to download it from the Wii Shop. It costs 500 points to download, but if used wisely, the Wii Internet Channel will increase the functionality of your Wii.
The Wii can’t play music CDs, and putting MP3s on an SD card can be a chore. With the Wii Internet Channel you can stream your favorite Internet radio stations like Last.fm and Pandora. Type in your favorite artists and listen to the music you want to hear.
You can even watch YouTube videos on the Wii Internet Channel. Nintendo and YouTube have created a website especially for the Wii. It’s free and fun to use on the Wii Internet Channel.
Download the Wii Internet Channel and get even more from your Wii!
the recap
The Wii console is a great gaming system, but some additional equipment will help create the best entertainment experience.
You also don’t need to break the bank to get this experience. The prices of HDTVs and home theater systems are dropping all the time, and you can get a good system at an affordable price.
Compare prices and ask the experts at your local electronics store for advice on the best TVs and sound systems in your price range.
Putting together that perfect Wii system really is an investment worth making.