Shopping Guide: Choosing A Home Theater System

Shopping Guide: Choosing A Home Theater System

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Adding a home theater system to an existing media center can bring a whole new level of entertainment to the typical living room. Movies, television and music come alive with surround sound, and the subtle nuances of soundtracks can be revealed by high quality audio technology. Not to mention a rumbling subwoofer.

In the past, home theater systems were considered high-end and would cost upward of $1000, not including the cost of installation. But a new, more affordable option home theater in a box now can provide an instant theater experience for many an average viewer.

Home theater systems in a box (HTIB) are media components which expand the capabilities of an existing setup with television, cable box or satellite, VCR, etc. Most of them share some basic features, but after that, the options (and price range) can vary widely. Here's some important information to keep in mind as you shop:

Features of Home Theater Systems

Most come with an integrated DVD player, usually with a disc changer for multiple DVDs
Newer systems support Blu-Ray DVDs for the ultimate HD experience
Intended for small or medium-sized rooms (for large rooms, consider full-featured, installable home theater systems)
A radio tuner is standard, although some systems have inputs for satellite radio
In addition to DVDs, most systems can play CDs, MP3s and image CDs
Speakers can come with long wires or be wireless
Typically come with 2, 5 or 7 speakers with recommendations for placement such as left, right, center, front, back, high and low, plus a subwoofer for powerful bass
Systems with 2 speakers use simulated surround sound. Those with 5 speakers provide Dolby 5.1 surround sound (with speakers for left, right, center, left surround and right surround positions). Systems with 7 speakers come with Dolby 7.1, adding left rear surround and right rear surround
Equalizers may be limited, but the more advanced provide better control over sound balance
Some systems come with basic A/V capabilities
As far as watts, anything above 90 watts per channel should be sufficient

Keep in Mind

Cost for a system starts at $100 and peaks out at $3000

Only the more expensive HTIBs will support high definition, so for a true theater experience invest in an HD-capable system

A web of wires can detract from the sleek appearance of the theater components, not to mention room dcor. Consider wireless or virtual surround systems for cord-free fashion

Some systems do not provide controls on the front of the unit as well as the remote this can render a system useless if the remote is lost or broken

When shopping, keep flexibility and future-friendly compatibility in mind. Make sure connectors are universal; otherwise proprietary connectors can make integration and expansion with mix and match components difficult. Be sure to select an HTIB with plenty of inputs for what you want to hook up now and might want to hook up in the future.

About the Author:
Yung Trang leads the team behind Techbargains.com, one of the most visited online shopping deal sites. Techbargains has been featured in PC World, and the Wall Street Journal. The site was founded in 1999 and is best known for the quality of its printable coupons, eBay Coupons, Best Buy Coupons, Borders Coupons, and Barnes and



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