Best Home theater systems

Sound quality represents tonal accuracy and ability to reproduce fine sonic detail of the front speakers, subwoofer, center-channel speaker, and surround speakers. Sound quality judgments are made with the system optimized using its own auto speaker set-up function (if so equipped), and with its own tone controls and/or pre-set tone settings (if any) adjusted for most balanced sound.

This Home theater system which tested best for Sound quality has the following features: .

Number of audio signal channels supplied by the system. An HTIB system usually has 5.1 channels (front left and right, center, surround left and right, and subwoofer--that's the .1) or 7.1 channels (same as 5.1 but adds rear surround left and right). Note that some systems will require additional amplifiers to drive some speakers (i.e. subwoofers and/or rear surround channels).

This Home theater system which tested best for Number of channels has the following features: .

HD picture quality indicates trained panelists' evaluation of clarity and color accuracy of a high-definition progessive-scan (1080p) signal, from the HTIB system¿s Blu-ray player playing Blu-ray content on a HD TV. All signals were routed through an HDMI connection.

This Home theater system which tested best for HD picture quality has the following features: .

Number of speakers that come with the system. An HTIB system usually comes with 5.1 speakers (front pair, center, surround pair, and subwoofer--that's the .1), and some systems come with extra rear surround speaker pair for a 7.1 setup.

This Home theater system which tested best for Number of speakers supplied has the following features: .

DVD picture quality represents trained panelists' evaluation of clarity and color accuracy of a Standard definition (480i) signal, from the HTIB system's DVD player playing DVD content on a CRT TV. All signals were sent via a S-video connection if available, or a composite video connection.

This Home theater system which tested best for 480i DVD picture quality has the following features: Receiver OSD, Speaker set-up test tone function, Video player, Up-converts standard DVDs to pseudo HD, FM tuner, Station presets, Dolby Digital 5.1 digital audio decoding, Dolby Digital Plus digital audio decoding, Dolby True HD digital audio decoding, Dolby Pro Logic II analog audio processing, DTS 5.1 digital audio decoding, DTS-HD High Res. audio digital audio decoding, DTS-HD Master Aud Essential digital audio decoding, Other DSP modes, BonusView, BD-Live, Internet streaming access, Universal remote, Updatable software/firmware, Sleep timer function, Other features, Stereo analog audio (in/out), Coaxial digital audio (in/out), Optical digital audio (in/out), HDMI (in/out), Component-video (in/out), S-Video (in/out), Composite video (in/out), iPod dock, USB ports, WiFi connection, AC outlets (switched/unswitched), Other connections and Ethernet connection.

DVD picture quality represents trained panelists' evaluation of clarity and color accuracy of an upconverted HD (1080p) signal, from the HTIB system's Blu-ray or DVD player playing DVD content on a HD TV. All signals were sent through an HDMI connection.

This Home theater system which tested best for Upconverted DVD picture quality has the following features: .

Ease of use indicates how easy it is to set up the system and use controls on front panel and remote.

This Home theater system which tested best for Ease of use has the following features: .

Versatility score is based on the presence or absence of useful features. The inputs and outputs shown are on the receiver. (Does not include outputs on the video player, if that is separate.)

This Home theater system which tested best for Versatility has the following features: Active subwoofer, Amplified rear surround channels, Bass and treble tone controls, Receiver OSD, Auto speaker calibration, Speaker set-up test tone function, Plays 3D Blu-ray discs, Analog to HDMI video conversion, 3D capable HDMI switching, FM tuner, AM tuner, Station presets, Direct frequency tuning, Dolby Digital 5.1 digital audio decoding, Dolby Digital Plus digital audio decoding, Dolby True HD digital audio decoding, Dolby Pro Logic II analog audio processing, Dolby Pro Logic IIx analog audio processing, DTS 5.1 digital audio decoding, DTS-HD High Res. audio digital audio decoding, DTS-HD Master Audio digital audio decoding, Other DSP modes, Internet streaming access, Universal remote, Updatable software/firmware, Sleep timer function, Other features, Stereo analog audio (in/out), Active subwoofer pre-amp out, Coaxial digital audio (in/out), Optical digital audio (in/out), HDMI (in/out), Component-video (in/out), S-Video (in/out), Composite video (in/out), Headphone jack, Front A/V inputs, iPod dock, USB ports, AC outlets (switched/unswitched), Other connections and Ethernet connection.