Home Theater Buying Advice
Even the most expensive digital TV can't convey the rich multichannel sound you'll find on most DVD movies and high-definition
television programs. There are two basic ways to upgrade the audio: Build your own surround sound system from separate components,
or choose a Home Theater in a Box system.
Types
Home-theater packages include a receiver that can decode digital-audio soundtracks and five to seven compact speakers—two front, one center, two to four surround speakers for the rear—plus a subwoofer for deep bass sounds. All have been matched for sound, eliminating effort on your part. Some types of Home Theater in a Box systems have wireless surround speakers or speakers with flat styling to complement a flat-panel TV. These boxed systems come with all the cables and wiring you need to connect the speakers, usually color-coded or labeled for easy setup.
Integrated systems
Many home-theater systems include a progressive-scan DVD player, and some newer models include a Blu-ray player. The player might either be built into the receiver or be a separate component. Systems that integrate the DVD player and the receiver in one box tend to offer a bit less functionality and fewer connections than those that have two separate components. Integrated units are somewhat simpler to set up, but they might not allow you to connect video devices other than a TV to the receiver. Some systems bundle in a VCR as well.
Price: $150 to $1,500 for typical systems, and $2,000 or more for systems aimed at audiophiles.
Separate components
Some consumers already have a DVD or Blu-ray player or simply prefer to keep the receiver and player separate. This choice offers more functionality and more connection options. These units are not as easy to set up, but they might allow you to connect video devices other than a TV to the receiver. Also, because each device has its own controls, they tend to be somewhat easier to use than an integrated device.
Price: $150 and up.
Multichannel systems
Other systems save space and simplify installation by using only two or three speakers plus a subwoofer. Those give you multichannel sound—typically left and right front channels and a center channel. But without rear speakers, they are not able to reproduce true surround, and they’re not full-fledged home-theater systems.
Price: $100 to $2,000.
Sound bars
If you want a simple way to enhance your TV’s sound without going to the trouble of assembling a full surround-sound system, you might be interested in sound bars. These are thin bars, sometimes about 40 inches long, that hang on the wall or sit on a shelf very near to the TV. The bars contain two to five speakers in a single enclosure, and some connect to a separate subwoofer. The advantage is that you can connect a sound bar directly to your TV, without using a receiver, and you’ll have few wires to deal with—and none that must run to the rear of the room. Speaker arrangement or electronic techniques are used to provide multichannel sound or to emulate surround sound.
Price: $300 to $1,800.
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