Home Theater Systems

At long last, quality home theater systems are available at prices so low that almost anyone can afford them. They're usually easy to install, and the difference in the way you see your favorite movies, sporting events, and everyday television programs is unbelievable. Dolby Digital Surround Sound provides 5 to 7 separate sound channels that immerse you into the environment you see on the screen. Even the little Zenith 5.1 system I have in my bedroom is good enough to make movies and TV shows that much more real.

The new generation of big-screen High Definition televisions has brought a new era of home entertainment, but there are so many new buzzwords that consumers may feel overwhelmed. One of these buzzwords is "HDMI" which stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface. Simply put, its a new kind of cable that connects these new generation entertainment systems by using a single cable to carry both video and audio signals. There's a lot of sales hype about HDMI cables. Companies like Monster Cable are selling HDMI cables that cost nearly $100.00. This is an unnecessary expense. HDMI carries a digital signal, so simple inexpensive cables will give you results that are just as good as the expensive ones. At best, the expensive versions may last longer, but don't let any salesman talk you into buying one that costs more than $15-25.00 unless it's longer than 10-12 feet.

Sony Consumer Electronics
Leading manufacturer of home theater systems and components, including Blu-Ray disc players.

Samsung Home Theater
Samsung is a leading manufacturer of high-definition televisions, DVD and Blu-Ray Players, and home theater systems.

Best Buy
Check out the Magnolia stores inside select Best Buy stores.

Circuit City
Smallish stores make it difficult to compare products. These guys are good to do business with, but you'll want to know what you want and the market price before you walk in the door.

DVD Talk
Primarily a DVD review site, but it has articles and online forums that offer a wealth of information on home theater equipment and services. I wouldn't buy anything without checking it out on this site first.