While video was examined the past couple days, we should keep in mind the audio component. Stock speakers on your television may be good for some, but others may find that insufficient. Also, the quality or placement of some internal speakers - as televisions get smaller and smaller - may not produce the right sound, or enough of it. Others may just really enjoy the effect that a good sound system can add to the enjoyment of movies, sports and other programming.
There are several things to consider when buying or building a sound system. Will you build it yourself? Will you buy a boxed or custom setup? What is your budget? What are your needs or limitations? All of these can help in figuring out what is best for you.
The "basics" for a surround sound setup can be achieved through the use of a stereo receiver, and multiple speakers placed in appropriate locations. I've done this myself, in the past. I had an older 1994 Teac receiver, with two pairs of speakers, I connected my VCR to the AUX ports with the RCA connectors, and got something decent out of that. Granted, I didn't have a subwoofer to take advantage of but it was good enough at the time. Then again, I think the girls living below me in college would have hated to hear the rumbling during movies, so ti's probably just as good that I didn't get one!
For those with either discerning tastes, or the desire to really personalize their experience, custom building allows one to get the best that they want. I have a friend who tries to constantly update his system. It can reach volumes that guarantee hearing loss, without distortion. At reasonable human levels, it sounds great (and you don't need hearing protection). To accomplish that, though, he has sunk thousands of dollars into individual components and connectors.
"Boxed sets" are available through many retailers and etailers for varying prices. The more expensive units will tend to have greater power, more features, better quality speakers, etc. So, the $65 Coby unit at Best Buy, with DVD player has a total power of 300W, spread across the speakers, with 100W being dedicated to the subwoofer. In contrast, the $499 Pioneer is listed at 1100W, in a 5.1 configuration, but includes 3D blu--ray player, and support for a greater number of formats and devices. Some sets, like the aforementioned Pioneer, will have larger speakers and components, while others, like this Bose unit at HH Gregg, gets the famouse Bose quality with a very small footprint. Bose products, however, deliver that small form with a high price tag. The listed example is just under $2,100 right now.
Another option to consider is the Soundbar. these are external speakers that sit above or below the television, and increase the sound quality that may be "lacking" from the internal speakers. These can start around $60 for lower end, lower powered models, and increase in price with quality and features.
Power is a big consideration for selection of home theater components. The number listed will be the total power output, which will be divided over the number of speakers. Lower power units may be find for smaller spaces, but may not be able to deliver the right sound to a larger room. There's a difference between wiring a college dorm room vs converting your basement into a home theater. While both may sound fine in a confined area, it may be more cost effective to buy a better one to begin with, than to replace it shortly afterwards.
Much like other components of a good home theater system, you need to look at your budget, your space, your neighbors, etc. You don't want to get junk, but you also want something that can meet all of your needs. If you would like to play something through your mp3 player, then a port for that should be a requirement. It may require an upgrade or replacement, instead of simply an "add-on" to make use of new or unplanned features. So, it's a wise move to try to plan it out and get it right the first time.
Something that I will address here, which could equally be applied to other products. Sometimes it's not a bad idea to take a look at clearance merchandise. While the "open box" or "display" items may have problems, discontinued products will offer you a chance to get a bit more for a reduced price. Manufacturers like Pioneer, Toshiba, Philips, Sony, etc continue to put out new products. This doesn't detract from the quality of their previous models. With warranties, a defective model may even be exchanged for a comparable or better model .
I hope this helps to give you some considerations on home theater components. Like the previous broad guides, I'm not endorsing one brand or model above others, as there's no single "best" for everyone.
Check back for more ideas tomorrow, as well as a "How to" guide on setting up your home theater, with all the components assembled!
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