Smart Shopping: Home Theaters

Getting Started l Types l Features l Brands

Buying separate components can be time-consuming and expensive, and connecting them can be a challenge. You can avoid some of the hassle by buying a prepackaged system that combines a receiver with a set of matched speakers, wiring, and often a DVD player. The package will cost less than building your own system from scratch. You'll see some Home Theater in a Box systems selling for less than $200, and a decent selection of systems for about $300, though other models sell for hundreds more. Panasonic and Sony are among the best-selling brands on the market.

Unless you're a serious audiophile listening to music critically, you'll probably find the sound quality to be just fine. These systems typically have less power and fewer features than separate components, so they're not the best choice if you want a system with plenty of power for a very large room or noisy setting. Most are not designed for expansion, and don't let you add or replace speakers. This home theater guide will help with your choice.

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.

These all-in-one systems aren't for everyone so make sure when you are selecting one that you get the Home Theater in a Box features that suit your needs. With any system, you can be assured of such basics as AM/FM tuners, Dolby Digital and DTS surround-sound support, and enough speakers for at least a 5.1 surround setup. Some systems now include an integrated XM satellite-radio tuner or a USB port for connecting an iPod or other portable music player so you can listen to your music through the sound system.

Receiver
The receivers in Home Theater in a Box systems tend to be more basic than standalone models. They usually include Dolby Digital and DTS decoders for handling the surround-sound track when playing a DVD. A few models offer newer Dolby and DTS surround formats that process 6.1 or 7.1 channels, which support an additional one or two rear-surround speakers, respectively. Those formats still aren't widely used in movies but could become more common in the future.

Controls
Look for a front panel with displays and controls grouped by function and labeled clearly. An onscreen display is handy for setting up and adjusting functions using the TV screen rather than a small display on the console. You're more likely to find this on models that have a DVD player integrated with the receiver. Remote controls are most useful when they have clear labels and different-shaped, color-coded buttons grouped by function. A universal remote can control a number of devices from different brands.

Speakers
Home Theater in a Box surround-sound systems come with five to seven speakers--two front, one center, two to four surround speakers for the rear--that have been matched for sound, plus a subwoofer. The speakers are often smaller than component speakers; some systems use small satellite speakers for the front and rear. A number of systems have wireless surround speakers that eliminate the need to run cables from the receiver to the rear of the room; these generally communicate with the receiver by radio frequency. You will have to plug in the rear speakers, though, so they're not completely cordless. You get all the cables and wiring you need, usually color-coded or labeled for easy setup. Many systems now use proprietary speaker connections, so you can't add more speakers to the packaged system or use these speakers with other receivers. A subwoofer might be powered or not powered. Either type will do the job, but a powered subwoofer often provides more control over bass.

Connections
These are critical, because the receiver in a home theater system is often the hub of your home-entertainment setup. You might want to route video as well as audio signals through your receiver so you can easily switch among sources such as a VCR, cable or satellite box, and DVR. Consider which devices you'll want to channel through the home-theater unit and which you can hook up directly to the TV. Analog outputs can be used for connecting standard-definition TVs or standard DVD players. An HDMI or component-video output on the receiver lets you feed high-definition signals from a cable or satellite box or a Blu-ray player through the receiver to your TV. These will also provide the best picture quality from a standard DVD player.

With audio inputs, you'll need a digital-audio input for relaying undecoded digital audio from your DVD player, digital-cable box, or satellite receiver. Make sure the input on the home-theater system matches the output on the other device. Some of these units have an optical digital-audio output, while others have a coaxial digital-audio output. (An HDMI connection carries the audio along with video in one cable.)

Switched AC outlets let you plug in other components and turn on the whole system with one button. These are less common with Home Theater in a Box systems than on component receivers.

Other connections
iPod connectivity through a dock or a cable allows you to attach your iPod and perform functions like play, pause, and skip with the system remote. An MP3 mini-jack lets you plug in an MP3 player for listening to music. A USB port lets you connect a player, a memory card, or a flash drive, allowing you to listen to music or view digital photos.

Radio capabilities
Most receivers have about 20 or more presets that you can use for AM and FM stations. Satellite-ready models have a satellite-radio tuner, but require a subscription and a special antenna.

Audio and other features
Many systems have preset or custom equalizers (EQ) and/or bass/treble adjustments. DSP (for digital-signal processor) modes use digital circuitry to duplicate the sound quality of, say, a concert hall. Each mode represents a different listening environment. A bass-boost switch amplifies the deepest sounds. Most receivers also offer a sleep timer, which turns them off at a preset time.

DVD features
Most models have track programmability (more useful for playing CDs than DVDs), track repeat, and disc repeat.

Most of the major electronics companies make Home Theater in a Box systems. Some offer systems across all categories while others concentrate on a certain price range. You can use this alphabetized guide to compare Home Theater in a Box systems by brand.

Bose
Bose, which is known for its audio products, has single-, 2.1-, and 5.1-channel systems in its product lineup. These systems are offered with and without an internal DVD player. Bose products tend to be higher-priced.

Coby
Coby is a value brand that is widely distributed with almost all retailers of consumer electronics.

Denon
The Denon brand is well-known for its products in all categories of home-theater products, including single-, 2.1-, and 5.1-channel units. It also has surround sound bar units that are 1.1 (single bar speaker and subwoofer) or just a single bar speaker. The 5.1 systems are usually not offered with a DVD player included, while the 2.1 systems do include an internal DVD player. The products tend to be mid- to high-priced.

Funai
Funai might not be a household name because it's the brand behind other brands, mainly lower-priced labels such as Emerson, Sylvania, and Symphonic, which tend to be sold at mass-market stores such as Wal-Mart. Funai also manufactures Wal-Mart's exclusive private label Durabrand.

Harman Kardon
While generally known for its standalone audio components, Harman Kardon also has 5.1 home theater packages, which are generally mid-priced.

Insignia
Insignia is Best Buy's electronics house brand, exclusively sold by the retailer. Insignia's products are positioned as a value line offering a decent amount of features at a very modest price.

JVC
Well-known for its audio products, JVC offers 2.1- and 5.1-channel systems with and without an internal DVD player. The cost is considered low- to mid-priced.

LG
Previously known as GoldStar, LG Electronics owns the Zenith brand in the United States. Its products include 5.1-channel home-theater systems with an internal DVD player. The cost is considered low to mid-priced.

Marantz
In the home theater market, Marantz offers only a front surround-sound speaker system (a single sound bar). Most of its products are high-priced.

Onkyo
Onkyo products include 5.1- and 7.1-channel systems with and without an internal DVD player. Prices start at the mid-range and increase with additional features.

Panasonic
Panasonic manufactures 2.1-, 3.1-, and 5.1-channel systems that usually come with an internal DVD player -- and in at least one case, a Blu-ray player. The products are competitively priced and widely available, including at Costco.

Philips
Philips has products in all home-theater categories, including the surround sound bar with subwoofer (with an internal DVD player), 1.0-, 1.1-, 2.1-, and 5.1-channel systems. Philips uses the Magnavox brand for its entry-level value products aimed at mass-market retailers.

Pioneer
Pioneer targets the step-up consumer, particularly with its higher-priced Elite brand series. The Elite series includes a 5.1 Flat-Panel Theater System (without a DVD) to match the other components of the Elite series. The mainstream Pioneer products are 5.1 home-theater systems that come with or without an installed DVD player.

RCA
Alco Electronics, a large Chinese consumer product company, acquired RCA's name and product franchise for video products in 2007 and continues to introduce new products to this category in the value market, using the RCA brand.

Samsung
Samsung carries all categories of home-theater systems including 2.1-, 5.1-, and 7.1-channel models. It also has systems that include a Blu-Ray (high-definition) player. Prices tend to be middling to higher.

Sony
Sony makes consumer home-theater products in all categories, including a virtual surround sound bar and 5.1-channel systems. Sony products cover the market, from low to high, with models for every budget.

Yamaha
Yamaha sells products in all categories of home theater, including surround sound bars and 5.1-7channel systems. Prices are usually on the high side, but the line generally includes some mid-priced models.