TV lovers rejoice. With falling prices on new high-definition technology and more available HD programming, it’s a good time to be in the market for an affordable, high-quality home theater.
But there’s a lot to consider before you stride into the electronics store and simply fall in love with the flat screens, says Jay Palmer, owner of Batavia-based EI Systems. Palmer designs home audio/video systems for professional athletes and other high-profile clients.
What’s involved in buying a new home theater package? RedEye asked Palmer to go shopping and guide us through the process.
First things first
Project size: Are you just buying a monitor? Or are you looking for a whole new multi-component system with a DVD recorder and TiVo to boot?
“Try not to let the budget be the bottom line” when first mapping out the system you want, Palmer says.
A good salesperson will be able to tell you about potential trade-offs to get more of what you want.
Time period: If you’re planning to move in the next few years, this may not be the time to invest in a big, expensive system, Palmer says.
Wait for the better, cheaper technology. Plus, don’t pay for wiring in the walls or built-in speakers if you don’t own your home or expect to stay long.
Choosing the right components
Screen: The bad news is this is largely a budget decision. You might dream of a plasma screen, but the cheapest ones start at $3,000. Most are between $5,000–$ 9,000.
The good news? More affordable LCD and rear projection screens offer exceptional picture quality, although LCD screens tend to be small. HDTV monitors (which are souped-up tube TVs) also have great pictures and large screens.
Speakers: Again, this choice depends on the scope you have in mind, Palmer says. Buyers who want to keep it simple can find high-quality sets with built-in speakers. For multi-speaker surround sound, the next choice is whether to buy separate speakers (for the front, side and rear of the room) or opt for a speaker package, typically four speakers and a central speaker unit (subwoofer).
Packages limit flexibility, Palmer warns: All the peripheral speakers must be wired back through the main speaker, which can make room layout difficult.
Controller: It’s no fun to juggle seven remote controls. Universal remotes start at about $10 for a three-device remote–the price climbs the more devices it can control. A couple hundred bucks will buy a master remote system to control all the video and audio components through one central device.
Some of Palmer’s big-budget clients might shell out $5,000 for a controller system. For that, the equipment doesn’t need to be visible or in the same room–all the components can be stored in a closet or another separate space in the house. Palmer says some clients tie in automatic lighting, curtains and temperature controls too.
DVD players: Although multi-disc DVD/CD players are popular, Palmer recommends staying with a single purpose component. “The problem is if something breaks, your whole system goes down,” he says. “A DVD/VCR player? No way!”
Getting the most bang for your buck
In the end, of course, it comes down to money. There’s some wiggle room–spend more on the sound system and less on the screen, for example–but that means trade-offs too. So what will your budget allow? Here are suggestions from home audio/video expert Jay Palmer for three different pocketbooks:
YOUR LIMIT
$1,500
SCREEN
Samsung 32″ Flat-Screen HDTV monitor: $850
SPEAKERS/DVD PLAYER
Criterion Home Theater System
with DVD player: $200
DVD RECORDER
Magnavox DVD recorder: $360
CONTROLLER
Phillips 8-Device DVR remote (for use with TiVo): $30
TOTAL
$1,440
YOUR LIMIT
$5000
SCREEN
Panasonic 56″ Widescreen HDTV monitor: $1,800
SPEAKERS/DVD PLAYER
Bose Lifestyle 18 Home Theater
System (5 speakers plus subwoofer and DVD/CD/tuner): $2,000
DVD RECORDER
Phillips progressive scan
DVD recorder: $450
CONTROLLER
Sony 18-Device LCD remote (with memory): $200
TOTAL
$4,450
YOUR LIMIT
40,000
SCREEN
Bang and Olufsen
BeoVision 5 42″ Plasma with motorized stand: $20,500
SPEAKERS/DVD PLAYER
Bang and Olufsen BeoLab 5 speakers: $16,000 for two Denon DVD2900 universal
progressive scan DVD player: $1,000
DVD RECORDER
Panasonic DMRE100HS DVD recorder with DVD-RAM,
120GB hard drive: $1,200
CONTROLLER
Phillips TSU6000 ProntoPro home theater remote with color touchscreen LCD: $1,000
TOTAL
$39,700
