Things You'll Need:
- consumer magazines
- home theater system
- product reviews
-
Step 1
Check out Home Theaters In a Box (HTIB). This is a package with everything you need in it, including DVD player, speakers, and wiring. You take it home and install it yourself. For 95% of consumers, this is all the theater they need for excellent performance.
-
Step 2
Examine receiver-based systems. These allow you to mix and match your components exactly to your specifications and are easily upgradeable. These are a step up in price and quality, and are able to project quality sound to a larger area.
-
Step 3
Check out a separate component home theater system. This is for the advanced audio or cinema junkie. A separate component theater system is very costly, and geared toward the most discriminating listener or viewer. Each part of the system is purchased separately for maximum quality.
-
Step 4
Determine the entertainment needs of your family and home. If you have a small family room, a HTIB will suffice. If you have a large living room with vaulted ceilings, you will need extra power and wattage to fill the room with sound.
-
Step 5
Make a budget. Based on what your family really needs, and how much you can afford to spend, come up with a number that will be a fair compromise. You don't want to go deep into debt buying a system that might be outdated before you can even pay it off.
-
Step 6
Purchase and install your theater. If you've opted for the HTIB, you can almost certainly install it with a little help from the owner's manual. Even those with a moderate amount of experience can install a receiver-based system. However, it's usually best to hire a professional for a separate component system to be on the safe side.
