Things You'll Need:
- Be aware of the required cables for each type of surround sound home theater system.
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Step 1
First, and most importantly you need to decide on what technology the surround sound home theater system should use. There are three types.
The 5.1 surround sound home theater system: To the purist this is the only way to go. On the upside they provide excellent surround sound with dedicated sub-woofer, side speakers and rear speakers. Unfortunately they take up more space and there may be wiring issues for the rear speakers. A 5.1 style surround sound home theater system may have wireless rear speakers so this isn't an issue.
Next is the 2.1 surround sound home theater system. These units have a sub woofer and two side speakers, they rely on software to give the illusion of surround sound. Generally they provide good sound and take up less space.
Last is the sound bar style. This is a compact surround sound home theater system that relies on software to simulate surround sound. These are compact units that are great if you don't want to 'see' the system and cables everywhere. -
Step 2
The next step is to decide on how much power you need, and keep in mind, when it comes to a surround sound home theater system bigger is NOT always better. The best way to determine this is by the size of the intended room. Also be wary, when it comes to the rear speakers in a 5.1 style home theater system of the rear speaker power. Cheaper systems have very low power rear speakers, which, by the way, is key to a true surround sound home theater system experience.
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Step 3
After you decide on the power and style of the surround sound home theater system, you need to determine if you need additional features such as DVD player, ipod dock. and so on. Obviously the more features a surround sound home theater system has the more it will cost.
