10 Hot Home Theater Systems

When anyone talks about the decline of film, you can be sure
home theater will come up as a potential movie-killer. It's
not just the increasing price of movie tickets or the
wallet-squeezing operation theaters have set up at the
concession stand. Staying indoors in the comfort of your own
living room might sound more appealing than getting in the car
, driving to a theater chain and dealing with loud moviegoers
who leave a mess and talk on cell phones during the show.

If you've ever thought about setting up your own personal
movie theater, the amount of options can be mind-boggling.
Whether you're looking for good sound for an equally good
deal or even if you have millions to spare, buying a new home
theater system is a big decision, and with so many options
available, how do you decide which one is right for you? We've
rounded up 10 hot home theater systems, making it­ ­easy to
find something for every budget.




10: Onkyo HT-S9100THX

If you've ever settled into a movie and been met with a loud,
whirring noise accompanied by a huge rumbling, you may have
thought the robots were finally taking over and stampeding
the theater. Fortunately, if you check the movie screen and
see three large letters, "THX," you can rest easy -- the short
intro before the film is letting you know that the images and
sounds you're about to experience have been given a special
seal of approval.

If you're familiar with the THX logo and its association with
audio and video performance, then you should give the Onkyo
HT-S9100THX a listen. So does Onkyo have anything to do with
THX, or is the home theater company just using the letters to
get some attention?

As it turns out, the Onkyo HT-S9100THX package is the world's
second home-theater-in-a-box -- or "integrated home-theater
system," as the two companies like to call it -- that is
THX-certified. (The first was an earlier version by Onkyo, the
HT-S900THX.) The S9100THX includes a DVD player that can
upgrade video to 1080p, a 7.1 channel surround sound system
and is priced between $799 and $999.

9: Sony DAV-HDX500/i BRAVIA

The Sony DAV-HDX500/i BRAVIA offers many of the typical perks
of a home theater system -- a five-disc DVD player, five
surround sound speakers and a subwoofer, all ready for the
movie lover. The DAV-HDX500/i BRAVIA goes a few extra steps
for the music lover, too. The system comes with an iPod dock
so digital music fans can play their music over the speakers,
and with an XM Radio subscription and the XM Mini-Tuner
package, the DAV-HDX500/i BRAVIA is ready for satellite radio
listening.

The system also has either 720p or 1080i output via an HDMI
digital interface, allowing viewers to upgrade their DVDs'
video quality. Sony's DAV-HDX500/i BRAVIA is one of the more
affordable home theater systems, selling for about $420.

8: Panasonic SC-PT760

Fo­r anyone with a budget range between $267 and $415, the
Panasonic SC-PT760 is a possible candidate for consideration.
It offers your typical home-theater-in-a-box specifications
-- a five-disc DVD player, 5.1 channel wireless surround
sound speakers, HDMI input that upgrades video to 1080p and
an iPod dock for iPod integration.

The SC-PT760, Panasonic's mid-range system in a group of
three, is more popular than its two cousins, the less
expensive SC-PT660 ($300) and the more expensive SC-PT960
($500). The lower-end system scraps the wireless speakers and
front speaker stands, making it less convenient than the
SC-PT760; the higher-end system, on the other hand, adds
tallboy speakers to the mix, an extra that many consumers may
find unnecessary and not worth the extra money.

7: Sony HT-CT100

Some home theater systems come with a plethora of accessories.
More often than not, the more gadgets included in the package,
the more confusing and frustrating it can be to set up
everything.

However, other systems, however, can be pleasantly simple.
One popular subsection of the home theater system market is
single-speaker audio. If you think that's all there is to it,
you're just about right -- single-speaker audio packages
typically come with one speaker, often in the shape of a long,
rectangular rod, that delivers "faux" surround sound.

­Priced at around $300, the Sony HT-CT100 is one of the
leaders in single-speaker audio, offering a small, minimalist
setup that includes a subwoofer and a thin soundbar speaker.
Manufacturers have perfected these simpler sound systems over
the years .

6: Panasonic SC-BT100

Now that the high-definition DVD wars are over and Blu-ray is
the sole provider of HD home video, you can expect a lot of
systems, including laptop computers and video game consoles,
to begin using the format. Home theater system producers have,
of course, followed suit, and several in-the-box packages are
showing up on the shelves.


One Blu-ray home theater system that's caught people's
attention is the Panasonic SC-BT100. The first notable thing
about it, aside from the Blu-ray-capability, is its price --
depending on where you purchase it, the SC-BT100 will cost
between about $600 and $800. Considering that many home
theater systems only play standard DVDs and can go for more
than $1,000, the SC-BT100's price could convert anyone who's
still on the fence about whether or not to switch to Blu-ray.



The SC-BT100 includes an AV receiver and a set of five
speakers; it's 7.1-channel-ready, meaning you'll have to buy
an additional set of speakers and wireless receiver to get
the full effect.

5: Denon DHT-FS3

For sleek simplicity that can hide in your living room but
still provide sound worthy of a home theater system, the
Denon DHT-FS3 stands out. The package includes one speaker
and one standalone subwoofer, both of which are very compact
-- the speaker measures at 3.75 inches (9.5 centimeters) high
by 33.5 inches (85 centimeters) wide by 4.8 inches (12
centimeters) deep and only weighs about 10 pounds (4.5
kilograms), while the subwoofer is 4.25 inches (10.8
centimeters) high by 14.9 inches (37.9 centimeters) wide by
14.25 inches (36.2 centimeters) deep and weighs about 12
pounds (5.4 kilograms). The DHT-FS3 has a shiny piano-black
finish, and in a way it does look like a miniature version of
a piano section.

The Denon DHT-FS3's list price is as high as $1,200, making
it one of the more expensive home theater systems, but an
online search can lead to prices as low as $700.

4: Sony DAV-IS10

Not everyone's living room allows for home theater systems to
fit perfectly. Many packages come with speakers or subwoofers
that are simply too big, and even if you can mount accessories
on walls, they might look garish and out-of-place, ruining any
sense of comfort in your entertainment space.

Many manufacturers are trying to shrink home theater systems,
making speakers small while keeping the sound big. The Sony
DAV-IS10, for instance, offers speakers as small as golf
balls, so they can go in nearly any space in your room. The
package is also high definition, offering DVD upscaling to
720p and 1080i and an HDMI cable. The system will play DVDs,
CDs, MP3s from iPods and FM/AM radio, and retailed for around
$400.

3: Pioneer HTS-GS1

Video gamers can be pretty picky about their setups --
sometimes a specific type of controller will be the only
thing that feels right, or a high-definition television will
offer the best visuals and display a game's graphics the way
they should be seen.

For Xbox 360 owners looking for a little more pizzazz for
their gaming experience, the ultimate may be the Pioneer
HTS-GS1. This home theater package is designed to match the
style of the Xbox 360 console and enhance the experience with
its sound system. Geared toward small-to-medium sized rooms,
the HTS-GS1 offers easy-to-follow instructions for setup and
configuration with the 360. On top of offering 5.1-channel
surround sound for the console, the home theater system also
enhances DVDs, CDs and MP3 files that can play on the Xbox.
Prices for the Pioneer HTS-GS1 range from $240 to $330.

2: Bose 3-2-1 Series III

The Bose 3-2-1 Series III is, as the name suggests, the
company's third installment of the 3-2-1 group. This home
theater system is a compact one, offering imitation surround
sound with just two speakers and a subwoofer. The Series III
DVD player and tuner is also small, measuring at 13.4 inches
(13 centimeters) high by 10 inches (25.4 centimeters) wide by
3.3 inches (8.4 centimeters) deep. Whereas the Series II
didn't include HDMI, the Series III corrects that and makes
it easy to connect to an HDTV and upscale any standard DVDs
to 1080p.

The high price of the Series III ($950) may scare off any
budget shoppers, but those with the cash and a penchant for
graphite might want to look into the package.

1: Kipnis' Outer Limits Theater

For the ultimate, never-gonna-get-it setup, we can look
toward the living room of music producer Jeremy Kipnis.
Most people, if they had $6 million to burn, would do many
things. Maybe they'd buy a house or a couple of new cars.

Kipnis didn't do any of these things. With $6 million, he
instead built a gigantic, state-of the art home theater
system, which has become known variously as "Kipnis' Outer
Limits Theater," "The Kipnis Studio Standard Experience," or
"The Greatest Show on Earth." This, of course, wasn't your
typical, home-theater-in-a-box situation, as no
home-theater-in-a-box exists for such a high price tag.
Kipnis chose the separate elements and put them together,
including the ultra-high resolution (4,096 by 2,160)
Sony SRX-R110 Digital Cinema Projector, 8.8-channel sound
with 16 18-inch (45.7-centimeter) subwoofers, a Sony
Playstation 3 and top-of-the-line Blu-ray, HD-DVD, DVD,
VHS and Laserdisc players.

The couch in his living room, however, only sits three, so
make sure you grab a seat if you're ever invited to witness
The Greatest Show on Earth.