Home Theater: Buyer's Guide: Home Theater In a Box


	There are three steps for enjoying the right Home Theater in a Box in your home: choosing it, buying it, and setting it up. We'll help with tips for each stage starting with our top picks and a primer on making the right choice. • • • • •

What To Buy
All variations of Home Theater in a Box are explained

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How To Buy
We provide you with shopping tips and strategies to help you in the store.

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How To Use
How to get your new HTIB connected and how to get the best sound from it.

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What to Buy: HTIB Top Picks
Sony DAV-HDX500 BRAVIA Theater System $499 (Replaced with HDX-576WF HTIB, $500) Read Full Review	Why We Like It: The DAV-HDX500 gets pretty high marks relative to its competitors at its price. It's a fun system to use (except for that blasted remote), and the auto calibration makes getting the best sound possible out of the system as brainless as possible. We wish the speakers sounded a bit better, but that's a common knock against HTiBs. All in all, it's a strong value in a one-box system.	Specs/Features: Five speakers plus 285-Watt powered sub Integrated receiver and Upconverting DVD changer w/HDMI output Receiver power: 143-Watts x 5 into 8 ohms Processing Modes: DD, Dolby ProLogicII, DTS-ES Discrete Matrix Neo:6, DTS 24/96, Neural Surround, Digital Cinema Sound Nifty auto setup with included microphone Dual digital media ports Add-ons for Walkman, Bluetooth, iPod or Wi-Fi XM Ready

Denon DHT-487DV $699 (Replaced with DHT-488XP, $649) Read Full Review	Why We Like It: We're inventing a new category for this one - the "HTCiB", or "Home Theater Components in a Box." The sound is a little thin and sometimes strident, but this system is built around a Denon AVR and DVD player that compete with similarly priced, separate components. Each is good enough to build a system around, which makes this an excellent entry into the home theater game.	Specs/Features: Five speakers plus 100-Watt powered sub Separate AVR and Upconverting DVD player AVR power: 75-Watts x 5 into 8 ohms Processing Modes: DD, Dolby ProLogicII, DTS-ES Discrete Matrix Neo:6, DTS 24/96, Neural Surround Component video switching for two sources Two each coaxial and Toslink optical digital audio inputs One 5.1-channel analog input XM-Ready and input for optional iPod Dock DVD Player: HDMI 1.1 and component video outputs, upconversion to 1080i, one each coaxial and toslink optical digital audio outputs, plays MP3 and WMA encoded discs

Onkyo HT-SR800 $599 (Replaced with HT-S5100, $599) Read Full Review	Why We Like It: So, $599 only buys a 7.1-channel receiver and the associated speakers? Is it really a Home Theater in a Box if it doesn't include a DVD player? Add on $150 or less for a decent entry-level DVD player and you're still looking at - and listening to - one of the best HTiBs we've experienced for the money. If you are into performance and would like to have the possibility of upgrading, this Onkyo comes highly recommended.	Specs/Features: 7.1-channel system with 230-Watt powered sub Separate 7.1-channel AVR AVR power: 110-Watts x 7 into 8 ohms Processing Modes: DD, Dolby ProLogicII, DD-EX, DTS, DTS-ES Discrete/Matrix/Neo:6, DTS 24/96, Neural Surround HDMI video switching for two sources XM, Sirius and iPod Ready

Panasonic SC-BT100 Blu-ray $1,000 Read Full Review	Why We Like It: The Panasonic SC-BT100 puts together a highly desirable feature package for $1,000, including Blu-ray playback, iPod compatibility, wireless surround-channel transmission, digital amplification, and speakers with bamboo drivers. This is one of the best in-a-box systems we�ve heard. It arguably makes the other disc-drive-inclusive models on my short list obsolete, since they only do standard-def DVD.	Specs/Features: 5.1-channel system with 250-Watt powered sub Blu-ray player included Processing Modes: Dolby TrueHD, DD, Dolby ProLogicII, DD-EX, DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS, DTS-ES Discrete/Matrix/Neo:6, DTS 24/96, Neural Surround iPod Ready

What To Buy: Tips For Choosing

In addition to getting the right amount of power for your room and the features you need, there are a variety of Home Theater in a Box configurations to choose from.

Finding the Right Type of System: 5.1? 2.1? 1.1? We sort out the various types of HTIB systems.

HT Reviews: Read all of our HTIB reviews

A/V Glossary: Learn what all those cryptic terms mean before you buy.

How to Buy: Shopping Tips & Strategies

Even if you know which features are the best fit for you, the salesroom floor can be unforgiving terrain. We'll help you become a smart shopper.

HTIB Shopping Tips: HT's Editors provide a quick primer in intelligent HTIB shopping.

Decoding Amp Power Specs: Chances are, you're looking at the power output specs. That's fine, but do you know what they are telling you?

How to Use: Connections & Calibration

Now that you've unboxed your new HTIB, how do you hook it up and get all the performance you've paid for? Want to know how to dial in your speaker placement for the best sound? Start Here.

Speakers: Where Do I Put Them?: We provide tips and tricks for postioning all of your speakers for optimum sound.

Cables: The Tangled Web: You'll need a handful of cables to connect your HTIB to other components. We'll help you with the ones that come with the system and some that don't.