You can spend weeks researching the best home theater gear, only to have the manufacturers drop something newer and “better” before your credit card has even cooled down. Here are some tips for building a system that will last longer than a Lord of the Rings marathon.
1. Don’t spend too much on cables.
Expensive HDMI cables? Not worth it. Generic ones cost far less at monoprice.com and work just fine. But one area to avoid skimping on: running cable through your drywall. “Always install multiple runs of CAT-5 cable with your other hookups. That way you can use the Internet to install firmware updates and keep your gear current,” says high-end installer Ed Gilmore of Gilmore’s Sound Advice.
2. Consolidate your clickers.
Clear the clutter from your coffee
table by using a universal remote. If
you’ve got a PS3 or a home theater PC, you can control it with Logitech’s diNovo Mini keyboard and media remote. $150
3. Keep it simple.
Unless you’re an audio freak or you
just have piles of cash lying around, skip the
pricey racked components and get a good
home-theater-in-a-box instead. Not only does the Samsung HT-BD8200 ($799) have a wire-less subwoofer and pack a Blu-ray player into its under-the-TV-mounted sidebar, but
its sleek design will also make your setup look
more “sweet bachelor pad” than “IT closet.”
4. Understand your gear’s lifespan.
Before you go out and spend eight paychecks on a component, it’s important
to know how long you can expect it to stay
on tech’s cutting edge. “Three to five years
is the relevant life expectancy of most source equipment, such as Blu-ray players. Spend money on an amplifier and a quality set of speakers, though; they can last much longer,” Gilmore explains.
