OTHER TECH

In this guide you'll find five starter systems, selected by the editors of Sound & Vision. While these were put together with people new to home theater in mind, longtime readers of the magazine will also find worthwhile ideas, and combinations of equipment they might not have considered.

Each setup is a complete home theater system, featuring a large-screen high-definition TV and surround sound. Our recommendations were assembled for those working with a budget but still looking for the best possible quality. The least expensive system comes in at $3,000, while the most expensive one, at just under $10,000, includes a 50-inch plasma HDTV, audiophile-grade speakers, an HD DVD player, and a high-def digital video recorder.

(Our total prices were determined using the components' street prices, not the manufacturer's list prices. People hardly ever pay list price for gear, and a search on the Web, or a comparison between local stores, will quickly show who's selling at a price at or close to what we show here.)

Many of the components are Sound & Vision Certified & Recommended. For those new to the magazine, that means our reviewers consider them to be among the best available. To read the reviews, go to our Equipment section (and while you're surfing around, check out the buying guides, helpful setup tips, do-it-yourself projects, and more.)

Veteran S&V readers will want to pass this guide along to anyone looking for solid advice about home theater or who's learning the basics and wants a headache-free way to put together a great system. And eager novices will find that these rigs (feel free to mix and match between them) will provide first-rate performance and an unforgettable high-def, surround-sound experience.

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