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The $3500 Balanced AV System The following is an entry-level system designed to balance the desire for optimal quality of both audio and video aspects of the room. Key things to note are that this could be a front projection…

Samsung Smart TV Review with the LED 8000 Series The Samsung Smart TVs, and in particular the LED 8000 Series are quite impressive. Aside from the transition from CRT monitors to high-definition flat panels, TVs haven't changed much.

Recently Published Articles

Tip of the Day: Developing a Home Theater Budget
Cliff Heyne — March 28, 2013 03:55

For a custom installer, one of the most important parts of any bid is to set the client's budget expectations promptly and accurately. For someone who doesn't work on home theater systems for a living, the list of components needed is typically quite small. The average consumer will budget for a display, speakers, receiver, Blu-ray player, and cables. But that leaves out a large portion of expenses that can drive up the price of the project significantly. In the professional world I used to advise clients at a 30/30/30 starting point. 30% of the budget would be spent on the display, 30% on sound, and 30% on everything else (Yes, I know that leaves 10% left over. I'm not that base). Over the years I started to modify the budget, especially thanks to decreasing display prices, but the general idea remained the same. The goal was to get clients thinking about all of the small things that are needed to successfully build a home theater. As much as we would love to spend the entire budget on speakers and a display, that would leave us with nothing to watch and no way to power the speakers. With that mindset, below is a list of things to consider when building your own home theater system.

Audioholics $2500 Recommended System
gene — February 01, 2013 12:45

The Audioholics $2500 system represents extreme value and emphasis on audio performance. At this price its not typical to get such high performance and beautiful aesthetics all wrapped in one package. Harman Kardon provides all of your amplification needs with solid power delivery and decoding of all the latest HD formats. EMP provides the beautifully constructed and acclaimed speaker and subwoofer solutions to transform your living room into a mega cineplex. Get ready to entertain family and friends often as once they find out you've assembled a system of this caliber they will be visiting more frequently. Make sure they bring they supply of popcorn and beer as well as the occasional Blu-ray rental.

2012 Audioholics Product of Year Award Winners
Gene DellaSala — December 17, 2012 12:05

2012 was yet a second strong year of economic recovery in the A/V industry. Many of the major A/V manufacturers built upon successes of past generation products with a model line refresh with either minimal or no cost increase to the consumer. Getting more performance without a cost increase is always a win in our book. This year we've also seen an array of incredibly high performance budget gear hit the mainstream from the likes of Emotiva and Pioneer. A newcomer subwoofer brand named Power Sound Audio headed up by former SVS founder Tom Vodhanel launched an incredibly high value performance line of subs. After a 10 year sabbatical, Status Acoustics, the high end division of RBH Sound, decided it was time to unleash a reference level, cost no object speaker system into the high end realm. Classé, a brand of solid reputation, warmed our hearts with their cool running, rugged line of amplifiers and Oppo once again reigned king of the hill with their new line of Universal Blu-ray players.

$2,500 Recommended 5.1 Surround Sound System
Cliff Heyne — December 13, 2012 07:00

If you have $2,500 to spend on a 5.1 surround sound we can't think of any better system to buy than this one. $2,500 is absolutely everything you will need, including cables, power protection, and Blu-ray player. Just add a TV and you will have a completely new home theater. We hand picked every product in this system because of their extremely high performance vs price ratio. You will be hard pressed to find better equipment for the money, and often times for even double the money. For $2,500 you will end up with a home theater on a budget that will make your friend's "home-theater-in-a-box" or expensive "cube" system look like toys.

2012 Consumer Electronics Christmas Gifts Guide
Clint DeBoer — November 18, 2012 18:30

I think Christmas is coming sooner and sooner each year. At least it sure feels that way. We've geared up our annual Electronics Christmas Gift Buying Guide in an effort to let you know about what we think is great and enticing in the market. It may not be largely home theater-based, but that's because this is the time of year when we branch out into other areas and just include what we think is compelling, innovative, or well... just plain bizarre. In either case we hope this electronics buying guide serves you well as you prepare for the Christmas buying frenzy.

How to Choose a Flat Panel TV Wall Mount
Cliff Heyne — November 16, 2012 00:05

Choosing a TV wall mount can be a difficult decision because there are many different sizes, brands, and types of mounts. This guide breaks down the three most common types of mounts, full-motion/articulating, tilting, and low-profile, and then provides a few tips on what to look for in a good wall mount. Ultimately, as long as the wall mount you purchase is rated to handle your TV you shouldn’t worry about the TV falling off the wall. All of the extra features we talked about are great to have, but not always necessary. The real trick is knowing how to install the TV so it is secure and looks good. There are a lot of specialty mounts not covered in this article. The best place to find detailed information is on the manufacturer's website. If you take a look at some of the major manufacturers like Peerless, Sanus, Chief, and Omnimount you should be able to find a solution that fits your needs.

Internet Direct Speaker Brand Comparison
Cliff Heyne — November 04, 2012 16:55

Internet direct (ID) speaker manufacturers are often considered to provide the ultimate value in audio. However, sometimes there are hidden costs associated with their products that may nullify the advantage of cutting out the middle man. Going from a vinyl to veneer finish may significantly increase price. Speaker grilles may cost extra or shipping might add few hundred dollars to the bill, and what about the ability to return the speakers if you don't like them? We decided to compare the policies of most major Internet direct brands in an effort to help consumers make an informed decision about what they buy and whom they buy it from. We put together a table that directly compares each brand and then wrote a detailed description of their associated policies. We hope this article will help you make a more informed decision when purchasing speakers from an Internet direct manufacturer. You may be surprised at what we found and please share your experiences with these brands in the dedicated forum thread for this article.

Audioholics Store $1000 Home Theater System
will — October 08, 2012 17:00

The $1000 system from The Audioholics Store delivers a solid 5.1 surround sound experience for a bargain price. While the $1000 system won't include a flat panel display, it does feature great components such an AirPlay-compatible A/V receiver and a Blu-ray Disc Player that supports NetFlix streaming. This level of system will present a more than subtle upgrade of the audio and video capabilities of a television or even a soundbar. For those looking to make the move into a true 5.1 home theater system, this is going to be a major upgrade.

$2,000 Recommended Two-Channel Stereo System
Cliff Heyne — October 07, 2012 21:25

Each of our buying guides has a different set of goals, sometimes we go for ultimate performance in loo of looks, other times aesthetic appeal is very important. This $2,000 two-channel stereo guide strikes a balance between performance, looks, and price. We wanted to put together a system that most people could afford financially and could convince their spouse would look good in the home. With that target in mind, we put together a list of everything you would need, from speakers to speaker cables. Additionally, if you want to customize the system to your specific tastes, there are alternative options listed for each product category that can be mixed and matched to modify the system to your needs.

Fathers Day Electronics Gift Guide 2012 Clint DeBoer — June 11, 2012 08:40

How to Pick the Right Loudspeakers Steve Feinstein — June 05, 2012 20:01

Essential Home Theater Accessories Buying Guide Cliff Heyne — May 30, 2012 23:20

Mothers Day Electronics Gift Guide 2012 Clint DeBoer — May 02, 2012 09:00

$6,500 Recommended Home Theater System - Great Looks & Performance Gene DellaSala — March 27, 2012 11:00

Valentines Day Electronics Gift Guide 2012 Clint DeBoer — February 04, 2012 09:00

5 Media Christmas Gift Ideas for 2011 Wayde Robson — December 15, 2011 05:00

2011 Audioholics Product of the Year Award Winners Gene DellaSala — December 12, 2011 06:30

2011 Consumer Electronics Christmas Gifts Guide Clint DeBoer — November 15, 2011 08:00

Buying the Right Kindle Cover Clint DeBoer — October 24, 2011 07:20

What to Buy

The following sub-folders are contained in this folder:

• Recommended Systems
• Stores & Manufacturers
• How to Shop
• What We Use
• Calibration & Test Gear
• Product Awards and Gift Guides