http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/rss.xml Recommended systems and Buying Guides for ALL price points. hourly 12 2006-12-01T00:00 http://www.audioholics.com/static/logo.jpg http://www.audioholics.com/ http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/system-buying-guides/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 system (no screen, DIY screen, or an inexpensive pull-down “starter” product), or a flat panel or rear projection system depending upon the desired screen size. clint 2008-04-08T11:30:00+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/system-buying-guides/the-25k-home-theater-system Now we're talking home theater... The $25K recommended system takes some of the best equipment for the money and puts it together for an impressive immersive environment. Whether you're a two-channel nut or a fan of movies on the big screen, this system will deliver the satisfaction for all types of source material. These products are some of the best performers available that won't make you take out a second mortgage. clint 2008-04-04T23:05:00+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/system-buying-guides/the-1000-bare-bones-system Looking for an entry level home theater system? This is what we recommend for $1000. It will keep you from getting ripped off by the big box stores and deliver more than the average home theater in a box. clint 2008-04-04T13:00:00+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/calibration-test-gear/reference-audio-books For those who really enjoy this hobby and want to better themselves, we've assembled a list of some books that really touch upon some topics that we find are invaluable. While we can't support each and every word stated in these books, we feel that for the most part they will offer helpful tips and insights into the particular areas which they address. Becoming an audioholic doesn't happen overnight - and it comes about by equal parts experimentation, association and study. These books will be a great reference for those looking to get a leg up in the world of audio and video. clint 2008-03-28T16:40:22+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/how-to-shop/what-size-screen-display We get asked this question alot and we have, in fact, addressed it during the course of various projector and flat panel reviews. It is an important topic, however, and we feel that it is truly worthy of some personal attention - especially given these times of rapidly dropping flat panel display prices. While many believe that "bigger is always better," getting the right screen size means that you can truly optimize your home theater budget and allocate your money in teh best way possible to make sure you get the best visuals and sound possible. We'll take you through several ways to effectively determine the best screen size for your room, and give you some general guidelines for figuring out your own needs. clint 2008-02-21T08:42:41+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/how-to-shop/how-to-shop-for-an-av-receiver With such a wide selection of A/V receivers on the market these days, it's difficult to know which model is right for you. Before getting into all of the tech specs and features, its important to first define how you will use this product. This article is a 7 step guide to choosing the right A/V receiver. As you will see in this guide, the decision making process weighs heavily on the type of HDMI connectivity and support you require. Gene 2008-02-14T23:33:26+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/audioholics-2007-product-of-the-year-awards 2007 proved to be another great year of product advancements in the A/V world. With such a constant and steady fast evolution, it’s challenging to know who offers class-leading products. With that in mind, we selected gear in each category that really stood out via our personal experiences, reviews or demo's as well as the market trends set based on performance, features, and value. Gene 2007-12-27T19:00:00+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/best-electronics-gifts-christmas-2007 What do you buy for that loved one who has everything? If your spouse or significant other is a consumer electronics, gadget, or home theater buff then hunker down and check out our list of the top 10 items that will satisfy any enthusiast at any price range. This list spans the entire price range from pauper to golden-pockets, so everyone is bound to find something that is the absolute best item of the season. Now, you may think that this is a subjective list (and you'd be right.) In our minds, however, you simply can't go wrong and you can trust us to know what's best for your loved one this Christmas season (yeah, that won't come back to haunt us later!) Without further ado, here are the top 10 Christmas gifts you can give this holiday season. clint 2007-12-11T16:39:53+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/reference-systems/reference-system-1 Our premier reference system belongs to Gene DellaSala (GDS), who performs some of our most technical and critical audio hardware reviews. This system features a main theater room which is very neutral, transparent and well balanced. Acoustics were provided by Auralex and the end result allows for hair-splitting details to be discerned when inserting a new piece of audio hardware/software for examination. It features an immense RBH Sound T-30LSE System and is outfitted with a robust Denon AVR-5805. This receiver supports two simultaneous multi-channel surround systems (the main theater and the master bedroom) and a Yamaha RX-V2700 and Emotiva MPS-1 power the Family Room. The home contains over 40 speakers with 4 front yard and 4 backyard speakers from Klipsch with powered subwoofers. Yes we rock our neighborhood! clint 2007-11-18T00:00:00+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/reference-systems/reference-system-2 Some people build cars, others work on boats… As an official Audioholic, my passion has been for consumer electronics for quite some time now. While boats and cars can be hidden away in garages (or front lawns depending upon what part of the country you live in), home theater projects take on a considerably more sensitive nature in that your living space takes the brunt of the disruption. clint 2007-11-01T00:00:00+00:00 Editorial http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2007-consumer-excellence-awards The consumer electronics industry is awash with an influx of new products. Each year it seems that every manufacturer is on a quest to outdo all others in a race to integrate more features and advanced technologies into their products. The prestigious Consumer Excellence (CE) Awards program recognizes the most advanced and forward-thinking products in crucial CE categories. Awards are given to products which serve consumers directly and also those products which serve to improve the business and success of the custom installer. The CE Awards is a clear benchmark award for the products which will make an impact in the coming year. clint 2007-10-31T23:45:33+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/reference-systems/reference-system-3 Reference System 3 is one of our entry level systems and we are pleased to inaugurate it into our collection. This system provides the nuts and bolts of a budget-conscious home theater. This is perfect for consumers looking to buy a select few pieces to really beef up a system's capabilities without breaking the bank. Audioholics plans to use Reference System 3 for a variety of reviews including media servers, flat panel displays, and home theater networking products. clint 2007-10-01T00:00:00+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/reference-systems/reference-system-4 Reference System 4 is our third benchmark system and we are pleased to inaugurate it into our collection. This system provides the ultimate in room acoustics and lighting combined with a high quality BenQ DLP front projector and Da-Lite screen and the some of the finest high end gear available. clint 2007-09-01T00:00:00+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/how-to-shop/how-to-shop-for-televisions-displays We’ve received numerous emails, and indeed they come in almost daily, inquiring about the best televisions, which format is better and how to determine if Set A is better than Set B. These seem to be videophyte questions, however almost anyone shopping for a new display or television will run into many of the same issues. clint 2007-08-17T00:00:00+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/how-to-shop/how-to-shop-loudspeakers.html Shopping for a new speaker system is a lot like buying a new car. One must always find the right balance between performance, aesthetics and practicality while keeping within their budgetary constraints. Unfortunately looks can often tell very little about loudspeaker performance. In fact, some of the best looking, highest priced designs often look much better than they sound. The purpose of this article is to help the average home theater enthusiast pick and chose the right system based on their needs and budget. Gene 2007-08-15T20:01:07+00:00 News http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/reference-systems/reference-system-5 This system has been a work in progress for many years, and has lived in several different types of spaces. The most recent change was adding a retractable Stewart Electriscreen. During the day, the room functions as a sunroom. It is brightly lit with natural light from five windows. clint 2007-07-01T00:00:00+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/system-buying-guides/75-000-multi-zone-home-theater-system We decided to go all out on this $75,000 whole house audio system (2 surround zones, 2 audio zones) and include mostly top notch products priced right at the crest of that place where your budget hits the point of diminishing returns. This means we included some of the finest A/V products "smart" money can buy. You can possibly do better, but not likely for the price. clint 2007-05-01T23:59:23+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/how-to-shop/av-processor-receiver-checklists We provide an ongoing series of documents outlining the feature sets on the products we review. This enables consumers the ability to ensure the products they are interested in have the functions they want and need. clint 2007-03-14T14:32:35+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/system-buying-guides/the-12k-home-theater-system So, you are thinking about putting together a Home Theater system and have a $12,000 budget? It's very easy to spend $12,000. All you have to do is buy a Flagship receiver or Processor / Amp combo for $4500, a set of mid to high end speakers for $3000-$4000, a high end DVD player for $1200, an HDTV Rear Projector for $3000 (or smaller Plasma for $4000), some cables, and you're done! Right? clint 2007-02-08T00:00:00+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/system-buying-guides/the-7500-video-centric-system In this system we've added a few more things. We've integrated remote control choices, terminated cables and a healthier budget on just about all components. clint 2007-01-24T21:34:31+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/system-buying-guides/the-5000-video-centric-system This system tilts decidedly towards a preference for making sure the video aspects are favored. This system is for home theater buffs who may not spend as much time listening to two-channel music, but who favor the high-impact value of a good theater-killer system. Grab the popcorn, and a pen and paper and let's get started... clint 2007-01-24T14:35:20+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/system-buying-guides/the-5000-audio-centric-system This system tilts decidedly towards a preference for making sure the audio aspects are favored. While the display may look under-funded, realize that if you focus on 720p front projection or a 42-inch plasma you may be surprised at what you can find. clint 2007-01-24T02:28:00+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/reference-systems/reference-system-6 Starting many years ago with a meager HTIB, TV and VCR, this system has worked its way into a full home theater with 106” projection screen, full 7.1 audio setup, and high definition sources. You can read about his progression in “Am I an Audoholic?” The primary motivation behind upgrades for Reference System 6 has been primarily been a better video gaming experience, but movie watching was a close second. This theater is the primary screen for movies and daily TV viewing. Of course, music is a part of the Robbins’ household, so there is also a separate 2-channel system in the main living room. clint 2007-01-01T00:00:00+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2006-audioholics-product-of-the-year-awards 2006 pushed the envelope of technology on the world of home theater. 1080p became a reality, and Blu-ray and HD DVD made a soft thump on the marketplace. clint 2007-01-01T00:00:00+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/how-to-shop/ask-dr-a-the-budget-dance Is there some kind of accepted price/performance ratio between components? For example, if I am buying a $3000 set of home theater speakers is it pure heresy to hook them up to a $900 receiver? What price point amplifier would be appropriate? I know most of this is subjective, but would you buy a $900 DVD player to connect to a TV that cost only $1000? clint 2007-01-01T00:00:00+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/how-to-shop/avoiding-loudspeaker-gimmicks We decided to visit some of our local dealers to observe and listen to their latest offerings of electronics and speakers. It seems lately that more and more gimmicks are surfacing in the audio world and the consumers are letting the industry get away with it. It is sad to see so many companies are simply implementing what we call "cookie cutter" designs. What we mean by this is that they are actually not designing loudspeakers. Instead, they are implementing design guidelines set forth by driver manufacturers that specify types of crossovers and enclosure dimensions to use with their drivers. Many of these so called loudspeaker "designers" don't have the proper test equipment and engineering technical staff and necessary tools to accurately design and measure their loudspeakers performance. Gene 2006-11-25T09:47:09+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/recommended-stores-manufacturers/recommended-manufacturers Listed here are companies who we feel produce quality products based on our personal testing, engineering evaluation, and experience. Audioholics Staff have gone through exhaustive testing procedures to ensure products from these companies reliably perform as advertised and represent a good value to the customer. Note: This is a working list and will grow as we review more hardware to determine if they meet the "Audioholics Seal of Approval". clint 2006-11-09T14:55:07+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/recommended-stores-manufacturers/recommended-online-companies Audioholics is in constant contact with reputable online companies. Many of these companies support the equipment we obtain for our in-depth reviews. If your interested in ordering your Home Theater equipment online, we recommend you check out the companies listed below. While we cannot expressly guarantee that you will have a successful online or phone shopping experience, we do feel that these retailers offer great customer service and professional advice on their products. Keep checking back for more companies as this list will definitely grow! clint 2006-11-09T14:38:10+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/calibration-test-gear/avia-pro-by-ovation-multimedia AVIA Professional (AVIA Pro) is a multi-disc calibration, set-up and test suite from Ovation Multimedia. The suite consists of seven DVDs plus a user manual designed to be an all-inclusive product for the calibration of video and audio systems. AVIA Pro is the most technologically advanced product for use in the professional and home theater environments. clint 2006-11-09T13:48:14+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/calibration-test-gear/home-acoustics-alliance-haa-certification The HAA is a professional training organization dedicated toward home acoustics. Its purpose is to promote the correct and most effective use of acoustical design and calibration techniques specifically for the home. The HAA brings together Manufacturers, Audio/Video Professionals, and Consumers in the pursuit of excellence. It is a melting pot for ideas and techniques for achieving great sound through collaboration. clint 2006-11-09T13:41:41+00:00 Tech Article