Equipment & Product Recommendations

TV: Panasonic TH-42PZ80U 42" plasma | info

Price: $1,099 w/stand | Buy It Now

We've reviewed several Panasonic plasma displays and found them to be exceptional. Since then, the company has put out even more robust systems with consumer convenience in mind. This display features native 1080p with support for 24p frame rates. An integrated QAM and ATSC tuner means that you'll have no difficulty receiving the best possible HDTV channels - even without a cable box. To top off the features, Panasonic includes an SD card slot for photo viewing and 3 (three) HDMI inputs in addition to the pair of component video inputs and available legacy connectivity (composite/S-video). High definition plasma has never been cheaper.

Useful Features

Alternates: Panasonic PT-AX200U LCD projector ($1299) review; Panasonic TH-42PX75U 42" plasma ($1399) info

AV Receiver: Denon AVR-789

Price: $599 | Buy It Now

We were very impressed with the feature set on this receiver. It can handle up to 8-channel audio, and offers plenty of music (and video game) surround modes. The RAVR-789 decodes all the latest audio formats (Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD) natively and offers more than enough audio and video connections. The highlight of the connectivity options are the 1080p compatible HDMI (Version 1.3) switching (3 inputs/1 output), but the AVR-789also includes component (2 inputs/1 output), s-video (2 inputs/ 1 output), and composite options for connecting a variety of video sources. All speaker connections are via 5-way binding posts and the amplifiers are assignable - meaning that you can choose to bi-amp the fronts, or send a couple of powered channels to Zone 2. It also includes dual subwoofer outputs. This is a great feature that we see creeping down product lines to appear in lower-priced models.

Useful Features

• 90 watts per channel x 7 channels
• Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital Surround EX, Dolby Pro Logic IIx decoding
• DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS ES 6.1 Discrete, DTS ES 6.1 Matrix, DTS Neo:6 decoding
• HDMI v1.3a processing and switching (3 inputs, 1 output), supports 1080p, Deep Color, xvYCC, CEC functions
• Faroudja DCDi video processing and upconversion up to 1080p
• Audyssey MultEQ in-room acoustic correction system
• Audyssey Dynamic Volume automatic volume-leveling system
• Audyssey Dynamic EQ automatic tonal balance adjustment system
• Enhanced On Screen Display menu and screen saver

Alternates: Yamaha RX-V665 ($499); Onkyo TX-SR607 ($499)

Speakers: Axiom Audio Epic Midi / 125 5.1 Loudspeaker System | Review

The Epic Midi / 125 provides many of the design virtues Axioms larger systems are known for only in a smaller footprint at a more economical price. Clear, detailed, and musically natural sound is an Axiom hallmark and this system delivers with movies or music playback in smaller rooms. This system consists of a pair of M2s for the front channels, VP100 for the center channel, QS4s for the surrounds and the EP125 subwoofer for the bass duties.

This speaker package comes with Axioms 5 year warranty and lifetime phone and email support.

Price: $1,286 (including free shipping) | Buy It Now

Alternates: EMP HTP-351 ($489 special AH Price); tSc TS2132T-HT ($681)

Universal DVD Player: Oppo DV-980H | Info

Price: $169 | Find the best price online

We wanted to recommend a solidprogressive scan player with HDMI video outputs and upconversion. It's important to ensure that either your DVD player or display does adequate 2:3 pull-down conversion so that images are recreated accurately when they go from the DVD ot your screen. If you've got the Blu-ray bug, then go with the Samsung BDP-1600 player for a little more money but don't expect it to outperform this player for upscaling of your standard DVD's. 

As with every component in this guide, you can always upgrade to a higher quality player later. Our recommendations for more expensive players will show up in the higher-priced Recommended System Guides.

Useful Features

Alternates: Samsung BDP-1600 ($255)

Power Conditioner/Surge Suppressor: APC AV C5 10-outlet | info

Price: $129.99 | Buy It Now
We recommend some kind of protection for your electronics. Tripp Lite is well-known for their excellent power protection products and this unit in particular presents a tremendous value in comparison to other name brand power conditioners that cost twice as much for essentially the same thing.

Alternate: APC H10 Power Conditioner/Voltage Regulator ($329) info

Interconnects and Speaker Cables | info

With the system we put together you may need to make a long run to the projector -and that alone can run from $65 up to whatever length you need. For the rest, you won't need many cables, but for the subwoofer and connecting any additional peripheral devices you may have, we suggest at least:

• 2 meter HDMI cable from DVIGear $35 | Buy It Now
  
• 1 meter Velocity optical cable from Impact Acoustics $9.55 | Buy It Now
  
• 12 foot Velocity subwoofer cable from Impact Acoustics $12.85 | Buy It Now
  
• 100ft 12AWG Velocity Bulk Speaker Cable from Impact Acoustics $76.24 | Buy Now
  

Total System Price: $3,267 (including cables)

Any system recommendation at this price is going to have compromises and this system is no exception. However, with that said, this system will truly outperform its price point by a wide margin. This is a system that will get you set up nicely and leave you content - until the next upgrade! With a little time and effort by using the tools recommended, Avia and the Radio Shack SPL meter, you will learn about your system and have a clean-looking home theater that will make your friends and family say WOW!

Since we are actually under budget on this system by almost $300, you can either upgrade your display, DVD player to a new Blu-ray version, or upgrade your receiver to the next higher model from the ones we recommend.  You can also decide to save the money and apply it towards another Axiom EP125 subwoofer as two subs are ALWAYS better than one.  Also consider moving up to 7.1 to get the benefit of PLIIx processing and future 7.1 TrueHD and DTS-HD via Blu-ray.  We recommend getting a pair of Axiom M2s for the back channels.

Enjoy the home theater!!!