You've seen it inside the houses of celebrities, superstars and athletes. Every one you probably know has one already installed in their living room area or a dedicated room. You can't imagine the countless hours watching movies with surround sound, playing video games on a large plasma screen with graphics that is almost too real, and of course, the number of nights you can watch Monday Night Football with friends and family, experiencing the game as it happens. This is primarily an introduction to home theater systems.

Having a home theater isn't just about having a big screen with a good audio system. Setting up your home theater system involves a lot of planning, planning and more planning. In fact, you must really be sure that when you're deciding to get one installed in your home, you have slack in your budget to allow for a few ups and downs in the expense.

What You See is What You Get

First on the list is your screen. Though this may be the first step for most, it is already a daunting task. Since there are tons of choices available today, it's really up to you to decide which way to go. Currently, these options depend on your budget.

Flat- Screen TV
Rear Projection
Screen Projector
Plasma Screen

Audio Choices

Now, this is where it gets interesting. Again, there are many choices available. But if you want to have a little more excitement while watching, then getting a 5-piece speaker set with a sub-woofer is all that you need to get the party started. It may be overwhelming to see five speakers all lined up against your walls, but once you've set it up, it may actually be the right amount for your home.

Got Radio?

Not all home theater systems are equipped with a radio receiver. You may have to check with the model that you are getting just to make sure. If you missed that one, there's really nothing wrong with having a small transistor radio in your home theater to complement the rest of the speakers.

Power Protection

With the amount of equipment hooked up, you will need to invest in surge protectors to help in dealing with fluctuating surges of electricity. It also helps to have a power conditioner to help smooth out the power flowing through your home. Though some may not be cheap, and may well be over $150, investing in one will save you a lot of headaches in the future.
Keywords: home theater systems, audio, music, plasma, tv, projector