More Info Centers (Article 1 of 6)

Home Theater Info Center

In depth information on buying, setting up, and troubleshooting home theater equipment

Sound & Vision's Home Theater Info Center

Shopping Guide to Home Theater
Find the HDTV, DVD player, and surround sound system that's right for you.

Setup Screwups
We diagnose five of the most common problems ailing home theaters — and prescribe the right medicine.

No Problem
Today's gear can present you with so many options that sometimes it's hard to make the right choice. Let S&V's experts show you the way out of three common home-entertainment dilemmas.

The Custom Installer: Got Picture, No Sound?
What to do when your home theater can be seen but not heard

Back to Basics: How to Set Up a DVD Player or DVD Recorder
Hooking up your new player or recorder can be easy if you follow these simple steps.

Basic Cable: Choosing the Right Cables for Your System
Understanding your audio and video connection options can help you get the best possible picture and sound.

Working the Room
Here are the finishing touches that will make your home theater a theater.

Is Everybody Happy?
How to get great home theater performance without having to file for divorce

The Custom Installer: Put It There
The right cabinet is crucial for your gear.

POWERHOUSE
Power products are becoming as plentiful as DVD players — but what are they and what do they do?

The Custom Installer: Finishing Touch: Lights
Go with automation for a better theater experience.

How to Choose a Custom Installer
Seven steps to finding the right man for the job

Working with a Pro
Ten tips for finding and working with a custom installer

The Custom Installer: We've Got Answers
The five questions every installer hears

Top 6 A/V Urban Legends EXPOSED!
Heard the one about the leaky plasma TV? We dispel a few home theater myths with hard facts.

Surround Sound

How to Buy Surround Sound
One of the best things about home theater is the thrilling realism and impact that surround sound brings to the experience.

Step By Step: How to Set Up an A/V Receiver
Get your receiver's surround-sound settings right the first time.

Back to Basics: How to Set Up Your Receiver
Our step-by-step guide that will take your receiver from fresh-out-of-the-box to Control Central.

Behind The Numbers: Digital Surround Receivers
How to use our lab tests for digital surround receivers.

THX Certified
You've seen its familiar logo on A/V gear and at the movies, but what can THX do to improve your home theater?

Inner Workings: Inside a High-End Audio Cable
A well-made cable is a thing of electrical and mechanical beauty.

Speakers

How to Buy Speakers
A guide to where to go, and what to do once you get there.

Breaking Out of the Box
If you spent $5,000 on your TV but only $500 on your speakers, it's time to get some better sound.

Finding the Perfect Speakers
Hunting down the right speakers is easy — if you follow these five sure-fire steps.

Speakers, Step by Step
Whether you are buying a bookshelf stereo system or equipping a multichannel home theater, here are the basics.

How to Audition Speakers
Tips on evaluating speaker sound quality

Making Sense of Speaker Specs
Speakers are like women ... because, for one thing, measurements are important.

Poles Apart
Which kind of speaker should you use for the surround channels: monopole or dipole?

Step by Step: How to Position Your Home Theater Speakers
No matter how much you paid for your rig, you need to set it up correctly to get it sounding its best.

Back to Basics: Surround Sound Speakers
Whether you're immersing yourself in surround sound for the first time or just want to fine-tune your system, we show you how to set up your speakers.

The Setup: Speakers
What you need to know to get the most from your stereo, 5.1-channel or 6.1-channel system

Why You Need Four Subwoofers
What to do when one sub isn't enough.

The Case of the Invisible Speakers
In-wall and ceiling speakers aren't just for background music anymore.


Other Home Theater Resources

HDTV Info Center
Everything HDTV from the pages of Sound & Vision. Shopping and setup advice, test reports, and more.
hdtv_info_logo
hdtv_resource_logo Resource Center
S&V's technology explanations and shopping advice help you choose the gear that's right for you. Also includes an extensive glossary of common (and not so common) A/V terms.
Buying Guides
Find the best HDTV or receiver for your home, taste, and budget. Our comprehensive buying guides allow fast, easy searches and unlimited side-by-side feature, spec, and price comparisons.
Sound & Vision Buying Guides
Sound & Vision Equipment Reports
Sound & Vision's expert reviews of audio and video components deliver thorough, critical evaluations of performance and usability for all types of audio and video components.

Back to Homepage
What's New on S&V