Shopping Tips
Before heading for the stores with your wish list in hand, here are some fundamentals to keep in mind:

Stick with Reputable Brands and Retailers
Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true — especially online. While megastores can offer a big selection and big discounts, specialty retailers may have dedicated home theater demo rooms and can offer much more personal service.

Bring Demo Discs You Know and Love
There can be big differences in the video quality of DVDs, so it’s a good idea to bring some favorites of your own to the store. The Sound & Vision Home Theater Tune-Up DVD is excellent for evaluating a system’s video (and audio) performance.

Take Your Time
Don’t let anyone rush you. Sure, you’ll probably want to buy something right now, but resist those impulses. There’s no way you can make a good decision in a few minutes.

Check Out the Remote
You’re going to be spending a lot of time with the remote control, so consider how easy it is to use. Backlighting or glow-in-the-dark keys can be handy when you’re watching in a darkened room. And make time while you’re in the store to navigate the onscreen menus and operate basic player functions from the remote. If the remote feels awkward or seems too difficult to learn, you might want to consider a different player.

Don’t Neglect the Boring Details
Make sure the player will fit into your equipment cabinet or rack. Sounds obvious, but...

And make sure you have the types of connecting cables you need, in the right lengths. Once you get your gear home and are ready to set it up, you’re not going to want to go back to the store because you need a longer component-video cable or a Toslink fiber-optic cable for a digital audio connection.

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