Right now is a great time to buy an HDTV. Why? Because prices have dropped to where many people can actually afford one. Another reason: the explosion of choices brought on by recent advances in technology. From compact flat-panel TVs with 20-inch screens to expansive rear-projection sets with 70-inch or larger displays, there's an HDTV out there custom-made for you. But which one?

The answer depends on what type of room you'll be putting your new set in. Smaller spaces such as a studio apartment, a bedroom, a home office, or an exercise studio cry out for a flat-panel model. But with a larger space — like a family room or basement that's been converted into a home theater — you'll get the most bang for your buck with a rear-projection TV.

With these variables in mind, we took three typical-size living rooms and found the perfect, Sound & Vision-approved high-def TV for each. And since picture is only half the HDTV experience, we added the ideal surround sound speakers to complement them.

But these systems are only a starting point. Once you've settled on a space (and a budget) for your HDTV setup, use our examples as a guideline for choosing your own gear — ideally, by checking out the test reports on this site.

8' x 10' ROOM

There's no reason why a small room can't accommodate a big HDTV — as long as that TV is flat. A flat-panel set on a stand will protrude only about 8 inches from the wall. But if you really want to optimize your living space, you can buy mounting hardware from the manufacturer and install the TV on the wall (see "How to Mount a Flat-Panel TV"). In a small room, you'll want compact and unobtrusive speakers, and many models can be wall-mounted along with your TV. A high-quality all-in-one speaker/receiver package should do the trick without lumping too much onto the total system cost.

SLS Q-line home theater speaker system
There are plenty of cheap home-theater-in-a-box systems, but few are worth the price of the carton the speakers are stuffed into. Here's one that is worthwhile: the SLS Q-line system. This $799 HTiB includes a Dolby Digital/DTS receiver, five satellite speakers with ribbon drivers, and a powered subwoofer. The styling is sleek, the satellites can be wall-mounted, and performance is really good for a rig this inexpensive. Best of all, it fits snugly into a small space. (See the review and see it in action.)
slsloudspeakers.com

Sony Bravia 40-inch LCD HDTV
Since a small, multipurpose room is likely to see use during the day, you'll want a flat-panel LCD because they generally do a better job than competing plasma sets at retaining picture contrast in bright spaces. Sony's KDL-V40XBR1 ($3,500) looks good during daytime, but you'll also be impressed by its picture when you draw the drapes and watch DVDs. And on its sizable 40-inch screen, those movies will have cinematic impact when viewed from the relatively short throw of your couch. Adding to the fun: a side-panel USB port, for plugging in a digital camera or flash drive and for watching digital slide shows, and a component-video input, for connecting a game console. (reviewed in December 2005)
sonystyle.com

12' x 16' ROOM

This medium-size space — about the dimensions of the living room in a big-city apartment or the family room in a typical suburban house — isn't so small that you should even think twice about turning it into a high-performance home theater. Moving up to a larger flat-screen HDTV like a 50-inch plasma set will give you enough picture without overwhelming the room. And because the TV is flat, you can wall-mount it — which will both save space and give your room a cool, contemporary look. A space this size also means you'll need a surround sound system that can produce a decent amount of sound. But this room is still small enough that you can use a compact satellite/subwoofer system — as long as it's one that kicks out the jams.

Pioneer Elite 50-inch plasma HDTV
There are plenty of 50-inch plasma high-def sets out there, including several bargain-basement models for under $3,000. But why gamble when it comes to picture quality? By spending more for Pioneer's $5,500 Elite PRO-1130HD, you'll be assured of getting the best plasma experience possible. This HDTV has a sleek, high-tech look and is packed with features, including the latest in digital A/V connections, tons of tweaky video adjustments, and even a swiveling stand. And its picture will look crisp, punchy, and compelling from anywhere in the room. (Reviewed in February/March 2006)
pioneerelectronics.com

Definitive Technology Mythos GEM home theater speaker system
Definitive Technology has a long-standing reputation for making powerful yet affordable speaker systems — which is good news after you've just dropped wads of cash on the Pioneer plasma HDTV. The compact satellite speakers and subwoofer that make up the company's Mythos Gem system ($2,048) will fit nicely into any 12 x 16-foot space, and you won't ever have to worry whether they can provide dynamic, room-filling sound. Def Tech offers sleek-looking satellite stands (shown) for $270 a pair, but with cabinets measuring only around 4 inches deep, these speakers also lend themselves nicely to on-wall installation. (Reviewed in June 2005)
definitivetech.com

Setup Tips
Plasma TVs can look good in relatively bright rooms, but you'll need some control over room lighting for best performance. So make sure your windows have opaque drapes, and make a point of putting dimmers on the overhead lights.

Handy types should find it easy to wall-mount a flat-panel TV. You'll need a stud finder, a power drill, and a socket-wrench set (see "How to Mount a Flat-Panel TV"). If you're not so handy, many retailers offer installation for a few hundred dollars extra. Check out the options — and the price — at a handful of stores before deciding.

16' x 22' ROOM

Big rooms usually make the best home theaters — the whole family can stretch out comfortably, and you can also invite friends to watch a football game or after-dinner movie. But with all that space, you'll need to super-size both your TV and speakers. Front-projection systems — two-piece rigs that use a small ceiling-mounted projector to beam images at a separate screen — deliver the biggest pictures. But rear-projection HDTVs are another, more flexible option for rooms that can't pull off the crypt-like darkness that front projectors require. Rear-pro sets come in screen sizes from 46 inches all the way up to a staggeringly big 73 inches, and they're driven by a variety of technologies, including LCD, LCoS (liquid crystal on silicon), and DLP (Digital Light Processing).

The same rule that applies to HDTVs in large spaces also carries over to speakers: Bigger is better. Fortunately, there are a number of slim, décor-friendly systems that will blend in with your room while still delivering a really big sound. With a room this large, you'll want to look beyond compact satellite/subwoofer packages to a system using either on-wall or tower speakers. Larger spaces tend to suck up bass, so the subwoofer's size and output capability become important here. You might find you'll need a bigger model than you thought — or even a second sub altogether — to get bone-shaking impact with action-movie soundtracks.

Mirage Omnisat V2 Series Home Theater Speaker System
Until recently, most tower speakers were space-hogging monoliths. But they looked petite next to the even bulkier tube-based rear-projection TVs, so nobody complained. Now, with technologies like LCoS helping shrink the depth of rear-pro cabinets, tower speakers have slimmed down, too. Mirage's Omnisat V2 FS front left/right speakers are a fine example of the svelte new breed. The company's distinctive, top-mounted omnipolar driver array — a feature also found in its V2 CC center and V2 surrounds — delivers a wide, lifelike presentation that doesn't skimp on detail. The S10 subwoofer, a deep-bass diver sporting a 10-inch woofer, rounds out the $2,400 rig.

The Mirage system's black aluminum cabinets nicely match JVC's similar-toned HDTV. Even more important, its sound will equal the impact of the set's 70-inch screen, with more than enough volume for stuff like explosions and helicopter flybys. You can thank the S10 sub for much of that power. Mirage's new ribbed elliptical woofer design helps increase efficiency and lower distortion, letting the sub play louder and lower than most others in its price range. Chances are you'll need only a single S10 even in a room this big. (Reviewed in September 2005)
miragespeakers.com

JVC 70-inch HD-ILA rear-projection HDTV
You probably could make do with a smaller TV in this space, but a 70-inch rear-projection TV will ensure that nobody — the dog included — misses the onscreen action. With full 1080p resolution and a mechanical iris that delivers deep, nuanced blacks, JVC's LCoS-driven 70FH96 ($6,000) will please high-def sports aficionados and movie fans alike. It also has a sleek, matte-black finish and an up-to-the-minute suite of video inputs. Aside from delivering gobs of high-def picture detail, the key advantage of 1080p-res HDTVs is that you can sit close to the screen and not see distracting pixel structure in the image. But that advantage diminishes with distance, so you might want to opt for a less expensive 720p-resolution model if your couch will be far from the screen. (Reviewed in February/March 2006)
jvc.com

Setup Tips
If ambient room light is an issue for plasma TVs, it's even more of a problem with rear-projection models. Once you've adjusted the TV for best picture quality, you'll probably find that the image isn't nearly as bright as what you saw at the store. No problem — just draw the drapes and dim the lights, and your picture will shine.

As for sound, you'll want to make sure the subwoofer is set into a corner to get the most bass. And mounting surround speakers high on the sidewalls or on the ceiling will give you the widest, most dramatic surround sound effects.

If you liked this article, you might like the following:
Review: SLS Audio Q-Line Silver Surround Sound System
Video Clip: SLS Audio Q-Line Silver Surround Sound System

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