10 Hot Home Theater Systems

When anyone talks about the decline of film, you can be sure home theater will come up as a potential movie-killer. It's not just the increasing price of movie tickets or the wallet-squeezing operation theaters have set up at the concession stand. Staying indoors in the comfort of your own living room might sound more appealing than getting in the car, driving to a theater chain and dealing with loud moviegoers who leave a mess and talk on cell phones during the show.

If you've ever thought about setting up your own personal movie theater, the amount of options can be mind-boggling. Whether you're looking for good sound for an equally good deal or even if you have millions to spare, buying a new home theater system is a big decision, and with so many options available, how do you decide which one is right for you? We've rounded up 10 hot home theater systems, making it easy to find something for every budget.

10: Onkyo HT-S9100THX

Onkyo offers the world's first THX-certified home theater systems.

If you've ever settled into a movie and been met with a loud, whirring noise accompanied by a huge rumbling, you may have thought the robots were finally taking over and stampeding the theater. Fortunately, if you check the movie screen and see three large letters, "THX," you can rest easy -- the short intro before the film is letting you know that the images and sounds you're about to experience have been given a special seal of approval.

If you're familiar with the THX logo and its association with audio and video performance, then you should give the Onkyo HT-S9100THX a listen. So does Onkyo have anything to do with THX, or is the home theater company just using the letters to get some attention?

As it turns out, the Onkyo HT-S9100THX package is the world's second home-theater-in-a-box -- or "integrated home-theater system," as the two companies like to call it -- that is THX-certified. (The first was an earlier version by Onkyo, the HT-S900THX.) The S9100THX includes a DVD player that can upgrade video to 1080p, a 7.1 channel surround sound system and is priced between $799 and $999.

09: Sony DAV-HDX500/i BRAVIA

The Sony DAV HDX500/I BRAVIA home theater system sets out to impress music lovers as much as movie lovers.

The Sony DAV-HDX500/i BRAVIA offers many of the typical perks of a home theater system -- a five-disc DVD player, five surround sound speakers and a subwoofer, all ready for the movie lover. The DAV-HDX500/i BRAVIA goes a few extra steps for the music lover, too. The system comes with an iPod dock so digital music fans can play their music over the speakers, and with an XM Radio subscription and the XM Mini-Tuner package, the DAV-HDX500/i BRAVIA is ready for satellite radio listening.

The system also has either 720p or 1080i output via an HDMI digital interface, allowing viewers to upgrade their DVDs' video quality. Sony's DAV-HDX500/i BRAVIA is one of the more affordable home theater systems, selling for about $420.

08: Panasonic SC-PT760

The SC-PT760 is Panasonic's mid-range home theater system, and it will probably benefit because of it.

For anyone with a budget range between $267 and $415, the Panasonic SC-PT760 is a possible candidate for consideration. It offers your typical home-theater-in-a-box specifications -- a five-disc DVD player, 5.1 channel wireless surround sound speakers, HDMI input that upgrades video to 1080p and an iPod dock for iPod integration.

The SC-PT760, Panasonic's mid-range system in a group of three, is more popular than its two cousins, the less expensive SC-PT660 ($300) and the more expensive SC-PT960 ($500). The lower-end system scraps the wireless speakers and front speaker stands, making it less convenient than the SC-PT760; the higher-end system, on the other hand, adds tallboy speakers to the mix, an extra that many consumers may find unnecessary and not worth the extra money.

07. Sony HT-CT100

Some home theater systems come with a plethora of accessories. More often than not, the more gadgets included in the package, the more confusing and frustrating it can be to set up everything.

However, other systems, however, can be pleasantly simple. One popular subsection of the home theater system market is single-speaker audio. If you think that's all there is to it, you're just about right -- single-speaker audio packages typically come with one speaker, often in the shape of a long, rectangular rod, that delivers "faux" surround sound.

Priced at around $300, the Sony HT-CT100 is one of the leaders in single-speaker audio, offering a small, minimalist setup that includes a subwoofer and a thin soundbar speaker. Manufacturers have perfected these simpler sound systems over the years

06.Panasonic SC-BT100

The Panasonic SC-BT100 brings Blu-Ray to the home theater system market at a reasonable price.

Now that the high-definition DVD wars are over and Blu-ray is the sole provider of HD home video, you can expect a lot of systems, including laptop computers and video game consoles, to begin using the format. Home theater system producers have, of course, followed suit, and several in-the-box packages are showing up on the shelves.

One Blu-ray home theater system that's caught people's attention is the Panasonic SC-BT100. The first notable thing about it, aside from the Blu-ray-capability, is its price -- depending on where you purchase it, the SC-BT100 will cost between about $600 and $800. Considering that many home theater systems only play standard DVDs and can go for more than $1,000, the SC-BT100's price could convert anyone who's still on the fence about whether or not to switch to Blu-ray.

The SC-BT100 includes an AV receiver and a set of five speakers; it's 7.1-channel-ready, meaning you'll have to buy an additional set of speakers and wireless receiver to get the full effect.

05. Denon DHT-FS3

The Denon DHT-FS3 offers a simple, elegant package, and you look around some, you might be able to find a good deal on the Internet.

For sleek simplicity that can hide in your living room but still provide sound worthy of a home theater system, the Denon DHT-FS3 stands out. The package includes one speaker and one standalone subwoofer, both of which are very compact -- the speaker measures at 3.75 inches (9.5 centimeters) high by 33.5 inches (85 centimeters) wide by 4.8 inches (12 centimeters) deep and only weighs about 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms), while the subwoofer is 4.25 inches (10.8 centimeters) high by 14.9 inches (37.9 centimeters) wide by 14.25 inches (36.2 centimeters) deep and weighs about 12 pounds (5.4 kilograms). The DHT-FS3 has a shiny piano-black finish, and in a way it does look like a miniature version of a piano section.

The Denon DHT-FS3's list price is as high as $1,200, making it one of the more expensive home theater systems, but an online search can lead to prices as low as $700.

04. Sony DAV-IS10

The Sony DAV-IS10 speakers are about the size of a golf ball, giving consumers more options in terms of placement.

Not everyone's living room allows for home theater systems to fit perfectly. Many packages come with speakers or subwoofers that are simply too big, and even if you can mount accessories on walls, they might look garish and out-of-place, ruining any sense of comfort in your entertainment space.

Many manufacturers are trying to shrink home theater systems, making speakers small while keeping the sound big. The Sony DAV-IS10, for instance, offers speakers as small as golf balls, so they can go in nearly any space in your room. The package is also high definition, offering DVD upscaling to 720p and 1080i and an HDMI cable. The system will play DVDs, CDs, MP3s from iPods and FM/AM radio, and retailed for around $400.

03.Pioneer HTS-GS1

Video gamers can be pretty picky about their setups -- sometimes a specific type of controller will be the only thing that feels right, or a high-definition television will offer the best visuals and display a game's graphics the way they should be seen.

For Xbox 360 owners looking for a little more pizzazz for their gaming experience, the ultimate may be the Pioneer HTS-GS1. This home theater package is designed to match the style of the Xbox 360 console and enhance the experience with its sound system. Geared toward small-to-medium sized rooms, the HTS-GS1 offers easy-to-follow instructions for setup and configuration with the 360. On top of offering 5.1-channel surround sound for the console, the home theater system also enhances DVDs, CDs and MP3 files that can play on the Xbox. Prices for the Pioneer HTS-GS1 range from $240 to $330.

02. Bose 3-2-1 Series III

The Bose 3-2-1 Series III is, as the name suggests, the company's third installment of the 3-2-1 group. This home theater system is a compact one, offering imitation surround sound with just two speakers and a subwoofer. The Series III DVD player and tuner is also small, measuring at 13.4 inches (13 centimeters) high by 10 inches (25.4 centimeters) wide by 3.3 inches (8.4 centimeters) deep. Whereas the Series II didn't include HDMI, the Series III corrects that and makes it easy to connect to an HDTV and upscale any standard DVDs to 1080p.

The high price of the Series III ($950) may scare off any budget shoppers, but those with the cash and a penchant for graphite might want to look into the package.

01.Kipnis' Outer Limits Theater

For the ultimate, never-gonna-get-it setup, we can look toward the living room of music producer Jeremy Kipnis. Most people, if they had $6 million to burn, would do many things. Maybe they'd buy a house or a couple of new cars.

Kipnis didn't do any of these things. With $6 million, he instead built a gigantic, state-of the art home theater system, which has become known variously as "Kipnis' Outer Limits Theater," "The Kipnis Studio Standard Experience," or "The Greatest Show on Earth." This, of course, wasn't your typical, home-theater-in-a-box situation, as no home-theater-in-a-box exists for such a high price tag. Kipnis chose the separate elements and put them together, including the ultra-high resolution (4,096 by 2,160) Sony SRX-R110 Digital Cinema Projector, 8.8-channel sound with 16 18-inch (45.7-centimeter) subwoofers, a Sony Playstation 3 and top-of-the-line Blu-ray, HD-DVD, DVD, VHS and Laserdisc players.

The couch in his living room, however, only sits three, so make sure you grab a seat if you're ever invited to witness The Greatest Show on Earth.