What is a Home Theater-in-a-Box?

A Home Theater-in-a-Box is for those of us who desire to venture into the world of home theater but don’t have the budget, time, or expertise to design and install a custom system. The Home Theater-in-a-Box contains the basic audio and visual components needed for a Home Theater, ready to plug into your own TV. There are more advanced systems available, but most generally the box will contain speakers, a surround sound receiver, a DVD/CD player, required connection cables, and a universal remote. They are relatively simple to install if you read and follow the instructions and included diagrams.

 

The Home Theater-in-a-Box is an attractive option for smaller spaces like living rooms, apartments, meeting rooms, or dorm rooms. The speakers are very compact in design and can easily be “hidden” in corners or next to furniture.

 

They come attractively priced at $200 - $2000. These complete systems can be found at any major electronics retailer, like Best Buy, Circuit City, or Wal-Mart.

 

Most Home Theater-in-a-Box systems are not high-end (thus the cheaper price), and are not always optimal for listening to music. Be sure to check out how the system sounds at your local retailer. As with any large electronics purchase, make sure that it meets your needs and expectations before you buy.