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Electronics
Accessories, Camera, Video, Cell Phones, Handhelds and PDAs,
Portable Audio, TV and Home Theatre,
Video Game Systems
Home Theatre: Saving Money on a New System
A good home theater system can cost anywhere between $1,000 to
over $30,000 depending on the quality of the equipment and the size
of your home theater design. The difficult economy we are in has
most households making tough decisions about what they want and
what they can reasonably afford. Building a family home theater
is being put on the back burner in many homes until additional income
is available for such "extras." But a home theater doesn't
have to break the bank. There are resources and ways to keep the
cost of a quality system at a reasonable level.
Below are some suggestions for how to save money on a new entertainment
system.
1. Search the Web. There are several web sites available online
that compare systems and costs. Some will also provide unbiased
reviews of products at various price points. Use these to help you
decide which brands are in your budget.
2. Install the theater system yourself. Custom installation is
needed for some theater designs but many can be easily done yourself
with some careful planning. The wiring, cables and connections can
be relatively easy to figure out if you follow the instructions.
3. Buy a floor model. A floor model is a piece of equipment that
has been on display on the show floor of the electronics store but
which is otherwise in perfect condition. This is a great way to
get a quality product at a lower price. Talk to your retailer about
models they may be looking to get rid of to make room for newer
versions.
4. Consider second hand systems. Many audio/video enthusiasts will
replace their home theater components every year or two and sell
their relatively new systems for a low cost. Consumers must be diligent
about doing their research of the product if they buy second hand
as there will typically be no warranty remaining on these pieces.
5. Pace yourself. You can save some money by purchasing your home
theater components over a period of time. By waiting and buying
your television, then speakers, then receivers as you have money
and as potential deals or prices drop can help you save 10-15%.
6. Consider a smaller television. It is hard to resist buying the
biggest TV on the showroom floor. However, you can save considerable
money buy purchasing a smaller screen. Even a few inches smaller
can save you a couple of hundred dollars. Remember, those big TVs
do not work in every family room anyway.
7. Buy fewer speakers. Two good quality loudspeakers at the front
of your TV will cost less than five or more speakers; even poorer
quality speakers and a subwoofer may cost more. Speakers are easy
to add to your system as the funds allow.
8. Consider a comprehensive warranty. For such a large purchase,
it is usually worth it to have a solid warranty that covers you
for 1-2 years so that you can be sure that your investment will
last and that the retailer or manufacturer backs it up. Should problems
arise, this may actually save you money.
~Ben Anton, 2008
About the Author: Ben Anton lives in Portland,
OR. Learn more about saving money on home
electronic systems and components at Ronny's 5th St. Audio Vision,
a Oregon theater retail
store.
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