Review of Cheap Home Theater Systems.

Cheap home theater systems. Although packages of home theater components (those not including a TV) can range in price from a few hundred dollars, to tens of thousands of dollars, the majority of consumers will be interested in those that are lower-end. This does not necessarily mean a $300-$400 package of DVD player, receiver, and speakers is a poor performer, and one that people will see as a compromise. There are deals out there on minimally priced, capable, and functional, home theater packages.

What I will try to provide here are a few options on reasonably priced, entry-level, cheap home theater systems, that you will enjoy and get good use out of. Some cheap home theater systems do not include a DVD player, while others do not include the receiver. Make note of what you are, and are not, getting in these cheaper packages.

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A few of the manufacturers who have secured this niche are Apex, and surprisingly Onkyo, Sony and Panasonic (refurbished systems). These refurbished system deals from Onkyo, Sony, and Panasonic, are probably your best bets. You are getting quality products, from renowned and respected brands, that have been restored to their specs from in-store returns. Look at these specials as sales on their products. They are as good as new, and very high-level performers at that.

I like the Panasonic SC-HT75 DynaMovie DVD Home Theater Sound System. It has everything you want and need. Starting with a very nice 5-disc DVD/CD changer receiver which provides Dolby Digital and DTS decoding capabilities at a smallish 46 watts per channel. The package also includes 6 coordinated speakers, 5 surround and a subwoofer. Its connectivity is excellent with S-video outputs and optical digital audio outputs.

My best recommendation in this cheap home theater systems section is the Panasonic SC-HT700 DVD Home Theater Sound System. It is very cheap, but a very good system, although with low power handling at only 50-100 watts per channel. Probably only good enough for a small to medium living room. The package includes a receiver with 5-disc DVD player, 5 surround speakers, and 200 Watt subwoofer. It can play all common media formats including DVD audio and video, DVD-Rs, CD-Rs, CD-RWs, and MP3 files. An overall fair choice at an affordable price.

A higher level peformer, with the increased price is the Onkyo HTS660B Home Theater Sound System. It may not fit in as well as the others as cheap home theater systems. This system has more power handling at 100 watts per channel (good for larger living rooms), but lacks a DVD player. DVD players are very cheap nowadays and will cost you in the $100 range to add one on to your system. The package does include a very capable receiver with Dolby Digital and DTS decoding capabilities, as well as 4 surround speakers, one center channel speaker, and a powered subwoofer. The connectivity of the receiver is good with 3 S-video input/outputs, and digital audio coaxial and optical input/outputs. Add on a big screen TV and a progressive scan DVD player and you have one of the best home theater systems on your block.

In this section I wanted to convince people that cheap home theater systems do not equate to bad home theater systems. Prices are dropping so rapidly in this field that anyone can afford to experience home theater sound.

The above cheap home theater systems will give you enjoyment and performance for years down the road. Be careful though, once you catch the bug, you'll be hooked!