This section is the second half of Making the Purchase, which in turn comes after Planning.

5. Digital surround sound - Avoid off-brand systems laying claim to monstrous power. A high PMPO figure is usually used as a rating of otherwise poorly powered systems. To verify correct figures, go for total RMS power measurements and ask for units with a published THD of .1 or preferably .05.

6. A/V receivers ought to have component or HDMI inputs and switching. Inquire also about both optical and coaxial digital inputs in case you make alterations in your equipment. Yamaha and Sony make excellent receivers. Among the top of the line makers of speakers are Klipsch, Bose, Kenwood and Athena.

7. Upgrading - With a good-sized television and a stereo system, you can take your entertainment system one notch higher into a starter home theater via extra speakers and other affordable parts. Putting money in a basic surround-sound system and a new DVD player might mean a $500 budget. A more advanced system with a larger television and complex sound system will entail a heftier $8,000. $30,000 can bring you a projection television, speakers and bolted theater seats-a spanking theater.

With all the components at hand, it's time to fix the theater space. Here are some key factors keep a tab on when renovating the home theater room.

1. The first thing to consider is the layout of the room. To capture the atmosphere of a cinema, you need an enclosed, rectangular room, much overhead and surrounding space and limited or a controllable amount of light. You need an enclosed space to get the best sound quality. Curtained walls for a top-of-the-line theater cuts down on disruptive echoes. You can also achieve this through a carpeted floor.

2. Once you've picked a room to use, plot where to put the various components. To find the optimal spot for the TV, common sense comes into play. It's in plain view and it shouldn't get framed by glare from outside. Build your system around where the television was practically placed.

3. Where the sound system goes is the next tricky question. The front speakers must be uniformly spaced, and at the same height, too. Ensure that they are level to the television screen so that the sound really comes from the direction of the TV. In the end, the equipment must help you to focus your attention on the movie.

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4. There are a myriad of options for the rear speakers. Dolby Digital speakers can be placed on either side of the listener, while Dolby Pro Logic systems recommend that the rear speakers be behind the listener. In any case, the rear speakers should be mounted at the same distances from the floor and spaced an equal distance from the central spot in the room where most of the listeners will gather.

5. Where your subwoofers go is no big worry. The low frequencies, unlike the higher frequencies from the main speakers, go in all directions in the room. But for the rumbling effect's sake, you may place the subwoofer on the floor or against a wall so that the low frequencies get transmitted through the room.

6. How about calibrating your television and speakers when they are in place? Your television set may have a specific procedure for fixing the color and brightness. For each pf your speakers, a sound-pressure level meter will come in handy. The goal in this case is to produce identical levels of volume.

7. Lighting in your home theater also deserves attention. Too much bright ambient light in the room may cause unsightly reflections on the screen or distraction. The other unwanted extreme is a completely dark room, since high contrast of the light from the screen may tire one's eyes.

The ideal thing needed here is soft ambient lighting attached to a dimmer. Others opt for an automatic dimmer and link it to the audio/video receiver. This way, the lights dim to a preset level on their own upon starting the movie. Other home theater systems are equipped with curtains or cabinet doors opened and closed via remote control.

To end, a comfortable home theater setup is up to your budget and your needs. If, however, all you are after is a better entertainment system for the home, then go for an instant home theater from the box, a DVD player and a fairly proportioned television. But if you are ready to go the whole nine yards for a purist's home theater, you may need the help of a home theater expert (aside from the contractor). Ultimately, put to rest your doubts by simply planning the layout, visualizing what you want, and trying things out.

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