At first it seems like much fun having the cash to indulge and immerse yourself in high-definition video and surround sound, and then you realise there's more decision to be made than just placing a sleek TV panel and a bunch of speakers in the living room. Investing in a home theater system practically takes some planning in order to get the aesthetics right and make yourself comfortable with all the equipment around.

1. Most readers won't expect this, but first of all, you do need to get your immediate family's agreement to have a home theater right in their midst. Decide whether it's OK to install the system in the living room, or have a separate room dedicated for a most complete TV watching experience while disturbances to other members are minimized.

2. There are 2 main types of flat, high-definition TV: plasma and LCD. Plasma is made for larger size and is closer to 5 figures in pricing than LCD, which can cost as cheaply as less than a thousand. Plasma is the main choice for a TV in a home theater context since LCD TVs have a size limitation.

3. How could you do without a video source? That's the DVD player. Unless you are a discerning aficionado, you'll be spoilt for choice as more advanced technology and decreasing cost continue to impact the market. Almost all come with Dolby