Home theater has exploded into one of the most important facets of the film and television business. Long gone are the days of UHF knobs and a remote with less than 50 buttons, likewise mono speakers in the back of your giant tube set have been supplanted by high-tech speaker arrays connected to state-of-the-art receivers turning high-definition code into creaks and whispers surrounding your head with ambient noise. Suffice it to say, we have come a long way.

Ever since the Laser Disc, video aficionados have been spending large amounts of cash on bulky, home-theater gear. The great thing about the home-theater revolution today is that everyone can join in. You don’t need the 85” LCD and dedicated stadium-seating room to enhance your home-video experience, there is a system for every TV. When shopping for your system, you’ll find two main directions before you. The first is to assemble each component individually. Obviously this will give you a lot of control and allow a discerning audiophile the chance to customize his or her system down to the very last cable. Monster Cables, by the way, are good, but the price hike is not worth it if money is an issue. This option will also allow for easier replacement and upgrades to happen in the future. Consider this the “PC” option.

The “Mac” option is to get an all-in-one system that comes in a big box and includes everything from the speakers to the receiver. These are “plug and play” and easy to hook up, especially if you have a smaller setup in your living room or maybe a game room. But when you want to get better speakers, you might as well start over. Same goes for the receiver. They work great, but are definitely a package deal. Sony has quality systems starting in the $250 range and you can go all the way up to some Bose models nearer $2000. Bose has a good name, but my experience has always been they work best in smaller rooms. If you’ve got a big ceiling or a lot of square footage, be sure to check all the specs and read reviews from both pros and consumers online.

The sound bar is the latest innovation to appeal to those who don’t want to mount speakers everywhere. The promise is a full sound from a single long and skinny speaker enclosure you stick next to your television. If you’ve got an RV or your kid wants one for their room, then maybe, but don’t pick one of these up thinking you’ve solved 5.1 surround sound. They’re basically a good center channel.

One more recommendation from me is to not overlook the power strip aisle. Especially if you’re going to sink some coin into your little home Cineplex, you will want to protect its circuits from nasty power surges and “unclean” power. The basic white power strip you use for the holiday lights just won’t cut it. Remember to factor in this cost to your budget — you won’t be sorry.

Unless you have a substantial knowledge of home theater or prior experience installing one, you will want to avoid the headache and time-consuming act by hiring a professional installation company. There are almost as many options here though, as there are home theater systems to choose from! Here’s a rule of thumb I live by, if the guy doesn’t own a truck with his name painted on it (no magnets!), skip to the next number in the book. If you’re purchasing from Best Buy, they have Geek Squad installers that know the gear and can be in and out before you know it. It ain’t cheap, but the pros outweigh the cons and I’ve heard good things from past customers.