Saving Money on a Home Theater System
An estimated 35% of American homes have a home theater system – a number that’s predicted to increase over the next few years. A good home theater system can cost as much as a new car – you should expect to spend anything from around $1,000 to over $30,000, depending on the quality and scope of your project. A good place to begin your search is on the computer. Several web sites compare systems and costs, and can offer unbiased reviews.
Even though systems are costly, there are some things you can do to save money on your home theater system. One obvious way to lessen the financial blow is to install the system yourself, rather than paying someone to come to your home to do it. All those wires, cables and connections aren’t too complicated as long as you just follow the instructions and take it a step at a time. Depending on the size of your system, you could spend almost as much just paying someone to connect everything up!
Another cost-saving measure is to try to talk to a retailer about buying 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.
Consider buying your home theater equipment from a retailer with a wide selection of brands and styles. A diverse selection typically indicates that the retailer has good relationships with the manufacturers and can get lower price breaks or a wider selection of products at varying prices.
Some consumers invest in second hand systems as a way to save money on their home theater. Many enthusiasts will replace their home theater system every year or two and end up selling a perfectly good system. It is important that consumers research the product carefully before buying as there will typically be no warranty remaining on the product.
It’s also possible to save money by spreading out the cost of your system – purchase the TV this year when you can afford it, and buy the speakers next year when you get that big tax refund. Keep in mind that you don’t actually need all those additional speakers right away – your TV has speakers built in.
Most people, when installing a home theater system, can’t resist buying as big a TV as possible. You can save a lot of money by choosing a smaller size television – even one that is just a few inches smaller. A big screen TV alone can easily cost up to $20,000. It’s also all too easy to make the mistake of buying a TV that is far too big for the room that it is intended for.
Sound is one of the most important aspects of any good home theater system. However, depending on the room size and the quality of speakers you purchase, you may not need to purchase a large number of them to get the sound you need. Consider buying fewer speakers – two good quality loudspeakers at the front of your TV will cost less than five or more cheap poor quality speakers and a subwoofer. It’s easy to add or replace speakers later on if you need to.
You can also save some money by mixing and matching different types and brands of speakers. Just as it is tempting to buy the largest TV, its also tempting to buy large floor standing speaker units for the sound quality - not surprisingly these speakers are also the most expensive. Smaller speakers that can be mounted on the wall or placed on a shelf will be a lot less costly, and unless you are a real enthusiast, the sound quality will be perfectly adequate.
Lastly, make sure that the home theater system you choose has a comprehensive warranty included with it. For such a large purchase, it may pay you to take out any extended warranty. A home theater system could well be one of the biggest purchases you make – with a little research you can enjoy the system that works for you; and without breaking the bank.
~Ben Anton, 2008
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