Introduction

You don’t need to be a multi-millionaire to enjoy a sweet setup, either. We've put together awesome home theater setups to match any budget, from a modest $500 all the way up to 10 fat stacks. Jump to the page that matches your budget, or stick around to see what you'll finally be able to afford when you hit the lotto. These obviously aren't the only ways to spend your cash on a home theater—consider these layouts as inspiration.

Introduction

What’s better than coming home after a long day at work and relaxing in your living room? Not much, but it helps if your living room has a world-class home theater.

You don’t need to be a multi-millionaire to enjoy a sweet setup, either. We've put together awesome home theater setups to match any budget, from a modest $500 all the way up to 10 fat stacks. Jump to the page that matches your budget, or stick around to see what you'll finally be able to afford when you hit the lotto. These obviously aren't the only ways to spend your cash on a home theater—consider these layouts as inspiration.

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TV

If you’re moving into a college dorm or you just want the essentials for a home theater, Dynex has you covered. For around $200, you can own their 32-inch L100A13 model. We noted decent color consistency and the audio, while not impressive, can at least get pretty loud.

Furniture

Your best bet for a TV stand is going to be the "for sale" section on Craigslist-- it’s not too difficult to find something functional (if a bit ugly) for free.

Audio

Check your parents' garage for some old speakers, or (once again) scope out Craigslist for some deals. Even a modest set of computer speakers can be richer and punchier than a cheap TV's built-in audio.

Media Box

We recommend buying a Playstation 3 ($250). It has a Blu-ray/DVD disc player, media streamer, and game console all in one.

Cables and Accessories

Drop $10 on a couple of HDMI cables to hook up the Playstation, then treat yourself to a nice dinner with the rest.

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TV

Samsung’s 40-inch EH5300 is a great budget-friendly TV. While it lacks the sleek design of more expensive models, it displays a solid picture with decent motion performance, and it includes Samsung’s excellent smart interface. For $600, you can’t go wrong.

Furniture

We opted to place this TV on the Ikea Benno TV stand ($100). It's simple and unobtrusive, and you can put the whole thing together yourself (and don't forget the Fixa toolkit for $8).

Audio

You'll have enough room left on the TV stand to set up the Logitech S220 2.1 speaker system ($30), too—it even comes with a subwoofer.

Media Box

As with the $500 home-theater setup, we recommend a PS3 ($250) because it can double as a Blu-ray player and media streamer.

Cables and Accessories

Grab two HDMI cables ($10) and a 6-outlet surge protector from Belkin ($6) to tie this theater together.

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TV

LG’s first-rate LM6700 3D TV ($1,500), in the 55-inch variety, was the obvious choice for this home theater option. For the price, we found very few faults with this LED TV. Picture quality is excellent, and it's one of the few great 3D TVs out there. LG is kind enough to bundle six whole pairs of 3D glasses with this TV, so Avatar parties at your place will become mandatory.

Furniture

Plop the TV on the Ikea Benno stand ($100) again—you could opt for a "higher-end" brand, but unless you're ready to plop down a few hundred bucks on a solid, pre-assembled piece of furniture (and struggle to move it up the stairs to your third-floor apartment), you might as well stick with Ikea.

Audio

A proper home theater needs a proper sound system. The Energy 5.1 Home Theater System ($400) delivers great audio—CNET calls it the best budget speaker system they've reviewed.

Media Box, Cables, and Accessories

With a PS3 ($250), which supports 3D Blu-ray playback, two HDMI cables ($10), and the Monster Cable MP AV 800 surge protector ($20), you’ll be ready to hibernate in your den for hours on end.

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TV

One of our favorite TVs of the past few years is the Panasonic VT50. A smooth $2,000 buys a 55-inch version of this plasma beauty. The design is beautiful as it is, and so is the picture: the VT50 has accurate colors, inky-deep black levels, and good 3D. The only drawback is that Panasonic does not include 3D glasses buying four pairs will set you back an additional $200—or you can just skip that gimmick.

Furniture

A stunning TV like the VT50 needs an equally stunning base. The Industrial Tool Chest Media Console from Restoration Hardware ($1,600) was inspired by a toolbox in a French automotive factory circa 1900. It has a cool steampunk vibe. Restoration Hardware has plenty of more "traditional" wooden designs, too.

Audio

The VT50 offers fine audio quality as it is, but you have five grand to spend; treat yourself to the Onkyo HT-S9400THX 7.1-Channel Network A/V Receiver/Speaker Package. Consumer Search calls it the best high-end home theater audio system, and Amazon.com users give it 4.8 out of 5 stars on average. The street price is about $730 at the moment, an excellent deal for a 7-speaker system including a receiver.

Media Box, Cables, and Accessories

Toss in a PS3 ($250), a Tripp Lite surge protector ($50), and two HDMI cables ($10) to complete the package.

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