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Today's Show:
Each year we put together an entire starter home theater system. This year we know money is tight so we assembled something that we feel will provide a great experience without breaking the bank.

HDTV Starter Systems

Ara:

1) Samsung LN46A550 46-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV ($1225 Buy Now) Great TV for all the football in January and the Rose Parade will look fantastic with this TV's incredible color! Great looking TV even when its off.
  • 3 HDMI 1.3 Ports
  • USB 2.0 port: connect devices directly to your HDTV--view JPEG photos or MPEG movies or easily listen to your MP3 player through your HDTV's audio system or your home theater system
  • 178-degree viewing angle from all four axes with Super Patterned Vertical Alignment
  • 5 ms response rate

2) Yamaha RX-V663BL 665 Watt 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver ($500 Buy Now) I could have spent a little less on the receiver but I have been very happy with my Yamaha Equipment.
  • HDMI 1.3 with Deep Color, xv Colorspace
  • 1080p compatible
  • Support for HD Audio formats
  • Analog video to HDMI up-conversion and also de-interlacing from 480i to 480p
  • Bluetooth music streaming using Yamaha YBA-10 Bluetooth Audio Receiver.

3) JBL CS480BG Complete 6-Piece Home Theater Speaker System ($350 Buy Now) I know the receiver I chose is 7.1 and I am only specifying a 5.1 speaker system but it is because these speakers are a steal at $350! They are easy on the Aesthetics Committee and they sound great. You can put the receiver into a 5.1 mode. When you are ready you can add the additional speakers of get a new set and move these into another room.
  • 8-inch subwoofer rated at 125-watts (peak)
  • Titanium-laminate dome tweeters for outstanding high frequency sound
  • Single 3.5" midrange satellite drivers
  • Video shielded
  • Wall brackets included for satellites and center channel

4) Samsung BD-P1500 1080p Blu-ray Player ($200 Buy Now) Add in a 1 GB thumb drive and you have a BD-Live capable Blu Ray player for $200!
  • Full HD 1080p Output for Blu-Ray Discs and selectable DVD Upconversion to 1080p
  • 1080p with 24 Hz Video Output
  • HDMI version 1.3, component video, S-Video outputs
  • Dolby® Digital, Dolby® Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, dts-HD
  • Ethernet connection lets you easily check for the latest firmware upgrades online

5) Logitech Harmony 880 Remote Control ($130 Buy Now) This is the product that ties it all together. Same as last year we are recommending this remote. You can save an additional $50 if you buy a refurbished one
  • Optimized for complicated HDTV and PVR systems
  • Quickly choose a 16:9 or 4:3 ratio depending on the program source
  • Includes a sleek docking station that keeps the remote fully charged
  • Color LCD is both functional and stylish, with user-customizable backgrounds, button icons and text
  • On-screen battery level indicator shows you charge status
Ara's system cost about $3600 last year and required about $200 in shipping costs. This year the system goes for $2405 and all the shipping is free (at least through the HT Guys store). I could have gone bigger on the TV or included more and higher end speakers but for slightly more money than my first HDTV you will have an entire home theater system that will provide a fantastic experience for you and your entire family.

Braden:

1) Mitsubishi WD-65735 65-Inch 1080p DLP HDTV ($1440 Buy Now)
  • Four Star 1080p DLP.
  • 3D Ready, Six color processor, Energy Efficient, 3 HDMI inputs, Support for Deep Color.
  • Best bang for the buck TV on this year's HDTV buyer's guide list.
  • If you have the space you should really consider this TV!

2) Onkyo TX-SR606 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver ($320 Buy Now)
  • 7.1-channel home theater receiver with full HD integration and video upscaling
  • HDMI v1.3a (4 inputs, 1 output, 1080P compatible), TrueHD, DTS-HD Decoding
  • 1080i Upscaling powered by Faroudja DCDi Edge
  • Audyssey 2EQ for Loudness Correction
  • Best value out there!

3) Polk Audio RM6750 5.1 Channel Home Theater Speaker System ($348 Buy Now)
  • Six piece surround sound package that includes 2 front and 2 surround speakers, 1 center-channel speaker, and 1 subwoofer
  • Satellite and center-channel speakers utilize 3.25-inch polymer-composite cone drivers for distortion-free midrange
  • Features 0.5-inch silk and polymer-composite dome tweeter in each satellite speakers and 0.75-inch silk and polymer-composite dome tweeter in center-channel speaker
  • Subwoofer utilizes an eight-inch long-throw dynamic-balance poly-composite driver for longer driver excursion and better linearity
  • Satellite and center-channel speakers can accommodate 6.1 or 7.1 channel systems

4) Samsung BD-P2500 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player ($307 Buy Now)
  • Full HD 1080p
  • BD Live 2.0 Ready
  • Ethernet and USB for firmware upgrades
  • Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital True-HD
  • DTS-HD upgradable
  • HQV processing chip for the highest quality viewing of Blu-ray discs, upconversion of standard DVDs, and viewing of JPEG images
  • Stream Netflix Movies Right Over Your Player
  • 7.1-Channel analog audio outputs

5) Logitech Harmony 720 Universal Remote ($119 Buy Now)
  • One-Touch Activity Control - For example, choose Watch a DVD and the Harmony will powers on your TV, DVD, stereo receiver, set all the inputs and even press play!!
  • Simple for Everyone - There's a handy HELP button so that anyone from the kids to the babysitter can easily access their entertainment
  • Easy to Set Up - The Harmony set-up wizard does the programming, so you don't have to.
  • Connected - Just connect your remote to your computer and answer a few questions about how you currently use your audio-visual equipment.
  • Logitech's patented Smart State Technology does the rest
  • Rechargable (includes Docking station)

Total: $2534. Last year: $3908 (and it wasn't really a starter system. You yelled, I responded)