When people think of home theater, they think of big screen TVs, expensive electronics, and expensive speakers. Too many people disregard a home surround sound system as too expensive, citing issues with there being too much to buy and so on when, in fact, they couldn't be further from the truth.

What many consumers don't know is that they can get into home theater affordably while still retaining high quality in what they buy. For many people, their current stereo systems sound better than any HTiB, and they'd mostly be right. Sounding good for movies is one thing, but for 2-channel music, you pay for what you get, which is why the road to home theater for those who love music is a much harder task than simply grabbing a decent HTiB and being done with it.

In the end, you don't have to break the bank getting a home theater, and you don't have to get the cheapest gear either. If what you're after is a middle of the road home theater that sounds awesome (and allows for some expandability later on) than the following is for you.

The key to getting a better home theater over-all is to buy good components one at time, instead of cheap components all at once. Adding components one at a time brings with it a better enjoyment factor. You get to experience one by one what each component offers and brings to the experience. Before you know it, you'll have a killer home theater.

The only question that remains is what to buy first...

The Game Plan
The following are listed in order of greatest impact they'll make on your home theater experience.

TVs
This is the centerpiece of the home theater, but in most home theaters it's the most expensive part. If you currently have a 27 inch TV or bigger, you may get away with upgrading the your sound system first. Otherwise, the TV should be on your list first.

The bigger the screen, the better. The screen brings you into the action. A bigger screen lets you see all the subtle actions and nuances directors and actors depict in the movie. So your focus on a home theater is to get the biggest screen your budget and room can handle.

DVD Players
This is the must have for any home theater. DVD players simply offer the best video and sound available. The best bet is to avoid super cheap DVD player and look to spend $200-$300 on a player. If you're looking to double the DVD player's use for stereo playback, only the better (and more expensive DVD players) will offer the sound quality you're expecting.

Receivers
If you have a good set of stereo speakers you can forego upgrading your speakers initially, and start adding some surround sound capabilities to your home.

A great companion (if you can afford a set of speakers that are of similar quality to your stereo speaker) with a receiver is to get a center/ surround "el-cheapo" set so you can begin start to hear surround sound. Center/surround speaker packages usually cost $80-$150, but you don't necessarily need surround sound right off the bat.

Receiver upgrades need to be done before speaker upgrades simply because the receiver's amplifiers will have the biggest impact on the sound quality your speakers produce. It's always best to start with a solid base and grow from there.

Speakers
If you have a TV you're satisfied with, a DVD player, a surround receiver, or have chosen to start with stereo, you can catapult you're sound quality by buying a nice pair of stereo speakers. This is where you'll have to do you shopping as awesome speakers can be had for a mere $250- $1500 a pair, but a lot of crappy speakers can be found from $20-$3,000. The trick is not to over pay and trust your ears while checking out consumer reviews. One person's great sound is another's terrible sound. That is why there are so many different speaker types and brands out there. Find what right for you and your system then go to it.

Summary
Getting a top-notch home theater doesn't have to happen overnight. In fact, you find you'll enjoy you home theater a lot better if you can enjoy the little additions each piece of the puzzle contributes to the performance.

Getting started on the road to home theater is not a daunting task, and you may already have most of what you need.

So get started and good luck.

If you need any help you can always get free advice at: getadvice@htadvice.com.