Many consumers simply don’t know how long they can expect their home theater gear to last. With the expectation that consumers get from the computer industry one could easily assume that home theater gear only lasts 2-4 years at best, but that could not be further from the truth. With this knowledge you may be inclined to get equipment that can grow with you, or perhaps, lead you to spend a little more to get something that can.

TVs  (8-15 years)
Knowing that TVs can last this long may not only impact how big of a TV you get, but what type as well. If you plan on being in a bigger room in a few years you might consider a bigger TV than you normally would to account for the larger space.

A $300-$500 light bulb replacement every 2-5 years with rear-projection TVs may make you think twice if you don’t like that bulb replacement costs alone could buy you another TV. The lure of having a TV as bright as the day you brought it home during its lifespan may be a significant plus to you and worthy of the light-bulb cost.

Flat Panel TVs should last 8-12 years without much difference in light output. With no light bulb replacement costs, a slightly more expensive flat panel may be cheaper to own over the life of the TV than an RPTV.

If you plan on being in the same room or a room of comparable size for a long time, then it may be better for you to get a TV sized for you room. Otherwise it may be best to purchase a TV that’s bigger than what you originally intended.

Speakers (20-30+ years)
Speakers are the most often mis-purchased home theater gear. Speakers can last 20-30+ years easy, as long as they aren’t overdriven. Even if you break you speaker drivers reputable speaker manufactures offer replacement drivers you can buy to fix any damaged drivers due to misuse.

The lure of cheap-quality speakers is very prevalent since purchasing 5-7 speakers all at once can add up really fast. Getting high quality speakers that offer the best possible sound quality, and getting speakers that can grow with you, enables you to avoid the speaker upgrade bug altogether which can save you money from multiple speaker purchases later on.

The good news is that there are a lot of home theater and stereo specialty shops that can help you assemble a set of high-quality and great-sounding speakers that can last a lifetime.

Subwoofers (7-20+ years)
Subwoofers have a varying degree of lifespan due to high stress environment subwoofer cones go through. Manufacturers have different reliability ratings and warranties on their cones, and depending on usage, sub drivers may last a lifetime like other speakers, or require replacement from time to time.

Subwoofers are easily the most tempting speaker to overdrive due to the impact earth shaking bass can have on a home theater. Knowing that good speakers can last a long time, and that more expensive speakers offer better sound, you may want to spend twice as much than you usually would on a subwoofer to get one that can go the distance.

DVD Players (3-10+ years)
DVD players have been commoditized and basically all mass-market players are of cheap build quality. That’s not to say they won’t last. If you go with a name brand and target a $100 or more price range, you should be able to get a reliable player. With the lure high-definition DVD players you may want to upgrade your DVD in the near future if the high-definition DVD formats takes off.

For those audiophiles looking for the DVD player to do double duty as a CD player you’ll need to look at much more expensive DVD player, or you can just plan on getting a standalone audiophile grade CD player.

Cables (lifetime)
Cables can last a lifetime, and you can easily limit the lifetime use of your cables if you get cables that are just the right length now. By getting cables a little longer than you need initially, if you change things around later on, that extra length can make it so you don’t have to buy longer cables in the future.

For analog cable connections more expensive cables usually offer better sound quality so paying more now can offer a lifetime of better sound.

Digital cables are where consumers are getting highly ripped off. A cheap digital cable can sound just as good as one costing 100 times more. The key with digital cables is ensuring the cable is not kinked, or has any hard creases/folds and has a sturdy connection. Other than that, as long as those digital “zeroes and ones” are transferred correctly, the sound and video quality with cheap versus expensive cables will be the same.

Don’t get ripped off. Shopping around for you digital cables can save you a lot of money. How much? A 6-meter HDMI cable at a local chain can cost $50-$100. You could get 6 meter HDMI cable at places like monoprice.com for $5-$10.

Summary
Spending some time thinking about the long time usage you will get out of your home theater purchases can really clarify what you really want and will allow you find equipment that serves you best. Good luck on finding gear that can keep giving the gift of entertainment over the long haul.