The $3500 Balanced AV System

As was stated, this system can go a lot of ways. Pay special attention to the presented Alternative choices below each recommendation - this will be very important if you're looking for a new LCD panel or a plasma now that their prices have plummeted. 

With $3500 you are going to do very well. This is a system that will impress your friends and greatly lower any desire to visit the local cineplex for anything other than blockbuster events. Our goals in this system include quality products with good video and audio performance characteristics. At this budget you'll start looking at the current technologies and you'll want to keep an eye to the future as you plan your eventual upgrade path.

One thing to also realize is that this system can be easily upgraded. We try not to configure anything that cannot be swapped out for a future model with increased capability. This will allow you to begin a killer system that will only have the potential to get even better.

System Goals

• This system offers an incredible value for your hard-earned money. It will look and sound great but it may not cater as much to the WAF - that's simply not our goal here, though we may develop future systems specifically for that purpose.
• Whenever possible, upconverting HDMI DVD or Blu-ray players are typically utilized as well as devices meant to have extended useful life so this system will not go obsolete too quickly. With this system, we wanted to present products that had excellent audio as well as video performance and tried to ensure that as many audio and video formats as possible could be enjoyed.
  
• This system yields ultimate flexibility and supports all the latest formats including: Dolby TrueHD, DTS MA, Dolby Digital-EX, DTS-ES, Pro Logic IIx and more
  
• This system is assembled with reliable components all offering good warranty policies.
• This system offer simplistic connection and includes a budget for the cables required for best connection.
  

Following is our recommendation for a system for ~$3,500

Equipment & Product Recommendations

TV: Samsung PN50C550 50" plasma | info

Price: $1,199 w/stand

Samsung continues to reduce cost and increase performance for each new generation of Plasma televisions.   This company continues to put out robust systems with consumer convenience in mind. This display features native 1080p with support for 24p frame rates. An integrated QAM and ATSC tuner means that you'll have no difficulty receiving the best possible HDTV channels - even without a cable box. To top off the features, Samsung includes an SD card slot for photo viewing and 3 (three) HDMI inputs in addition to the pair of component video inputs and available legacy connectivity (composite/S-video). High definition plasma has never been cheaper.

Useful Features

Alternates: Panasonic PT-AX200U LCD projector ($1299) review; Panasonic TH-42PX75U 42" plasma ($1399)

AV Receiver: Yamaha RX-A700

Price: $599

We were very impressed with the feature set on this receiver. It can handle up to 8-channel audio, and offers plenty of music (and video game) surround modes. The RX-A700 A/V Receiver supports 3D and Audio Return channel over 6 in/1 out HDMI, CINEMA DSP 3D, with or without Front Presence Speakers, and RS-232C interface for custom installation. The receiver decodes all the latest audio formats (Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD) natively and offers more than enough audio and video connections. The highlight of the connectivity options are the 6 HDMI (version 1.4a) inputs which includes Audio Return Channel and standby bypass mode. It can provide upconversion up to 1080p for both analogue and digital sources, but it also includes component (2 inputs/1 output), and composite options for connecting a variety of video sources. All speaker connections are via 5-way binding posts and the amplifiers are assignable - meaning that you can choose to bi-amp the fronts, or send a couple of powered channels to Zone 2. It also includes dual subwoofer outputs. This is a great feature that we see creeping down product lines to appear in lower-priced models.

Useful Features

• 90 watts per channel x 7 channels
• Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital Surround EX, Dolby Pro Logic IIx decoding
• DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS ES 6.1 Discrete, DTS ES 6.1 Matrix, DTS Neo:6 decoding
• 6 HDMI v1.4a processing and switching (6 inputs, 1 output), supports 1080p, Deep Color, xvYCC, 3D, CEC functions
• HDMI Pass-Through (send HDMI from a source to the display without turning on the AV receiver)
  
• Video upconversion up to 1080p
• 7.1 preamp outputs (dual sub outs)
  
• Enhanced On Screen Display menu and screen saver

Alternates: Marantz NR1601 ($599); Yamaha RX-V667 ($549); Harman Kardon AVR 1600 ($499)

Speakers: Klipsch RB-51 5.1 Loudspeaker System | Review Pending

Built to the same exacting standards as the Reference Series floorstanding setups, the RB-51 home theater system represents an ideal combination of technology, performance and design. The speakers look beautiful and can be purchased in a variety of potential configurations. This setup is one of the best sound solutions on the market.  Consisting of a pair of RB-51 bookshelf loudspeakers, an RC-52 center channel, a pair of RS-42 surround speakers and an RPW-10 subwoofer, this recommended system will forever change the way you think about audio. You can add another pair of RS-42 surrounds or a RPW-10 subwoofer for a 7.1 or 5.2 system, or add both for a 7.2 system! 

Price: $1,605 (including free shipping)

Alternates: Infinity TSS-1200 5.1 system ($1,299)

Universal BD / DVD Player: Oppo BDP-80 | Info

Price: $289

We wanted to recommend a solid Blu-ray player that handles all formats with respectable progressive scan performance as well. It's important to ensure that either your DVD player or display does adequate 2:3 pull-down conversion so that images are recreated accurately when they go from the DVD to your screen.  If you're a universal BD player fan and want to apply some more money in this area for better audio out of the analog outputs, then look no further than the $499 Oppo BDP-83 universal disc player that will handle Blu-ray, SACD, DVD, DVD-Audio and more...

As with every component in this guide, you can always upgrade to a higher quality player later. Our recommendations for more expensive players will show up in the higher-priced Recommended System Guides.

Useful Features

Alternates: Oppo BDP-83 ($499); Samsung BDP-1600 ($255)

Power Conditioner/Surge Suppressor: APC AV C5 10-outlet

Price: $129.99
We recommend some kind of protection for your electronics. Tripp Lite is well-known for their excellent power protection products and this unit in particular presents a tremendous value in comparison to other name brand power conditioners that cost twice as much for essentially the same thing.

Alternate: APC H10 Power Conditioner/Voltage Regulator ($329)

Interconnects and Speaker Cables

Blue Jeans is our go to cable vendor for a simple reason: they offer high quality products at affordable prices, and unlike so many other cable companies, they hold the BS. They offer raw 12AWG speaker wire starting at $0.52/foot, though they also sell terminated cables for a bit extra. Blue Jeans also sells no-nonsense interconnects (including balanced XLR cables) and subwoofer cables. Prices will of course vary based on the lengths that you need.

Total System Price: $3,826 (including cables)

Any system recommendation at this price is going to have compromises and this system is no exception. However, with that said, this system will truly outperform its price point by a wide margin. This is a system that will get you set up nicely and leave you content - until the next upgrade! With a little time and effort by using the tools recommended, Avia and the Radio Shack SPL meter, you will learn about your system and have a clean-looking home theater that will make your friends and family say WOW!

If you don't need a display, we highly recommend upgrading the receiver to the Yamaha RX-A1000 ($999.95).  You can also decide to save the money and apply it towards another Klipsch RPW-10 subwoofer as two subs are ALWAYS better than one.  Also consider moving up to 7.1 to get the benefit of PLIIx processing and future 7.1 TrueHD and DTS-HD via Blu-ray.  We recommend getting a pair of Klipsch RS-42 speakers for the back channels.

Enjoy the home theater!!!