Entertainment

The last 10 years has seen a revolution in home entertainment and setting up a home theatre has become increasingly affordable.

Home theatre
Enjoying the dramatic sound effects of big screen movies at home doesn't have to be expensive. A basic home theatre consists of a tv, dvd, ampliflyer, and at least 5 speakers, plus a sub woofer - the speaker that creates the boom factor.

• Most of us already own a tv and dvd player - so look at what you already have and the separates you will need to combine with an existing tv or hi fi. If you only have a small amount of money and you're happy with your tv, focus on your sound system and components. You can upgrade your tv later.

• An affordable and accessible option is a 'cinema in a box'. It will include everything you need for a home theatre - and instead of buying expensive components you get all the equipment for one fixed price.

• At the other end of the scale if money is no object the sky's the limit when building your own home theatre system - a professional can set up a custom made system for a room or throughout your home.

TVs
Quite often the size of room can dictate the size and type of television you go for - though make sure you opt for one large enough to comfortably see movies (27" or bigger).

A Your cheapest option are standard cathode ray tvs.

B Rear projection tvs are slimmer than ever with improved image clarity. They will provide a big screen home cinema experience at reasonable price.

C Plasma tvs. These have continued to increase in size, improve in quality and drop in price. They dominate the flat panel market over 32" - you can get one as wide as 80". Remember the screen life of a plasma tv is still shorter than an ordinary tv; they are very heavy so it's important you know where it will go; and they use a lot of power so work out how much it's likely to get through.

D LCD (liquid crystal display) tvs deliver a great quality image in a slimline package - they dominate the smaller end of the flat panel market (under 32")

E For the true home entertainment enthusiast opt for a high quality projector as the centre of your home cinema.

DVDs
Since hitting the market in 1997, dvds have become the most popular form of home entertainment technology, taking over from videos. They offer high quality video and sound at an affordable price and recordable dvds have recently become popular.

Audio
Whether you want a full blown surround sound system, a high quality stereo for your living room or even speakers that go in your roof, there are plenty of options.

A If you are starting from scratch, intergrated audio packages offer everything you need in a single system, including amplifier, a variety of speakers and even a dvd/cd player.

B Speakers and sub woofers: speakers come in a wide variety of configurations - from tiny to large towers. If you're after large sound effects and base, invest in a sub woofer.

C Amplifiers and receivers: your choice will depend on its purpose - for movie lovers, a surround sound receiver is the best; while audiophiles may prefer simple amplifiers that deliver very clean sound.