Big-game big-screens: CNET's guide to viewing the Super Bowl in HDTV
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Home-theater and audio top picks
The TV is only half the experience. A top-notch audio system will put you in the center of the action with a sense of realism and presence that's as close to being there without getting splashed by Gatorade. Surround speakers will fully envelope you, letting you hear every crack of the bat, tackle, cross-check, swoosh, and burnout. And during the off-season, nothing sounds better in surround than a DVD--be it Friday Night Lights, Hoosiers, Bull Durham, or Slap Shot.
Home-theater-in-a-box systems (HTIBs)
One-stop shopping for all your home-theater needs. Get a receiver, a DVD player, and surround speakers in one convenient, easy-to-set-up package.
Denon S-301
JVC TH-C6
A/V receivers
The nexus of any good home-theater system, a capable A/V receiver lets you toggle between all your audio and video sources (DVD, cable/satellite, CD, DVR, VCR, and so forth) and generally delivers better sound quality and more power and flexibility to a home theater than the all-in-one HTIB systems. But you'll need to supply your own speakers and DVD player.
Denon AVR-3806
JVC RX-D702
Speaker packages
Paired with a capable A/V receiver, these speaker sets provide full-service surround audio with a degree of quality and subtlety that most HTIBs can't equal.
Aperion Intimus 532 5.1 system with 10-inch subwoofer
Onkyo SKS-HT530
Satellite radio
When the game is blacked out on TV, these satellite receivers will make sure you can follow the action. You'll find Major League Baseball on XM and pretty much everything else (NFL, NBA, NHL, and--as of 2007--NASCAR) on Sirius.
Polk XRt12 (XM)
Tivoli Model Satellite (Sirius)
More resources
Home-theater-in-a-box systems (HTIBs)
One-stop shopping for all your home-theater needs. Get a receiver, a DVD player, and surround speakers in one convenient, easy-to-set-up package.
Denon S-301
The good: 2.1-channel HTIB; elegant design; controls iPod functions and displays navigation menus on your TV; USB input provides connection with non-iPod music players; HDMI digital-video output scales DVD output to high-def resolutions; easy setup; excellent two-sided remote; contextual help menus.
The bad: Expensive; no HDMI inputs; no upconversion of analog video on HDMI output.
The bottom line: With its abundant feature set, great sound quality, eye-catching design, and superlative ease of use, iPod-friendly Denon S-301 2.1 home-theater system is the best we've reviewed so far.
The bad: Expensive; no HDMI inputs; no upconversion of analog video on HDMI output.
The bottom line: With its abundant feature set, great sound quality, eye-catching design, and superlative ease of use, iPod-friendly Denon S-301 2.1 home-theater system is the best we've reviewed so far.
JVC TH-C6
The good: High-style, great-sounding home-theater system; superslim floor-standing or wall-mountable omnidirectional speakers; no-brainer autosetup; quick transition between discs; 6-inch, powered subwoofer; plays DVD-Audio discs.
The bad: Minimalist connectivity options.
The bottom line: JVC's TH-C6 is an ideal choice for anyone looking for a sweet-sounding and slick-looking affordable home-theater system.
The bad: Minimalist connectivity options.
The bottom line: JVC's TH-C6 is an ideal choice for anyone looking for a sweet-sounding and slick-looking affordable home-theater system.
A/V receivers
The nexus of any good home-theater system, a capable A/V receiver lets you toggle between all your audio and video sources (DVD, cable/satellite, CD, DVR, VCR, and so forth) and generally delivers better sound quality and more power and flexibility to a home theater than the all-in-one HTIB systems. But you'll need to supply your own speakers and DVD player.
Denon AVR-3806
The good: High-end 7.1-channel A/V receiver; 120 watts per channel; High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) switching; XM Ready satellite-radio support; three-zone multiroom capability; large-screen remote reduces button clutter.
The bad: Analog inputs are limited to 480i output via HDMI, which many HDTVs can't handle; the confusing autosetup procedure will make you want to take the easier path and use the manual setup.
The bottom line: The successor to Denon's best-selling receiver gets even better for 2006, but the AVR-3806's HDMI implementation falls a bit short.
The bad: Analog inputs are limited to 480i output via HDMI, which many HDTVs can't handle; the confusing autosetup procedure will make you want to take the easier path and use the manual setup.
The bottom line: The successor to Denon's best-selling receiver gets even better for 2006, but the AVR-3806's HDMI implementation falls a bit short.
JVC RX-D702
The good: 7.1-channel A/V receiver; HDMI switching; converts composite, component, and S-Video sources to HDMI; USB wireless connection for PCs; onscreen display appears on HDMI; 150 watts per channel; low-profile chassis.
The bad: Inaccurate autosetup; especially tedious manual setup; no multiroom or multisource capability; runs hot.
The bottom line: JVC's good-sounding HDMI switching/upconverting RX-D702 receiver sets a new standard for features in the sub-$1,000 category.
The bad: Inaccurate autosetup; especially tedious manual setup; no multiroom or multisource capability; runs hot.
The bottom line: JVC's good-sounding HDMI switching/upconverting RX-D702 receiver sets a new standard for features in the sub-$1,000 category.
Speaker packages
Paired with a capable A/V receiver, these speaker sets provide full-service surround audio with a degree of quality and subtlety that most HTIBs can't equal.
Aperion Intimus 532 5.1 system with 10-inch subwoofer
The good: Superb satellites; seriously powerful subwoofer; gorgeous furniture-grade finish; impeccable quality; 30-day in-home trial; free shipping; Aperion doesn't charge sales tax.
The bad: Doesn't include a dedicated center speaker.
The bottom line: Aperion's knockout package has survived a makeover and still offers great sound, superb build quality, and extraordinary value.
The bad: Doesn't include a dedicated center speaker.
The bottom line: Aperion's knockout package has survived a makeover and still offers great sound, superb build quality, and extraordinary value.
Onkyo SKS-HT530
The good: High-value 7.1-channel speaker package; full-size front and center bookshelf speakers; two-way surround speakers; 10-inch, 230-watt powered subwoofer.
The bad: These bulky speakers are designed to sound good, not look good.
The bottom line: The low-budget Onkyo SKS-HT530 speaker package sounds as if it goes for more than double its humble list price.
The bad: These bulky speakers are designed to sound good, not look good.
The bottom line: The low-budget Onkyo SKS-HT530 speaker package sounds as if it goes for more than double its humble list price.
Satellite radio
When the game is blacked out on TV, these satellite receivers will make sure you can follow the action. You'll find Major League Baseball on XM and pretty much everything else (NFL, NBA, NHL, and--as of 2007--NASCAR) on Sirius.
Polk XRt12 (XM)
The good: XM satellite home radio receiver; superior connectivity options; video output to display menu on a TV; improved sound quality; dozens of commercial-free music channels; news, sports, and talk channels; easy-to-read display; remote.
The bad: Relatively expensive; receives only XM programming--no AM, FM, or Sirius.
The bottom line: Polk's homebound XM radio sets a new standard for satellite-radio sound quality.
The bad: Relatively expensive; receives only XM programming--no AM, FM, or Sirius.
The bottom line: Polk's homebound XM radio sets a new standard for satellite-radio sound quality.
Tivoli Model Satellite (Sirius)
The good: AM/FM/Sirius Satellite radio tuner; real wood cabinet; rich sound; excellent AM and FM reception; flexible connectivity options.
The bad: Crowded button layout; expensive; you'll need to purchase separate speaker for stereo sound; no bass or treble controls.
The bottom line: The world's first Sirius satellite table radio also offers AM and FM reception, as well as enviable sound, style, and connectivity.
The bad: Crowded button layout; expensive; you'll need to purchase separate speaker for stereo sound; no bass or treble controls.
The bottom line: The world's first Sirius satellite table radio also offers AM and FM reception, as well as enviable sound, style, and connectivity.
More: Big-game big-screens
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