How do you pick a good home theater system?

Can you help me pick the best Blu-Ray/ Home theater system?

• Here's what I'm looking for: I want a good Blu-Ray player that plays DVDs as well. My TV is I think 52" HDTV flat screen. It's a Samsung. My boyfriend isn't big on technology but he likes having really good electronics. We both agree we need a Blu-Ray player, and the other night he mentioned how cool it'd be to have an audio system for our movies. Nothing fancy, but something a little extra, you know? We don't need 3D features or top of the line products. I definitely would like to stay under $300 total. Any suggestions? I'd really appreciate any help, thank you!

• Answer:

  Those home theater in a box are not very good and not very flexible in adding anything to them. Beside that when one item fails the whole system will have to be replaced. I would recommend you look at an Onkyo HT-S 3300 at Fry's Electronic, it is a separate 5.1 receiver and a set of speakers. This is very flexible and more reliable then the home theater in a box. Add a Panasonic blu ray disc player model DB-65 or 85 and you have a very good system. I have had my first generation blu ray disc player from Panasonic model DB-10 for over 3 years now and have had no problems. Go online to Home Theater Magazine and read the reviews. This is more than your budget, but it will last long than the one you can find for $300 at Wal Mart. You will also need a couple of HDMI cables to connect your blu ray disc player to the receiver and one from the receiver to the tv. You get what you pay for. Hope this will help you out.