Affordability and simplicity aren't exactly words most people use to describe the purchase of a home theater system; until now. Creating a home theater system that rocks doesn't have to cost a fortune. Consider it an investment in entertainment for years to come.

Simplicity and Affordability

Color coded speaker wires and cables specific to certain jobs or pieces of equipment make installing a home theater system easier than ever. The hardest part should be choosing the size of the big screen, or using a projector.

One of the best and most affordable Blu-Ray players on the market today is Sony's Playstation 2. Not only do you get Blu-Ray capability but a video game system to boot. LG offers the LG LHB535 Network Blu-Ray Disc Home Theater System for about $600, with 3.5 stars out of a possible 5 star rating. The LG system offers integrated Wi-Fi connectivity, 1080p Blu-Ray reader, DVD and CD playback, MusicID, USB 2.0 capability, and much more. Also included is an incredible 5.1 channel speaker system for true surround sound.

The best and most affordable home theater system according to customer reviews is the ONKYO HT-S7200 7.1 Channel Black Home Theater System. This system receives 5 out of 5 stars! It features the following speakers: 2 fronts, 2 rears, 2 surrounds, 1 center, and 1 subwoofer. Seven speakers allow greater range of sound and create an incredible surround sound experience. The ONKYO HT-S7200 sells for $650 to $800.

Home Theater Placement Guide

Everyone knows that seating and placement are of the utmost importance to a successful home theater. Placing your television, speakers and seating in the correct places will guarantee optimal viewing and an incredible surround sound experience every single time you watch a movie.

Size: The very first measurement you need is the room itself. The optimal viewing distance for an LCD television is 1.5 to 2 times the width of the screen. Placing speakers for the optimal surround sound experience is also dependent on the size and shape of the room.

First Row Seating: Your first row of seats should be set at the near side of the optimal viewing distance, so you always have the best seats in the house. Single-row seating is very common in home theaters; if you have a single row, feel free to skip the next paragraph on how to lay out your second row.

Second Row: Planning your second row of seats can be a bit tricky. Consider placing the second row on a 7 inch raised platform so guests can more easily see past the first row. Place those seats within the optimal viewing distance if at all possible, without feeling cramped of course.

Surround Sound Speaker Placement Guide

Imagine watching a movie with incredible surround sound capability on a plain television without surround sound. That's what it's like when you put all of your speakers in front of the viewing area. Sure, you may hear a few things go from side to side, but surround sound is an incredible asset to any movie-watching experience.

Center Channel: Place your center channel speaker directly in front of the viewing area. The center channel is the one that anchors voice and other on-screen sounds to the screen. Some center channel speakers may be mounted to the center-top of the television or directly below the very center of the television.

Left and Right Channel: Place your front left and front right speakers an equal distance from the optimal viewing area. They should be at about a 22 to 30 degree angle from the listening position.

Surround Left and Right: Place the left and right surround sound speakers an equal distance from the optimal viewing area. They should be at about a 90 to 110 degree angle from the listening position.

Surround Rear: The rear speaker should be directly behind the optimal viewing area. Position the rear speaker about 3 to 5 feet from the optimal viewing area.

Special Considerations

Not all speaker systems come with 6.1 or 7.1 channel systems. Speaker placement depends entirely on the number of speaker channels available. Some of the most popular speaker brands include Polk Audio, Logitech, Samsung and Bose.