Home Theater

It is a solid magazine but that may not be enough these days when TV and video systems range from a minimum of 4 figures to over 6 figures. Even if you're not planning on buying a $100k system, you want to know what is available in the highest end system so you can scale down and ultimately feel you are getting the best value for your money at your price point. (If you're not building an HD setup with surround, there's not that coverage anyway in any mag not just HOME THEATER).

You want knowledgeable testing so you know what you might be willing to trade in for buying something a few $k less ... and you want to feel confident that you've been presented all the choices and then you can decide what factors to trade off and in terms of costs.

Compared to PERFECT VISION magazine, HOME THEATER comes up way short. HOME THEATER mag does cover more topics (also published more often) so if are interested in seeing more photos and blurbs about lots of AV gear, it's a fine complement to PERFECT VISION magazine - just don't expect the depth or breadth in testing and knowledge about high-end video gear.

If you're just starting out in your decision process in HD sets and perhaps other home video electronics gear, then HOME THEATER is a solid place to start to learn the basics. Then you will want to add PERFECT VISION magazine. As I noted in that review, HOME THEATER is in the ballpark of PERFECT VISION but in the sense that PERFECT VISION is the star and HOME THEATER is a utility infielder - still useful, just not indespensible.


Eye candy   October 30, 2001
Claudia Hung (Boston, MA)
10 out of 11 found this review helpful

For those who enjoy reading about the latest and greatest components and toys, Home Theater is the perfect magazine for you. If you are looking to narrow your search for the perfect component to your home, this will provide you a sense of what your money will buy you in terms of features and quality.


Fun read... and does not take itself too seriously   October 7, 2003
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

This magazine is great if you enjoy reading about new equipment and audio/video software, in a rather tongue-in-cheek style. You will probably be disappointed if you are the type who truly enjoys the in-depth articles of The Absolute Sound or the old Stereophile, or if you are very proud of your latest 12 watt SET amplifier that "only" cost you $8.000.

If the subject was wine, this magazine would not spend half a page discussing whether the berry bouquet is actually raspberry or blackberry. Rather it would try to determine which of the 5 wines reviewed would be best for your next BBQ (and while doing this, crack a few jokes about the French).


Advertising Advertising and lack of meaningful substance   July 7, 2006
T Graber (West of Chicago)
4 out of 5 found this review helpful

I've done high end audio and video (home theater) for 20+ years and am technically proficient, audiophile, and a good sense of making things work and 'value'.
This magazine is a bunch of fluff and advertising, and isn't going to address real and practical issues, and certainly not what is a good value (high performance for reasonable cost) and it doesn't address what most people ( a common every day user who's interested but doesn't want to be an expert and/or spend a fortune).

There's some great new gear out, and plenty of things that will give you 95% plus of what's to be had (almost all of it) at very reasonable prices.

There's also a lot of junk and/or things that are VERY expensive that offer very little (if any) real benefit for $$$ (and a lot of this type stuff is high $$$).

I wish I could offer information about a source that did have solid information based in fact, good understanding, and would tell you what will work, work well, and at a reasonable cost. But sadly I can't think of such a source (nor have I ever seen one that addresses this well). You'll have to do some homework, read, ask questions, etc. Wish I could offer a better answer.

However, while this (like many such magazines) is full of ads, and reviews on the latest stuff ... very little of it is useful.

I don't mind paying people to do a job or for a product, but I expect it to work and to be a good value for the hard earned money I spend.

That's my experienced opinion.