surround sound

Did it myself. The 1st question is, are you more concerned w/ appearance or sound? If the former, people get sound bars that put all the speakers on the wall w/ the TV and play w/ phase to create phantom surround. Not for me. There are also sound bars with fronts and center in the bar, then people will have surrounds and sub mounted in-wall, but that's obviously a major job.

True surround involves 5 speakers, equidistant from the listening position - though the surrounds are closer front-to-back and further out to the sides so as not to point straight at the fronts - and a subwoofer.

Check out hdtvprimer.com, great website. A guy I like, Steve, formerly of S & S Sound City, is now at Capital Audio on Duane Street. He has gear by Paradigm, Denon and others that sounds great without getting into insane audiophile pricing.

Thanks tenemental. i'd say appearance would probably be a big factor as well as sound. i will definitely look into the website. thanks.