If you have a smaller budget and are looking for a solid receiver with all the right features, the Onkyo 5.1 Channel TX-NR414 A/V Receiver is one of your best choices. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to truly enhance your surround sound viewing experience. This receiver can be the centre of your system with 6 HDMI inputs. It can also provide a great music experience with media streaming or connecting to your iPod, smartphone, computer or tablet. Have a look...

For entertainment pleasure, the general rule of thumb is the bigger the better, and the Sharp 60” 1080p LCD HDTV (LC60E69U) is nice and big. This is not a fancy set with lots of bells and whistles, but many of those you can add yourself like smart features or surround sound. What it does have is a great picture at a great price for such a big HDTV, all with the Sharp Aquos brand. If you are looking for excellent value in a large LCD HDTV, this may be it.

Apple TV is a great addition to any HDTV home theatre system. It is an economical way to add a lot of capabilities to your home theatre system. Download movies, watch YouTube or Netflix, play your music on your system, look at photos, etc. Although Apple TV is a great device, there are a number of accessories you can add to your Apple TV to (make it work even better) improve the experience even more. Here are a few great additions.

If you have multiple HDTV’s in your home, a simple way to wirelessly connect your video components (Blu-ray DVD players, DVR/PVR’s, gaming console, etc.) to all your HDTV’s without having to mess with the complexity of wiring, is through the Netgear Wireless N HD Home Theatre Kit. It can wirelessly send multiple HD 1080p video streams throughout the house so you can use the same video equipment on multiple TV’s, which means you don’t need to buy new video components like a PVR for each TV.

Wires on headphones can be very annoying, especially when they get snagged on something and rip the headphones off your head. Once you have a set of wireless headphones you won’t want to turn back, especially if you get good ones that are comfortable and sound awesome. Sony’s Digital Surround Headphone System (MDR-DS6500) are an excellent choice because they go beyond what you expect out of a set of wireless headphones, and they have the flexibility to play off of just about any device.

Some HDTV’s provide a lot of features like 3D or web browsing, but the more features there are, the more you typically pay. The LG 47” 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV (47CS570) have focused their efforts on the technology to make a better picture with good sound quality. They haven’t added the cost of providing some of those other added features, so if you are looking for a solid set for great viewing pleasure, this LG is good value.

4K technology takes high-definition to the next level, with 4 times the resolution of normal HD, and Sony has just launched its’ new Ultra HD 4K TV’s. Not only are they big screens (55”, 65”, and 84”), but they are also big on the features and other technologies that are included in these ultra HDTV’s.

Logitech has always been very good at producing useful computer and TV accessories that are affordable and easy to use. They have just launched the Harmony Ultimate Remote Control and the Harmony Smart Control that both fit this category. These remotes aren’t your typical universal remotes because they work off of a hub that provides a lot more flexibility and ease of use. The Logitech Harmony Ultimate Remote Control is very much the dream remote, and the Harmony Smart Control is a smaller version with a lot of the same features.

I recently talked about making sure your home entertainment system is ready for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where bigger is better and this Dynex 60” 1080p 120Hz LED HDTV is definitely an easy and economical way to go big. It is very reasonably priced, offers excellent performance, solid basic features all in an impressive big screen. Although Dynex isn’t the big brand name of it’s competitors, it is able to deliver a quality product and keep the price down because it doesn’t have to spend the same kind of money to support their brand.

When you compare price and screen size with HDTV’s and computer monitors, it seems to make sense to buy an HDTV and use it as your computer monitor.  You can get a bigger HDTV at a lower price than a smaller computer monitor, so why not go that route? Well there are reasons for what appears to be pricing inconsistencies, as there are tradeoffs with using an HDTV as a monitor that you should be aware of. Nevertheless, it still may make good sense to use an HDTV instead of a monitor for your computer. I will explain what you need to consider before using an HDTV as a computer monitor so you can make an informed decision. Then I am going tell you how to set up the HDTV as your monitor, with a few optional ways to set it up.

With only two weeks until the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, is your home theatre system ready? Is that income tax refund looking for a home? With all the continual improvements in the features and technologies of HDTV’s, the pictures are becoming more stunning. The timing may be just right to upgrade for watching all the action, and hearing it in stunning surround sound. It’s the next best thing to being at the game, and it will make those playoff parties come alive with energy.

If you have a Samsung Smart TV you can easily turn it into a video conferencing system using Skype with the Samsung Skype TV Camera. Sitting in the comfort of your living room and using your large and clear HD flat screen TV to see who you are talking is like having a conversation with someone in the room. It may even feel a bit like something out of a science fiction movie or a Star Trek episode. But the technology is here today, it is simple to use, and fairly inexpensive and easy to add on to your HDTV.Samsung Skype Camera

Home theatre entertainment systems have come a long way adding more and more capabilities while making them easier to use. Harman Kardon launched their 7.2 Channel AVR 3700 earlier this year and it is excellent example of this progress. It will do everything you could possibly need, yet it has a simple and elegant design that makes it extremely easy to use. This home theatre system will defintely add a wow factor to your home entertainment.

Flat panel HDTV’s are thinner to make them a more attractive addition to any room, but this often compromises the sound as it doesn’t leave much room for the speakers. A simple way to boost the entertainment value of your flat-panel TV is with a soundbar, and there are plenty to choose from. In fact, there are so many, how do you choose? Here are some pointers on what to look for that will help you find the right one for you.

Just when you thought HDTV’s couldn’t get much better we now have 4K technology with 4 times the pixel resolution of an HDTV. LG is launching its “Ultra HD” TV with the LG 4K 84LM9600 LED HDTV, which has a gigantic 84” screen and just about every feature known to man. The clarity of this TV is eye-popping, especially in this very large screen; and you can adjust the picture mode based on the type of program and your personal preferences. It comes loaded with technologies that improve the picture quality for all situations, and even converts 2D programming to 3D.  It truly is the ultimate entertainment platform.

The popularity of the PVR has reduced the demand for DVD recorders, but if you have a lot of VHS movies this is a great way to preserve them on disk while improving the quality using the ‘upconverting’ feature. WIth the DVD recorder you can store home movies taken on your camcorder, record TV programs or movies that you want to permanently save, or take the DVD’s to friends or the cabin to watch while away on holiday. The Toshiba 1080p Upconverting DVD Recorder (DR430) is simple to use and is at a very reasonable price so you can easily add it to your home theatre system for even more flexibility.

Sony has made some excellent HDTV’s over the years and the Sony Bravia 46” 1080p 60Hz LED HDTV is a solid demonstration of their expertise. If you are looking for an HDTV that has an excellent picture but not a lot of other features at a very good price, this unit is worthy of being a top pick. With all the very good HDTV’s out there making it hard to choose, I can say you won’t go wrong with this Sony.  Although it has few added features, the one unique feature it has is an MHL input which allows you to mirror your Smartphone or other devices on this TV.

One of the quickest and easiest ways to turn your TV into smart TV is connect your computer to it. You can browse the Internet, stream music or videos, play games, and watch some of your favourite content whether it be on NetFlix, YouTube, or other sites. The problem with connecting your computer is you either need a really long cable or a short cable with your computer next to the TV. The Cables to Go Trulink Wireless USB to HDMI Kit allows you to wirelessly connect to your TV so you can have your computer up to 30 feet away.

The recently announced Sony BDP-S3100 BluRay player has been touted as a step forward in a comprehensive entertainment peripheral, and why not?  With more capabilities than a regular BluRay player, including more than 30 different streaming video options available, is this the kind of package you might want for your Living Room, especially when it comes in around the cost of your standard BluRay player?  Check out Plug-In's review of the Sony BDP-S3100.

Insignia may not be the brand you automatically think of with HDTV’s, but the Insignia line of TV’s has a great place in the market. Although it won’t live up to the premium quality of the higher-end TV’s from the bigger brands, Insignia provides an extremely affordable, well designed, well made HDTV that has very good picture quality. At a fairly low cost you can hang the Insignia 32" LED HDTV in your kitchen, or provide one for your kids gaming, or even use it as a good sized computer monitor. The picture is vivid and the TV’s features allow you great flexibility for many uses.

The Sony STR-DN1030 7.2 Ch. A/V Receiver is truly a fully loaded unit at a very reasonable price. It has lots of power and the audio quality is excellent so you can bring your movies, video games, and music to life. It is the only A/V receiver in its’ price range to provide built-in WiFi, Airplay, and Bluetooth allowing the ease of playing music directly from your devices or streaming content from the Internet. It is loaded with features such as 3D pass-through, smartphone and tablet controls, and even the ability to upscale analog video signals to near HD.

Monster is taking a step into the gaming headset market with a powerful ally: Electronic Arts.  Announced in January, the Monster Game MVP Carbon On-Ear Headphones are set to arrive at Best Buy in April.  Plug-In had the chance to review the headset, which boasts the ability to be used on any number of devices.  Come check it out.

I have always had a soft spot for plasma HDTVs because they provide deeper colour and a richer picture quality, and the Panasonic VIERA line is no exception. The TCP55ST60 is a new model that they are launching in March of 2013 and it could easily turn out to be one of the best value HDTVs this year. Panasonic has improved the picture quality over what was already one of the best-performing TVs, plus they have added “Smart TV” and 3D capabilities. This TV looks great, is very easy to use, and has an enormous amount of available content. 

The UFC Live fight of the year is only 9 days away. If you haven’t started getting ready yet, you better get moving, because part of the fun of watching a UFC live stream is psyching yourself up for the big event.

Looking for ideas to build the excitement with your friends?  Read on for some great ways to show off your fighting spirit and get ready to stream UFC Live for the fight between St-Pierre and Diaz on March 16^th.

With over 50 years in the business, Bose has crafted itself quite a niche amongst home stereo enthusiasts, and their recent forays into audio docks have been well received.  Releasing March 4th, and exclusively on BestBuy.ca, the Bose SoundDock III is the first to use Apple's Lightning connector system, and we had the opportunity to check out and review their latest offering to the market.

"Home video projectors" are a relatively new category of projector as they allow you to create a home theatre environment without having to black out the entire room.  These projectors are more like TVs than anything else but provide the advantage of creating a large clear viewing screen (well over 100 inches) at a very reasonable cost – a lot less expensive than with a TV. As far as home video projectors go, the BenQ EP5920 1080p DLP Home Theatre Projector has a lot to offer at a very reasonable cost. It has an extremely bright lamp so can easily be used in rooms with ambient light, is full 1080p high definition, is totally portable, and has long life bulbs with a quick shutoff - all great for home use.

One of the coolest features of Smart TVs —and one of the main reasons they’ve earned that “Smart” label— is their ability to run apps. Just like a tablet, being able to download and run an app on your TV means it can do entirely new things and expand its capabilities. With the right apps, a Smart TV can become everything from a video game console to an online video streaming device, without buying additional hardware or having to hook up a computer. That’s really smart!

You might think of peripherals or add-ons as something you buy for a computer or maybe a video game console, but add-ons can make a big difference to your HDTV too. It doesn’t matter if its 3-D, Smart, plasma or LED, the right add-on makes for a better viewing experience. It may even let you use your TV in ways you’d never thought of.

Setting up and calibrating a new flatsceen TV makes a huge difference in how you’ll enjoy your viewing experience. A TV that hasn’t been calibrated correctly can look washed out or blindingly bright, colours can be inaccurate and detail in dark scenes can be reduced to a black blob. Spending a little time calibrating any TV will make sure it looks its best in your home and cranks up the “wow!” factor.

You might think that your Smart TV is the best thing since sliced bread. It’s true that thanks to web access and the ability to download and run apps, a Smart TV seems almost infinitely expandable. However, there are limits to what you can do with apps alone. Here are some of the add-ons that can make your Smart TV smarter.