1. budget
2. select place to install ht and prepare room acoustics / electrical connection / ventilation /
wall brackets for your surround speakers (if needed) HT seats para sa pdvd members na makikinood hehehe joke
check your a/v components
audio video receiver
speakers - fronts / center / surrounds / subwoofer
dvd/bd player
interconnects - rca analog cables / hdmi / digital coax or optical toslink
speaker cables
LCD, plasma projector or crt
automatic voltage regulator (avr)/ line conditioner - to protect your gears
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unsolicited advice on ht.audio hobby :
audition
TRUST YOUR EARS EYES and WALLET... coz at the end of the day, YOU NOT US will sit back relax and enjoy (or mabuwisit) sa mga gears mo. remember - what you hear at the a/shops showrooms demos might not be the same when you install it in your place. be aware of glib-tongued salesmen and store sulsultants?
and dont believe daw sa snake-oil merchants
GOODLUCK!