I'm looking for some advice ... Just newly jumping into the Home Theater market

I am about to purchase the Samsung Tantrus 27" EDTV. It's the same price as the upper end Sony Wega, but it's a digital capable monitor with progressive scan capability.

For the DVD player I am looking at the Sony NS700P.
Progressive-scan capability with 3-2 pulldown. Plays CDR's and CDRWs. All for around 300 bucks.

These two hooked via component cables (probably Acoustics Research brand) with my Pioneer HTP-209 Dolby Digital Theater sound system should be nice.

Anyone have any of these components and have comments/suggestions/warnings? I've never actually bought any home theater components and is fairly a newbie to all the jargon. Thanks.

I have the Acoustic Research Component Video cables that are ok but they solder the Rca connectors to the cable (signal loss). I would spend a few more dollars and get true 75 OHM cables from either:

http://www.wickedcables.com
http://www.bettercables.com
http://www.theatercables.com

The 700P looks like it will be a mainstream unit with the Genesis De-interlacing chip. For your smaller 27" it should be fine. No review's so far on this unit though.

I prefer RPTV unit's so I can't comment on the Samsung.

Monster Component Cables
 

Are Monster Component Cables reliable? The name sounds good -- they have them at Bestbuy for $69.99...

Not sure if it's true 75 OHM.

Thanks for all your input though, I really appreciate it. =)

I have had great reliability from sony dvd players. Some other members have picked up the unit mentioned recently, but I haven't heard much else. Pricewise, it sounds terrific where they set it.

Monster cables are decent quality, but severely overpriced. For that price, bettercables are a better buy. For a less pricey option, try Acoustic Reseach cables (I use them and can't tell any diff between them and the monster cables I have).

The progressive scan player of choice right now is the Panasonic RV-91. Check over at Home Theater Forum for a bunch of threads on it. If I had a progressive player I'd be all over it.