I am about to purchase a Yamaha Home theater in a box system
YHT-740.
I have a 1- 2 year old Sony 27" Wega TV.

I am trying to determine what cables I need to purchase and/or any particular power strips/surge protectors..

Best Buy has a tone of Monster cable paks that I know they will try to sell me.. Is there a different brand that works as good but not as expensive?

I have tried reading some of the threads I have found here but I am just not understanding most of it.

A surge protector is a good idea.

As for cables you may get everything you need in the box. I would check that first before buying any other cables.

Thanks for replying =) I just read another thread with someone asking about optical cable and from that post I gather the cheaper Accustic Research cable would work just as good as the uber expensive monster cables.. so IF I need a cable I know i dont have to pay out my butt for one hehe.

On the surge protector, does it need to do anything fancy? what about getting a battery back up like I have on my computer? Would that help too?

I use mostly Acoustic Research cables and have been happy with them. They're well made and don't cost as much as Monster cables.

I've got a pair of 6' AR component cables waiting to be installed into my new DLP.

I now have the Yamaha YHT-740 and its very nice! I was sold a Digital coaxil cable with the system. When I got everythign setup I had the digital coax hooked up as it showed in the manuals.. but I never got sound or video. I also realized I didnt have a cable to go to the TV with the video.. I ended up using audio video cable and Svideo cable to get sound and a picture..
The manuals are not the easest to read either..

I have been reading and searching on coaxil and optical and what... From what I understand the cable from my DVD player to my reciever should be the digital coaxil cable and this is only for sound is that right? What kind of cable do I use to get video and do I run the video cable from dvd to reciever then to tv? or do I go straight from the dvd player to the tv with video?>

I know my tv has Svideo, RGB components, and audio video hook ups..

Please help as I dont want to be using crappy audio video cables after paying all that money to update my home theater! =)

Yes that is how I would do it. If your TV accepts component (R/G/B) then I would use that from your dvd player.

Exactly. And may I add that Blue Jeans has the best video cables you need.