http://www.televisions.com/tv-articl...es-1-to-10.php

I agree with all of them.

However, be careful about #18. They say, for instance, that you don't need good scaling in the TV if your sources can do it. However, just because you may not need it for one source doesn't mean you don't need it at all. Video games are still not 1080p, for the most part. If you have a PS3 (which won't scale many 720p games) or a Wii, or an older console you want to use, good (and fast!) scaling is still important.

Can somebody help with 20? Do you really cut the power to outright to your entire setup when in use? I don't generally see this discussed, but by the same token I don't think know anybody that practices it.

Well, I fail at #1 and #20.

But I'm not sure that 20 is too realistic. Many devices really don't use much power at all. Also, "significantly more" is kinda meaningless. It's also significantly less energy than Sol outputs per second. Hardly worth saying. But the Kill a Watt is on sale at supermediastore.com right now, under $18 shipped. You can check everything out, if it saves you a couple dollars/year on several devices, it'll pay for itself by 2011.

I think the biggest problem with 18 is it can easily contradict 17. And sometimes you can't help it: maybe you purchase each product for one or two other features that you need and end up with 3 equivalent and redundant video scalers that came along for the ride.

#21: Not using carbon fiber mats on your discs.

20, 13 and 8 for me!

But oh well...hopefully the home theater police won't be raiding my home any time soon. While I agree, in theory with them I don't think they are (or any listed) are mortal sins. And I think articles like this need to be careful. You don't want to make setting up a home theater so complicated sounding or such an exact science that people don't want to do it. In a perfect world I'd agree with and I'd do all. But if it means breaking a "rule" or not having a home theater, I'll break the rule and go to confession. Then really enjoy my theater.

Unless you have unlimited funds and space, it will be hard to not make some compromises. So? Make them, be aware of them, do the best you can with what you got. And enjoy!!

qft

interesting read

Logical article, I think if anything....I'm guilty of #20.

Nice - I addressed all of them! #20 is sort of handled with my Panamax box, since all items in my theater are plugged into it, including my projector via the wall-installed inlet and ceiling outlet.

Link is broken

Works fine for me....

-Tim