Where do I start with a home theater system?

First, if you have not already done this, is to connect your present stereo to
your audio video output. Good two channel can beat mediocre surround
sound.

Option two. As you may not really want to go whole hog. I would purchase
a inexpensive new or used surround sound receiver. Adding a decent
center channel and subwoofer. Using your present primary speakers for
front and back speakers as possible.

Option three. Buying one of those pseudo sound bars which have a built in
sub, or out-broad sub. Some of these type units don't sound too bad and
have the advantage of easy integration into your room.

Option four. Quality low powered receiver, new or used, they cost less
money. And purchase of 5.1 speaker system. Some great deals can be had
from good speaker makers. Will be maintaining two systems however.

As always let your ears and wallet lead the way. Nothing easier than
spending someone else's money. Have fun, it's only TV.

By the by. Good luck with the plasma. They still look best to my eyes.

Personally, if you have never wanted to do full-on home theater...and you love 2 channel...i would take Glen's first option. its what we do at home.

Superb 2 channel plus a kick ass sub or 2...and you'll get (imho) 85% of most hometheater...until you start building serious custom hometheater with propery time delays, sound barriers, etc...

...if you want to check if sub really kicks ars, you should get it close to sub and feel if one gettin' kicked when it's on.

Yes, stereo sound with good external speakers is better than tv speakers. But what you get is stereo sound.Just running two speakers in the front will NOT give you a "theater" performance. There is information going to at least 5 speakers plus a subwoofer. If you do not have these speakers you do NOT get the sound of the movie.

Your question is about home theater.

What you need....

Two front speakers, These are your large speakers,

a center channel, # this is one of, if not the most important speaker# either get a third speaker of what you have or get a center channel from the same series and manufacturer, as your front two. So try to get the best one you can That matches the fronts.

two rear speakers, they can be smaller than the fronts.they do not HAVE to be from the same manufacturer but it is a good idea to stay with the same manufacturer and series of the others.

There is nothing wrong with using older speakers for surround sound. Or for that matter two channel, if you like the sound then keep them and same the money.

Subwoofer, Probably you second most important speaker after the center channel. This can be any manufacturer, There is a great deal of opions and information on choosing this speaker. Depending on your room and what you are looking to to get out of it.

Processor....
I do not know what your current equipment has as far as connections.

There are TWO ways of going about the processing of the movie soundtrack and for that matter music concert soundtracks. #This is where NEWER equipment is needed#

You can,
1# get a AV receiver #has amps in it# or a processor # no internal amps# to decode the particular disc you are using.

This is a good idea because you probably want "room correction" to get all of these speakers working well with one another.

In this case you plug in your Blu ray to this and IT decodes the material, you intern plug your tv into the processor or receiver.
you use the "preouts" to your amps, if this is avaible #on a receiver# or use the outs on the processor to your amps. There is more to this, but I just want to give you the basics.... You will still need a Blu ray player.

2) get a good blu ray player that has multipal outs. I would imagine you would use HDMI for your tv, so it need one of those. and outs to connect to your stereo pre amp.
These do not have "room correction" so you might be in for a long haul setting up all of your speakers...

I would recomend room correction. so get the newer processor or receiver.

Check out THX website for speaker and seating placement. Controling the light in the room will help a great deal even with a plasma.

If you would like to speak to me email me @ billbaranowski@yahoo.com

If you can keep the HT separate from the two channel system all the better for your two channel. Then start from the beginning and go cheap. You don't need to spend a lot of money to enjoy home theater.

I suggest a new receiver with the most up to date codecs and room correction. 7.1 is better. You rarely, if at all, hear of anybody going back to 5.1. The receiver doesn't have to be top of the line. The 7.1 matrixing of 5.1 media works very well and creates a much bigger surround field even in a small room.

Its best to use seven matched speakers but using the matched center is fine. Stay small and thrifty with the speakers and hopefully used.

A good sub is what makes HT fun so budget more here. Again used, you'll have room correction in your receiver so you don't need a sub with correction software.

Unless your already a big movie renter I'd forgo the disc player until later.