My mom needed a new TV so I ordered her an all new home theater system. There was a huge sale on these items at Amazon a couple weeks ago and I got everything for over $1000 less than today's prices. I had to take the risk of having it all delivered to her while I'm in New York, hoping I can talk her through all the wiring. It's all HDMI now, should be simple, right? Well, let's see.

Since I'm not in LA and I have not seen/used any of these pieces in person, these reviews are for the setup of the products.

What can I say, it's a TV. Well, really they should just call it a monitor. We're not using the input switcher, not using the speakers, not using the remote. Really, I would prefer if we could just lock it on HDMI input 1 and turn the sound off. Maybe you can. For now, I've told my mom to just hide the remote. TV? Check!

Installation was a breeze. 1 HDMI cable from the Apple TV to the receiver and we were all set. My mom entered in the wireless info on the TV screen, and then set it to sync from within iTunes, just like an iPod. My mom LOVES her Apple TV. She says she's using it constantly everyday. This is what I'm most jealous about. How great is it to be playing your music on your HDTV, album art and all. I've already shown my mom how to rent movies, and she will totally be doing that soon also.

Yep, it's a DVD player. Single HDMI cable to the receiver and it works. Can't complain. Receiver remote controls it fine also.

This has been a nightmare from the start. From the first time I saw the Scientific-Atlanta interface I loved it. I would even say it's better than TiVo. But we've been having installation issues. Before the Time Warner guy showed up with the box, I had my mom plug an HDMI cable into the receiver and leave the other end free for the box. The guy just needed to plug in the single cable. But no, he decides to use 3 component and 2 RCA cables instead, and hook them up directly to the TV. Argh. So I tell my mom to unplug them all and just plug in the HDMI cable. Simple. Except now we need to go through setup to switch the settings. So many settings. Output settings. 480p, 1080p. Dolby, HDMI. Argh. No way I can talk my mom through this. Neither can Time Warner.

At this point, we realize her internet isn't working. It isn't until a few days later that Verizon comes out and see that the Time Warner guy snipped their wire. Shit. Assholes.

Time Warner guy shows up following week. All he has to do is change settings and it all works. Great! I try to talk to him on the phone to make sure he doesn't screw shit up. The guy can barely speak english. Argh, so frustrating. My mom sees the TV flash. Oh boy. I tell the guy I read on the internet that some people complain this model DVR sometimes cuts in and out. He goes off about how people on the internet can't be trusted and they are really competitors talking trash about Time Warner.

Anyway, after lots of hassles, Time Warner HDTV seems to be working! Discovery HD is gorgeous (or so I hear).

Another piece that can be complicated, but I was crossing my fingers and hoping it would be simple because of HDMI. Sure enough, fairly straight forward. Use the 3 HDMI inputs for the 3 devices, use the single HDMI output to the TV. Total of FOUR WIRES FOR THE WHOLE SYSTEM. So it was hooked up, and it worked. So what do all the buttons do? Why are there 50 buttons and 200 settings? What are all the flashing lights and weird modes? "Mom, just use Video 1/2/3 to switch between your 3 devices, and the volume control. IGNORE EVERYTHING ELSE." Why can't Sony come up with components that are as easy to use as an Apple TV? Why can't they make simple remotes at least? Literally an Apple TV like remote would suffice for my mom here. Input switcher, volume, power.

Plug all 5 speaker outputs from the receiver into this one monster and get simulated surround sound. Reviews are great. I wasn't going to run new cables for rear speakers. We haven't hooked this up yet.

Got this for free because of a special going on with the surroundbar. Not hooked up yet, I'm sure it will shake the house.


I can't wait to go back to LA and play with all this stuff. I've always wanted to have a great home theater system and I'm incredibly jealous. A couple days ago I was watching Planet Earth on SD DVD. One of the coolest shows I've ever seen. It was made in HD and I could tell I was really missing out by watching it in standard def.

So overall, not a bad experience! There were definitely some tough times on the phone, but at the end of it all it works and my mom is happy. With the Apple TV more than anything (she and I both listen to music for many hours per day). Hopefully she'll learn to use the DVR and watch some of her favorite TV shows. She is home so little that normally TV would not be worth it for her, but I hope after I setup some recurring recordings for her, she'll get to watch some quality TV anytime she's at home.

Since high school I've felt the theater movie going experience has been weak. I rarely go to see movies in theaters, and I definitely wouldn't choose to go myself. Why pay more money for a worse seat, worse sound, heads in your way, and salty expensive popcorn? Yeah, the screen is big, but that's about it. If I had a system like my mom's, I might never leave the house.