For the gold standard in home theater seating, check out SCV Home Trends. The company boasts seating with motion recliners, cup holders in every arm, luxurious 100-percent top grain leather and Leggett & Platt reclining mechanisms.

It's that time of year again when everyone's thoughts turn to the holidays. You know, long evenings spent at home. With, well, Monday Night Football in high def. And cool movies with things blowing up, courtesy your new Blu-ray or HD-DVD player. All on a screen measured in square acres, with a sound system sure to earn you a visit from the sheriff if you dared turn it to 11.

Let's face it. Home entertainment is fun. And whether you're into action movies or romantic comedies, gaming or home video, there's no better time to lose that antiquated equipment and put together a system that'll make jaws drop.

It's Time to HD

High definition, HDTV, high def. No matter what you call it, it's not just the future, it's now. Those funny wide screens you see on the cool flat-panel TVs are only the start. The picture isn't just wider, it's also much, much sharper than anything you've ever seen before, including DVD. Technically, HDTV has over six times the resolution of plain 'ol TV. When you see it set up right (not at a big box store, but at a good specialty retailer like Wilshire Home Entertainment), it'll blow you away.

"But wait," you say. "I have a friend with one of those flat panel TVs, and it didn't look all that great." Yeah, and what you saw probably wasn't HDTV at all. There are plenty of flat panels in homes (and bars) that have never seen a true high-def signal.

Which brings us to another question: How do you get HD? Well, there are three ways: over the air via an antenna, over your dish or cable network, or via one of the two new high-definition disc formats: HD-DVD or Blu-ray. More and more programs, from popular series like "Lost," to low-budget telenovelas, are being shot on HD, and there are hundreds of movies available on disc, so there's plenty to watch. And when you see your first true high-def picture, you'll never look back.

"1080 versus 720" is a phrase you'll hear in the stores a lot. This refers to the two most popular high-def resolutions. 1080 is, as you'd expect, higher quality. It's also more future-proof. But on smaller screens, say less than 42 inches, you probably won't see much difference between the two. Take a look at both, and let your eyes (and wallet) decide.

For a family-room system, here's your shopping list: • Flat-panel or rear-projection TV A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A $1,500 to $5,000 • 7.1 receiver A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A $300 to $1,000 • 7.1 speaker system A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A $300 to $3,000 • HD-DVD or Blu-ray disc player A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A $500 to $1,000 • Cables A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A $200 to $500 • Upgraded cable or disc service (for HDTV) You could also consider: • XBOX or PS3 A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A $250 to $600 • Media Center PC A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A $500 to $2,000

Screen Wars

Plasma. LCD. DLP. Panel. Rear-projector. Front-projector. There's never been more choices for great screens. And everyone has an opinion. "LCDs are better than plasma," some say. "Front projection is the only way to go," say others.

Well, here's the bottom line: What looks good to you and fits your lifestyle is the best screen for you. That said, here are a few tips to get you started.

Panels

LCD or plasma, panels are sexy. Who wouldn't want a TV you can hang on the wall? Plus, they don't take up any floor space. In general, LCDs are better for smaller screen sizes (less than 42 inches), while plasmas stretch the size limits up to 65 inches and beyond.

Rear Projection

These big boxes are falling by the wayside, but they might be exactly the right thing for houses that have big entertainment centers to fill. Performance is better than ever, too, and prices are low. Work with a good company like Woody's to customize your home's alcove for an entertainment center or media niche that is sure to impress the Joneses. With built-in storage options and hand-selected design elements, your entertainment center might just become your favorite part of your home.

What new SCV home is complete without an alcove situated in the family room? Attractively display (or hide) your entertainment system in a customized wood alcove from Woody's. The company specializes in home consultations to ensure ideal results.

Front Projection

For the dedicated home theater enthusiast, front projection is the only way to go. Which is fine as long as you don't mind watching in a completely dark room, replacing bulbs every few thousand hours, and paying dearly if you want a 1080p projector now. But there's no other way to stretch screen size to 100-, 120-, 150-inches or beyond.

Upgrade Mania

Today's entertainment systems are so advanced, don't be surprised if you want to upgrade everything. The screen is only the start.

Now hear this. Dolby Digital has advanced to 7.1 digital sound, so if you're running an old receiver and speakers, it's time to look at moving to a new system. Which is great, because today's speaker systems offer higher performance from smaller, more efficient packages, with wall-shaking subwoofers that are easier to hide. And, next to picture, sound is the most important part of the home entertainment experience - some industry bigwigs argue that it's actually more important than the picture!

The right connections. To power those new speakers, you'll need a 7.1-capable receiver or preamp/amp combo, preferably with switching for all those new digital video sources. Your new screen probably has HDMI, an all-new cable that replaces the familiar rats-nest of wires with a single connector.

The best way to select a plasma screen is to see it properly displayed in a specialty store. Visit Wilshire Home Entertainment to view the newest Fujitsu HDTV plasmas available in both black and silver and ranging from 42- to 63-inches.

High-def media. We won't get into the war between Blu-ray and HD-DVD players, other than to say both look terrific and offer similar performance. These formats are the successor to the DVD, giving you full high-definition output. If you want to see what high-def can do, these are the best possible sources to show it off. Both will have over 100 movies available during the holiday season. Which is the right choice? At the moment, they're both good choices, but HD-DVD players cost about half the amount of Blu-ray players.

On the edge. And if you're feeling adventurous, add a media center PC or Mac Mini to put YouTube on the big screen. Both these systems connect easily to HDMI with adapter cables and bring a new dimension to internet video. Or get a game console like the XBOX 360 or Sony PS3 to bring immersive high-definition gaming to your big screen. Like your favorite television shows, more and more games are appearing in HD.

Living the Experience

Let's face it. While we might drool over photos of dedicated home theaters, complete with velvet drapes and popcorn machines, most of us'll put home entertainment right in the middle of the living room. There's nothing wrong with that. Today's panels get rid of the big ugly boxes of yesterday, and there's no better room to bring the family together in.

And there are even more options to help make sure your entertainment doesn't get in the way of your decor. A local company, AUTON, manufactures motorized lifts that hide panels and projection screens behind art or within furniture. You can even get a lift that drops down from the ceiling. Regardless of your selection, when you aren't using your home theater system, it's completely hidden. Convince your significant other to spring for a universal remote and custom programming, or even a whole-house control system, and your entertainment becomes even more seamless.

AUTON'S award-winning Plasma Ceiling Flip Down system is sure to inspire neighborhood envy.

Dedicated to It

If you have the wherewithal, though, a dedicated home theater is the stuff of neighborhood legend. Dim the lights, fire up the projector, and enjoy the scent of fresh-popped popcorn in true theater fashion. Another local company, SCV Home Trends, provides a complete line of theater-quality seating to make your home theater as close to a real theater as possible.

The shopping list for a dedicated theater starts with selecting a qualified, CEDIA-certified custom installer, like Wilshire Home Entertainment. From there, you'll select options to fit budgets from $25,000 to $250,000 - or even more. A good front-projection system can start at $5,000 and go to $25,000 or more, including projector and screen. And that's just the start. Add high-end audio and the sky's the limit.

It's the Best Time of the Year

Still confused? Don't be. Take a trip down to a good retailer and take a look at what's available. You'll be blown away by the picture and sound. Now, imagine that system at home, playing a great movie, with the kids in bed and the lights turned down low. Ahh. Now, isn't that a great way to spend the best time of the year?