• Select the Right Home Theatre in a Box (HTiB) Set

• Support Surround Sound Formats

• Make the Right Audio & Video Connections

• Compare Home Theatre in a Box Components

• Find Your Home Theatre in a Box (HTiB) on eBay Australia

• Buy a Home Theatre in a Box (HTiB) With Confidence

• Need More Help?

• Legal Disclaimer

Select the Right Home Theatre in a Box (HTiB) Set

Select the Right Home Theatre in a Box (HTiB) Set

Home Theatre in a Box (HTiB) packages make setting up your own home entertainment centre so easy. They take the guesswork out of matching speakers and provide instructions for easy setup. You'll discover that prices will differ depending on features and complexity. If you have a preference for a particular manufacturer, use it as a starting point for your speaker search. There is a range of popular brands on eBay Australia, including Bose, Sony, Panasonic, Samsung, LG, Pioneer and more.

Surround sound recordings contain four or more channels of audio, each reproduced by a separate speaker. A subwoofer makes up the .1, reproducing low-frequency effects and other low-frequency audio. HTiB sets that support 5.1-channel surround sound typically come with:

• An Audio/Video (A/V) receiver: An AV receiver sits at the centre of your home theatre system. It acts as a preamplifier, amplifier, and control centre, decoding surround sound tracks on your DVDs, HDTV, or any multichannel audio sources.

• A centre-channel speaker: The centre-channel speaker reproduces soundtrack information, such as music, dialogue, and several sound effects. The best place to position this speaker is either above or below your TV screen, in line with the primary listening position. Any sound will be projected directly towards listeners, thus creating the illusion of coming from the television screen.

• Left and right front speakers: These front speakers are great for creating realistic sound effects and music, particularly if you're watching an action movie. Position any floor-standing, bookshelf, or smaller satellite front speakers on either side of your television. Make sure they are placed at equal distances from the TV, facing the primary listening position at a 30-degree angle.

• Left and right satellite surround speakers: Surround speakers work in collaboration with the front speakers, making viewers feel immersed in sound effects and music. Position your surround speakers slightly behind and at equal distances to the left and right of the primary listening spot in a room.

• A powered subwoofer: Making up the .1 in surround sound, subwoofers come in several sizes and reproduce a bass channel or low frequency effects. Some people place subwoofers in a corner for better bass response. Generally, most people position the subwoofer out of the way of foot traffic.

• Colour-coded cables: These allow you to quickly and easily connect your receiver, speakers, and multimedia devices.

6.1-channel surround sound HTiBs also include a rear surround speaker, and 7.1-channel surround sound HTiBs include two rear surround speakers that both play back the same channel of audio. Besides including an integrated DVD player, some units also include a separate amplifier, DVD recorder, or VHS deck.

Home Theatre in a Box packages don't include a television. Check out eBay Australia's Televisions Buying Guide for some helpful information on choosing a new TV to complete your home theatre.

Support Surround Sound Formats

Support Surround Sound Formats

The receiver in your HTiB package should support all the surround sound and multichannel audio formats you want to listen to. The back packaging of your favourite DVDs, CDs, or video games should list the surround sound formats they support.

• Dolby Digital: Widely used in DVDs and digital television broadcasts, this 5.1-channel surround sound format includes five channels of audio, and a low-frequency effects (LFE) channel which is dedicated to delivering bass sound effects in the 10 Hertz to 120 Hertz range.

• Dolby Digital EX: This 6.1-channel extended surround format from Dolby includes six channels of audio and a low frequency effects (LFE) channel which delivers bass sound effects in the 10 Hertz to 120 Hertz range. It is also able to play back Dolby Digital 5.1 content.

• Dolby Pro Logic: Many video games can simulate surround sound with an adapter kit, digital audio cable, and decoder.

• Dolby Pro Logic II: You can get a 5.1-channel surround sound experience from stereo recordings or four-channel Dolby Surround audio from TV shows and VHS tapes.

• Dolby Pro Logic IIx: Create a 7.1 surround sound experience from your stereo, 5.1-, or 6.1-channel recordings.

• DTS: This 5.1 surround sound format competes with Dolby Digital. It is an optional format on many DVDs and multichannel audio recordings.

• DTS-ES: Optional 6.1 surround sound format on many DVDs and multichannel audio recordings. It is backward compatible with DTS and competes with Dolby Digital EX.

• DTS Neo:6: This sound format competes with Dolby Pro Logic II. It creates five or six channels of audio for surround sound setups from matrix stereo recordings. It can also create a 6.1 surround sound experience with a rear channel from 5.1-channel surround sound recordings.

• THX-Certified: Although THX isn't actually an audio format that needs a special decoder, movie buffs will probably still want THX-certified equipment. It realistically recreates a THX movie theatre experience using proprietary equalisation, and meets specific standards for power, frequency response, and acceptable levels of distortion. THX Select-certified equipment is capable of delivering cinematic performance in rooms up to 186 square metres. Meanwhile THX Ultra-certified equipment is capable of delivering theatre-quality performance in rooms up to 279 square metres.

• THX Surround EX: Surround sound decoding format that can create a 6.1-channel surround sound experience from any home theatre audio source. It natively supports Dolby Digital EX and Dolby Digital and can also be used with DTS-ES, DTS, Dolby Pro Logic, and Dolby Pro Logic II. If you are after best performance, you'll want a 6.1-channel surround sound receiver and speakers.

DVD-Audio & SACD DVD-Audio and SACD need decoding at the source. You will require an SACD player to listen to SACDs, or a DVD player that supports DVD-Audio to listen to DVD-Audio discs. Both can also contain Dolby Digital and DTS material that your receiver can decode.

Make the Right Audio & Video Connections

Make the Right Audio & Video Connections

Make sure you have high-quality cables that carry reliable audio and video signals and allow less noise, even if you have to replace the cables that come with your HTiB. Your receiver should have inputs and outputs for all the devices you want to hook up, such as your DVD player, CD stacker, AM/FM tuner, and satellite TV receiver. These hookups will determine what type of cable you will need to buy.

Speakers and subwoofers

Purchase speaker cables to connect your speakers to your receiver and buy separate subwoofer cable for the best low-frequency sound. Figure out how much cable you'll need by measuring the distance between each component that needs a cable connection. Remember to consider areas that might need extra length including windows, door frames, and corners. Its better to buy cables on the long side, generally around 60cm more than you think you'll need.

Old-school audio & video

Line-level inputs support analogue audio connections from several devices such as your stereo. Coaxial RF cable should be used to connect your standard TV antenna, VCR, turntable, or tuner. When connecting a turntable that doesn't have a built-in phono preamp, check your receiver has a phono input. While you don't have to run standard video through your A/V receiver, consider a receiver with composite video and S-video inputs, used by many devices, like video cameras, with video outputs. Use four-pin S-video cables to help you connect your device and your receiver. Composite A/V (RCA) cables can be used to transfer analogue audio and video signals from a DVD player or VCR over a single cable connection. You will also want an RCA connection, if you want to listen to Dolby Pro Logic.

Digital audio

Transfer digital audio from digital music players, HDTVs, or progressive-scan DVD players, to your receiver using a coaxial digital cable (75-ohm) or optical digital/fibre optic cable. Match the inputs on your receiver to the outputs on your audio source. If you want to connect more than a few devices, ensure you have enough inputs to support multiple audio sources.

Digital video

Use a component video cable to connect your HDTV or progressive-scan DVD player to your receiver's component video inputs. Component video cables assist improved picture quality by splitting a video signal from your DVD player, VCR, or HDTV tuner and processing the signals separately. Many cables need to have 12 megahertz or higher bandwidth, but cables used for HDTV require 30 megahertz of bandwidth or more.

Some receivers offer higher-quality DVI inputs or HDMI outputs. A DVI cable connection lets you transfer digital video from your HDTV tuner, HDTV-ready TV, or DVI-compatible DVD player. Many home electronics use DVI-D cable. HDMI transfers up to eight channels of audio to your 7.1-channel surround sound system along a single cable. Several HDTV tuners and HDTV-ready TVs support HDMI connections, which are backward-compatible with DVI.

Compare Home Theatre in a Box Components

Compare Home Theatre in a Box Components

When shopping for your HTiB package, it's important to know how to compare basic specifications. Many listings include technical information about the speakers and receiver in a set, so make sure you have an understanding of what they all mean.

Speaker woofers and tweeters

Versatile monopole speakers are standard in the majority of Home Theatre in a Box sets. They are a great choice for fans of multichannel audio formats and fit in with everything from budget-to-high-end setups. They can have a single driver or multiple drivers (woofers and tweeters). The more drivers, the better the performance, however this also comes accordingly, at a higher price.

• Full-range speakers: These are less expensive speakers that feed an entire audio signal into an unspecialised driver.

• One-way speakers: These are entry-level speakers with a woofer.

• Two-way speakers: Two-way speakers typically outperform one-way speakers and come with a woofer and tweeter.

• Three-way speakers: Three way speakers have a woofer, tweeter, and midrange. They typically sound better than two-way speakers. Speakers with multiple woofers or midranges can also be considered three-way.

Size plays a role when comparing floor-standing and bookshelf speakers. Five-inch (12.5cm) woofers can produce some bass while 8-inch (20cm) and larger woofers give you a good amount of bass response. Check out subwoofer size as well. Subwoofers with a larger cabinet and driver produce deeper bass than smaller units. Several subwoofers include their own power amplifier. However, you might see passive subwoofers that require amplification from your receiver in budget home theatre sets.

Speaker sensitivity

Speakers that are more efficient require less power to reach a specific volume. For example, in order to produce sound at a specific volume, a speaker with a sensitivity rating 3 decibels greater than another requires half the power. Sensitivity above 90 decibels is good, sensitivity between 88 decibels and 90 decibels is average, and sensitivity below 85 decibels can really push your amp.

Speaker connections

Speakers with binding posts are preferable to the spring clips found on lower-end speakers.

Speaker frequency response

Manufacturers list the high- and low-frequency limits of a speaker as a range, usually indicating that it won't deviate more than a few decibels from perfect, flat response. For example, 30 Hertz to 20 kilohertz, +/-3 decibels. A low-frequency limit below 30 Hertz offers intense bass sound, which is great for sci-fi and action movies, but 40 Hertz will work fine for most people. The low range should be no greater than 50 Hertz. (The average range of human hearing is 20 Hertz to 20 kilohertz [20,000 Hertz].) The more a speaker deviates from flat response, the less accurate its sound reproduction.

Speaker power handling

Various manufacturers use different power-handling specifications. You should only compare power-handling ratings when looking at HTiBs from the same manufacturer, to determine if one set of speakers can handle more power than another.

• Peak power: Refers to how much power a speaker can handle in short bursts.

• RMS capacity: Refers to how much constant power a speaker is able to handle over a long period of time.

• Minimum recommended power: Indicates the minimum amount of power that is required to efficiently drive a speaker.

Receiver/amp power

A surround sound receiver or designated amplifier drives your speakers and should offer at least 100 watts of power per channel, equally distributed throughout a system. For example, 100 watts x 5 for a 5.1-channel surround sound system. However, when comparing receivers with similar wattage ratings, don't make power a deciding factor. In order to increase sound 3 decibels, you need to double wattage, for example, from 50 watts to 100 watts. However, in order to double how loud audio sounds, you need a 10 decibel increase. Basically, you won't notice much difference between the sound of a 100-watt amp versus a 120-watt amp.

Amplifier signal purity

Sometimes sellers list a receiver or amplifier's total harmonic distortion (THD) rating, which is a measurement of signal purity. Generally, lower numbers are better.

Find Your Home Theatre in a Box (HTiB) on eBay Australia

Find Your Home Theatre in a Box (HTiB) on eBay Australia

Now that you have a better idea of what you are looking for in a HTiB package, go to eBay Australia's Electronics portal, click Home Theatre Systems and then With DVD Players and start shopping!

• Categories: The Categories lists located on the left hand side of each page will help you narrow down item listings. For example, under Home Theatre Systems you'll find links for Speakers Only, With DVD Player and Without DVD Player. 

• Keywords: Let eBay Australia find items for you by entering the keywords you want to find into the general Search box. For example, if you want to find a Panasonic HTiB, type "panasonic" into the search box. Check the box "Search title and description" to expand your listings. Visit eBay Australia's Search Tips page to get more information about searching with keywords.

If you can't find exactly what you want, try shopping eBay Stores, tell the eBay Australia Community what you want by creating a post on Want It Now, or save a search on My eBay and eBay Australia will email you when a match becomes available.

Buy a Home Theatre in a Box (HTiB) With Confidence

Buy a Home Theatre in a Box (HTiB) With Confidence

Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay Australia and PayPal protect you.

Know your purchase

Carefully read the details in item listings.

• Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships.

• If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile.

• Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay Australia (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay Australia are not covered by eBay Australia protection programs.

• Never pay for your eBay Australia item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.

Know your seller

Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.

• What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?

• What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?

• Most top eBay Australia sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?

Buyer protection

In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay Australia and PayPal are there for you.

• Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorised payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to $1,500.

• eBay Australia Security & Resolution Centre: Visit the Security & Resolution Centre to learn how to protect your account and use eBay Australia's quick and efficient resolution tools.

Need More Help?

Need More Help?

Visit our help pages or start a thread on one of our Community Discussion Boards - If you have a quick question that needs answering, try posting it on our community Answer Centre - there's bound to be a seasoned eBay Australia veteran with just the information you're looking for!

Legal Disclaimer

Legal Disclaimer

Buying Guides are intended merely as a guide or review for members when considering what products or services they may be interested in bidding on or purchasing. eBay does not make, and nothing in these Buying Guides is intended to constitute, any warranties, guarantees, representations or assurances about the accuracy of the information or content contained in these Buying Guides. Furthermore, eBay does not make, and nothing in these Buying Guides is intended to constitute, any warranties, guarantees, representations or assurances about the nature or performance of the products or services appearing in the Buying Guides. Content, trademarks and brands referred to and contained in the third-party links provided are the property of their respective owners, and eBay has no control over and accepts no responsibility for their content. eBay is not affiliated with nor does it endorse the use of any particular product or service.