What the book covers: This new edition delivers the same, solid information meant to demystify the process of building a home theater system including buying, setting up, and optimizing television, audio, DVD/DVR, satellite, cable, gaming, and other core components.New to this edition: Now at full-sized For Dummies trim, this new edition delivers 30% more content than the previous edition, including coverage on these cutting edge topics: New surround sound standards (Dolby pro logic IIx becoming standard, Dolby Digital Plus entering the market) HD-DVD and BluRAY as well as other High Def DVD standards Advent of inexpensive "universal" players for SACD, DVD and DVD-A. Upconverting DVD players for connections to HDTVs and plasmas. Major updates to HDTV itself with major updates -- increases in kinds of content and sources thereof, advent of integrated HDTVs, CableCARD, huge explosion of shows now filmed in HD. The newest connection systems including HDMI on the video side of things and digital connections including SACD or DVD-A on the audio side of things New speaker systems that combine some or all of the front or surrounds into single units for smaller rooms . Improvements in wireless, more wireless surround speakers New systems (like Sonos) that make whole house music sharing much better, easier, faster. Media Center and Home Theater PCs much improved -- support HDTV, remoting (media center extenders). Video servers and media servers for the home

Danny Briere founded TeleChoice, Inc., a telecommunications consulting company, in 1985 and now serves as CEO of the company. Widely known throughout the telecommunications and networking industry, Danny has written more than 1,000 articles about telecommunications topics and has authored or edited 12 books, including HDTV For Dummies, Wireless Home Networking For Dummies, and Smart Homes For Dummies. He is frequently quoted by leading telecommunications and technology publications and can often be seen on major TV networks providing analysis on the latest communications news and breakthroughs. Danny lives in Mansfield Center, Connecticut, with his wife, four children, and two dogs.

Pat Hurley is head of research at TeleChoice, Inc., specializing in emerging telecommunications technologies. Pat currently concentrates on the field of consumer electronics and their impact on home and wireless networking. Pat is also TeleChoice’s IPTV industry analyst. Pat is the coauthor of seven books, including HDTV For Dummies, Wireless Home Networking For Dummies, and Smart Homes For Dummies. He lives in San Diego, California, with his wife, daughter and two dogs.