Plan ahead to reap the rewards of a high-tech experience you'll love

Today's high-tech media equipment provides us with sleek, high-style products that will enhance any room of the house. Upgrade your home entertainment system without cluttering your open space. Video and audio technology can deliver a state-of-the-art system without investing in a wallet-draining integrated system. Flat-screen TVs can be hung on virtually any wall like so much high-tech art, and highend sound systems can be hidden from view.

Flat-screen TVs are rapidly replacing the TVs of the past. They offer a more realistic image, can be viewed anywhere in the room without sacrificing image quality, and allow you the luxury of more space with their compact shape.

There are three forms of flatscreen technology: plasma, LCD, and standard picture tube. Plasma TVs are the most popular seller right now, boasting exceptional color accuracy, uniform screen brightness, and high-image resolution. Screen sizes range from 37 to 61 inches, although 42 and 50 inches are the most common. You can expect to pay around $4,000 for a 42-inch plasma TV, and around $8,000 for a 50-inch model.

LCD (liquid crystal diode) TVs are sized between 10 and 36 inches, and are very similar to plasma TVs in terms of clarity, depth, color brilliance, and their flat design. Prices can range from just over $1,000 to around $3,000 depending on the brand.

Homeowners who are budget-minded will favor a standard-tube flat-screen TV, costing under $1,000, though they do not provide the level of quality of a plasma or LCD screen.

When you're not watching TV you can enjoy an in-wall sound system, perfect for providing background music or the main entertainment at a gathering. Homeowners can opt for whole-house speaker systems or more budget-friendly smaller systems, limited to your kitchen or bath.

Take advantage of available options that help your sound system blend into the room. Worried that a room will be overpowered by a wall of speakers and boom boxes? Think again. Flush-mounted control panels that jut into the cavity between wall studs instead of into the room itself can help to lower the system's profile; the control buttons can even be color-coordinated to match the room's scheme. Plus, lightswitch-sized control panels are available to complement every decor.

Stand-alone speakers are still available, but many homeowners opt for the less obtrusive in-wall or ceiling-mounted speakers. Some speakers can virtually disappear, such as the model SA2 from Sound Advance. This speaker mounts flush with the wall or ceiling; after installation the speaker can be covered with whatever paint, texture, or wallcovering you prefer, making the speaker "disappear."

More and more sound systems can be connected to and and controlled by your PC, and provide music, news, and talk radio via CD, DVD, satellite, or radio signal. If you simply must have the latest technology, expect the tab to climb higher than $3,000, plus installation. If you're willing to spend the cash, flat-screen TVs coupled with today's high-tech sound systems ensure any room in your house can double as a media room.