What are your main concerns when buying home cinema technology?

[Stuart Wright]

What are your main concerns when buying home cinema technology?

[Rasczak]

Most play a factor for me: features, compatibility (with existing and potentially future kit) and - to a much lesser extent - looks are all important elements depending on what is being brought. However I would have to say that the core issue for me is Performance. I always take time to demo equipment prior to buying it - if it isn't good enough to do what is required then the rest isn't important.

Reliability is not really a big concern for me. Invariably buying new home cinema products they haven't been around long enough for such issues to arise. I would generally try to avoid some brands though...

Price, value and retailer knowledge aren't really of any concern - although I won't buy products I think are vastly overpriced (IMHO Sky+ 160).

[eviljohn2]

Value for me, I want the best I can get for the money I pay. That's why a lot of my equipment is second hand.

[LicensedTaximan]

Quality of performance has to be the priority, but within the context of ones personal price range. Looks do come into it but that would not be a number one high factor, reliability would.

[Gary D]

Performance for me everytime. when i bought my new display i was after a top picture, the sound was secondary - in short i want it to be good at what its purpose is, not because it can play MP3's or make the tea and walk the dog. if a display retails at 2 grand then i want 95% percent of its budget spent on the picture.

Looks aren't important but should never be underestimated. Value, thats always a tricky one and totally subjective. hey if i like it can afford it then hey its value for money.

Gary

[lenny]

Value and then performance. I have always applied these two rules in sequence.

Lenny

[Marc]

i think performance for me, although i don't claim to be an expert with AV equipment, i just try and get stuff that has good reviews, but value is definitely important to me too, i wouldnt spend £5000 on a plasma if a £2000 one was almost as good.

I try to get the best preformance at the budget I can afford which equals the best value ...

I strive to upgrade whenever there is newer technology that improves on the previous but still maintains the value principle ..

[oxygenuk]

I Chose performance as thats priority, after that comes price then looks...

[Supra]

Fo rme it has to be performance, the best I can get for my budget

[eviljohn2]

Originally Posted by Supra

Fo rme it has to be performance, the best I can get for my budget

I consider that to be value.

[twin_decks]

For me, Performance is the most desirable, but value was my main concern...

I agree with previous posts too, that looks comes in pretty close, because sometimes it also has to sit there on standby, just lookin' good.

[AMc]

Has to be value for me - I could afford to spend more money on my kit (i.e. 'Performance' as a primary concern) but there is a balance between what it costs and how I use it. There is no point in shelling out £1000's for a set of speakers that for domestic reasons will only get used to their full potential for 2 hours a week. I consider the balance between performance, features and price to be a good definition of 'value'.
YMMV

[Eddy Boy]

Performane matters to me with relability as well. Features is not so important beacuse I'll pick the best performing model with the features I am looking for.

[ahin4114]

Ditto to Eddy Boy. There's no point having the greatest sounding amp on earth if it will only play on the second sunday after pentecost