Listmania!
Reasonable and Easy to Use HD Home Theater System
By an Amazon.com customer
Samsung LN-S4095D 40-Inch 1080p LCD HDTVSamsung LN-S4095D 40-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
After a lot of searching, I bought this TV as I felt it offered the best bang for the buck with the current technology. If you can't see the difference between 1080 and 720 on a 40" screen, save yourself $400 and buy a 720p model like the LN-S4092D.
Oppo DV-981HD Universal DVD Player with HDMI, 1080p Up-Converting, DivX & SACDOppo DV-981HD Universal DVD Player with HDMI, 1080p Up-Converting, DivX & SACD
Let the format wars be fought by someone else. Stay on the sidelines and enjoy what exists *now*. Make the most of standard DVDs that you can buy or rent anywhere. They'll look fantastic with this player.
TiVo TCD648250B Series3 HD Digital Media RecorderTiVo TCD648250B Series3 HD Digital Media Recorder
Buy new: $399.99 / Used from: $329.00
Expensive, but miles ahead of the DVRs offered by the cable companies. Dead easy to use, reliable, and very polished. In my mind, having a good DVR is more important than having HD, and with six tuners and THX certification, not to mention a TiVo UI, this is flat out the best DVR on the market.
Squeezebox Wireless Network Music Player, BlackSqueezebox Wireless Network Music Player, Black
A slick streamer if you like to listen to your music collection or internet radio a lot.
Logitech Harmony 880 Advanced Universal Remote ControlLogitech Harmony 880 Advanced Universal Remote Control
Buy new: $128.55 / Used from: $81.97
Best in class universal remote, and currently on sale for ~$125 at Amazon. This is the one remote to rule them all, and in the darkness, have backlighting.
Terk HDTVa Indoor Amplified High-Definition Antenna for Off-Air HDTV ReceptionTerk HDTVa Indoor Amplified High-Definition Antenna for Off-Air HDTV Reception
Buy new: $36.71 / Used from: $19.99
If you're going to get over the air HDTV and save a bundle on your cable bill (I do), give this antenna a try.
Belkin PureAV PF30 Home Theater Power ConsoleBelkin PureAV PF30 Home Theater Power Console
Keep your components from getting fried and eliminate any line noise issues from your old wiring. It's also not ugly.