What do you look for in a surround sound system?

What do you look for in a surround sound system?
Well, there are lots of things to consider when buying a surround sound system:

- the number of channels in the system (2.1, 5.1, 7.1, etc.)
- the wattage of the amplifier in the system (a 400 watt system is going to be louder than a 200 watt amplifier, for example)
- the wattage of each speaker in the system (again, the more watts, the louder the speaker)
- the source of your audio (your game console may only output audio on two channels, or perhaps as many as seven)
- the number of inputs/outputs you'll need (and the types of ports associated)
- your budget (of course)!

Be sure to check online retailers before going into a retail store - tigerdirect.com and newegg.com often have great prices on their audio equipment.

Also, don't be afraid to look for used/older systems! If all you need is a five channel system, and you don't mind using RCA cables (the red and white cables we all know and love), it's quite possible that you can find a complete system with speakers for under $50 at a local second-hand store!