Now that you have all your audio and video gear assembled, it's time to look at the other stuff that never seems important until ... you need the right cables to connect all your equipment, or perhaps something for storing everything, or a chair, or maybe an antenna for HDTV, and definitely some form of power protection.

Audio and video cables connect your components to each other and to your video display or TV. Following are some different types of cable or wiring you will likely encounter. Gold connectors for audio, video and speaker cables are recommended, as they offer the best connectivity. Component video separates the video signal into distinct red, green and blue streams and is carried via three individual cables, normally bundled together. It comes with RCA-type jack connectors. It will provide better color resolution, purity and fidelity than S-Video and composite video signals.

Composite video is a standard video connection that allows for the passage of a video signal with a maximum resolution of 330 lines. It is characterized as a single RCA-type jack with a yellow casing and is often bundled with analog audio cables.

Digital audio outputs provide less noise and interference than any other type of connection. It is either coaxial cable that looks like a single audio cable or a TosLink optical connection that looks like an illuminated phone jack.

DVI (digital visual interface) is a video-only connection that provides a high-bandwidth interface between a video source and a display device. To protect content transmitted over DVI, a high-bandwidth digital content protection (HDCP) scheme ensures a secure digital link between source and display. DVI supports HDTV resolutions of 720p, 1080i and 1080p, as well as pixel resolutions up to 1600 x 1200.

HDMI (High-definition multimedia interface) passes both uncompressed digital audio and video signals. HDMI also uses the HDCP copy protection scheme. It is starting to appear on DVD players, audio/video receivers and HDTVs. HDMI features a connector that looks like a USB connector.

IEEE1394 (or FireWire or i.LINK) is a flexible digital connection that can pass HDTV signals using MPEG2 video to devices such as high-definition D-VHS recorders. It also supports daisy chaining and branching for peer-to-peer implementations.

RCA jacks are standard analog jacks that pass both analog audio and video signals. Standard audio cables are color coded white and red.

S-Video will provide up to 400 lines of resolution and will improve your picture clarity beyond composite cables, though it is not as good as component video. An S-Video input uses a nine-pin connector.

Speaker wire recommendations may call for 16-gauge speaker wire or a lower number: The lower the gauge, the higher the conductor inside and the better the wire. Multiroom audio systems where some speakers are at a distance from the amplifier may require 14- or 12-gauge wire. A number of different connector types are available for all varieties of speaker wiring from bare wire to a plug-in RCA-type cables to "banana plugs" to "spade lugs" that wrap around a binding post. Also look for shielded speaker cables if power cords are nearby.

Audio/Video Furniture

Don't forget to choose a place to locate your electronic equipment (and yourself) when enjoying a home theater or media room. These purchases are important and will go a long way toward your enjoyment of your home electronics.

Stands and cabinets for equipment have traditionally consisted of racks for audio components or stands or bases for TVs. Some specialized manufacturers offer behemoth entertainment centers that are available directly through electronics stores or department stores. These large cabinets are constructed of either hardwood or steel and glass and will accommodate up to a 40-inch direct-view TV. They offer space for all of your audio/video gear and may provide storage for your CDs, DVDs and videotapes. Designs range from contemporary units in various colors to country-style armoires in many stains.

Prices for higher-quality audio/video furniture range from about $1,500 to well into the thousands of dollars, depending on woods, styles, glass and finishes. Storage pieces can be stand-alone armoires or complete wall units with two towers surrounding a main device. They can be striking black or silver steel tubing with reinforced glass. Some models can even be frames for flat-panel displays with integrated speakers.

Several well-known furniture manufacturers provide quality construction in cabinetry made of real hardwoods such as ash, oak, cherry, maple and southern pine. Features including sliding shelves, pocket doors, drawers for tape and disc storage, power strips and enclosures for speakers. Prices for traditional furniture normally begin around $2,000.

Some companies also offer beautiful tempered glass shelving stands with solid steel tubing sturdy enough to hold a TV up to 60 inches. These stands come in many compelling modern designs. Depending on style, features, glass and woods, prices for electronics cabinetry can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars.

If you're hiding your gear in a nearby closet or flush-mounting it in a custom cabinet, your electronics dealer may recommend a metal rack that the components are mounted to and that can slide out for convenient servicing.

No matter what kind of audio/video storage you buy, look for wiring channels for a convenient and concealed way to connect components. Many open stands come with channels to hide wires.

Home theater seating will allow you to take a load off, put your feet up and enjoy a movie or your favorite show. But what to sit in? Many types of seating designed for home theater and media rooms are available, from traditional theater like chairs to loungers in leather and fabrics and colors of your choice. Many of the lounger-type seats have motorized controls to allow your head to recline and your feet to raise. Check the loudness of the motors, because you won't want them whirring away during the movie whenever someone adjusts a seat. Many companies sell massage loungers as well, but again, check the noise and vibration. And keep in mind that while a headrest can be great for your head, it's lousy for your enjoyment of surround sound if speakers are on the sides or in back of you.

Most important, check the build quality and comfort of the seating. Some chairs have wooden frames, others have metal ones. And don't opt for the first chair that you can sink into like a cloud. You're going to be parked in these chairs for a couple of hours at a time, so seek a firm but comfortable cushion that will treat your backside right over time.

Remote Controls

Your remote control is your link to your TV, DVD player and any other components, so you'll want something easy for you and others in your home to operate. There's also the problem of having several remotes cluttering your coffee table and making a simple act like watching TV an annoyance.

Basic universal remotes will control a TV, VCR, cable box and possibly a satellite receiver. More sophisticated ones will also command an audio system with surround controls, a DVD player and other units. Look for a logical layout of the keys; some manufacturers have clustered similar keys together to make the remote simpler to use. Many have backlit keys for operating the remote in the dark and ergonomically styled handsets so your fingers or thumb can rest naturally on oft-used keys. Remotes can cost from $20 to several thousand dollars for a high-end custom installation.

Universal remotes combine the functions of several remotes, such as those for your TV, DVD player, receiver, and VCR-into one magic wand. They come in all shapes and sizes, and some today also control satellite systems. Most universal remotes come with preprogrammed codes for nearly every major brand. The packaging will tell you how many components and brands can be controlled. Some types can even be programmed via your telephone and an 800 number. Others allow you to download the codes from the Internet to your remote. More sophisticated units provide "macro" keys that can turn on several components with one button.

Learning remotes may also come with some preprogrammed codes but allow you to teach the remote additional functions. Many of the more expensive models available today have plenty of memory to accommodate this. Some of these models also come with macro keys that allow the devices to learn strings of commands, each activated with one button.

Touchscreens and touchpanels call up different screens for different components. These are LCD panels ranging in size from 3 to more than 12 inches square, with buttons appearing on the screens. These are very easy to use, making them the ideal remotes for a sophisticated home theaters as well as whole-house lighting control, blinds and motorized window treatments. They also tend to be quite expensive and are usually reserved for high-end custom installations. Some models come with their own chargers so the units are always ready to go.

Branded audio remotes are a new breed of top-of-the-line universal/learning remotes from audio manufacturers for their high-end audio/video receivers. These technological marvels feature LCD touchscreens and separate key controls for functions that apply to all components. All have preprogrammed codes, and you can easily walk through their on-screen menus.

Antennas

We once thought antennas were a thing of the past, but they are making a comeback due largely to four letters: HDTV. A rooftop antenna is needed if you want to receive "over-the-air" HDTV network signals.

Not all antennas today are the monstrosities we remember from the past. A new breed of aerial antennas now fit under the eaves of your home. Some are amplified to boost the signal. There are even rabbit ears on steroids: set-top antennas to pull in wayward TV signals. Other types of antennas are flat and can sit atop your TV or on the side of your house.

Most electronics retailers have copies of color-coded maps that designate what type of antenna you need to receive a good HDTV signal in your area.

Power Protection

Last but certainly not least, all you need to protect your electronics investment is an inexpensive surge suppresser, right?

Wrong! For your components to perform to their potential, the power delivered to them should be clean and well-balanced. But as soon as you plug in your devices, they are subject to a host of electrical aberrations. These irregularities can emanate from everything from the power lines outside your house to interference from electric motors, appliances and other devices inside your home.

Voltage regulators and power and line conditioners protect your components from these problems. A power conditioner will protect your components from damage from voltage irregularities. A voltage regulator will provide a stable output to all of your components. The best voltage regulators are also equipped with power conditioning features to keep electrical spikes, surges and interference under control. These are rated both by the voltage at which their resistance decreases (called clamping voltage) and the total energy, rated in joules, that they can dissipate without overheating.

An AC power conditioner plugs into a wall outlet and provides multiple outlets normally up to eight-for plugging in your audio and video equipment. Inside a line conditioner are metal oxide varistors (MOVs), which are the most widely used devices for absorbing the energy of spikes and surges.

All power conditioning devices should be equipped with a visual indicator (usually LED) showing that it is on and working. Many also feature circuit breakers that will trip and stop the flow of power if an electrical short is detected in either the power conditioner or a component that is attached to the unit. Other products include coax satellite protection, telephone/modem protection, and local area network (LAN) and data line protection.

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