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THIS WEEK: HOME THEATER: BIG PICTURE, THEN BIG SOUND
By Matthew Sweer (April 21, 2004)
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Big-screen TVs and home-theater systems (meaning a DVD player and
surround-sound speakers) would seem to go together like popcorn and
improbably large cups of soda. Yet our Personal Tech Radar survey has found
that equal portions of CNET users who already own big-screen TVs (who
constitute about a third of those surveyed) and those without (14 percent
of each group) are interested in buying home-theater equipment. How can
that be?
The key difference is in what each group wants to get out of its
home-theater purchases. Of big-screen owners, 43 percent say they want
either to upgrade an existing home-theater system or to buy an additional
one; by contrast, 76 percent of small-screen owners are looking to get
their first home-theater system. For small-set owners, the primary
motivation for that home-theater purchase is to bring the movie-theater
experience into the home. But most big-screen TV owners have already done
that, so they're more focused on audio per se: 45 percent of big-screen TV
owners say they want a new home-theater system to listen to music in
surround sound, compared to 35 percent of small-screen owners. It seems
that once you get the big picture on your TV, you're just not satisfied
until you have the sound to match.
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Each month, we take the pulse of our most tech-passionate readers, then we create Personal Tech Radar (PTR), a 360-degree snapshot that provides up-to-the minute insight into real-life product interests and buying motivations. Track the trends. Learn about hot must-haves. Tell us what's on your radar. And be sure to check back regularly for new PTR info.
 November 17, 2003 -- Age is Key Factor in Personal Technology Product Buying Preferences, Finds CNET Survey
October 31, 2003 -- Gender Differences Influence Consumer Electronics Purchasing, Finds CNET Study
October 1, 2003 -- CNET Announces "Personal Tech Radar," Capturing Insights and Trends on Digital Electronics Buying Preferences
December 18, 2003 -- Gifts for all--or just for kids? (Chicago Tribune) (free registration required)
November 24, 2003 -- Got gadgets? Gift ideas for the already well-equipped (SFGate.com)
October 31, 2003 -- Mars-Venus split in product survey (SFGate.com)
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