SURROUND-SOUND EFFECTS. When it comes to home entertainment, the days of the stereo system are gone, and home theater is the new wave. Say “so long” to two-speaker systems. Five speakers and a subwoofer are the de rigueur technology that mimics the intricate sound in a movie theater.

But it can be overwhelming to figure out how to set up a surround-sound system. The good news is that intuitive systems can walk you through the process. Check out audio/video receivers from Denon, Yamaha, Bose, Sony and Pioneer, with auto-calibration features.

A wired solution always provides the truest sound, but if you can’t run speaker wire from the audio receiver to rear speakers, go wireless. New wireless speaker systems from JBL, Infinity, Audiovox and Pioneer cut the cord to the speakers. (You have to plug in the speakers to a power outlet though.)

If you want to avoid rear speakers altogether, get a speaker bar. This single horizontal enclosure, designed to fit beneath a flat-panel TV, simulates multiple channels of sound. Polk Audio, Yamaha and Soundmatters are among the companies offering one-box speaker systems to go with plasma or LCD TVs.

Check into the cool new connection, HDMI, which streams audio and video signals through a single cable.

THE “WOW” OF WIRELESS. Many people today would be lost without a fast track to the Internet over a broadband connection like a cable modem, DSL or FiOs. You’ve got a broadband modem for your home’s main PC, but what about other PCs in the house? A wireless network is your best bet.

Companies including Linksys, Netgear, Buffalo Technology, D-Link and Belkin sell wireless routers that deliver a speedy broadband connection to a desktop or laptop PC—without requiring a connecting wire in between. Step-by-step instructions guide you through the setup process. If setup gives you the jitters, hire a computer professional to help.