I think the answer is a definite maybe...most speakers hook to a receiver's speaker output terminals (typically screw down type). Some use jacks (RCA or headphone). Either way most speaker could be adapted. What receiver do you have? Many times the old speakers, if they don't have deteriorated foam surrounds are better than the new speakers, and if lucky may even be worth more on ebay if "classic", than new ones cost. Smaller is not better when it comes to sound. In this day and age the receiver is more likely to be outdated than the speakers.

Neighbor has an LCD projector, several years old, in a home theater room. I don't know what size is his screen, but it's larger than any big-screen TV. He got an HD player couple months ago, I think Toshiba? I'm not intimately familiar with the two formats at war, but I don't think it's a Blue-Ray. Anyway, I *CAN* see an appreciable difference on his screen with his projector. However, we brought the player to try on my 42" Panasonic HD plasma that's about 4 years old, and I *don't* see a difference there. We watched Van Helsing, which admittedly has a lot of dark scenes, but if there is any difference it's not enough in *my* case to justify the expense of a format change, not based on *that* particular title. Which bears out what what the neighbor said and what I've observed ... that the improvement isn't much seen except on a 50" screen or larger.

It's called SPACE. Living in the Silicon Valley, in a $800,000 home that is 1536 ft^2 provides no room for a big hunk of junk, especially in the master bedroom, which is a spacious 12x16'. We have 4 tv's, but only 2 are LCD's so far. The only reason that the MBR still looks terrible is because of that black 33" CRT monster TV in the corner. Is is the focal point-even after spending all the $$ we did on our mid-century modern furniture. I do agree w you re wall mounts. They usually don't work (structurally hard on the house and require absolutely perfect installation and hiding of cords) - but you still have to show the DVD player and DirecTV/Tivo unit, so there's no escaping that - and there in lies the problem. The stand. For me, its all about the dang stands. They all look so terrible. Home entiertainment cabinets are gawd awful unless you live in a country cottage style house (we don't), but the other extreme is just as bad: glass and metal. So in the bank the $$$ sits until I find the right stand for the Master BR - too bad, as that's where I watch the majority of my DVD's - mostly classics and lots of B&W remasters of film noir and Hitchcock. We are up to 400+ now and do not use the TV's for anything else but cable news and DVD's. L

The Harmony series is designed to be programmed by an end user but also has very limited functionality. Both Universal Remote and RTI are essentially "blank slate" type remotes that need to be programmed by someone who has the software and knows what they are doing. Harmony's also notoriously have a short lifespan. I have literally 2 dozen dead/Semi functioning/ and functioning Harmony remotes in a box that I've taken out of clients houses prior to setting them up with something that really works. I personally use the URC brand for clients who aren't going with something like a Crestron system. I have literally hundreds of them out there and they work perfectly and my clients love them. They allow me to set them up they way they should be with truly one touch functionality. No "answering questions" like "is the TV on?. Anything besides one or two sources connected directly to a TV and the Harmony becomes a clunky mess. The fact is, if you want something bulletproof, a remote programmed by a professional is the way to go. yes it'll cost little bit more. Any reputable firm will stand behind their programming. My company gives one free follow up after initial programming. The only time I charge for a follow up is if new equipment is being added/changed, then of course, I'm there any way.