Barry CourterQ: Dad, what should I look for if I'm buying home electronics like a stereo?
A: This used to be fairly simple. You bought the loudest one you could afford. Now you almost need an engineering degree to set them up. They also become obsolete as quickly as computers do because of things like cable connections, Internet connection options and applications. Other than price, the things to decide are how you will use it -- just music or music and home theater, for instance -- and will the equipment you already own be easily compatible. Also, more bells and whistles mean more things to break.