Dear Steve: I'm just about ready to take the plunge and buy a first class home theater system. That way I can enjoy my Chesky surround SACDs and watch movies. Any suggestions?

Steve: I don't know how long you've waited, but I'd wait a little longer. The Blu-ray and HD-DVD high definition video formats haven't been completely finalized - and that soon-to-be launched format war will impact the audio side as well. Beyond that: war is hell. Dolby and DTS are readying new super-duper surround formats - Dolby actually has two separate surround formats--Dolby Digital Plus and TrueHD - the latter is a replacement for DVD-Audio. DTS' alternative has been dubbed DTS HD. Catch is, these formats won't flow through the upcoming Blu-ray or HD-DVD players' regular coaxial and optical digital outputs. Right now there's talk about sending the audio over the player's HDMI single wire audio & video connection, but the exact details of that transfer have yet to be worked out. Invest in a pricey receiver now and you may not be able to access the new audio formats. On the upside, Blu-ray and HD-DVD discs will have regular Dolby and DTS tracks so no matter what you'll still be able to play the new discs over any AV receiver. Got it?
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Dear Steve: I know it's a politically incorrect audiophile question, but can I hook up my iPod to my stereo?

Steve: Yes, and certainly the most cost effective path involves buying a cable that'll run from your iPod's headphone jack to stereo RCA plugs that will get hooked up to the 'aux' or any line input on your preamplifier or receiver. I don't know if any high-end cable manufacturers are offering such cables, but the nice folks at Radio Shack do. Just remember that the codec you've used to import tunes will determine your iPod's sound quality; some of which might produce acceptable sonics over headphones and be less than stellar over a high-end audio system. Of the current options, WAV files and Apple Lossless will probably be the best choices.

[Steve Guttenberg is a regular contributor to CNET.com, Home Theater, Robb Reports? Home Entertainment, and Stereophile.]