Get the most bang for your buck this Fourth of July

With the economy still not finding its happy place, getting the most bang for your fireworks buck has even truer literal meaning this Fourth of July. So in the seasonal and consumer spirit we've put all of the new fireworks for 2010 to the test along with selected returning items. After all, if what's lit before family and friends winds up getting more jeers than cheers, your good intentions could go up in smoke along with your money.Fireworks were judged on a five-star scale for performance, duration, distinctiveness and overall comparative value. Products are listed in order of price, high to low; not all items are available at every location. Stands open on June 28.Let the sparks fly!New for 2010Molten Pot (TNT), $19.99 – This hexagon-shaped hit took two years to get to California. Offers a nice, colorful mix of titanium crackles, fish, glitter and chrysanthemums. 106 seconds. 4 StarsFunky Monkey (Phantom), $15.99 – Having skipped the Golden State in last year's debut season, this pyrotechnic primate goes bling on a new label for his California premiere. Red pearls highlight a solid performance. 84 seconds. 4 StarsPatriotic Party (Phantom), $12.99 – Four awesomely annoying screeches and three time-released crackling balls highlight this otherwise lackluster fountain. 80 seconds. 3 StarsRip Tide (TNT), $10 – Just a good, decent fountain with gold and red sparkles, silver crackles and green and purple stars. 73 seconds. 3 StarsPhantom Mystical Magic (Phantom), $6.99 – Fleeting duration, but love the use of organic compound nitrocellulose that makes multi-colored, marble-sized globs. 24 seconds. 4 StarsPhantom Dragon Slayer (Phantom), $5.99 – Got some white, blue and lemon chrysanthemums, rowdy crackles and red stars going on. 66 seconds. 4 StarsDancing Butterfly Duo (Phantom), $2.99 for two – A twist on ground bloom flowers is this tiny fountain with a surprise ending. 9 seconds each. 2 StarsEn Fuego (TNT), $4 – Advertised as new, but it really isn't. It's a renamed and lower-priced Mighty Man that TNT debuted in 2007. Vibrant, albeit short performance of multi-colored stars and titanium crackles. 31 seconds. 3 StarsBlack Widow (TNT), $3 – Created as a quiet cousin to TNT's classic Crickets ($4.99). Just OK unless you like the small and silent type. Has the lowest cost-per-second of all the new fireworks. 42 seconds. 3 StarsBack for 2010$25 and upKomodo 3000 (Phantom), $49.99 – Remarkable size and burn time, but this 500-gramer lacks in overall performance and value. Gone up $10 since debuting in 2006. 240 seconds. 3 StarsDelirium (TNT), $45.99 – Fan-shape fountain conserves none of its 500 grams from the get go, making for a brief and expensive, yet dazzling demonstration of intensity and beauty. 120 seconds. 3 1/2 StarsNew York Harbor (Phantom), $39.99 – Stellar burn time and multiple effects, including some of the finest chrysanthemums for a safe and sane item. 205 seconds. 4 1/2 StarsDancing Stars (TNT), $39.99 – Impressive fish effect (stars vigorously "swimming" in the air) plus chrysanthemums and multi-color crackles. Ugly label, but don't judge this firework by its cover. 144 seconds. 4 Stars Leaping Lizards (TNT), $34.99 – Good crackles, silver chrysanthemums and sparks of red and plum, but the prize here is a red fish effect. Too brief for the dough though. 95 seconds. 2 StarsBlooming Flower (Phantom), $29.99 — Love the surprise factor in this novelty highlighted by six blossoming flower petals. 70 seconds. 3 1/2 StarsMy Stars (TNT), $29.99 – Impressive titanium crackles, but the chrysanthemums, flowers and colors are standard stuff in this short-burning fountain. Free with The Big One assortment ($239.99). 78 seconds. 2 1/2 StarsBrew Haha (Phantom), $29.99 – Beer stein-designed 500-gram fountain brims over with effects, including a loud opening whistle and a cavalcade of color. Fun to look at lit and unlit. 145 seconds. 4 StarsRock Around the Clock (Phantom), $24.99 – Spinning hands are hard to see at night, but this clock-looking novelty-fountain is a voracious vision in the dark. Price reduced $5. Sweet. 84 seconds. 4 StarsFlash Dance (TNT), $24.99 – You'll wonder if this 2-year-old sensation is on steroids after watching red fish zigzag and mainstream effects go bonkers. 120 seconds. 5 StarsGlittering Jewels (TNT), $24.99 – Colorful fish with red, green and blue stars and titanium crackles. Wish it went longer. 85 seconds. 3 1/2 Stars$10 to $24TNT Fountain (TNT), $23.99 – Long-burning powder keg-shaped fountain has a colorful, crackling performance. 152 seconds. 4 StarsJack in the Hex (TNT), $21.99 – Resembling a sprung-up jack-in-the-box, this 2-year-old dynamo boasts stellar stars, crackles, chrysanthemums, titanium crackles and a strobe effect. 116 seconds. 4 1/2 StarsAmerican Spirit (TNT), $19.99 plus bonus – Offers up a patriotic blend of red, white and bluish stars, gold showers and super-loud whistles and crackles. Comes with the boisterous, multi-colored Sizzler Fountain (90 seconds). Super deal. 125 seconds. 5 StarsAlpha Wolf (Phantom), $19.99 – Debuted last year as an instant classic. Green and purple droplets, gold shower and crackling stars finale are awesome. No whistles, doesn't need them. 90 seconds. 4 1/2 StarsPharaoh's Treasure (TNT), $19.99 – Rare trapezoidal fountain boasts golden fish and globs, plus a nice performance of white smoke, a red torch with titanium rain, multi-colored sparks and crackles. 97 seconds. 4 StarsHexagon Magic (Phantom), $19.99 – A glowing shower of titanium chrysanthemums and colorful crackle stars. 104 seconds. 3 1/2 StarsTriple Gemini (TNT), $17.99 – Impressive pink and gold fish, and crackles that sound like a string of titanium-laced firecrackers. 85 seconds. 4 StarsHasta La Vista Baby (Phantom), $16.99 – Like color and hate whistles? Then this is a solid pick with a screech-free spectrum of fast-changing colors. 125 seconds. 4 StarsApache Firedance (Phantom), $15.99 for two (buy-one-get-one) – Low altitude is more than compensated by a super-long burn time and marvelous sequence of crackles, whistles, white flashes and multi-colored sprays. This is the deal of the season. 210 seconds. 5 StarsMad Dog (TNT), $14.99 for two (buy-one-get-one) – Amazing crackles, whistles and multi-color sparks are improved by TNT again making this a two-for-one item. 80 seconds. 4 1/2 StarsFirecracker Fountain (Phantom), $14.99 for two (buy-one-get-one) – Lives up to its name with a remarkable crackling barrage and multi-colored pearls. 106 seconds. 5 StarsFlying Stars Fountain (Phantom), $12.99 – Fantastic fish-featuring fountain that, because it's noiseless, is also friendly to pets and fuddy-duddy neighbors. 97 seconds. 4 1/2 StarsL.O.L. (TNT), $12.99 – The happy 3-D face on the package features a red mouth and blue eyes that glow from within, making for loads of fun. 95 seconds. 4 StarsKing of Bling (Phantom), $10.99 – The crackles heard during the final third sound just like popping popcorn. Majestic chrysanthemums and whistle. 90 seconds. 4 StarsNight Treasure (TNT), $10.99 – Despite its fan shape only the final half-minute is of that effect. Still a good value. Comes free with Block Party assortment ($99.99). 113 seconds. 4 StarsVolcanic Vortex (Phantom), $10.99 for three – Cones generally produce more yawns than sparks, but not this awesomely intense trio. 45 seconds. 5 StarsGrande Latte (TNT), $10.99 – Boasts a crackle barrage, chrysanthemums and multi-colored showers. White sparks give the appearance of latte foam. 58 seconds. 3 StarsUnder $10Lil Red Devil (TNT), $8.99 for two (buy-one-get-one) – Packs plenty of heat for the size and price. Titanium crackling sparks spread out an impressive 9 feet. 37 seconds. 4 StarsElectrical Shock (Phantom), $7.99 for two (buy-one-get-one) – Red and green showers give way to a raucous whistling and crackling finale. 40 seconds. 4 StarsBazooka Torch (Phantom), $7.99 – Proves that even at 2 1/2 feet long, handheld safe and sane candles are snoozers. Crackle finale is the only wake-up call. 56 seconds. 2 StarsPink Diamonds (TNT), $6.99 – Not much pink in the fireworks marketplace, so props to this unique, modestly priced item. 61 seconds. 4 StarsJade & Butterfly Duo (Phantom), $4.99 – A simple pleasure is this newly repackaged combo of two oldtimers. 28 seconds each. 3 1/2 StarsPiccolo Pete (TNT) and Whistling Phantom (Phantom), $4.99 pack of 6 – The performance of these classic whistling fountains were identical for years, but the latest test had Piccolo Pete burning out several seconds earlier than the competition. 14 seconds (Whistling Phantom) and 11 seconds (Piccolo Pete). 2 StarsSpiral Lite (TNT), $4.99 – A flickering fuse spirals around a tube of crackles and sparks, leading to a whistling tube sidecar. 44 seconds. 3 StarsMoondance Fountain (Phantom), $3.99 for two (buy-one-get-one); Purple Rain (TNT), $5.99 for two (buy-one-get-one) – These identical 4-inch dynamos spew loud crackles, purple pearls and glittering gold and white sparks. 35 seconds. 5 Stars (Moondance), 4 Stars (Purple Rain), 1 Star (Cool)TipsIf you're looking for the best value in a true display, go with an assortment. Be careful, though, as those exciting-looking boxes are often filled with bland, short-burning generic items or, even worse, fountains disguised as those sold individually. For example, King of Bling, Golden Gate Spectacular and Firecracker fountains are sensational, individually sold items by Phantom that last between 90 seconds and 2 minutes. However, inside Phantom's new Awestruck assortment ($99.99), pieces bearing the names and labels of these fountains are single-tube imposters each lasting a joyless 20-25 seconds. TNT's Big Timer ($139.99 with a free The Heat fountain) and Phantom's Phantom Raider Finale Assortment ($159.99) are winners as long as what's inside the box is the real deal.Unless you're set on supporting a particular group, you might want to shop around. That way you not only see the range of fireworks available in your area, but you can make the best deal on like items. For example, both TNT and Phantom have buy-one-get-one deals on three 10-piece boxes of morning glories (wooden sparklers), but at TNT those 60 morning glories are $2 cheaper than at Phantom. Phantom gets the nod, however, on a 200-gram multi-tube fountain that's identical except in name; a pair of Phantom's Moondance fountains is $2 less than TNT's equivalent Purple Rain.The comforting news is whatever and wherever you buy legally in California, your fireworks money is going to a good cause.