How to buy best home theater system for your living room

QUESTIONS TO ASK:

Before you start researching different systems it’s important to have a clear idea of what you want the system to do. Some questions to ask (and discuss with the family) include:

• Will the system be used only for movies, or for both movies and music?

Movies entertain us with sound and visuals with sound playing more of a supporting role. When listening to music alone however, tonal quality and sound quality are much more noticeable and important. For those who listen to more music than watch TV, a high quality stereo system is more important than multichannel sound.

• Is surround sound a priority?

For buyers on a budget, there are many other options including buying a sound bar or two speaker stereo systems that offer a better sound quality than a bottom of the range surround sound speaker system.

• How much space do you have and where will the system be used?

If you have a dedicated space like a media room, the speakers and TV size should be on the larger end to provide the best audio visual and entertainment experience. If your space is smaller or used for a different purposes, buyers usually a smaller home theatre set up does the job well for what they are looking for.

Key components of a complete home theatre system

A full home theatre setup typically has the following components:

• 4K television or a projector screen capable of displaying video — Smart TVs with 4K image processing and HDMI integration are one of the biggest trending topics today. While most houses already have a television, experts advise investing in the best one for a home theatre. Without 4K picture quality, you won’t be able to enjoy the full home theatre experience.
• Speakers — For surround-sound experiences, you will have left and right speakers, amplifiers, bass speakers and even a subwoofer.
• Home theatre system’s receiver unit or brain — It can play Blu-Ray DVDs and connect to various ports, TV slots, speakers, Bluetooth and more.
• Wires — These connect and plug all the apparatus comprising your home theatre system. Avoid using aftermarket wires and ports because they may not work well or even damage the system.

To get all these items together perfectly, you must ensure proper home theatre installation. Therefore, it’s essential to enlist the help of professional home theatre installers with the experience, skills and qualifications to work on your setup.

Benefits of a home theatre

Beyond providing you and your family years of movie-watching fun and entertainment, having a home theatre also provides the following benefits:

• Streaming your favourite series, documentaries and films on a large screen in the comfort of your home.
• Unbeatable at-home high-intensity game-viewing experiences as you watch your favourite teams and sports.
• Engaging and immersive gameplay for everyone to enjoy when you connect your PlayStation or Xbox to your home theatre system.
• Trips down memory lane on HD (or you can simply enjoy the large display) as you view old family photos and videos of special events and occasions.

A home theatre is a great addition to any home as it allows families to bond over common interests. Best of all, you can enjoy movie-viewing experiences without needing to step out of your home!

Tips for Choosing a TV

A major consideration is to match the size of the TV with the size of the speakers. A smaller TV screen with a high-end speaker system may sound good, but the viewing experience could fall short, especially if the sound takes attention away from the screen.

Consider at least a 40-inch screen in a smaller room with a left and right stereo or sound bar and at least a 50-inch screen in a medium or large room with surround sound. Read more about buying the best TV for your room here. A wall-mounted screen may be the best option for a larger screen for best positioning when space is limited.