Are you interested in building your own home cinema system? Maybe you want that movie-like feeling when you’re sitting at home with a bowl of popcorn. Or, you just want a better experience when you watch your favorite sports or action movies.
With all the latest HDTVs, 4K TVs and the best speakers around, now is a great time to get in the DIY mindset and make room for a custom home theater.
But, with all the options available how do you know what to buy? In this post we will discuss what electronics you need and the options you have when you are ready to build your home theater system.
What’s In a Home Theater System?
1. A TV
The base of your home theater begins with the TV. The bigger the better, right?
Possibly, but be careful with going too big. Based on your living room size you may need to move furniture around or mount your TV on the wall. Ideally, for a 70 inch TV, you’ll need at least a 9.5 foot distance between your seating and the television.
Another factor to consider is whether or not your TV will have Smart TV features. This will allow you to stream movies and TV shows without buying additional devices. Most of the newer high-end televisions contain Smart TV features, but if you’re buying a used one – or getting a great deal on clearance TV – be sure to double check.
Use the below screen size, resolution and viewing distance guide that was created by kagoo.com.
2. A Video Source
With the TV arranged, the next thing in a home theater system is the video source. This could be any number of things like an Apple TV, Roku, 4K media player, satellite receiver or Blu-ray player – as well as any smart set-top boxes.
Most likely you’ll want one that connects to the Internet so you can catch Netflix’s original shows.
3. A Receiver
The third component is an AV receiver. This is the main connection hub of your system and brings together all your audio, video and other media source connections. From there, the receiver sends the signal to your television display and your surround speaker system.
Many newer receivers connect to a wireless network and let you stream music directly from a smartphone, laptop or other device in your home. Depending on your needs, you may find yourself going with the wireless option over more traditional receivers, even if it’s a feature you don’t necessarily see yourself using right away.
A quality receiver is an expensive investment – and something that should last you many years – so don’t skimp on features as you probably won’t be upgrading frequently.
4. Speakers
Finally, the remaining element to complete your home cinema system – and the part responsible for the true in-home movie experience – is the speaker system. To get the full surround sound effect you’ll need at least a 5.1 speaker set that includes a subwoofer.
Take the time to vet each company and speaker type. From floor-standing speakers to modern in-ceiling speaker sets, you’ll have to see what will work with your room specs, overall design and the functionality requirements.
Like your AV receiver, when buying a speaker system it’s not the time to cut corners and be overly price conscious. A quality speaker system is expensive but it can last a long time, providing many years of enjoyment. And, if you go to the expense of installing surround speakers inside your walls or ceilings, it’s definitely not something you’ll be upgrading every year.
A decent television combined with a quality AV receiver and a great-sounding surround system will delight you much more than having the latest and greatest 4K television, but using low quality speakers – or worse – the built-in ones.
Options When Setting Up Your Home Theater System
The biggest thing you want to decide is whether or not you want to buy an all-in-one system or buy each component separately.
What’s best for you?
1. All-In-One Systems
Well, if you are a complete beginner and just want an easy, no-fuss solution, you could go with an all-in-one system. It’s the easiest way to get started since you use your existing TV, there’s no guesswork involved, and all the vital components are included.
Typically you’ll get set that includes a receiver, speakers, a Blu-ray player (some systems have this option), cables and instructions.
2. Separate Systems
But, if you are a movie and entertainment buff, you might revel in a DIY project and enjoy researching and finding the best TV, speakers and top-of-the-line receiver for your home theater system.
3. Universal Remote Option
And finally, one thing you’ll definitely need is a universal remote option. Since you will have several electronics working together in your new home theater, using something like our SURE Universal app makes total sense.
With the option to group your devices together, you’ll have no need for multiple devices, saving batteries and making it easier to work your home theater.
Over to you – have you built your own home theater system? How did you do it?
