Building a Home Theater System on a Budget A Guide to Projectors Screens and Soundbars

The Beginners Guide to Building a Home Theater System

If you want to create a great home theater experience, you'll need three main components: a screen, an audio system, and a media player. With endless hardware combinations to choose from, this guide will help you learn about the basics.

To make the process of building a top-notch home theater system easier, we spent many hours researching and testing the essential components of a high-quality home theater. We'll elaborate on all of our criteria for these components below. Prepare to enjoy your favorite movies and TV shows in a next-level setting!

The Screen

When it comes down to choosing a screen for your home theater, you have two main options: a projector or a large-screen TV. Each has its own distinct set of advantages.

You'll need to consider the size and layout of the room you'll place it in, as well as the amount of time that you plan to use it. Home theater projectors, unlike TVs, have built-in lamps, which have a set usage cycle before they need a pricey replacement. (To give you context, lamp life is measured in thousands of hours!)

A Great Starter Option

Optoma UHD38x 4K UHD Projector

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A Budget-Friendly 4K Pick

ViewSonic PX701-4K Projector

Now 20% Off

A 4K Short-Throw Projector

Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS800 Projector

The biggest benefit of using a home theater projector is that it'll deliver the closest experience to being in a movie theater. A projector lets you easily enjoy content on a screen that measures well over 100 inches diagonally larger than any TV available today.

However, home theater projectors have several shortcomings, starting with their significantly lower maximum brightness when compared to a TV. This means that you'll need a dark room to enjoy it. A home theater projector also requires ceiling mounting and a dedicated screen to deliver an optimal experience.

Luckily, there's an alternative. Short-throw laser home theater projectors feature cutting-edge tech that addresses most of a traditional projector's shortcomings. These offer more dynamic onscreen content with superior brightness and contrast.

Best of all, short-throw laser projectors don't need an elaborate installation or a ton of space you can place them close to a wall. Overall, these products are considerably pricier, but well worth it if your budget permits.

A Great Starter Option

TCL 6-Series 4K Smart TV (75-Inch)

A Splurgeworthy OLED

LG C2 Series 4K OLED TV (77-Inch)

The Biggest Screen

Sony X90K Series 4K TV (86-Inch)

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A big-screen TV offers the most practical path to building your home theater system. We highly recommend opting for at least a 65-inch display panel (or higher).

Compared to a home theater projector, a big-screen TV is much easier to install, and it has better durability. You also wont need to worry about the ambient lighting in the room like you would with a projector TVs have a much brighter picture.

Whether you choose a home theater projector or a large-screen TV, make sure you opt for one that supports 4K resolution. With four times as many pixels as Full HD, 4K video looks vastly better and more detailed. Most new movies and shows are already available in 4K, making sure the device you invest in is futureproof.

Buyers looking for even more pixels can consider an 8K TV instead. They have four times as many pixels as their already captivating 4K counterparts. As a result, the experience of watching compatible content is nothing short of astounding.

Top-tier manufacturers such as LG, Samsung, and Sony offer 8K-compatible products, and you can snag a great TV with a 65-inch panel for less than $3,000. However, there's limited availability when it comes to 8K content, so you might want to hold off until it becomes more mainstream.

When it comes to TV screens, you should know that OLED panels are hands down the most captivating on the market. Their individually backlit pixels bring vibrant colors and infinite contrast, making any content you view more enjoyable.

OLED TVs cost more than others, but their picture quality is worth it. Remarkably, these products have become more reasonably priced than ever a 65-inch set from LG the leading OLED TV maker will cost you less than $2,000. Until not too long ago, such a TV would cost thousands more.

If you are shopping for big-screen TV on a tighter budget, we highly recommend considering products with a mini-LED display panel. The backlighting technology allows the TVs to produce incredible brightness and deep contrast at a lower price point than OLED-equipped ones. The latter will still deliver superior picture quality, but big-screen units cost considerably more.

HDR is another term you need to be familiar with when shopping for a screen. The abbreviation stands for High Dynamic Range, and it makes compatible content look a lot more vibrant than non-HDR footage. There are three HDR content standards Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG and today's high-end TVs support all of them. For the time being, home theater projectors are considerably limited in their HDR capabilities, though they still support HDR10 content.

The Audio System

A surround sound setup is as essential to your home theater experience as the screen. The easiest path to upgrading your audio is to get a ready-to-use home theater package. These days, such a setup typically includes a soundbar, satellite speakers, and a subwoofer.

A Great Starter Option

Polk Audio MagniFi Max AX SR Home Theater System

A Budget-Friendly Pick

Polk Audio Signa S4 Soundbar

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A High-Tech Setup

Sony HT-A5000 Home Theater System

A 5.1-channel surround sound is the bare minimum for a solid home theater sonic experience. Today's best options support more audio channels, including Dolby Atmos, which can simulate audio effects from any direction (including above you!) for complete immersion into the content you're viewing.

Regarding Dolby Atmos, it is important to note that it is deservedly becoming increasingly popular. Most new content on todays leading streaming services features the audio format, so we highly recommend that you look for an audio system that supports it.

After experiencing Dolby Atmos on entry-level and top-shelf audio systems, I believe that its a must-have feature in 2023. Thankfully, you no longer need to spend big to enjoy the functionality at home.

More experienced audiophiles can opt to build their own surround sound system with an audio receiver and set of speakers. Most modern audio receivers support 4K video passthrough via HDMI. This is an essential feature to keep an eye out for, especially if you have a 4K TV or home theater projector.

Depending on your budget, you can create a high-quality setup for less than $1,000. But if money is no object, you can easily spend a five-digit sum (and beyond!) on audio hardware.

The Media Player

Unless you own a smart 4K TV, we highly recommend that you add a UHD-capable streaming device to your home theater setup.

Best Streaming Player

Apple TV 4K (3rd Generation)

A Budget-Friendly Pick

Chromecast with Google TV

A 4K Blu-Ray Player

Sony UBP- X700M 4K Blu-ray Player

The third-generation Apple TV 4K is by far the best streaming available today. It is compatible with all leading HDR content standards, offers a fantastic selection of 4K content, and supports all popular streaming services. The latter range from Netflix and Amazon Prime all the way through to the tech giant's own Apple TV+.

The NVIDIA Shield TV is a solid alternative to the Apple TV 4K. It supports 4K HDR streaming from todays popular services (including YouTube), as well as rentals from the Google Play store.

Today's top gaming consoles, such as the Microsoft Xbox Series X and the Sony PlayStation 5, double as powerful media players: They can not only stream high-resolution content but also play 4K Blu-ray discs. They are definitely worth considering, though you might need to be patient to find one in stock.

If you're the type who likes physical copies of movies, consider a 4K Blu-ray player instead. Todays best offerings support HDR content, as well as the ability to stream from the most popular services.

Optional: The Universal Remote Control

Each home theater component will have its own remote control, which can get overwhelming. We highly recommend getting a universal remote control to fight back against a cluttered coffee table.

One For All Smart Control Universal Remote

One For All Smart Control Universal Remote

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The appropriately named One For All Smart Control universal remote is one of the best of its kind. The reasonably priced gadget can control up to eight devices, including a TV, an audio system, a streaming player, and a gaming console, to name a few. It's super sleek and thanks to a companion app infinitely customizable.

Believe it or not, your smartphone can also double as a convenient universal remote control. Many of todays top-rated home theater products have Wi-Fi connectivity and app-enabled controls.

Depending on the products you choose, you might even be able to skip using an app altogether. Apple iOS, for example, has a built-in Apple TV remote, allowing users to control their media player as well as the TV and audio system it's connected to with their iPhone.

Stefan is the senior technology editor for Best Products, where hes been covering the tech industry and testing the latest gadgets since 2015. He is an award-winning editor with more than a decade of experience reporting on and reviewing consumer tech products, especially smartphones, tablets, laptops, and audio gear like headphones, earbuds, speakers, and soundbars. Stefan was previously the U.S. editor for GSMArena.com. His writing can also be found in Popular Mechanics.

How to Build a DIY Home Theater Room

If you have ever dreamed of hunkering down in your own movie theater, this dream can be a reality by building a DIY home theater room. Make your own home theater by planning its layout, building walls, installing plumbing or electrical, adding insulation, and completing finishing touches before bringing in your media room equipment. It's also possible to turn a spare room into a media room by installing viewing equipment and theater seating. Consider light and sound control to achieve the best experience.

Once they're built and soundproofed, most home theater rooms include a projector and screen, surround sound, theater seating, and a battery backup in addition to streaming or media devices.

Basics of a DIY Home Theater

• Screen Type: The screen is the most essential element of your home theater, and most professional designs feature high-quality projectors. However, you can also opt for a large flatscreen television depending on your specific needs and budget.
• Theater Style: Decide if this will be a dedicated theater with screen-facing seats or more along the lines of a living room with occasional screen viewing. Determine the direction the viewers will face. Decide if you want extras that will need to be installed, like a wet bar.
• Wired or Wireless: It is possible to build an entire home movie theater with wireless devices. Still, Bluetooth and other short-range wireless technologies aren't always reliable. Also, routing an internet signal to your home theater with an Ethernet cable can be more stable than using a Wi-Fi connection.
• Light Control: Screens of nearly any brightness level can be viewed in completely dark home theaters. For daylight viewing of video projectors, a 2,500 lumens projector or brighter is considered the minimum brightness level. HDTVs are viewable in daylight. In either case, most home theaters benefit from having curtains and doors that allow you to shut out the light when needed.
• Sound Control: Soundproof your home theater room with sound-absorbent insulated walls that provide better sound quality within the theater and prevent noise from migrating to other rooms. Soundproof doors, drywall, and floor underlayment can also be installed.

Tip

To increase soundproofing, you may even want to add a second layer of drywall or opt for sound-dampening drywall. Drywall is dense and an excellent low-cost wall soundproofing product. But you'll need to plan well in advance, as wall boxes, trim, and door casings are all dependent on wall thickness.

When to Build a DIY Home Theater

If time and funds permit, it's usually best to build the home theater as early as possible during a whole-house remodel for full access to the inside of walls for insulation and wiring.

Codes and Permits

The scale of the home theater project determines whether you will need permits. Anything with plumbing, electricity, or adding or removing a wall usually requires permits.

Safety Considerations

If your project involves removing load-bearing walls, first consult a structural engineer or contractor. If you are unskilled in electrical work, hire an electrician for running new circuits from the service panel or for any type of electrical work.