How to Upgrade Your Home Theater Audio System

How to upgrade your home theater system for 4K and HDR

With high dynamic range (HDR) becoming available on more and more TVs, chances are your next TV will have it as a feature. But you might need to upgrade more than just the TV to get the full HDR experience.

Depending on how complex your system is, you may also need to upgrade all or some of your gear, since it might not be able to handle 4K and HDR. As a reminder, right nowall HDR is also 4K, but not all 4K is also HDR.

Think of this guide as a sort of checklist to make sure you've got everything you need for 4K HDR at home. This begins with the assumption that you already have the TV, and ideally an HDR TV that actually does HDR.

1. 4K and HDR content

After the TV itself, this is the most important item. Though many HDR TVs can artificially convert standard dynamic range content into a sort of "faux HDR," that's not nearly as good as your new TV can look. Also, all TVs can convert SD and HD content to 4K, and they do a pretty good job. But again, upconverted is not the same as native 4K content. It just won't look as sharp.

To truly experience the loveliness of 4K HDR, you need 4K HDR content. Pretty much every HDR TV is going to have built-in apps that let you stream HDR content fromNetflix, Amazon and other streaming services.

If the show or movie doesn't have some sort of HDR label in its description (or a Dolby Vision or HDR10 label), it probably isn't HDR. You might need to upgrade your subscription. Netflix, for example, only streams HDR on its most expensive monthly option.

2. Your internet

This may seem like a given, but it's important. If you want to stream 4K and HDR content, you may need a faster internet connection. 4K HDR involves a lot more data than HD, so even if your streaming picture quality looked OK before, it might not be enough for 4K.

Amazon recommends at least 15 megabits per second. Netflix and YouTube recommend 20Mbps. All of these services will give you HDR even if your internet's too slow for 4K -- although of course it won't be as sharp. That is to say, you'll get HD HDR, one of the few examples of that.

How to improve streaming quality on Netflix, Hulu and more.

3. A 4K HDR streamer or Blu-ray player

The apps built into TVs are pretty limited, so an external streaming device offers a far greater variety. Your old streamer likely can't do 4K HDR though.

The latest, step-up versions of the most popular streamers can all do 4K and HDR. They include:

We'd recommend the Roku for most people, but check out the full reviews for details on all of them.

For the best possible image on your new TV, you need a 4K Blu-ray player. This will play, you guessed it, new 4K Blu-ray discs. The majority of these will look vastly better than Blu-ray or streaming. These players will also play standard Blu-ray and DVD discs. Check out our picks for Best Blu-ray Players.

Of course a 4K Blu-ray player needs 4K Blu-ray discs to look its best.

If you get an external source, you might need to upgrade other gear in your system, starting with

4. No need for new cables (probably)

Your current cables will most likely work just fine. All but the longest current HDMI cables should be able to handle the sizable amount of data that comes with all 4K and HDR content.

The only way to be sure, though, is to test them with that new gear. If they work, you'll see an image and it'll look good. Sweet! No need to get new cables. If you don't get an image, the picture cuts in and out or if there's something that looks like static, then the cable can't handle the higher resolution and you will need new cables.

You don't need to spend wads of cash. Amazon and Monoprice both sell 6-foot cables that can handle 4K HDR for well under $10. Check out Which HDMI cable should I buy? for more info.

If you have a more complex system, with a soundbar or receiver, you might need to upgrade those as well. It all depends on how you have it all hooked up. For example, if you have your Roku connected to the receiver, and the receiver connected to the TV, the receiver also needs to be 4K HDR compatible.

Every step in your home theater's signal chain needs to work with 4K HDR. If any one link in that chain isn't compatible, then none of it is. You won't get 4K HDR. If your receiver/soundbar is more than a few years old, it almost certainly is not 4K HDR compatible. Most new receivers and soundbars are, however.

As you probably expected, if you've got a more elaborate system, it's going to be more expensive to upgrade to 4K HDR. You'll need a new source and a new receiver in addition to that TV, and maybe new cables as well

Alternately you could get the 4K HDR source, connect it directly to the TV, and deal with the TV speakers (or ARC, if you've got it). Also, many 4K Blu-ray players have dual HDMI outputs, so you can run one to your TV, and an audio-only HDMI connection to your receiver.

Although there are lots of extra steps with 4K HDR, modern TVs can look amazing, so it's worth taking the extra time and effort to make sure they're looking as good as they can.

First published Nov. 2, 3:34 a.m.

Update, Dec. 22 at 4:25 a.m.: Adds new updates on current cables.

Got a question for Geoff? First, check outall the other articles he's writtenon topics likewhy all HDMI cables are the same,TV resolutions explained,LED LCD vs. OLEDand more. Still have a question? Tweet at him@TechWriterGeoffthen check out histravel photography on Instagram. He also thinks you should check out his best-sellingsci-fi noveland itssequel.

Home theater setup 101: upgrade your home cinema with these simple tricks

A brilliant home theater setup can transform your Saturday nights, letting you experience the magic of the movies from the comfort of your own couch.

Once the preserve of the very wealthy, a good home cinema setup once required careful calibration, tuning, and crafting to really come together. But, thanks to the improvements in sound and picture quality as soundbars, TVs, and speakers, its easier than ever to achieve without the help from an expensive custom installer.

Whats more, innovations in wireless technology and multiroom audio mean that building a home cinema setup doesnt always involve having cables snaking around your living room and cluttering your home.

Home theater setups can be as big or small as you want, from dedicated cinema rooms furnished with projectors and soundproofing, to a TV hooked up to a soundbar. Whatever kind of home cinema setup you have - or want - there are a few things you can do to make sure it really sings.

What components do I need?

Before we get into our tips and tricks, its important to make sure you have the basic components that make a home cinema setup.

First of all, youll need a 4K HDR TV with all the modern specs. Aside from smaller models, all new TVs will come with at least 4K resolution and some form of HDR capability, if not support for dynamic HDR formats like Dolby Vision and HDR10+. If youre really serious about your picture quality, you might want to look into 8K TVs, but be warned that widespread access to true 8K content is still pretty limited.

In any case, look for a TV in your budget with a screen size that wont dominate your home, and a smart TV platform that will allow you to access your favorite streaming services. We like Google TV thats available on modern Sony TVs, webOS on LG TVs and Tizen on Samsung smart TVs, but Roku TV, Android TV, and My Home Screen are good, too.

If you dont want to rely on getting your content from your smart TVs inbuilt apps, youll need another source, like a 4K Blu-ray player, games console or a 4K streaming device like the Chromecast with Google TV or Nvidia Shield.

Not sure whether to invest in an OLED TV? If youre after a high-end 55-inch TV, go for an OLED panel, which will offer more realistic blacks, quick refresh rates, and superior contrast compared to cheaper LCD models. Larger OLED TVs can ramp up in price quickly, so if youre after something bigger say, a 75-inch or 85-inch TV you might want to go for a more affordable QLED or LED-LCD TV like the Samsung Q80A or Sony X90J to save some money.

While TVs are getting better all the time, flatscreens dont offer the best audio quality - there simply isnt enough room for them to house good speakers. So, youll also need some speakers to make your movie soundtracks sound as convincing as possible.

If you want a traditional surround sound experience, a 5.1 system is the most common setup, and is made up of two pairs of floorstanding or standmount speakers, one center speaker, and a subwoofer to deliver rumbling bass frequencies. If you are going down the surround sound route, youll also want an AV receiver to connect your visuals, audio, and streaming sources, amplify your speakers, and decode surround sound formats.

Want something less complex? A great soundbar and subwoofer combo is an easier way of achieving immersive audio, especially if it supports Dolby Atmos. Look for upfiring speakers that can bounce sound from the ceiling to your ears and wireless connectivity so you can stream music from your smartphone. We recommend the Sonos Arc and Samsung HW-Q950A soundbars, but feel free to shop around for something that fits your space and budget.

Tip #1: Make sure your TVs looking picture perfect

Whatever TV you go for, there are a few things you can do to get the best picture quality possible. Firstly, make sure your seating is facing your TV head-on, as viewing at an angle can make colors look washed out. The larger your TV, the further away you want to be sitting, otherwise youll be able to pick out individual pixels - though 4K and 8K TVs have so many pixels that you can sit much closer than you could before these panels became popular.

You should also toggle through your TVs different picture presets. For most, the Standard or Normal setting should give you a snappy contrast and optimized colors, and Cinema modes tend to give the most natural look - though these are best viewed in low light conditions. Avoid Dynamic or Sports presets like the plague - theyre way too bright and oversaturated for most viewers.

Another thing you can do to improve your picture quality is to ensure your room lighting is optimized. LCD screens in particular behave differently according to the ambient light in your room as theyre backlit - and in a darkened room, blacks can look gray-ish and dull.

You can mitigate this effect with a well-placed lamp to illuminate the wall behind your TV - or by opting for a Philips Ambilight TV, which projects light onto your wall, picking out colors from the content youre watching for a harmonious experience.

OLED TVS dont have this problem as theyre self-illuminating, and even perform better in low-light conditions, making them ideal for watching films.

Just like your TV, where you place your speakers has a big effect on how well they perform. Smaller stereo speakers can sound lost if placed too far from a wall, while larger speakers - especially if they have a backfiring bass reflex port - need more space to avoid unwanted resonance from bass frequencies.

Finding the right placement is a fine balance; putting your speakers further away from your ears can give you a more convincing stereo sound experience, while bringing them closer will make the bass boom. Whatever you do, dont place your speakers in a corner - youre just asking for muddy bass frequencies.

Most speakers should be tilted in towards where youll be sitting, though some are specifically designed to be front-firing; be sure to read the manufacturers instructions and use its recommendations as a starting point.

Of course, if youre going for a soundbar, placement is much simpler. Most soundbars can be wall-mounted or placed on a stand in front of your TV - just make sure that the soundbar doesnt obscure the infrared receiver on your TV, or your remote control wont work.

If you opt for a Dolby Atmos soundbar with upfiring tweeters, avoid placing it in a compartment in your TV stand - you dont want anything to get in the way of those soundwaves as they travel up to your ceiling.

Any speakers need a little time to settle in - before you blame your speakers poor performance on placement, give them at least 24 hours of playtime to let their inner workings warm up.

Tip #3: Try a projector to fill up bigger rooms

TV on the smaller side? A projector can give you that cinema experience at home, creating a picture up to 300 inches in diameter.

While you can get Ultra HD 4K projectors, Full HD models are still the most popular, and they start at around $600 / 600 / AU$900. Just make sure your new projector is designed for home cinema rather than business presentations; if it has VGA, audio, and composite video inputs and outputs round the back, youre looking at a business projector.

You generally need a bit of space to use a projector - unless you opt for an ultra short throw model. Whereas regular short throw projectors can project an image from only a few feet away (as little as three, or as many as eight), ultra short throw cuts down the distance to a few inches, which means you can place it on a regular TV stand close to your wall.

Tip #4: Make the space comfortable for extended viewing sessions

Mood lighting, comfy seating, blackout curtains - these are the little touches that can really elevate your home cinema experience, and its well worth taking the time to make your space as luxurious and cinema-like as possible.

You might also want to bring in some smart home devices and automations to make your home cinema setup feel a bit more futuristic. Smart lighting like Philips Hue lets you control your rooms ambience via an app, and it can be automated.

Its also worth considering a universal remote control, which can be programmed to control your setup for different situations. For instance, you could hit the movie button to turn on your projector, TV, and amplifier; if you have IR lights, you could even get this button to dim your lights at the same time.

If youre feeling really flush (and you have the space) a dedicated home cinema room could be a great investment, and it means you free up your actual living room for, well, living. You could feasibly get away with spending $2,000 / 2,000 / AU$3,000 decking out a small room from scratch with speakers, a TV, and an AV receiver.

However, once you get into soundproofing, styling, seating, and speakers built-into your ceilings, youre looking at an investment of more than $10,000 / 10,000 / AU$13,000 - and theres really no limit to how much you can spend.

On a budget? Light a candle, get a cosy throw, and hunker down with some 4K films on Netflix - you cant really go wrong if you put in a little effort to make your movie nights special.