These days, there’s no need to visit your local multiplex to experience surround sound, wide screen footage and high definition, crystal clear visuals. If you are a serious cinema fan, the home cinema technology available today makes it easy to create an incredibly immersive, authentic movie watching experience in the comfort of your own living room.
The problem is that home cinema setups come with a hefty price tag. However, there are ways to save money on the ideal speakers, TVs, Blu-ray players and home cinema furnishings. This HotUKDeals buyer’s guide will help you find the perfect equipment for the lowest possible price.
Cinemas have always been magical places – places where fantastic worlds come alive and viewers are transported into the lives of others. Much of this magic has been due to the kind of sonic and visual experiences that were available at cinemas, and only at cinemas. Sitting back and letting epic movies unfold in front of you was an incredible experience, but one that could only be enjoyed in the company of hundreds of others.
More recently, movie buffs have been able to purchase equipment that enables them to recreate the movie theatre experience in their own home (minus the oohs and aahs of the crowd, and the crunch of popcorn from the row behind).
The first real home cinema systems appeared in the 1980s, and consisted of bulky cathode ray tube TVs, large speakers and laser disc players. They weren’t just expensive and hard to install. They were also prone to fail and rarely delivered the kind of all-encompassing sound you’d expect from a proper cinema.
Things have moved on dramatically since then. Flat screen TVs have appeared, with massive surfaces and low profiles, turning entire walls into cinema screens. Blu-ray disc players have arrived, providing the space to hold high definition movies, without the need to swap discs halfway through. Sound formats like Dolby TrueHD have also been developed, reducing loss to a minimum, and smart speakers have also been created, making it easy to place speakers wherever they are needed.
As we move into the era of 4K visuals, the prospects for home cinema fans are bright. Now is a great time to set up your own home cinema, but what is the best way to go about doing so?
Modern home cinema setups all have several elements in common, and it’s vital that you get them all right when creating your own home theatre. Even minor sonic hiss or visual flickers can ruin the sensation of watching movies at home (and make it more attractive to head to local cinemas instead), and buying the equipment itself isn’t cheap. Here are the key elements that you need to consider:
The TV/home cinema screen – What sets home cinemas apart from ordinary living rooms is the size of the TV screen that the use. Choose a flat screen OLED or LCD TV (preferably OLED), with at least a screen size of 32 inches, and think about including 3D capabilities as well.
AV Receivers – Audio-visual receivers link together all of the pieces in the home cinema puzzle, allowing the speakers to talk to the TV and the TV to talk to the Blu-ray player. They need to be reliable, powerful and have enough connections to fit your player, TV, speakers and other devices like gaming systems.
Audio outputs – Sound is just as important as vision when you are putting together a home cinema setup. You’ll need a system with pre-amps, amplifiers and speakers to get the best possible audio experience, and the right speaker enclosures to dampen any vibrations. Smart speaker setups like Sonos are also ideal but there are a number of specialist home cinema audio products that merit consideration.
Players – You can’t have a home cinema without a way to play movies, but which way works best? Given that most home cinemas double up as ordinary TV watching spaces, it’s best to go for a Blu-ray player with the ability to double up as a smart TV box, which can connect to the internet. With an internet connection, you may also be able to stream movies from online services like Netflix or Amazon Prime Instant Video (or YouTube), adding to the choices available.
Lighting – The way you light your home cinema will have a major impact on how the screen looks and how user friendly the whole space is. You don’t want total darkness, but you certainly need to avoid any glare on the screen. A few hooded wall lights or freestanding lamps in the corners of the room are usually enough. If you can dim them via remotes or smart controllers, that’s even better.
Furniture – Finally, you’ll need somewhere to sit. One of the best reasons for investing in a home cinema centre is that you can add softer, plusher, more inviting seats to your environment, instead of squeezing into cinema seats.
Those are the basic elements of a home cinema system, and we’ll look at them in a little more detail below. Before that, it’s worth reiterating that to get really good results, all of these elements need to be considered as a whole. Try to visualise how they will fit together in the space you have, and you’ll enjoy much better results.
The various elements in a home cinema system can be combined in a number of different ways, each of them having their strengths and weaknesses. Here are the most common arrangements:
All in One systems – Here, you’ll buy most of the equipment you need in one package, usually from a single manufacturer like Bose, Samsung, Logitech or Sony. The kit should have the speakers, cables and amps you need, and usually come with a Blu-ray player too, although you will need to choose a TV, and furniture isn’t part of the deal. This is the most convenient and accessible way to get started, and is ideal for novices.
2.1 or 3.1 arrangements – In these home cinema systems, you’ll receive either two or three speakers (and a subwoofer), which are simply placed by the side of the room (generally without rear speakers). You’ll loose the pure surround sound experience, but the setup will be cheaper and much more powerful than simply ratcheting up the TV volume.
5.1 or 7.1 arrangements – More of a classic home cinema setup, with 5.1 or 7.1 systems, you’ll get the two or three side speakers, along with satellite speakers to place at the rear of (and sometimes above) the viewer. Dolby’s audio systems also work on at least a 5.1 standard – meaning that most film soundtracks will have five separate channels. With five speakers (and the right audio processing equipment), you can hear each one of those channels perfectly clearly, just as the film-makers intended. This creates a genuinely immersive cinema-style sound system and is the gold standard for home cinemas at the current time, so if you have the money, it’s definitely the setup to aim for.
Hybrid arrangements – Obviously, there’s scope to experiment with different ratios of speakers, but try to stick to the recommendations of manufacturers. They will know how to balance their products against each other, without losing the sonic harmony needed for cinema audio. You may also find it useful to add a soundbar to your TV, something which can supplement weaker 2.1 or 3.1 systems without the need to spend big on more speakers.
What speaker setup is right for your home? That’s the question you really need to ask and each living room will have a subtly different answer.
Firstly, let’s be clear that it’s hard to create a home cinema experience in rooms that are too large or too cramped. Most living rooms (at around 5 x 5m ) will be fine but open plan spaces will never be ideal, and spaces that are too small will just feel claustrophobic with speakers all around the viewer.
If you have the right dimensions, you’ll need to choose a 2.1/3.1 or 5.1/7.1 style arrangement. Most purists will tell you that you’ll need at least five speakers – two by the side of the TV, one underneath (which could be a soundbar) and two satellite speakers to the side or behind.
Speaker placement really matters. Those at the front need to be angled towards the sitter (ideally as tower speakers with the tweeter at ear level). The centre speaker should be in line with the sitter, either above or below the TV and the satellite speakers should be at the side of the viewer, facing towards them.
Satellite speakers also need to be properly anchored, whether that’s to the wall or in freestanding speaker cases.
If you go for a 7.1 setup, the rear speakers have to be behind the sitter, facing forward, preferably a couple of feet above ear level.
As for the subwoofer, it’s best placed in a corner, touching one or more walls (which amplifies the bass notes). The size of woofer you go for will be dependent upon the size of your room. Larger rooms require a 12-inch woofer or greater, while smaller woofers will be fine for compact settings.
When you’ve chosen the right speakers and woofers, it makes sense to think about the TV. You’ve probably got a flat screen TV right now, but that doesn’t make it ideal for using as part of a home cinema setup.
For one thing, if you bought your TV more than two years ago, it almost certainly doesn’t support 4K video and it probably isn’t an OLED model. If you are serious about achieving a home cinema feel, both are probably vital. 4K resolution is noticeably better when you are dealing with larger screens, while the contrast supplied by OLED TVs beats cheaper LCD screens every time.
However, don’t just leap for the largest TV you can afford. Naturally, you’ll want the largest screen possible, but it needs to be practical for the space at your disposal. There’s no sense in buying a 100-inch screen that only just fits into a 15-foot square living room.
Thankfully, it’s not hard to work out the optimum screen size for your living space. In fact, there’s a simple formula: just divide the distance between the viewer (or the cinema seat) and the TV by between 2 and 3. There’s no need to be scientifically accurate, just in the right ballpark, but remember to measure the distance in inches. So, for example, if you are sitting 200 inches from the screen, the TV could be between 70 and 100 inches wide. If you are only 100 inches from the screen that drops to between 33 and 50 inches.
Getting the distance wrong can ruin the proportions of your home cinema space and cost a lot of money to fix, so plan ahead diligently when mapping out your home cinema design. It’s worth it.
If you want to think really radically, you could even consider installing a projector screen and digital projector in your home cinema room. Projectors provide the largest screen size of all, and also give a neat sense of being in an authentic cinema. However, be sure to check the throw distance (how far the screen should be from the projector) matches to your room size. You’ll also need darker conditions, so make sure your home cinema room can achieve blackout conditions before making the purchase.
Now, let’s think about comfort. Sure, the audio and visual qualities of home cinema systems set them apart from ordinary living rooms, but it’s the comfort of the furnishings that really makes them special.
The style of your home cinema room is up to you (although it might be nice to go for traditional red seats and dimmable bright lights around the screen, just to round off the cinema experience.
However, there are some practical things to think about when kitting out your cinema space. For one thing, the furnishings will have acoustic consequences. This includes pre-existing walls, which you may want to soften with drapes or curtains to perfect the acoustic performance of your speakers. You can also purchase acoustic panels (the type you’ll find in actual cinemas), which are specifically designed to allow sound to circulate.
When it comes to the seating, this isn’t as simple as buying the most luxurious recliner around. Remember that the height of the speakers makes a big difference to acoustic performance. The centre speaker should be around ear height, and the rear speakers just above. So don’t choose a seat that raises you too much (or too little). Ear height should be just below the viewing screen.
Lighting also matters. As we’ve noted above, low light levels are really important (especially if you use a projector). But complete darkness isn’t ideal. That’s because it can lead to eye strain and doesn’t actually show off the picture quality of OLED flat screens at its best.
Instead of shutting out light completely, consider adding a couple of subtle backlights behind or just to the side of the TV. Their gentle illumination will complement the contrast of the TV, making it seem clearer in a process known as “bias lighting.”
Aside from that, you’re free to style your home cinema however you wish. However, never lose sight of the practical aspects. Pay attention to speaker housings and cable routing, as well as backlighting and sound dampening, and think a little about how high your ear-level will be - and you’ll be all set.
Let’s quickly recap the no-no’s of setting up a home cinema system, just to make sure we know what to buy, and how to set it up.
Get the lighting right – Almost, but not quite dark. Use dimmable backlights to get the perfect ambient light level.
Measure your speaker distances – This lets you place your seat and TV in exactly the right position.
Don’t buy the wrong TV – Always measure your space and buy a TV that suits the space!
Position the TV properly – Just above eye/ear level is fine. Any higher, and you’ll crane your neck.
Buy appropriate speakers – Large rooms need larger speakers. Smaller rooms, not so much. Fill the space required, nothing more.
Aside from those things to remember, it’s also important to source a reliable surge protector to ensure that your home cinema equipment is safe and sound. It doesn’t cost much, but a good surge protector can prevent thousands of pounds’ worth of damage.
Can you achieve the home cinema experience on the cheap and can you actually find discount surround sound? As this buyer’s guide will have explained, there’s a wide variation in how people set up their home theatres, and some are cheaper than others. For instance, a couple of speakers and a sound bar constitute a “home cinema”. Are they cheaper than a Dolby 7.1 system? Absolutely. They won’t create the same audio-visual experience, but they beat a simple TV on its own.
How much you spend on your setup will reflect your budget (obviously) but also how serious you are about the project. Don’t go overboard, if all you want is a more potent sound system or a bigger TV screen. For many people, the novelty of surround sound can wear off, and having so much equipment in their living rooms can become somewhat impractical. So think about your options. If you still feel like bringing the movies home – go right ahead.
Home cinemas are fantastic entertainment centres and when they are properly set up they are the next best thing to the front row of the local theatre, and sometimes even better. There’s one stumbling block for many people though: cost.
Home cinemas don’t come cheap, but they do come with major discounts at the merchants you’ll find at the HotUKDeals home cinema listings. Our users constantly post the latest deals from major UK retailers like Tesco, Argos, Richer Sounds, John Lewis and Currys, along with online retailers like ao.com, Hi-Fi Confidential and Amazon.
If you’ve been intending to remodel your living room entertainment options, the HotUKDeals home cinema listings are the first place to look, with new deals every day on speakers, TVs, subwoofers, soundbars and home cinema furnishings.
If you intend to make a major purchase like a home cinema speaker system, it might also make sense to hold off until November, when big retailers almost always run Black Friday discounts on entertainment products. And look out for home cinema deals at Christmas and the January Sales too.
Everything you need to create a home cinema can be found at major discounts at HotUKDeals, so start planning your dream living room today.
Wouldn’t it be fantastic to replace your old flat screen TV with a surround sound, completely immersive home cinema system? If you are serious about cinema, powerful speakers, huge flat screens and Blu-ray players are the way to go. You can find them all at massive discounts by regularly checking the HotUKDeals home cinema listings.
