Choosing the Right Home Theatre System
From the electronics to the furniture, we help you put together the perfect system for your home.
Photo: Sony
Having a home theatre used to mean filling a dedicated room with an unsightly projector screen and bulky surround sound speakers. Now, with a few quality products, your living room can be a deluxe and stylish home theatre. Follow our guide for everything you need to have a better-than-movie-theatre experience in the comfort of your own home!
A Quality Television
Photo: Sony
http://www.sony.com/electronics/televisions-home-theater
Instead of buying (and installing) a bulky projector and screen, simply invest in a great TV. Many sleek, modern TVs come equipped with wall mounts and stands, like Sony's 4K TVs (left) which deliver an ultra-thin screen and high-quality picture, clarity, and colour. Cinema projectors provide 4K quality, so with Sony's new 4K TVs you can get that brilliant colour and high picture quality at home. New slim TVs can be placed almost anywhere, and do not require oversized entertainment centers—making more functional space in the room.
Helpful Tips!
- TVs should be at eye level when viewers are seated, between 3 to 4 feet above the floor. Be sure to measure the appropriate TV height placement for your home, so viewers do not strain their necks while watching.
- With a 4K TV you can sit closer to the screen and purchase a larger TV for your room to create an enveloping theatre experience.
Photo: Sony
A Smart Layout
An ideal home theatre layout has furniture pieces positioned toward the TV for easy viewing. In a traditional living room setup, a U-shaped seating arrangement is ideal (left) as it allows for easy conversation and viewing of the TV. Place coffee and end tables close to chairs so there's a nearby place to set drinks and snacks.
Helpful Tip!
Don't place the TV in a walkway or in direct sunlight
Photo: Sony
Amplified Sound
Bulky speakers are a thing of the past! Now a single, sleek sound bar and subwoofer are all you need for precise and powerful sound. Movies, TV shows, and music will come to life with a sound bar, like Sony's exceptional ST9 (left) which is tuned by award-winning Hollywood sound engineers for an immersive, cinema-quality experience.
Avoid these mistakes by using a sleek soundbar:
- Place your sound bar under the TV but at a height that is in-line with your ears when sitting down.
- Always use HDMI cables for the best performance.
- For the best performance, place the wireless subwoofer 8 to 10 inches from any wall. Also place it in the front half of your listening space, rather than in the rear of the room.
Right Size Furniture
One TV size does not fit all TV stands (or home theatres). Make sure the TV size fits with the size of your room. Consider what else you need to store (gaming consoles, DVDs, and more) in the TV stand while shopping.
Other furniture and accents you might want to consider are blackout curtains, a popcorn machine, and reclining chairs. Don't forget the electrical and technical needs of a home theatre: include wi-fi, cable, and surge protectors.
