Build your dream home theater
Real gear picks for projectors, sound, seating, and the perfect movie room
- A popular projector screen size for a dedicated room
- 120 in
- About 1.2 x a 120 in diagonal, the THX-style cinematic distance
- 12 ft
- Five speakers, one subwoofer and two height channels
- 5.1.2
Top picks right now
Seating distance from screen size
- Cinematic, about 40° (THX) about 1.2 x the diagonal
- Mixed use, about 30° (SMPTE) about 1.6 x the diagonal
- Example: 65 in TV at 1.2 x about 6.5 ft
Guideline ranges; resolution, room shape and personal taste all shift the sweet spot.
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Start Here: Your First Home Theater Setup
7 short steps in the order a beginner needs them, with the guides and tools for each one.
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Projectors & TVs
Projectors, 4K and OLED TVs, screens, and mounts for a big, sharp picture.
Browse 11 guides →Speakers & Sound
Soundbars, AV receivers, speakers, and subwoofers for immersive home theater sound.
Browse 15 guides →Streaming & Sources
Streaming devices, media players, remotes, and switches to feed your home theater.
Browse 11 guides →Seating & Comfort
Recliners, media sofas, bean bags, and risers for comfortable movie nights.
Browse 9 guides →Cables & Power
HDMI cables, wall mounts, surge protectors, and cable management for a clean setup.
Browse 9 guides →Room & Ambiance
Blackout curtains, acoustic panels, bias lighting, and extras for the movie-room feel.
Browse 10 guides →Best buying guides
Best Dolby Atmos Soundbars: Budget to Premium Picks
Seven Dolby Atmos soundbars compared by channel count, subwoofer, eARC and price, from compact TCL bars to the Sonos Arc Ultra, to fit your TV room.
Best In-Wall Cable Management Kits for Wall-Mounted TVs
In-wall TV cable kits compared on plug-in versus hardwired power, wiring length between plates, wall cavity depth, outlet count and what is included for the cut.
Best Streaming Devices
The best streaming devices for home theaters. Get fast 4K HDR streaming, Dolby Vision, and Atmos passthrough for apartments and media rooms.
Best LED Backlights
The best LED backlights for your home theater TV. Bias lighting that eases eye strain and boosts perceived contrast during dark scenes.
Best Smart Light Strips
Best smart LED light strips for a home theater: app and voice control, scenes and TV screen-sync options compared to set the movie mood behind your TV.
Best Projector Stands
Find the best projector stands for your home theater. Stable, adjustable mounting for sharp alignment and a rock-steady projected image.
Packing tips
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Send video, photos and your iPhone screen to any TV with AirPlay, a streaming box, a Cast button or an HDMI adapter. Steps, limits and fixes for each method.
How to Screen Mirror an iPhone to an LG TV, Wirelessly or With a Cable
Mirror your iPhone to an LG TV with AirPlay in a few taps, fix the common connection problems, or use a wired HDMI adapter or streaming stick instead.
How to Stream From Xbox to Twitch, Your Phone, PC or Another TV
Learn how to stream from an Xbox to Twitch, a phone or PC with Remote Play, or a capture card and OBS, plus the gear that avoids black screens.
HDMI ARC vs eARC: What Changes and Who Actually Needs eARC
ARC carries compressed 5.1 and streaming Atmos. eARC adds lossless Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD and 7.1 PCM. See which formats, cables and ports each one needs.