Buying guide
Budget Starter Setup
Updated How we research
Your first home theater without overspending. The page is split into four sections (Affordable projectors to start with; Budget screens that punch above price; Cheap streaming to feed the screen; One-cable sound upgrade), followed by every pick ranked by our score so you can compare them in one place.
The short version
We compared 16 picks. Our scores range from 6.4 to 9.2 out of 10.
- Best overall:Roku Ultra, Ultimate Streaming Player, 4K Streaming Device, HDR10+ Dolby Vision and Atmos, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 6, Rechargeable Voice Remote Pro. Highest overall score in this guide at 9.2/10.
- Also great value:Epson Home Cinema 1080 3-Chip 3LCD 1080p Projector, 3400 Lumens, Streaming/Gaming/Home Theater, Built-in Speaker. Value score of 9/10, overall 8.6/10.
- Solid build:Sony HT-A3000 3.1ch Dolby Atmos Sound Bar with DTS:X, Dual Subwoofers, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airplay 2. Build and materials score of 9/10, overall 8.0/10.
- Feature-rich:BenQ TH585 1080p Home Entertainment Projector, 3500 Lumens, Low Input Lag for Gaming, 10W Speaker. Features score of 8/10, overall 8.6/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
Affordable projectors to start with
- Epson Home Cinema 1080 3-Chip 3LCD 1080p Projector, 3400 Lumens, Streaming/Gaming/Home Theater, Built-in SpeakerOur score8.6/10
- BenQ TH585 1080p Home Entertainment Projector, 3500 Lumens, Low Input Lag for Gaming, 10W SpeakerOur score8.6/10
- Epson Home Cinema 3100 1080p 3LCD Home Theater ProjectorOur score7.6/10
- Epson Home Cinema 1040 1080p, 2X HDMI, 3LCD, 3000 Lumens Color and White Brightness Home Theater ProjectorOur score7.2/10
Budget screens that punch above price
- Projector Screen 120 inch with Frame 16:9 HD 4K Movies Screen, Portable Foldable Anti-Crease Indoor OutdoorOur score7.4/10
- Mdbebbron 120 inch Projector Screen 16:9 Foldable Anti-Crease Portable Movies Screen, Double SidedOur score7.2/10
- 120 inch Projection Screen 16:9 High Contrast Collapsible HD 4K Portable, Double Sided ProjectionOur score7.2/10
- 120 Inch Motorized 4:3 HD Electric Projector Screen Pull Down with Remote, Retractable Wall/CeilingOur score6.7/10
Cheap streaming to feed the screen
- Roku Ultra, Ultimate Streaming Player, 4K Streaming Device, HDR10+ Dolby Vision and Atmos, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 6, Rechargeable Voice Remote ProOur score9.2/10
- Roku Streaming Stick 4K with Voice Remote, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, Compact 4K Streaming Device with Long-Range Wi-FiOur score8.6/10
- Roku Streaming Stick HD with Voice Remote, Compact Streaming Device with Long-Range Wi-FiOur score6.6/10
- Roku Premiere+ 4K HDR Streaming PlayerOur score6.4/10
One-cable sound upgrade
- Sony HT-A3000 3.1ch Dolby Atmos Sound Bar with DTS:X, Dual Subwoofers, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airplay 2Our score8.0/10
- Hisense AX700 5.1.4 Channel Dolby Atmos Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer, Bluetooth Home Theater Audio System, HDMI eARCOur score7.6/10
- Digitalbasics Dolby Atmos Soundbar for TV with Subwoofer, 120W, 3D Surround, Bluetooth 5.3, HDMI ARCOur score7.2/10
- LG S30A 2.1 ch Soundbar for TV with Wireless Subwoofer & Dolby Audio | Amazon Exclusive, TV Synergy, WOW Interface, WOW Orchestra, AI Sound Pro, LG ThinQ App, HDMI ARC, Bluetooth StreamingOur score7.2/10
All 16 picks, ranked by our score
Every product from the sections above, listed once. Sort by the criterion you care about most, or tick up to three to compare.
#1Roku Ultra, a 4K streaming player with HDR10+, Dolby Vision and Atmos, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 6 and a rechargeable Voice Remote Pro.
Fit for the job 10/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 8/10
- + Wi-Fi 6 and Ethernet option keep high bitrate 4K streams steady
- + Rechargeable Voice Remote Pro ends battery swaps
- + Dolby Atmos support suits soundbar and receiver setups
- - Costs more than Roku sticks with similar picture formats
- - Set-top box needs shelf space rather than hiding behind the TV
#2Epson's Home Cinema 1080 3-chip 3LCD 1080p projector with 3400 lumens and a built-in speaker for movies and gaming.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + 3LCD design shows equal color and white brightness with no rainbow effect
- + 3400 lumens is bright enough for rooms with some ambient light
- + Built-in speaker gets you started before adding a sound system
- - 1080p only, so it will not show native ultra HD detail from streaming
- - Built-in speaker is thin compared with a soundbar or AV receiver
#3BenQ's TH585 1080p DLP projector with 3500 lumens, low input lag for gaming and a 10W speaker for casual viewing.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + Low input lag makes console gaming feel responsive on a big screen
- + 3500 lumens handles family rooms that are not fully dark
- + 10W speaker is louder than the tiny speakers in many projectors
- - Single-chip DLP can show rainbow effect for sensitive viewers
- - Limited lens shift means careful placement to square the image
#4Roku's Streaming Stick 4K with voice remote, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, a compact player with long-range Wi-Fi.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + Dolby Vision and HDR10+ cover the main streaming HDR formats
- + Long-range Wi-Fi helps when the TV is far from the router
- + Simple Roku interface is neutral across streaming services
- - No Dolby Atmos pass-through listed, unlike the Roku Ultra
- - Stick form cannot use wired Ethernet for the most stable stream
#5Sony's HT-A3000 3.1ch Dolby Atmos soundbar with DTS:X, dual built-in subwoofers, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and AirPlay 2.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 7/10
- + Dedicated center channel keeps movie dialog clear and forward
- + Dual built-in subwoofers give decent bass without a separate box
- + Wi-Fi and AirPlay 2 support multi-room music streaming
- - No external sub or rear speakers included, those cost extra
- - Height effects are virtualized, so Atmos is less convincing than up-firing
#6Epson's Home Cinema 3100 1080p 3LCD projector, a dedicated home theater model aimed at movie watching in darker rooms.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + 3LCD engine delivers bright, accurate color without rainbow artifacts
- + Home theater tuning favors contrast and cinema-style picture modes
- + Epson reliability makes it a proven mid-range movie projector
- - Older model, so it lacks streaming apps and modern gaming modes
- - 1080p resolution trails current ultra HD projectors at a similar price
#7Hisense AX700 5.1.4-channel Dolby Atmos soundbar with a wireless subwoofer, HDMI eARC and Bluetooth for movies, sports and gaming.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + 5.1.4-channel layout with Dolby Atmos adds height speakers for overhead effects in a home theater.
- + Wireless subwoofer included for deeper bass with no cable running to the soundbar.
- + HDMI eARC and Bluetooth cover TV audio and wireless music streaming.
- - The listing gives no power rating or driver details, so output is hard to compare with other Atmos bars.
- - Whether it includes rear speakers is not stated, so check the box contents for a full surround setup.
#8A 120 inch 16:9 portable foldable screen with a frame, anti-crease fabric and indoor or outdoor use for movie nights.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 8/10
- + Included frame gives a flatter image than hanging loose fabric
- + Portable foldable build moves between indoor and outdoor setups
- + 120 inch size is big enough for group movie nights
- - Check the frame's weight and rigidity before buying
- - Frame assembly takes longer than simply hanging a fabric sheet
#9Epson's Home Cinema 1040 1080p 3LCD projector with 2 HDMI ports and 3000 lumens color and white brightness.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + 3000 lumens color brightness holds up in living rooms with lamps on
- + Two HDMI inputs let you connect a streamer and a console together
- + Long-running Epson model with a straightforward setup
- - Older design with a lamp that will need replacing eventually
- - No ultra HD input or HDR support for newer streaming content
#10Mdbebbron's 120 inch 16:9 foldable anti-crease portable screen that is double sided for front or rear projection.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 9/10
- + Double sided fabric works for front and rear projection setups
- + Foldable design packs down small for camping or backyard movies
- + Anti-crease fabric recovers quickly after being folded
- - No frame or stand included, so you need hooks, rope or a wall
- - Thin fabric can ripple in wind when used outdoors
#11A 120 inch 16:9 collapsible high contrast screen, double sided for projection from the front or behind.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 9/10
- + High contrast fabric helps budget projectors look less washed out
- + Collapsible design stores easily in a closet or car trunk
- + Double sided surface allows rear projection to hide the projector
- - No frame means edges may sag unless tensioned carefully
- - Rear projection makes the image slightly dimmer than front use
#12Digitalbasics Dolby Atmos Soundbar for TV with Subwoofer, 120W, 3D Surround, Bluetooth 5.3, HDMI ARC
Digitalbasics' 120W Dolby Atmos soundbar with subwoofer, 3D surround, Bluetooth 5.3 and HDMI ARC for budget TV upgrades.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 9/10
- + Included subwoofer adds bass that TV speakers cannot produce
- + HDMI ARC lets the TV remote control volume on the soundbar
- + Bluetooth 5.3 streams music from phones when the TV is off
- - Budget brand Atmos processing is virtual, not true height effects
- - 120W output suits small to medium rooms rather than large spaces
#13LG S30A 2.1-channel soundbar with a wireless subwoofer, Dolby Audio, HDMI ARC and Bluetooth, with TV synergy features for LG TVs.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Wireless subwoofer adds low-end that a TV's built-in speakers lack, with no extra cable run to the sub.
- + WOW Orchestra and WOW Interface let an LG TV and the soundbar play together and use one remote, plus AI Sound Pro tuning.
- + HDMI ARC and Bluetooth streaming cover the usual TV and phone connections, with a 3-band equalizer in the LG ThinQ app.
- - Dolby Audio only, with no Dolby Atmos listed, so it is not a surround upgrade.
- - Synergy features work best with an LG TV, and 2.1 channels give a wide front stage rather than rear surround.
#14A 120 inch motorized 4:3 electric pull down screen with a remote, retractable for wall or ceiling installs.
Fit for the job 6/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 7/10
- + Motorized drop with remote hides the screen away when not in use
- + Wall or ceiling install fits living rooms that double as theaters
- + Retractable case protects the surface from dust between uses
- - 4:3 shape leaves black bars with modern widescreen movies
- - Needs a nearby power outlet and careful level mounting
#15Roku's Streaming Stick HD with voice remote and long-range Wi-Fi, a simple player for HD TVs and bedrooms.
Fit for the job 6/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Voice remote makes finding shows quick
- + Long-range Wi-Fi works well in rooms far from the router
- + Compact stick hides behind the TV with no clutter
- - HD only, so it wastes the resolution of ultra HD TVs
- - Not a fit for a main home theater with HDR content
#16Roku's Premiere+ 4K HDR streaming player, an older compact box for bringing 4K apps to non-smart TVs.
Fit for the job 6/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 7/10
- + 4K HDR playback upgrades older TVs with modern apps
- + Roku interface is easy for all ages to navigate
- + Small box sits neatly beside a TV or behind a stand
- - Older model lacks Dolby Vision and newer Wi-Fi standards
- - May receive fewer updates than current Roku players
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Based on the last 28 days of search and visitor data.
Home Theater Setup Hub curates picks for US shoppers. Scores are our editorial assessment. We may earn a commission from links on this page.