COVID forever changed things, everything from the corporate world to the arts. Every industry has transformed or been impacted in one major way or another. Take movie-going, for example. There were huge complexes built just for watching movies—the top-of-the-line speakers, the biggest screens, and the most addictive popcorn you’ve ever had. Yet, now, they suffer. Movie-goers don’t feel as comfortable going to a theatre, and many times, movies go straight to streaming platforms. Cinephiles still found a way to replicate the movie experience to a great extent by successfully building a home theatre. In this blog post, we’ll share all the essentials that you’re going to need to do it yourself.
Can you even replicate the vibe of a movie theatre within, say, a one-bedroom apartment? Is it even feasible? The answer to both those questions is yes, you can. And it has actually never been more affordable or easier. A trip to your nearby electronics store or a few shipments from Amazon, paired with a game plan of how and where everything goes, is all you’re going to need to enjoy movies the way directors and producers actually want you to.
Since you’re dedicating an entire room to the home theatre setup, it’s best to remember that you don’t particularly need the biggest room. The size of your room matters and a projector that is too big will only hurt your eyes, as it would feel like sitting too close to the screen at the theatres; it isn’t the most pleasant experience. There is a bit of subjectivity and personal preference involved here, so adjust the projector size according to preference.
Let’s assume you’ve got a room prepared and have the motivation to get stuff done, so it’s action time. What equipment are you going to need? It’s a home theatre, but a theatre nonetheless. Here’s all you’re going to need, at the very least, to begin with:
Perhaps the toughest choice of the entire home theatre setup is choosing between a TV or a projector. Everybody should presumably be aware of TVs, and the TVs in the current day and age, with 4K or even 8K resolution, have really upped their level.
However, that “authentic” experience of a projector’s minor grain paired with the dark room is unmatched, and most home theatre enthusiasts choose to go the projector way. There are no right answers, so opt for whichever one suits you best. Here are some pros and cons of both to make the choice easier:
Tech | TV | Projector |
Picture Quality | – High resolution (4K, 8K)
– Excellent brightness, even in well-lit rooms |
– Good quality but may lack brightness in bright rooms
– Some grainy texture adds to the cinematic feel |
Ease of Use | – Requires a mount or a stand, but plug and play from there | – Requires setup of projector, screen, or suitable wall |
Longevity | – Long-lasting
– No need for regular maintenance or bulb replacements |
– Requires bulb replacements after a certain time
– More maintenance for optimal performance |
Screen Size | – Limited to smaller sizes (up to 85 inches)
– Expensive for large sizes |
– Can achieve larger screens (up to 300 inches or more)
– More immersive for a cinematic experience |
Room Requirements | – Works well in any room, even bright ones | – Requires a dark room or controlled lighting for best performance |
Read Also: Cable TV vs Streaming: Should I Cut the Cable?
Cinema is a combination of writing, visuals, and audio effects. Let’s put writing aside for a second. If you’re going to watch a movie with subpar visuals or subpar audio, you’d find it much easier to bear through a movie if it has better audio—sound matters. You’re going to need the following items:
You don’t want a pair of cheap speakers that crack everytime the bass shoots up. To create an immersive experience, a good surround sound system is necessary with a centre channel, subwoofer, and rear surround speakers so you can hear everything from the wind in the move to the dialogues.
This device acts as the brain of your audio system, sending signals from your movie source to your speakers, controlling the audio balance, and amplifying the sound to ensure crisp, clear, and immersive sound.
Consider integrating smart home devices into your home theatre setup for extra convenience. Having something like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant can control your audio settings, adjust volume levels, or even dim the lights, all hands-free and with a single command; what luxury indeed. A universal remote or a mobile remote app can do the job as well.
An argument can be made for using only CDs, Blu-rays, and 4K Ultra HD discs, as they offer the best possible video and audio quality available today, including high-definition visuals and lossless audio formats (like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X).
However, the convenience factor of Wi-Fi, paired with the advancements in Wi-Fi speeds along with the vast library of content available online, makes it perhaps the best option to at least start your setup with. If your Wi-Fi isn’t up to the task, consider Home Wi-Fi Help.
Smart home devices can be paired with your home theatre setup to add some extra luxury to the experience. Remember to have some nice furniture to pair along with the movies, because there is no enjoying a movie in discomfort, and ensure you’ve got plenty of snacks as well.
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