Create Theater Excitement at Home

This buying guide pulls back the curtain for you to see how you can put together your perfect home theater system.

What goes into a Home Theater System?

A home theater, or a home cinema, is a combination of audio/video components designed and intended to recreate the experience of seeing movies in a theater.

Typically, a home theater system includes the following:

Video Components

Big Screen TV for Home Theater

If you are buying a new TV or have an existing one which is not a 4K HDR TV, consider the higher-end models. They all have great connectivity options built-in and you'll be set for the future.

Projector and Screen Home Theater

For a true big screen experience, you should consider owning a projector and screen set. Whether you're hosting a game or movie night, a big-screen super-sizes the fun.

Projectors give you images up to 36 times bigger than a 50" hi-definition TV.

For gamers, a projector offers more screen size and therefore a more satisfying experience than a TV.

Home theater projectors mimic a movie projector. These projectors work best in a room dedicated to projection, where you can control the amount of light and simulate a dark room.

Here are a few details to research when buying a projector

  • Resolution: If you want a crisper and cleaner image, choose a projector with a higher resolution. The higher the lines of resolution and the total number of pixels, the higher the picture quality.
  • Contrast Ratio: This simply means making the whites look whiter and the blacks look darker. With a higher contrast ratio, you get better picture quality.
  • Projection technologies: Almost all projectors use 1-chip and 3-chip Digital Light Processing (DLP). 1-chip DLP projectors are the most common type of projectors. Ask our store experts to show you the different types so that you can choose one that feels right for you.
  • Connections: Ensure the projector you choose has all the basic connectivity in place - VGA, HDMI, and display port
  • Wired/Wireless: Check for wireless connectivity as it makes it easier to play from almost any digital source such as mobiles, tablets, laptops etc.

With a good high-speed internet connection, you can stream movies, music, or your favorite TV shows without having to buy a DVD or blu-ray player.

Many disc players and Smart TVs provide the option of connecting to the internet to stream video content from services, such as YouTube TV, Paramount Plus, Discovery, Amazon Prime, Disney +, Netflix, VUDU, Hulu, Crackle etc. You can also invest in media streaming boxes, such as Apple TV or Roku, that provide this option as well.

If you want to keep things streamlined, consider a projector that already includes a built in dvd or blu-ray player, or a projector that has a built in wifi streaming player.

Audio Components

The Audio/Visual (AV) receiver's or preamplifier/amplifier's job is to receive, interpret, and process the audio signal coming from the TV or any other video source and sending it to the speakers.

When you get a receiver, you're getting almost everything you need for your home theater's audio setup all in one neat package.

This is the central unit of your home theater system.

You can also add soundbars and other speakers that can enhance your immersive experience.

Seating

Comfortable furniture is absolutely essential if you want to spend quality time in your fancy new home theater room or space. You can choose some traditional sofas or comfortable chairs. However, if you want ultimate comfort and luxury, then you should take a look at specialized furniture built for home theater rooms, such as recliners with built-in cup holders.

These snack and drink-friendly recliner sets are specially designed to give you the joy of watching TV or movies in the comfort of your home.

The first step is to take a good hard look at the room you intend to use to set-up your home theater system. Then, answer these questions:

  • How big is the size of the room?

    The size of the room will pretty much determine most of your buying decisions, such as the size and type of TV or projector, the number of speakers, their placement, the seating arrangement etc.

  • How much light do you get in the room?

    Ambient light in the room affects the picture display. In TVs, it can cause a screen glare and for projectors, it washes out the images. It is recommended to use curtains or other drapes to control the amount of light in the room for the best viewing experience.

  • How are the acoustics in the room?

    The wall construction and surface of the floor affect the way sound plays out in the room. Hard floors are more reflective and can create unnecessary echo sounds. It is recommended to carpet your floor to have a better sound insulation.

  • Where will you place your speakers?

    Do you want to place your speakers on the floor, in an entertainment unit, or conceal them within the walls or the cabinetry?

  • Where will you be sitting with respect to the screen? How far will the seats be from the screen?

    Ensure that the seats are as much to the centre of the screen as possible. The distance between the seats and screen depends on the size of the screen. Do not place seats too close as it will spoil the viewing experience.

Other Accessories

With the basics worked out, let's look at how to spruce up your home theater room with some must-have accessories.

Universal Remote

Video player remote – check. AV receiver's remote – check. TV remote – check. Confusion – check! When setting up a system and putting together different components all with their own unique remotes, you can end up with more remotes than you know what to do with. Simplify this by investing in a universal remote. One remote to rule them all.

Surge Protector

So, you've got the swankiest home theater system in town! How will you protect it? Surge protection is a practical requirement. Surge protectors are as close as you can get to fool-proofing your system from power surges.

Connection Cables and Wires

You need wires and cables to connect and power-up this sophisticated setup of speakers, receiver, and video players in your home theater system. While some cables do come color-coded, do consult with our in-store experts to make sure you have all the necessary wiring to get your home theater going.

Video Game Consoles

A home theater setup is perfect for game nights! A video game console connects to your TV and is essentially a box or a device used for playing games. At Nebraska Furniture Mart, we have plenty of options for you to choose from.

With varying personal preferences, room sizes, budgets, interior décor, and need for a home theater, no two home theater systems will turn out alike. At Nebraska Furniture Mart, we have an endless combination of all the home theater components for you to create a unique system that is perfect for your viewing needs.