How to build the perfect home theatre setup for your space

The movie experience is great – large IMAX screens, killer sound, and of course, the smell of popcorn. But this experience is not for everyone. Some prefer the comfort and solitude of one’s home and aspire to bring that cinema experience home. But surely not everyone can build a home theatre setup in their personal space.  

Turns out, it is not as humongous a task, and no just setting up a projector isn’t enough to call it a home theatre setup. Helping you build that ultimate home theatre setup is this detailed guide with tips from industry expert, media analyst, and home theatre purist Abhijit Mhamunkar.  

How to build the ultimate home theatre setup 

Step 1: Planning is key

While it may be tempting to jump right into the display and sound, one should always start with ‘planning’. Just like building the interior of your dream home, a home theatre setup also involves factors you might have to work on right from the beginning. This includes air conditioning, room layout, furniture, sound layout, and of course, the layout of your TV/projector setup.   

“For a home theatre setup, a lot of effort has to go in the wiring and the sound, and you have to hire a professional to get things right,” says Mhamunkar who has helped over a dozen build their dream home theatre setup. “When you go to dedicated audio shops, they have the required contacts for people like this. They may charge a nominal fee or have the cost of setup included when you buy a sound system from them,” he adds.  

Whether you’re setting up in your living room or dedicating a room to your setup, it is imperative you consider aspects like wiring and air conditioning, both for aesthetics and to avoid changing things later down the line.  

Step 2: The right kind of display

For the best home theatre setup, you will also have to choose between getting a TV screen or a projector as your primary output device. “If you have a dedicated room, you can go with a home projector, because that is how most large-format movies are best enjoyed. However, not everyone has the liberty to dedicate a room for this, and those users can opt for a TV,” Mhamunkar adds. 

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He further clarifies that while projectors can be affordable, aspects like good brightness and contrast levels will only come with high-end projectors which can significantly up your budget. So, if you cannot invest in a high-end projector, you should consider TVs instead. Certain TVs today will also come with an IMAX Enhanced certification, which allows them to stick to strict performance standards for resolution, colour, brightness and contrast, among other aspects.  

That said, projectors have their own advantages. They’re the closest to the true cinema experience, and for users who want to convert a dedicated space into a home theatre, a high-end projector can also help you get the large-screen experience at a lower cost. Mhamunkar, who himself owns a high-end Epson short-throw projector also swears by them for the convenience they offer. “Short-throw projectors, like the one I have, can significantly reduce your wiring efforts,” Mhamunkar says.  

Step 3: Getting the sound right

For many, good sound may be secondary to a good display experience, but for Mhamunkar, both video and audio are key pillars to getting a home theatre setup right. He swears by using true 5.1 channel sound systems for their immersive ability. “Even basic 5.1 setup will give you a better sound experience than your TV’s speakers,” he says. 

However, Mhamunkar adds that if the complex wiring that comes with having such system installed is not an option, users can also go with good soundbars that are easier to set up. That said, replicating the cinema experience at home will only be possible via a 5.1-channel sound system or beyond.  

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Investing in good sound becomes even more important when you have a projector setup. “The larger size of a projector visual output doesn’t fit well with a sub-par sound output. It’s a psychological thing,” Mhamunkar explains.  

Step 4: Get a Blu-Ray player

With audio and video out of the way, one must focus on the content itself. While streaming is a convenient option to watch live sports or binge on a web series, there’s a good chance you’re building the setup to enjoy your favourite movies. And if you want to watch them in the best possible way, the solution is a Blu-Ray player.  

Mhamunkar, who owns over 3,000 Blu-Ray movie titles explains that this format offers the best possible experience of watching movies – both for visuals and audio. This is because Blu-Ray discs feature a much higher bitrate for content than streaming apps. Blu-Ray discs also feature richer, fuller lossless sound, which beats the compressed audio experiences most streaming apps will deliver.  

“Physical media, unlike digital media, have the added advantage of not relying on your internet speed for the best quality,” Mhamunkar adds. Blu-Ray lovers also have total, physical ownership of a title, while streaming apps will usually have your favourite flicks only for a limited time until the license runs out. 

Step 5: Seating and Air Conditioning

So, you’ve got the video, audio, and the media set up. Now, it is time to focus on secondary factors, but ones that can still make or break your overall home theatre experience. The first is the air conditioning. “The heat generated by a setup involving projectors and sound systems needs to be cooled down,” Mhamunkar says.   

Seating is one of the areas where you can afford a little bit of wiggle-room. Users who have a dedicated space for the home theatre setup, can invest in personal recliner chairs, but those converting their living room, or a spare bedroom can also go ahead with conventional furniture.  

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Mhamunkar personally uses a comfortable sofa-cum-bed as his primary seating, which lets him sit comfortably, but also allowing him to recline and get comfortable whenever he wants. Remember, the best kind of seating is whatever you’re the most comfortable with.  

That brings our tutorial on how to build the ultimate home theatre setup to an end. We hope we have helped you gain more insight on the specifics of building the best possible setup for you and bringing the cinema experience home!