Go big and go home with the perfect home cinema. The definition of perfect is up to you, your imagination, and your CEDIA integrator.
With a projected market volume of $4 billion by 2028, home entertainment continues to prosper. Home cinema systems are coming into the mainstream as we explore more flexibility with media and streaming services.
This could be anything from a multi-use media room to a full home theatre, complete with customised display and sound systems. If you’re thinking about a home cinema room, you’ll need to consider factors such as:
Our CEDIA-qualified installers can help you answer all these questions. You can also find out more in our home cinema system guide.
With these considerations in mind, you can choose one of two options: a home cinema or a media room. There are key differences between the two, though the size and design can vary.
A home cinema is specifically designed to mimic the movie theatre experience. It lends itself to streaming services and even uses specially designed media creators like Kaleidescape.
Audio and visuals take centre stage here. Often, home cinema speakers are integrated into the space such as walls and ceilings, while the main display may use high-quality OLED TV or LCD technology.
Media rooms are generally more relaxed. They offer versatile options for media consumption, including movies and television, speakers and gaming. Seating may be more flexible as viewing isn’t the top priority. These are also better for smaller spaces and budgets, where 4K may be sufficient.
Rather than integrating all technology, media rooms may have floorstanding components like surround sound or wireless subwoofers. They are ideal for socialising, allowing people to move around without compromising on visuals or acoustics.
From your speaker package to the layout, we can help you decide on the crucial factors that will impact your home cinema.
Cinema design
First, you need to think about your home space. The room size will impact your display screen and sound systems. If your room is smaller, for example, it might be easier to work with a projector.
Home cinemas often lack windows and have fixed seating. A relaxed media room can move things around and may work better with freestanding tech like a centre speaker.
Think about your WiFi connection too. Will poor signal affect playback if you’re streaming?
Source components
Source components are the tech that plays your media, such as:
You may even have a smart TV, which offers built-in streaming. This in turn will affect your tech. Rear speakers are ideal for an immersive cinema experience, whereas an amplifier could work for pumping out your favourite playlist.
Speakers
Speaker packages offer several options, from Sony Soundbars to full-on Dolby Atmos for that immersive experience. You may choose integrated wall or ceiling speakers, or Bluetooth wireless speakers for mobility.
You’ll need to think about how your tech links up. An AV receiver works with inputs like HDMI to display images and play sound from multiple sources.
Display
For full home theatres, the ‘golden ratio’ is H (Height) x 1.28H (Width) x 1.54H (Length/Depth). This means multiplying the ceiling height by these values.
Media rooms work better with projectors, offering various screen sizes and layouts. Brands such as Samsung offer up to 292-inch 4K displays, ideal for flexibility and crystal clear imagery. If yours is a fixed screen and you want sharp contrasts, think about an OLED or LCD display.
Home cinemas and media rooms allow you to personalise your entertainment experience. You can customise lighting and sound settings remotely, while enjoying either immersive cinema viewing or relaxed music and gaming.
With a huge range of best-selling brands including Denon, Kef, DTS:X, Marantz and Sonos, you can enjoy the best sound. Meanwhile, viewing is almost limitless thanks to integrations with streaming services and physical media.
Your home cinema or media room is your space to be entertained and socialise. Your property’s value might even increase as well!
A home cinema or media room is a significant investment – but they more than pay for themselves. While there’s no exact figure, a whole installation might start at five figures.
If you’re just paying for individual technologies, this could lower the price. A regular price for source components, for example, usually hovers around the $1,285 mark.
Our award-winning teams will be happy to help you based on your budgets and requirements.