Home Cinema Setup: A Complete Beginner's Guide

The phrase "home cinema" means different things to different people. For some, it's a dedicated room with a projector, tiered seating, and acoustic panels. For others, it's a really good TV setup in the living room. Both are valid—it's about what works for your space and budget.

This guide covers the fundamentals, whether you're converting a spare room into a cinema or just want to upgrade your TV watching experience.

Start With the Room, Not the Equipment

This is where most people go wrong. They buy a projector, then realise their room has huge windows opposite the screen. Or they buy a massive subwoofer, then discover their Victorian terrace shares walls with grumpy neighbours.

Key room considerations:

• Light control – Can you make the room dark? Projectors need darkness; TVs are more forgiving.
• Room dimensions – Too small and you'll be overwhelmed; too large and you need bigger (more expensive) equipment.
• Neighbours and family – That subwoofer shaking the walls at 11pm won't make you popular.
• Viewing distance – There's an optimal distance for every screen size. Too close and you see pixels; too far and you lose immersion.

Projector vs Large TV: The Real Differences

Projectors

Pros: Massive screen size (100"+ easily), cinema feel, relatively affordable for the size
Cons: Need a dark room, bulbs need replacing, visible in daylight situations

A decent 4K projector starts around £1,000. Add a screen (£200-500) and installation, and you're looking at £1,500-2,500 for a solid setup. That gets you a 100-120" picture—something that would cost £10,000+ as a TV.

Large TVs (65-85")

Pros: Works in any lighting, better for mixed-use rooms, no maintenance, brighter picture
Cons: Size limited by what you can physically get through doors, expensive at large sizes

For a living room that's used for everyday TV as well as movie nights, a good 75-85" OLED or QLED TV often makes more sense than a projector.

Our Take

Dedicated cinema room with light control? Projector, every time. Multi-purpose living room? Probably a large TV. We install both—it depends on your situation.

Audio: This Is Where the Magic Happens

Here's a secret: most of what makes cinema feel like cinema is the sound, not the picture. A mediocre projector with great audio will feel more impressive than a stunning picture with TV speakers.

The Options (Simplest to Most Complex)

Soundbar – A single unit below your TV. Modern ones are surprisingly good. Great for living rooms where you don't want visible speakers. Budget: £200-800.

Soundbar + Subwoofer – Adds proper bass impact. You'll actually feel explosions. Budget: £400-1,200.

5.1 Surround Sound – Five speakers around the room plus a subwoofer. This is where you start getting genuine surround effects—helicopters flying overhead, sounds moving behind you. Budget: £800-3,000.

Dolby Atmos (5.1.2, 7.1.4, etc.) – Adds height speakers, either ceiling-mounted or upward-firing. Objects in the soundtrack can move in 3D space around you. This is properly impressive, but requires more equipment and installation complexity. Budget: £2,000-8,000+.

Realistic Budget Ranges

Setup	Budget (Installed)
75" TV + Quality Soundbar	£2,000 - £3,500
4K Projector + 5.1 Surround	£3,500 - £6,000
Premium Projector + Dolby Atmos	£8,000 - £15,000
High-End Dedicated Cinema Room	£20,000+

Hidden Costs People Forget

• Cabling and installation – Getting cables hidden in walls properly takes time and skill.
• Streaming devices – You'll want an Apple TV 4K, Nvidia Shield, or similar for the best experience.
• Blackout blinds – Essential for projector rooms.
• Acoustic treatment – Optional, but proper panels make a noticeable difference to sound quality.
• Universal remote – Controlling multiple devices gets annoying. A Harmony remote or Control4 system simplifies everything.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Buying before planning. Measure your room. Consider where you'll sit. Think about cable routes. Then buy equipment.

Skimping on speakers to get a bigger screen. A smaller screen with great audio beats a huge screen with rubbish sound.

Forgetting about control. Five remotes to watch a film is not premium. Factor in a way to control everything easily.

Underestimating installation. Running speaker cables through walls, mounting projectors correctly, calibrating audio—it's fiddly work. Professional installation typically costs 15-20% of the equipment cost and is usually worth it.

Where to Start

If you're new to this, my suggestion: start with great audio in your existing room. A quality soundbar or 5.1 system with your current TV will transform the experience. You can always add a projector later.

If you're building a dedicated room, get professional help with the planning. The room layout, speaker positioning, and equipment choices all interact—getting it right first time saves money and frustration.