Fifty years of chasing good sound, decades of professional audio work, and one obsessively tuned 7.2.4 Dolby Atmos room — all in service of helping you get a system you'll actually love.
Plain-English explanations of how home theater actually works, before you spend a dollar.
Hands-on picks and buying advice, organized by what you're actually shopping for.
A display (a TV or a projector and screen), a sound system (a soundbar, or an AV receiver with separate speakers and a subwoofer), at least one source, and the cables to connect them. For most living rooms, the best setup is an AV receiver driving a 5.1.2 or 5.1.4 Dolby Atmos speaker layout. Full setup guide →
The Denon AVR-X1800H: 7.2 channels, Atmos-ready, with three full-speed HDMI 2.1 inputs for 4K/120 gaming. For a dedicated 7.1.4 or 9.2.4 room, step up to the Denon AVR-X3900H or the Onkyo TX-RZ50, which includes Dirac Live. All receiver picks →
If you can run speaker wire, the Onkyo TX-RZ50 with the Klipsch Reference Cinema 5.1.4 System: full 5.1.4 Atmos with Dirac Live for about $2,150. For everything in one box, the Samsung HW-Q990D includes wireless rears and a subwoofer. All seven setups →
The Klipsch RP-600M II (bookshelf), Klipsch RP-8000F II (tower), SVS SB-1000 Pro (subwoofer), and Klipsch RP-504C II (center). Keep your front three speakers in the same product line. All speaker picks →
The Hisense PX4 Pro, an ultra short throw laser projector with Dolby Vision and HDR10+. For the best picture regardless of price, the AWOL Aetherion Max; for the best value, the Epson Lifestudio Grand. All projector picks →
"The best-sounding system isn't always the most expensive one. It's the one that's been set up right, matched carefully, and dialed into the room it actually lives in."— From why this site exists