A great home theatre makes dialogue easier to follow, brings movie soundtracks to life, and gives your favourite music more depth. Choosing one starts with understanding your room, how you listen, and what you want to spend.
Whether you are upgrading your living room or planning a dedicated entertainment space, this guide will help you choose a setup that fits your home.
1. Start With Your Room
Before comparing speakers or amplifiers, take a look at the space where your system will live.
Measure the room and note your main seating position, the distance to the screen, and where speakers could realistically go. Doorways, windows, furniture, and open dining areas can all affect your layout.
Consider these questions:
- Is this a shared living room or a dedicated cinema room?
- Will you mainly watch movies, listen to music, or play games?
- Is there space beside and behind your seating?
- Can you run speaker cables neatly?
- Do you want visible speakers or a more discreet installation?
For example, a compact apartment with a sofa against the back wall needs a different approach from a dedicated room with seating away from the walls. Plan around the room you have.
2. Understand the Speaker Numbers
You will often see home theatre systems described as 2.1, 5.1, or 5.1.2. These numbers describe the speaker arrangement.
| Setup | What it includes |
|---|---|
| 2.1 | Two front speakers and one subwoofer |
| 5.1 | Front left and right speakers, a centre speaker, two surround speakers, and one subwoofer |
| 5.1.2 | A 5.1 arrangement with two additional height speakers |
In an Atmos layout, the final number identifies the height speakers. These can be overhead speakers or compatible Dolby Atmos-enabled speakers that reflect sound from the ceiling. Dolby provides speaker layout guides to help you understand the arrangements.
A useful starting point is to decide whether you want a straightforward front-facing system, surround sound, or surround sound with height effects.
3. Choose Speakers That Fit Your Space
Speaker size and appearance matter, but placement and compatibility deserve equal attention.
Bookshelf speakers are compact and can work well where floor space is limited. Despite their name, they still need suitable positioning; stands or appropriate mounts may give you more flexibility than placing them inside furniture.
Floorstanding speakers are larger and become a visible part of the room. Before choosing them, check their dimensions and the manufacturer’s recommended clearance.
In-wall speakers offer a discreet appearance. Plan the wall depth, mounting positions, and cable routes before installation.
In-ceiling speakers can keep equipment out of sight and serve as overhead channels in a suitable Atmos system. Their role should be planned carefully: putting every speaker in the ceiling does not recreate the same layout as a system with separate listener-level and overhead speakers. See Dolby’s 5.1.2 overhead placement guide.
Choose a speaker format that suits both your listening goals and the way you use the room.
4. Check the AV Receiver Before Buying
In a conventional home theatre with passive speakers, the AV receiver connects your sources, processes the soundtrack, and powers the speakers.
Check the exact model for:
- Support for your intended speaker configuration.
- Enough amplified channels for the layout you want to run.
- HDMI connections compatible with your TV, console, and other devices.
- Support for the audio formats you intend to use.
- Speaker compatibility and room calibration features.
Follow the receiver manufacturer’s guidance on speaker impedance and any required settings. These requirements are model-specific; for example, Denon’s speaker connection instructions specify supported impedance and settings for the AVC-S670H.
Do not choose a receiver by its advertised wattage alone. Ask how it will work with your chosen speakers, listening distance, and complete setup.
5. Include the Full Installation in Your Budget
Set a budget for the finished system before selecting individual components.
Alongside the speakers and receiver, allow for:
- A subwoofer.
- Speaker cables and suitable HDMI cables.
- Stands, brackets, or mounting hardware.
- Cable routing and installation.
- Setup and calibration.
- Any planned room treatment.
If your budget is limited, ask about building the system in stages. You might begin with front speakers and a compatible receiver, then add a centre speaker, subwoofer, or surrounds later.
Decide the eventual layout first so your initial purchases support that plan.
6. Give Placement and Setup Proper Attention
Buying the equipment is only part of creating a satisfying home theatre.
Keep speaker positions in mind when arranging furniture. Avoid blocking speakers with decorative objects, and leave equipment the ventilation space specified in its manual.
Plan cable routes before mounting speakers or finishing renovation work. If you are considering an overhead installation, coordinate speaker locations with lights, fans, and other ceiling fixtures.
Once everything is connected, complete the receiver’s setup process and check the results from your normal seating position. Listen to familiar dialogue, music, and movie scenes at comfortable volumes.
Write down anything that needs attention—unclear dialogue, uneven bass, or effects that sound too prominent—so adjustments have a clear purpose.
7. Avoid These Common Buying Mistakes
Choosing by speaker count alone
A larger configuration is useful only when you can position and support it properly.
Buying components separately without checking compatibility
Confirm that the receiver, speakers, TV, and sources will work together before placing your order.
Spending the entire budget on equipment
Leave room for the cables, mounting, installation, and setup needed to finish the system.
Overlooking everyday use
Think about who will use the system and how easily they can switch between television, streaming, music, and gaming.
Copying another room’s setup exactly
Use other installations for inspiration, then adapt the choices to your own space.
Find the Right Home Theatre With Audrixs
Start with your room dimensions, a few photographs, your main listening preferences, and an approximate budget. These details make it easier to discuss a system that fits your space.
Explore our home theatre packages or speak with the Audrixs team for help choosing your setup.
Need expert guidance or a price for your shortlisted system?