Considering a Home Cinema? The Beginners Guide

Conversely, one of the first questions we ask our clients is how they’re going to use their home cinema. For some, it’s all about that immersive movie theatre experience, while others prefer a more relaxed setting.

So, what’s best for you?

In short, a home cinema may feature more advanced acoustic treatments with hidden speakers, plus a larger screen. This is ideal for bigger rooms to recreate that booming, hair-raising experience.

A media room, meanwhile, may be smaller and more versatile, offering more than just viewing. Seating may be more relaxed, and sound systems will be more integrated with soundbars – not custom-made designs. There may also be room for natural lighting, controlled by automated blinds.

How you use the room will govern the media you choose to view. The good news is, you don’t need to have a movie collection to rival the Academy – you can watch so much more on a home cinema!

Want to see your favourite soap characters in larger than life size? No problem. Home cinemas are fully compatible with mainstream television packages such as Sky or Virgin Media.

If you’re more of a boxset fan than live content, you can also subscribe to your favourite streaming services such as Netflix, Disney + or Apple TV. Imagine the thrill of watching some of the newest ‘binge watch’ classics in your own home cinema or media room. We’ve picked out a few recommendations that are only enhanced by the big screen.

Some media providers even make content designed specifically for home cinemas. For example, Kaleidescape offers high definition cinema with industry leading audio compression. What results is great content, fast.

If you want to do more than just sit back and relax, consider a smaller media room for multiple functions. Home cinema screens can accommodate games consoles like PlayStations with ease. You can even use some, such as the XBox, to control all your cinema settings.

With today’s high definition graphics, nothing is lost by bringing your gaming to the big screen. In fact, it’s actually enhanced – players may feel more like they’re ‘in the game’, particularly with first-person shooter style games.

It’s not just about one-player games though. Split screen games, for example racing titles, look even better on the big screen. Avoid squinting or being distracted by other drivers – it’s like you have an entire television screen to yourself.

Prefer watching the games to playing them? Invite your loved ones over to watch the next live sports match, whether it’s a World Cup or Pay Per View boxing. Arrange your seating how you wish in a media room, or take the festivities outside once the game’s over. Natural lighting can pour in and show off your garden!

Whether it’s car crashes or Countdown, everything looks better on a home cinema screen. All you need to do is decide how you want the room to function. Have full control over omnipresent sound and lighting in a theatre, or hide screens within walls and mirrors in a media room.

When done right, a home theatre can function as a playroom, relaxation zone or entertainment centre. Just ask the experts and we’ll help you create all three.

Looking to get the best from your home cinema? Contact SONA today.