How to set up your own big screen at home

Lockdown may be easing, but even though many of us are going out more, having a top-flight TV set-up in your living room is still a great idea. The truth is that screens are now so advanced that Hollywood professionals admit that the right equipment can make home viewing every bit as good as going to the pictures. And the latest high-definition screens can take you into the heart of the sporting action like never before.

So, whether you’re after popcorn spectacle or every kick of the game, let us help you find the perfect TV set up for you. 

The arrival of the superb high-resolution standard called Ultra HD (also known as 4K) means you can sit closer to the television screen and still not see the pixels that make up the picture. So don’t hold back from choosing a big-screen telly if your room can take it.

The Samsung QE75Q70A has a magnificent display that employs a screen tech called QLED, which enhances colours and means that images on its 75ins screen always look great. If you prefer something slightly smaller there’s the Panasonic TX-65HZ1000B, with a 65ins OLED screen – more expensive than standard LED screens, OLED screens are worth it for the stunning contrast levels, deep inky black shades and gorgeous colours they offer. Weighing in at 55ins on the diagonal is the Sony Bravia XR XR55A90J. It makes the most of its size, though, as it has no speakers on the edges to take up space – instead it cleverly uses the screen itself as the speaker.

Most big-screen TVs no longer break the bank, but there are especially well-priced models to look out for too. The Hisense 50A7500FTUK (2020) LED HDR 4K, for instance, is one of the most affordable 50in TVs suitable for movie-watching.

Even the biggest flatscreens are reasonably light, these days, but you might still need a good-sized TV stand to put it on, like the stylish AVF Affinity Premium Bay 1500 Curved TV Stand. It boasts a curved back so it can stand as happily in the corner as in front of a flat wall. It’ll comfortably accommodate televisions up to 70ins.

Or maybe you want to hang your screen from the wall, in which case an adjustable mount may appeal. The AVF Corner Wall Mount is not only suitable for TVs from 32ins up to 70ins, it lets you adjust the screen to the precise viewing angle you prefer.

Don't want to devote a big part of one wall to a screen all the time? Then a projector might be the solution – small enough to be kept in a cupboard, they’re still capable of delivering a huge picture. You do need a blank wall for this – or a pull-down screen – and the darker the room, the better the effect. Of course, if you’re a cinephile, then those are the conditions you want for watching films anyway. 

You could also try a portable projector, such as the Nebula Mars II Pro HD Ready Smart Portable Projector – it has speakers and a battery built in, so you can watch anywhere, even outdoors if you have a suitable wall.

Now you’ve got a TV worth watching, what are you going to look at? A Blu-ray player, which will also play your old DVDs, is a good start. 

If you want to go beyond your disc collection, then check out streaming devices which can deliver services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer and more. The Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite is easy to use and tucks into the HDMI socket on the back of the telly, as does the Google Chromecast (2020) with Google TV & Remote Control. 

Flatscreen TVs undoubtedly look sleek and appealing, but they do have one small drawback – their slim profiles leave very little room for speakers to make them sound quite as great as they look. That’s where a soundbar that sits underneath the TV comes into its own. The Sonos Arc, for instance, includes Dolby Atmos, a system which bounces some of the audio off the ceiling to create a particularly immersive sound. It sounds so good that you might even decide you don’t need a separate hi-fi for your music. You can add a subwoofer (for those deep rich bass notes that you can feel as much as hear from a good cinema sound system) or satellite speakers to complete the effect. 

You can also achieve great sound for relatively little money: the Sony HT-SD35 is a great value soundbar that even comes with a subwoofer which connects wirelessly to the main unit. Bass is non-directional, so you can place it anywhere in the room and it’ll still sound good.

And if you want a sound system that links to your streaming service, the Apple HomePod can connect to the tiny Apple TV 4K streaming box mentioned above. If you have two HomePods it can create splendid audio for your films. And because it’s a smart speaker it’ll even let you do things like say, 'Hey, Siri, it’s movie night' and (provided you have compatible smart accessories, of course) it will automatically turn on the TV, dim the lights and lower the blinds.