I review TVs and audio gear for a living, so it shouldn't be a big surprise that I'm a huge film buff and home theater geek. When I watch movies at home, I want to experience them on an extra-large screen and with as many speakers as I can fit in my living room. After covering AV (audio-video) products for more than a decade, I've used my expertise to build my own dream home theater system.
Over the years, I've pieced together these components to fit within my budget and space. From a 77-inch OLED and affordable media console to a powerful Dolby Atmos surround sound system and 4K streaming player, these products deliver the movie- and TV-watching experience I've always wanted.
If you're looking for recommendations to put together your own entertainment system, these items are all great options that continue to deliver excellent performance. However, a few of the devices I own are no longer sold or have been replaced by newer models, so I've recommended similar alternatives in those cases.
An extra-large OLED 4K TV
LG's C4 is the brand's midrange OLED from 2024. It offers pixel-level contrast and deep black levels, but it's not quite as bright as some competing OLEDs. A new C5 edition has succeeded this model, but the cheaper C4 is still the better value for most people.
A good display is the centerpiece of any home theater, and, as far as I'm concerned, the bigger, the better. After seeing the distance between my couch and the living room wall, I splurged on a 77-inch 4K OLED to get that big movie theater feel. The best OLED TVs are pricier than QLED and LED options, but they offer a big jump in black-level performance and contrast, which are essential to getting a good movie-watching experience in a dark room. Check out our QLED vs. OLED guide for more details on the pros and cons of each.
I own LG's CX OLED from 2020, but that model has been replaced by the 2024 C4 and 2025 C5, which offer a brighter picture and improved image processing. I also recommend the 77-inch Samsung S90D OLED as an alternative. The S90D typically costs a bit more but has an edge in color performance. Samsung didn't sell OLEDs when I bought my TV, but if the S90 series was around back then, it would have been a top contender for my setup.
For more details on LG's C series, check out our full LG C4 TV review and LG C5 TV review.
For more big-screen display recommendations from other brands, check out our guides to the best TVs, best 4K TVs, and best 75-inch TVs.
A wide TV console with big storage cubbies
This TV console from Walker Edison is wide enough for TVs as big as 80 inches. It’s available in different wood tones and has six open-storage compartments.
This affordable Walker Edison media console has everything I need. It's one of the best TV stands for larger displays and offers an understated look with a wide 70-inch surface. I also love its six storage cubbies, which are large enough to house all my components and open enough to offer solid airflow. Many TV consoles have closed cabinets, which aren't good for storing electronics that can overheat, or smaller shelves that can't fit big devices like an AV receiver. Build quality isn't on par with pricier pieces of furniture, but it gets the job done for my needs without any issues.
A mount to keep my display on the wall
This Rocketfish TV mount supports displays up to 90 inches. It doesn't pull out from the wall, but it does offer basic titling.
To fix LG's massive display on my living room wall, I opted for this simple Rocketfish mount. It offers some range to tilt the screen and shift it horizontally, but it doesn't pull out for full swiveling support. I also opted for Best Buy's mounting service, so I didn't have to worry about dropping a 77-inch TV. For more options, check out our guide to the best TV wall mounts.
A surround sound system
These speakers are perfect for home theater enthusiasts who want high-end surround sound. Retailers sell models individually, in pairs, and in select bundles. We recommend piecing together a 5.1.4 Dolby Atmos setup with two RP-8060FAs, two RP-600Ms, a pair of RP-500SAs, an RP-504C, and an RP-1000SW.
I have a Jamo surround sound system in my living room with two front speaker towers, a center speaker, two rear bookshelf speakers, four Dolby Atmos modules, and a subwoofer. The Atmos modules attach directly to the tops of my front and rear speakers. Their angled drivers bounce audio off my ceiling, making it sound like certain effects, like falling rain, are coming from overhead. Check out our Dolby Atmos guide for more details on how this process works.
Sadly, my specific Jamo speakers are no longer manufactured, so they're hard to find in stock. To get a similar setup as mine, I recommend the Samsung Q990C soundbar or, if you have the funds, a full-sized Klipsch Reference Premiere speaker configuration.
The Q990C is the more affordable option. It's often under $1,000, has dedicated rear speakers, integrates up-firing Atmos drivers to offer overhead audio, and doesn't require a separate receiver. You can learn more in our full Samsung Q990C review. Meanwhile, Klipsch sells several Reference Premiere speakers that you can mix and match to create a full Dolby Atmos setup. These powerful speakers deliver better audio performance than any soundbar, but they're pricey. A 5.1.4 Dolby Atmos configuration will set you back around $5,000.
For more details and speaker recommendations, check out our guide to the best surround sound systems. And if you need a more compact setup, visit our guides to the best soundbars and the best Dolby Atmos soundbars for options in smaller sizes.
A beefy A/V receiver to power and process my speakers
Denon's high-end AV receiver can support up to 9.4 channels of audio with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X capabilities, along with HDMI 2.1 support.
This 9.4-channel Denon receiver has the specs to power all nine of my speakers and subwoofer without any issues. It also has plenty of HDMI ports to connect other devices, like my Blu-ray player and cable box, to my TV. It even has a phono input for a record player.
If you have fewer speakers, I recommend a cheaper receiver, like the 7.2-channel Denon AVR-S760H. And remember, if you use a soundbar system, you don't need a receiver at all.
I own Denon's older AVR-X3600H, but that model has been replaced by the brand's newer AVR-X3800H. The X3800H adds HDMI 2.1 passthrough for connected devices and support for two additional subwoofers.
Sturdy stands to keep my rear speakers in place
These stands are great for securely placing satellite speakers in your room.
I have pets, and they love to knock into things. This was a problem with some flimsy speaker stands I used to own, so I decided to go with something heftier for my current setup. These Perlegear stands feel sturdy and don't knock over easily. My speakers don't quite clamp in completely, but they're secured enough that I never worry about them falling off.
Lots of HDMI cables to connect everything
This affordable cable can transmit 4K/120Hz signals with support for all HDMI 2.1 features. It comes in sizes that range from three to 10 feet.
I've amassed multiple drawers full of HDMI cables over the years, but I find these Amazon Basics ultra-high-speed ones to be the most reliable for the money. The six-foot option costs less than $10 and offers support for full 48Gbps bandwidth to transmit HDMI 2.1 features like 4K/120Hz, variable refresh rate (VRR), and auto low latency mode (ALLM). These inexpensive cords should be enough for most needs, but if you want something longer or more durable, check out our guide to all the best HDMI cables for more recommendations.
Speaker wires with banana plugs for a hassle-free setup
These handy speaker wires come with banana plugs attached to offer a simple and secure connection to your audio components.
I know many home theater enthusiasts consider it a simple task, but I hate stripping speaker wire and feeding the threads into audio terminals. Dealing with stripped wire is especially annoying if you ever need to relocate speakers or swap in a new AV receiver. That's why I love these Monoprice banana plug speaker cables.
They cost more than typical wires but come with plugs attached, so you can simply pop them into your speakers and receiver (as long as they have banana plug ports) to get a secure connection without any cutting or twisting. I also run some handy cord covers across my floor and under my rug to feed these cables to my rear speakers for a clean, tidy look.
A reliable Roku to stream my favorite apps
The 2024 edition of the Roku Ultra has a new processor for speedier performance. It also comes with an updated remote with backlit keys and USB-C charging. Like previous models, this flagship streaming device supports 4K playback with HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision.
LG's smart TVs have a decent built-in platform for apps, but I like using a dedicated streaming player to get the snappiest performance. The Roku Ultra gets the job done with support for all the best streaming services and all the video and audio formats I need. I also prefer Roku's simple interface over other options, which can get a bit cluttered and overwhelming. The Ultra is my pick for the best streaming device overall, but there are great Apple TV, Fire TV, and Google TV alternatives if you prefer those systems.
A 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player to watch movies in the best quality
The Panasonic DP-UB820 is pricier than a lot of other 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray players, but it offers comprehensive HDR format support and advanced processing.
Yes, I'm one of those people who still buy Blu-rays. Though I also stream plenty of content, I prefer discs to get the very best video and audio quality. And with a shelf full of discs, I never need to worry about my favorite movies suddenly getting pulled from a streaming service. This Panasonic 4K Blu-ray player offers excellent performance, and it's one of the few models out there that supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+. Check out our HDR guide for more details on the pros and cons of different high-dynamic-range formats.
A gaming console to play the latest titles
The PS5 is one of the best consoles thanks to its powerful hardware, exclusives, and 4K Blu-ray drive. Though it typically costs $50 more than the digital-edition PS5, this model lets you play game discs. This slim version of the console is also slightly smaller than the original and has 1TB of storage.
My go-to gaming system right now is the PS5. I went with the disc version versus the digital edition since it lets me play used copies of games, and it's nice to have an extra 4K Blu-ray player handy if I ever want to bring one into another room.
I'm also a huge fan of Zelda and Mario, so I own a Nintendo Switch to ensure I never miss the latest entries in those franchises. Though I've yet to invest in an Xbox Series X or S, I do have an older Xbox One X that I use with Game Pass.
