Bring the theatre experience into your home and there’s no turning back

Finding the right home entertainment system, also called a home theatre system, is a balancing act. You must consider the size of your space - can it accommodate a full-throated sound system? How sophisticated is your hearing - can you discern the difference between high-end and inexpensive speakers? And how elastic is your budget? Because once you start comparing systems, you will want to spend more, whether you’re opting for a package from a well-known brand or combining components from different brands.

Be warned: upgrading your audio and video products is like developing a palate for fine wines - once your ears and eyes become accustomed to the best quality, there is no going back.

Of the two categories of home entertainment products, audio has the greater variability and the wider range of products. If you are not a serious audiophile, you are better off opting for a package. Samsung, Bose, Philips, Panasonic, LG, Bang & Olufsen and Sony are among the leading brands offering excellent home theatre packages. Within the product portfolios of these and other brands are a variety of systems, so you need to assess each in relation to your space, desires and budget.

The heart of your system will be the television. An HDTV will ideally have 1080p resolution, while ultrahigh definition, or 4K, can provide four times the detail. Viewing in 3D is another option. The size of the screen is largely left to your personal preference, although with consideration for the size of the room. If you have a 50-inch (127cm) screen, you should watch TV from about eight feet (2.44m) away. It should also be viewed straight on, not from an angle, and with your eyes about level with the centre of the screen.

Blu-ray players will help to maximise the quality of your HDTV, and they’re included in many home theatre packages. If you plan to integrate existing components, such as a video game console into the system, it is vital to check their compatibility before making a purchase.

A standard home theatre package will include a receiver, which processes and amplifies audio signals to the speakers. It can also be tuned for video signals from multiple sources, so you don't have to change the input whenever you want to switch between playing games or watching TV. Built-in ethernet ports on the receiver allow you to listen to internet radio and any content that you can access through a networked computer.