What components would you put in the home theatre system of your dreams? Most of us watch enough TV that having an awesome home entertainment system makes a lot of sense, but few of us go that extra step – including myself. I have thought about what would make my dream home theatre.
I choose components that are sort of within reach. In other words I didn’t get totally crazy and assume an unlimited budget, as there are some extremely expensive systems out there that perform exceptionally well. To keep the dream alive, I thought it would be better to choose higher-end awesome components that are at least in the realm of possibility from a budget perspective.
LG 84” 3D IPS Smart TV (84UB9800)
What is not to like about this LG 4K UHD TV? It is gigantic at 84” and as a 4K UHD TV has 4 times the resolution of your normal HDTV so you can sit very close to it without seeing any pixilation. You will get a truly immersive viewing experience with this LG TV. Not only is it big and beautiful with an incredible picture, it is fully loaded with features.
It is an LG Smart TV meaning it uses the WebOS platform, which in my view is the best built-in Smart TV interface on the market. It is a 3D set with dual mode gaming that provides a full screen view for both players in a two-player game. It does 4K up-conversion, which takes standard or high definition content and upgrades it to near 4K viewing. To see a more detailed overview, look at . Although the post is about its sister LG TV (84LM9600), it has all the same features. I have chosen the LG 84UB9800 for the dream system because it has an IPS screen plus a few additional features such as a built-in camera for videoconferencing, and more ports. Despite that it is also a little less expensive. Overall it is a better value for a gigantic crystal clear flat screen.
Onkyo 7.2 Channel Network Receiver (TX-NR828)
Along with an awesome picture, the dream theatre needs great sound and this Onkyo receiver delivers. It has 130 Watts power per channel with 300 Watts peak power, and only 8 100ths of a percent harmonic distortion at max rated power. This receiver will be the hub of your entertainment system with 8 HDMI inputs and two HDMI outputs as well as 4K pass-through and 4K up scaling of standard and high definition signals. The system is 7.2 so you can set up a full array of 7 speakers plus two subwoofers for a really dynamic surround sound effect.
The Onkyo TX-NR828 has WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity for media streaming radio or other sources directly from the Internet. It can also wirelessly connect to the music or film library on your devices. It comes with an iPod connection, has an FM radio and is equipped for Satellite radio. In addition, several USB ports allow you to load audio or video content into your entertainment system.
It is multi-room capable, comes with its own remote plus a free Onkyo app to control the system from your device of choice, which is excellent for managing your streaming activities. This Onkyo will not disappoint and is the ideal hub for your dream home theatre.
Polk Audio specializes in making speakers – that’s all they do, and have been doing so for four decades. They are dedicated to audio engineering and innovation and produce some excellent product that is an excellent compliment to the Onkyo TX-NR828. Although they have a , I would highly recommend a couple of Polk TSi 500 tower speakers for front left and right, and a couple of Polk TSi 200 bookshelf speakers for the rear left and right. The Polk CS20 is ideal for the centre front speaker and I would consider using a couple of Polk VS255C-LS ceiling speakers for the middle of the room, left and right. The final compliment to this system is a couple of Polk DSW660 12” subwoofers to really bring out the base.
How you configure the speakers will depend on your room. For instance you may not be able to accommodate ceiling speakers so use a couple of extra bookshelf or even tower speakers instead. Or if you have no proper wall or floor space behind you, you may want to use extra ceiling speakers instead. Whatever combination you choose, the sound will be rich, crisp, and powerful. These speakers are extremely versatile so they will sound excellent in a full cinema surround sound movie experience, they will really rock out your music playlists, and provide clear and crisp sound effects that support your gaming.
Optional Components
The above three components are sufficient to make a fantastic home theatre that anyone would dream about. But if you are a gamer, you can round out the system very nicely with a PS4 Gaming Console. It is not only an excellent gaming platform but also a Blu-Ray player and media streaming device. For more detail on the PS4 look at .
Another great add-on is the Logitech Harmony Ultimate One Remote. Although the Onkyo TX-NR828 Network Receiver has an excellent remote that can act as the hub for the entertainment system, Harmony Ultimate One is a superb universal remote that can control everything. You can set up macros with the remote so it can turn on or off multiple pieces of equipment with one button. For a full review have a look at this earlier blog post.
This home theatre setup would dramatically increase the entertainment level in anyone’s home, and the envy of anyone who watches it. What would you choose for your dream system?
