With TVs now bigger and better than ever, and content now available at our fingertips, our living rooms are now more like full-on entertainment centres!
A perfect home entertainment centre can not only help you to immerse yourself in your content. It can also help you to relax, and unwind after a long and stressful day at work. Entertainment centres are also great for gathering up friends and family to enjoy live TV or blockbuster films together.
But creating an entertainment centre takes some work. There are all kinds of different things to consider, and this might leave you feeling more than a little daunted. Luckily, you’ve come to the perfect place to get started.
Our Reliant tech experts have been helping happy customers create their dream entertainment setups for more than 60 years. And using their wealth of experience, we’ve put together this ultimate guide. To help you create an entertainment centre that’s perfect for everyone!
How To Create The Perfect Entertainment Centre
To create the perfect entertainment centre in your home, there are a few things to consider. But don’t worry, we’ve narrowed down the most important things down below!
Choose The Perfect TV
First up is the centrepiece of your new entertainment centre. The all-important TV. Naturally, you want to make sure the display offers the perfect visual experience, so it’s absolutely worth targeting higher resolutions, and larger screen sizes. However, you’ll want to make sure you grab a TV that fits!
Your new TV is going to exist as part of a larger setup. As such, you want to make sure it doesn’t take up too much space. Measure the space to grab a TV of just the right size!
So, you’ll want to consider just how much space you’ll have in your entertainment centre. If you’ve already chosen a room, make sure to get some measurements. Measure the wall you plan to position the TV against, as well as the floor space in the room. This is because you want to make sure the TV is a suitable size for viewing. If you’re not careful, you might end up with a TV that’s too big, or that’s too small.
You want to ensure there is adequate space between the chosen spot for the TV and the chosen spot for your sofa. If you are sitting too close to a TV that’s too large, it becomes uncomfortable to view. The appropriate viewing distance is usually 1.2 times the size of the screen. So, a 98 inch TV would require you to sit around 118 inches away.
Choose The Right Display Type
While you’re choosing the perfect TV, make sure to spend some time thinking about some of the different display types. There are all kinds of different displays that each have their own unique benefits.
OLED TVs are incredibly popular because they boast some of the best contrast ratios on the market. This makes them fantastic for enjoying film and TV in equal spades. The enhanced contrast is especially perfect for enjoying darker and moodier films and shows. Black values appear truly black, which makes it much easier to detect subtle tones in every image. Even in the darkest of scenes, you’ll be able to see what’s going on.
Choosing the right display type can help to make your favourite content look better than ever. Different display types suit different kinds of content. So you’ll need to think about the content you enjoy best.
If you want your content to burst with colour, then a QLED TV might be the option for you. The special quantum dot technology packed into QLED TVs allows them to generate a greater range of realistic colours. With more colour comes a much greater HDR experience. If you want to watch your films and shows with 4K HDR quality, then a QLED TV might be the perfect option!
LED TVs are also a great option, and remain some of the most affordable on the market. These TVs offer unparalleled brightness levels that allow you to enjoy content at any time of day!
There are a few more different display types on the market. We’d recommend taking a look at the benefits of each type, to see which one best suits you.
What Type Of TV Is Best For Gaming?
Of course, you might also plan to use your entertainment centre to enjoy the best of gaming. To find the perfect gaming TV, you’ll need to look at some different features.
Generally, the best type of TV for gaming is an OLED TV. This is because OLED displays boast the greatest number of features that gamers can benefit from.
First up, OLED TVs have incredible contrast, and they are perfect for enjoying 4K HDR gaming. As graphics improve, and video game worlds become more and more lifelike, it’s important to have a TV that can display them at their best. Improved contrast makes it much easier to identify and follow shapes on screen. In atmospheric story-based games, this helps with immersion. And in more competitive games, improved contrast gives you that extra edge over the competition.
OLED TVs are also some of the most responsive on the market. Responsive TVs are crucial for gaming, as they ensure you feel in total control. OLED TVs often have response times well under even 0.01 milliseconds. This means that the very moment you press a button on your controller, the corresponding action will show on your screen!
Focus On Sound
When putting together an entertainment centre, it’s easy to become hyper-focused on all things visual. However, it’s important to dedicate some time to considering the sound features that your new entertainment centre will offer. Sound plays a crucial role in entertainment. When fantastic sound is paired with equally fantastic visuals, it results in a more immersive, and more entertaining experience!
It’s important to focus on sound capabilities when building the perfect entertainment centre. Sound is crucial for enhancing immersion in your content. Without good sound, your content won’t be quite as entertaining!
You’ll need to consider some of the different types of sound systems on the market, and how each one might benefit you. Let’s take a look at a few major types.
Surround Sound Speakers
Surround sound speakers are a great option for really making the most of TV audio. As the name suggests, surround sound speakers are able to generate sound that surrounds you from all different directions. This creates the unconscious sense that you’re right there in the middle of the action.
As far as immersion goes, surround sound speakers are almost totally unrivalled! The only problem is that surround sound speakers are quite difficult to implement. To create a truly immersive surround sound experience, the speakers need to be arranged in very specific ways around the room. This means that you will also have to arrange everything else in your entertainment centre around each of the speakers.
If you’re working with a very small space, then a surround sound system may not be the right option for you!
Stereo Speakers
Stereo speakers are a very dependable option if you want powerful audio for a smaller space. Stereo audio makes use of 2 different audio channels, arranged to the left and right of the TV. Despite lacking the number of audio channels found in a surround sound system, a stereo sound system can still create the sensation of dynamic audio. With powerful audio coming at you from both the left and right sides of the screen, it’s much easier to believe that the sound is actually coming from the characters you’re watching!
Stereo speakers are great for smaller spaces. The 2-channel audio design of stereo speakers allows audio to travel from both the left and right sides of the TV screen. This creates a truly immersive experience!
Stereo speakers are also perfect for building a more compact entertainment centre. You only need to find space for two speakers!
Soundbars
Soundbars are arguably one of the most significant innovations in the world of home entertainment in years. The reason for this is that they are incredibly compact and easy to install. All you need is one soundbar, placed just under your TV screen.
Despite their unassuming form factor, soundbars are actually incredibly powerful. This is because a single soundbar actually contains multiple individual speakers within. These individual audio channels are able to send audio in very different directions. This deceptively simple technology allows soundbars to create a surround sound experience, without the complex setup of a surround sound system.
Soundbars are also available in a diverse range of sizes. Some are incredibly compact, and have around 3 individual audio channels packed into them. While some are much bigger and have upwards of 7 individual audio channels! This gives you the flexibility to choose a soundbar that suits your space, and suits your TV!
How Should You Organise A Sound System?
This will depend entirely on the type of sound system you are going to opt for, and how you plan to structure your entertainment centre. Different sound systems come in different forms and sizes, so each one has very different needs. For instance, if you were planning to install a surround sound system, you would need to make sure that there’s plenty of space for it.
No matter what type of sound system you opt for, you should still make sure to organise it just right. If a sound system is organised inefficiently, it can result in a very unsatisfying and immersion-breaking experience.
If you are opting for surround sound speakers, ensure there is plenty of space between each audio channel. And that each audio channel is in the correct spot in the room!
It’s important to organise your TV’s sound system in a way that makes sense. Otherwise, it’s very unsatisfying. Inefficient placement results in audio that sounds disconnected from the TV’s visuals!
If you are opting for a stereo sound system, you’ll want to make sure that the two speakers are each on the correct side. So, the left speaker should be to the left of the screen, and vice versa. This allows your audio to match the logical direction of on-screen action. A character on the left side of the screen would be heard from the left speaker!
If you are opting for a soundbar, then you’ll need to place it directly above or below the TV screen. Do not place it to the side. Even a few inches too far to the left or right of the screen can create a mental disconnect between visuals and audio!
Consider Your External Devices
Building an entertainment centre is a great way to keep all of your favourite entertainment content gathered in one place! With a single entertainment centre setup, you can keep your TV together with all of its associated plugins. Such as game consoles, set-top boxes, and sound systems.
In order to create an entertainment centre that’s just right, you’d need to make sure there’s more than enough space for all of these extra plug-ins. It’s also worth leaving some extra space to place pieces of art, and sculptures, or to gather up your favourite DVDs, games, or books!
If you’re an avid gamer, with plenty of game consoles, then you’ll want to make sure your entertainment centre setup has enough space for each of them!
Make sure there’s plenty of space for your TV’s external devices and hookups. If you have plenty of game consoles, for instance, you’ll want to make sure your entertainment centre has room for them!
If you only have a smart TV and a soundbar, then you can create a slightly smaller entertainment centre!
How To Organise Consoles Around A TV
You’ll need to make sure your consoles are within close proximity to your TV. This is because you will be making use of HDMI cables to connect them to the display!
Make sure your consoles aren’t packed together too tightly, though. Your consoles will need plenty of space to breathe. This is because they will generate heat while you are using them. Ensure there is a good airflow for your consoles to access so that they don’t run the risk of overheating!
If you’re planning on hooking up plenty of consoles to your TV, it’s worth investing in a good TV stand or TV cabinet with plenty of individual shelves. This ensures there’s plenty of space for each of the consoles. It also ensures they are kept off of the floor. Keeping consoles on the floor is bad for their health, as small amounts of dust and lint can end up caught up in the cooling fans!
How Should You Display Your TV?
To get the best experience in your entertainment centre, you’ll need to make sure the TV is displayed just right!
For the best and most comfortable experience, you’ll want to make sure that the TV’s screen is at eye level. This allows you to keep your neck in a neutral position as you watch, which is beneficial for your posture. It keeps your neck from straining, as you won’t have to bend it just to get a view of the screen!
No matter how you intend to display your TV, you should make sure to choose the right spot for it! Ensure it’s at eye level, and that you can see it from every spot on the sofa!
Make sure the TV is also visible from as many angles as possible. Especially if you plan for your entertainment centre to be used by friends and family too! Make sure the view of the screen is not obstructed by any of the items placed nearby. If you’re placing your TV into a TV cabinet, make sure it’s not pushed too far in!
Wall-mounting your TV is a great option if you want to create a modern and sleek look in the space. Wall-mounting allows you to maximise your space, as you won’t need to install a TV stand or TV cabinet just to keep the TV at eye level. However, if you have plenty of external devices, such as consoles and DVD players, then you are better off with a dedicated TV stand, to keep them on. Wall-mounting is best when your TV has few external plugins!
Either way, just make sure that your TV is fully and safely kept in place. If your TV isn’t secure, it might run the risk of toppling to the ground at any point! And that would lead to an incredibly expensive repair job!
Should You Buy A TV Cabinet?
If you have a large space to work with, then a TV cabinet can be a great display option for your TV. With a TV cabinet, you can keep all of your TV’s accessories and plugins close by. This makes it much easier to move between different types of content. Perfect for a good entertainment centre.
TV cabinets are also available in a range of different sizes and styles. So you can choose one that perfectly suits your tastes and needs.
TV cabinets are great for keeping all of your external devices within close proximity of the TV itself. If you have consoles, DVD players, or set-top boxes, TV cabinets can be a great asset.
We also love that TV cabinets can be used to organise your home. The extra shelving space on a TV cabinet can be used to display books, art, or figurines! This allows you to create an entertainment centre that’s unique to you!
However, you need to keep in mind that a TV cabinet will require more dedicated space. If you were to stuff a TV cabinet into a small living room, you’d have trouble wrestling your way past it every day!
How Should You Illuminate An Entertainment Centre?
It’s worth taking the time to consider the light within your entertainment centre. If you want to place any light fixtures within proximity of your entertainment centre, you should make sure they don’t run the risk of glaring against your TV screen. Ensure they also don’t shine light directly into your eyes. This would make it incredibly tiring to watch your TV, as you’d end up with eye strain in no time.
Good lighting in your entertainment centre can help to reduce eye strain. For instance, a TV with ambient backlights can produce light to match the TV’s brightness. This keeps your eyes from straining!
Make sure to consider any other light fixtures in the room. You should make sure they’re positioned just right so that they don’t reflect on your TV screen. Reflected ambient light on your TV can easily ruin your immersion and your viewing experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Create The Perfect Entertainment Centre?
Building a dedicated entertainment centre is a great way to keep all of your TV entertainment organised. Of course, you’ll need to consider your chosen TV, as you’ll have to make sure it looks good, and that it fits. As well as that, however, you’ll also need to consider your sound system, and other plugins, and how you plan to keep them all organised!
What Do You Put In An Entertainment Centre?
The focal point of any good entertainment system will of course be the TV. Other devices that you should include in an entertainment centre are those that can help to enhance the TV experience. For instance, a good sound system helps to add another dimension to your entertainment. You might also find devices like consoles, DVD players, and set-top boxes being included in entertainment centres!
