A home theater seating system is a combination of audio and video components that creates a movie-watching experience that rivals or exceeds commercial cinema performance. Home theater systems typically include a large-screen TV or a video projector and screen, a DVD or Blu-ray Disc player that plays movies, and an audio amplifier and speakers. Surround sound is a key component in many home theater setups. Surround audio involves multiple speakers placed around the listening area, creating an immersive sound that envelops you with sound effects and ambience from front to back and side to side.

In the early to mid-1990s, a typical home theater would have a LaserDisc or VHS videotape playing a movie, fed to a large-screen television (rear projection for most affordable setups and CRT or LCD front projection for more elaborate systems). Today, home cinema interest has resurfaced with the availability of Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround sound, and HDTVs that can be viewed in full High Definition.

The most basic home theater setup consists of a standard-definition DVD or Blu-ray Disc player, a big flat-screen television and a pair of tower speakers with built-in center, left and right speakers plus a powered subwoofer. Some people stop there, with a configuration called a 3.1 speaker setup, but for true movie-watching excitement you’ll want at least a 5.1 system.

You can buy home theater components separately and install them yourself, but it’s usually easier to pick up a pre-packaged system known as a Home Theater-in-a-Box. These come with a receiver, built-in surround sound decoding, speakers and a subwoofer, making it easy to get started. Some come with a sound bar, too, which takes up less space and offers the same effect as a complete home theater system, but doesn’t offer real surround sound.

If you go the custom-installed route, look for an AV receiver and speakers that support Dolby Atmos or DTS:X surround sound formats. Those are compatible with most modern 4K and 8K TVs, which will provide you with the best possible picture quality. If you’re planning on using your home theater for gaming, you might also want to consider a 4K or higher resolution monitor.

For the most comfortable viewing experience, invest in a good set of home theater chairs that match your decor. You might also want to add a rug, drapes or other decorations to create a truly special room for movie watching. Finally, don’t forget to pick up a surge protector to help protect your equipment from power spikes and outages that could damage or destroy your system.

The latest universal remote control systems let you use one device to operate your home theater system and other devices throughout the house. There are many different models available, with some working across several product lines and others tied to specific brands. Alternatively, you can have a local specialty AV retailer create a more-personalized control system from companies such as Crestron or Control4. They might be more expensive, but they’re often worth the investment for advanced home theaters that incorporate lighting and other smart-home technology.