Going to the movies is just one more thing that’s been upended this year due to the pandemic. Many major releases were delayed, and a new approach to film releases emerged, streaming releases.
Rather than just put everything on hold, movies like Mulan have been immediately available to watch at home, without the normal delay between theater and digital release.
And this looks to be a new trend.
Coming in December are three highly anticipated movies, and they can all be streamed right into your living room:
- Tenet – Dec. 15, 2020 (Digital release)
- Wonder Woman 1984 – Dec. 25, 2020 (HBO Max)
- Soul – Dec. 25, 2020 (Disney+)
This is likely to only be the beginning. The window between a theater and home release was already getting shorter prior to the pandemic and now that the line has been erased all together, there’s likely no going back.
You can take advantage of this trend and enjoy a better movie experience at home by creating your own mini smart home theater.
How to Put Together an Affordable Home Theater
You don’t have to have a huge, dedicated room to set up your own home theater, you can put together a mini theater just about anywhere. The key is to know what technology to use to enhance the sound quality and allow you to easily stream movie releases.
Today’s home theater systems are even easier to put together than ever thanks to wireless technology. There are no messy wires that you have to install around your room, and everything is easy to move if you decide to rearrange the furniture.
Here are some of the key components you need to give your family an entertainment experience that’s closer to going to the movies, but without the high candy and popcorn prices!
Television (HD or Smart)
You’ve most likely already got this component, but since a television is key, we did not want to leave this out.
If you have a smart TV, then you should already have the ability to connect it to the internet and use apps like Netflix, Apple TV+, or Disney+. This means that you can forgo the streaming device.
If you have an HD or Ultra HD TV, but not a smart TV, then you’ll still get great picture quality, but will need a streaming device to bring the entertainment to your television.
Streaming Service or Digital Download App
There are multiple choices out there these days for streaming movies from a subscription service or purchasing them outright and keeping them saved in a digital locker.
In order to bring new movies to your television when they’re released, you’ll need to have an account with at least one service that lets you connect to the entertainment.
There are two main types:
- Monthly Streaming Services (Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Disney+, etc.)
- Digital Lockers (Movies Anywhere, Fandango Now, Vudu, etc.)
62% of U.S. households currently subscribe to at least one streaming service.
Streaming Device
Streaming devices are as low as $30, making them an affordable way to bring movies and other streaming entertainment right to your television.
They’ll typically connect to an HDMI port on your TV and will also connect to your Wi-Fi.
Some of the most popular streaming devices are:
- Google Chromecast
- Amazon Fire TV Stick
- Apple TV
- Roku
The streaming device will allow you to install apps for and connect to the streaming services and digital purchase apps you use to get your entertainment.
Sound Bar & Wireless Speakers
The secret to getting theater-quality surround sound is to use a sound bar connected to compatible wireless speakers set up around the room.
Today’s technology is small, portable, and wireless, so this type of setup can be done in any size room and speakers easily adjusted as needed by simply picking them up and moving them.
A sound bar improves immersion by providing a deeper bass and a good balance of high, medium, and low frequencies. By connecting this wirelessly to other speakers around the room, including a subwoofer, you can add a rich, dimensional quality to sound that gets much closer to a movie theater experience.
Ambient Smart Lighting
If you want to go all out and add some theater-style lighting, you can find smart lights on the market that can change to any color you like. They can even dim, flash, or change colors based upon the sounds and action happening on the screen.
Smart lighting is scalable, use a little or a lot, depending upon your room size and needs, for a touch that will instantly make you feel like you’re at the movies.
Image credit: Philips Hue
Have Your Home Theater Set Up in Jiffy with Quantum PC Services!
Quantum PC Services has a smart home automation team that can get your home theater expertly set up for you in no time so your family can enjoy an immersive movie experience right in your Sturgeon Bay home.
Contact us today to learn more! Call 920-256-1214 or reach us online.
