TV & audio

Picture and sound at home

A good home cinema starts with the TV but ends with the sound: built-in speakers are thin, while a soundbar brings clear dialogue and real bass. Music lovers will want Hi-Fi speakers, travellers a portable speaker, and late-night viewers a pair of headphones.

Categories

• Picture: TVs, projectors and wall mounts.
• Sound: soundbars, Hi-Fi speakers, portable speakers and music systems and radios.
• Personal audio: headphones and microphones for streaming or meetings.

How to choose

Screen size follows viewing distance: divide the distance in centimetres by roughly 1.5 to get a comfortable diagonal. Gamers should look for 120 Hz and HDMI 2.1, film fans for panel brightness and contrast. With a soundbar, check whether you need a separate subwoofer — in a small room you often don't. For a deeper dive, read our guide to the best TVs.

FAQ

Does an expensive HDMI cable improve the picture? No — the standard matters (HDMI 2.1 for a console and 4K 120 Hz), not the price.

Soundbar or Hi-Fi system? A soundbar is the simple, compact companion to a TV; a Hi-Fi system is built first and foremost for listening to music.