How to create a smart home theater

In the old days, a home theater was a luxury, a lavish room for the few who could afford it. The rest of us had to leave the house to experience a movie on the big screen, braving crowded parking lots, overpriced popcorn, and overly talkative neighbors.

Not anymore. Today, you can get a movie theater experience at home—all for an affordable price, thanks to easy-to-install smart devices. But which ones should you get?

At Asurion, we not only fix and protect your tech, we help you get the most out of it too. Here's how to create the ultimate smart home theater system.

Pick the perfect smart TV or projector

Building a smart home theater starts with the perfect smart TV. This device is your hub for everything from movie marathons and browsing the internet to playing video games and using stream services like Hulu™ and Disney+®.

Your smart TV doesn't have to be expensive to be good. Wondering what type of screen to get? Or how to make sure it fits your room? Check out our guide to what to look for when buying a smart TV.

If you're lucky enough to have a lot of useable space—or an empty wall—you can opt for a smart projector instead. These devices can turn a bedroom or home office wall into a screen without having to commit to a 75-inch smart TV.

Surround yourself with sound using smart speakers

Remember that scene in Jurassic Park when the tyrannosaurus escapes the enclosure? Sure, the images of this massive carnivore are terrifying. But what really makes the scene is the sound of its thundering footsteps. Each step adds to the suspense until it boils over, no matter how many times you've seen the movie.

The right sound system can have a similar effect—without a ton of wires or complicated set up. Some, like Sonos® speakers, are known mainly for their top-notch sound quality, while others, like the Amazon Echo™ Studio, feature strong sound and pair easily with virtual assistants. So you can talk to your speakers and other smart devices to queue up your next movie.

Get the full movie theater experience with smart lighting

Smart lights and strips let you create that dim, movie-theater atmosphere right in your own home. They not only allow you to control the lighting with your voice or an app on your phone, some even let you curate the color and brightness of your lights. bar. You can even sync your lights to the action on screen or set up a lighted path to guide guests to the snack bar using Philips® Hue™ or TP-Link® Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Light Strips.

Now, who wants Sour Patch Kids®?