Tried and tested: The best home cinema setup

From computer screens that turn into TVs to smart devices that light up your walls, we’ve tried out the top home entertainment setups and here are our picks.

These innovative gadgets will boost your home cinema cred in unusual ways, from portable screens and compact soundbars to a gadget that changes the colours around your TV screen.

SAMSUNG SMART MONITOR M8

Business up front, party on standby, this screen does it all

$1199, samsung.com/au

PROS

– Vibrant, 4K computer monitor

– Transforms into a smart TV

– Gorgeous, minimalist design

CONS

– Top features come at a price

– Takes up plenty of desk

– Limited range of ports

Very few computer screens come with their own TV remote control. Even fewer come with smart TV apps pre-installed, a detachable webcam, a 4K display, and as much style as the latest Smart Monitor from Samsung. This 32-inch screen lives up to its name by acting like a crisp computer screen for your desk until you turn it into television with a click of that control to stream content from Netflix, Disney, Prime Video, or Foxtel. This screen also works with Bixby and Amazon Alexa voice assistants, and supports Apple Airplay, UHD and HDR 10+ content. It also commands less than half the price of Apple’s Studio Display.

VERDICT: ★★★★★

SONOS RAY

A cheaper way to boost your TV experience

$399, sonos.com

PROS

– Sonos’ cheapest soundbar

– Compact, attractive form

– Also streams songs, radio

CONS

– No surround sound experience

– Audio fires forward

– Bass lacks punch

The cost of living is rising but the price of Sonos soundbars falls with this device; a cute and compact soundbar that can help you hear more than your TV speakers allow. The Sonos Ray undercuts its Beam 2 brother by $300 but packs in four amplifiers, two tweeters and two mid-woofers, and offers features such as Speech Enhancement to boost the sound of dialogue, and Trueplay to optimise audio for its location. This smaller, cheaper soundbar doesn’t offer the same surround-sound experience as high-end models but it’s a good place to start or to complement a smaller screen.

VERDICT: ★★★½

PHILIPS PICOPIX MAX TV

A smart portable projector for entertainment wherever you are

$1499, philips.com.au

PROS

– Big display from tiny unit

– Built-in battery

– Plenty of Google smarts

CONS

– Could be brighter

– Sits flat on table

– Not as vibrant as some

Portable projectors are making a comeback in 2022, and plenty of smart tech is making it possible. This newly launched model from Philips, for example, weighs less than 2kg but is capable of creating a display up to three metres in size, or 120 inches. The PicoPix Max TV runs on Android TV software, which not only gives users plenty of access to streaming apps but also unlocks the Google Assistant from its remote control. And, unlike other recent releases, this projector comes with a built-in battery so users can play films up to four hours in length without an intermission or cable.

VERDICT: ★★★★

PHILIPS HUE HDMI SYNC BOX

An innovative way to make your lounge glow with entertainment

$500, philips-hue.com

PROS

– Vibrant home theatre effect

– Uses up to four devices

– Set-and-forget system

CONS

– Requires compatible lights

– Pricey for a set-top box

– Must have Hue Bridge

Imagine the colours from TV bled on to your walls and made the whole room glow. That’s the concept behind this Philips Hue set-top box that captures the colours in whatever show or game you’re enjoying and sends messages to your smart lights to replicate it. Users set it up by plugging this device directly into their TV using a supplied HDMI cable, and then connecting up to four media machines, from games consoles to Foxtel or Google Chromecast devices, to feed signals through it. This box can change the colour of compatible Philips Hue overhead lights, lamps or, in its best form, light bars beside the TV itself.

VERDICT: ★★★★

VIEWSONIC TD1655 PORTABLE MONITOR

The quickest way to super-size your viewing

$599, viewsonic.com/au

Mature businesswoman sitting on bed looking at digital tablet

PROS

– Connects to phones, laptops

– Touchscreen with stylus

– Clear, crisp display

CONS

– Only as fast as your source

– Colours a little dull

– Pricier than a standard monitor

There’s no doubt having a second screen is useful and this model from ViewSonic can double your screen real-estate in moments. The 15.6-inch portable touchscreen can stand on a table using a built-in metal kickstand, and comes packaged with a stylus and plenty of cords, from USB-C to HDMI, to plug it into a computer or your smartphone. Once connected, you can play movies on its larger display, give yourself more room for apps, or use it to draw or edit photos by touch. Its colours aren’t vibrant and it can be a little slow with some tasks, but travelling workers should appreciate its convenience.

VERDICT: ★★★½

Originally published as Tried and tested: The best home cinema setup