Here is a selection of the best home cinemas of the moment.

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DR

The editorial staff of 20 Minutes did not participate in the production of this article.

However, before choosing a model it is important to know, among other things, what experience you are looking for.

What power do we want?

What is a 2.1, 5.1 or 7.1 configuration?

This buying guide will give you all the answers to your questions to choose the home theater that's right for you.

Everything you need to know before buying a home theater

2.1, 5.1, 7.1… What do these different home cinema configurations mean?

This number designates the number of speakers that are part of the configuration.

Thus, a 2.1 home cinema includes a subwoofer and two speakers.

5.1 sets add additional speakers to the sides.

7.1 home theaters finally add speakers behind you.

There are even 9.1 home theaters.

Each additional speaker contributes to better sound spatialization.

What is an audio format and how do I choose it?

Different technologies are now available in the television and home cinema sector.

The most famous are the Dolby company.

Dolby Atmos sound, for example, suggests having speakers in the ceiling.

This should allow the sound to come from above, not just from the sides.

Each technology has its advantages.

It is important to find out which one you want to integrate into your home theater.

What are the other criteria to take into account when buying a home theater?

We will retain two additional criteria to choose a home cinema.

The first is power, with consumer models typically ranging from 200W to 1200W RMS.

Attention: the power must be chosen in accordance with the size of the room.

The second criterion lies in the connections: it is necessary to ensure that the device can be connected (with or without wire) to all its devices.

Small selection of the best home cinemas of the moment

Takara PHC215: 2.1 home cinema at a low price

Takara PHC215 - DR

At a low price, the PHC215 from Takara chooses a 2.1 configuration and a power of 500 W. Its two side speakers adopt the column format.

They can thus be placed anywhere in the living room and deliver a homogeneous sound.

The PHC215 set adds a DVD player, HDMI and optical connectors as well as a Bluetooth connection.

This solution is aimed primarily at people looking for a more intense experience on a modest budget.

The pros and cons of the Takara PHC215 home cinema:

Most :

  • Price

  • With DVD player and Bluetooth connection

  • Dolby Digital DTS compatible

The lessers :

  • Can quickly run out of power

Get the Takara PHC215 here

Auna Areal 652: 5.1 home cinema with full connectivity

Auna Areal 652 - DR

Let's keep the price low while entering a 5.1 configuration.

Auna's Areal 652 set thus offers a more immersive experience, always on a low budget.

In terms of connectivity, it also has a surround system with a micro-SD port and a front USB port.

This will allow you to easily manage your favorite music tracks.

The AUX output and the Bluetooth interface will add smartphones, tablets and other computers to it.

The pros and cons of the Auna Areal 652 home cinema:

Most :

  • Low cost 5.1 configuration

  • Surround system

  • Speakers in column format

  • Complete connectivity

The lessers :

  • 145 W RMS only

Get the Auna Areal 652 here

Yamaha YHT-1840: the 5.1 home cinema with excellent value for money

Yamaha YHT-1840 - DR

To go upmarket and gain in audio quality, we will now turn to Yamaha and its YHT-1840.

This home theater broadcasts surround sound on 5 channels, each with a power between 70 and 135 W. The device is designed for 4K, its HDMI port being designed for streaming movies with 4K support and HDR processing.

The set has an ECO mode and is optimized to find the perfect balance between dialogue and audio information.

The pros and cons of the Yamaha YHT-1840 home cinema:

Most :

  • Optimized dialogue management

  • Eco mode (up to 20% less consumption)

  • HDMI port optimized for 4K

  • Good bass management

The lessers :

  • Sometimes complex settings

Get the Yamaha YHT-1840 here

LG LHB655: the 1000 W home cinema

LG LHB655 - DR

For larger rooms, the LG brand offers the LH655, a 5.1 home cinema with a total power of 1000 W RMS.

The device also stands out for its connectivity.

Blu-Ray and Blu-Ray 3D compatible, it also has a USB port and access to Smart TV portals.

Finally, it includes Bluetooth and DNLA connectivity.

The latter will quickly share the content of a computer.

The pros and cons of the LG LHB655 home cinema:

Most :

  • 1080p upscaling for older DVDs

  • 1000 W RMS power

  • Versatile connectivity

  • Dolby TrueHD, DTS and Pro Logic II compatible

The lessers :

  • The price

Get the LG LHB655 here

Panasonic SC BT 205: the home cinema compatible with Apple

Panasonic SC BT 205 - DR

The last device in this selection offers greater compatibility with Apple products.

The SC BT 205 set does indeed have an iPod Direct connection.

Once an iPod is placed in the dock located at the front of the central bar, its content can be managed from the TV screen.

The device can also play Blu-Ray, CD and DVD.

The Panasonic SC BT 205 also has a USB port and an SD card reader.

With a power of 1000 W, it is finally compatible with Dolby Digital, TrueHD and DTS technologies.

The pros and cons of the Panasonic SC BT 205 home cinema:

Most :

  • Integrated iPod dock

  • Very good sound quality

  • With USB port and SD card reader

  • 1000 W power

The lessers :

  • The quality of the materials can be improved

Get the Panasonic SC BT 205 here

A home theater should not only fit a budget, it should also fit a living room.

You must also know your profile perfectly before avoiding a bad installation.

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The prices mentioned in this article are indicative and are subject to change.

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