TVs & Home Theater · Buying guide
TV and Home Theater Buying Guide: OLED vs Mini LED, Soundbar vs Receiver, Projectors
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You'll live with a TV and sound system for most of a decade. Buy the size that fits your seat, the picture tech that suits your room's light, and audio that can grow.
Top picks
1. Best picture for dark rooms and movie nights
LG 65" C5 OLED evo (OLED65C5PUA)
65 in 4K OLED TV (2025)
Typical price: About $1,300–$1,400 at Walmart (LG list $1,499.99)
See price at Walmart- Picture: Self-lit OLED, Dolby Vision, 0.1 ms response
- Size / reach: Also 42, 48, 55, 77 and 83 in
- Connections: 4 HDMI 2.1, 144 Hz VRR, webOS updates up to 5 yr (webOS Re:New)
- Warranty: See LG's current terms
2. Best for bright rooms and daytime sports
TCL 65" QM8K QD-Mini LED (65QM8K)
65 in 4K Mini LED TV (2025)
Typical price: About $1,100–$1,300 at Walmart (Best Buy $1,099–$1,299)
See price at Walmart- Picture: QD-Mini LED, up to 3,800 dimming zones (series max), HDR5000 rating
- Size / reach: Also 75, 85 and 98 in
- Connections: 4 HDMI incl. eARC, 144 Hz native, Wi-Fi 6, ATSC 3.0 tuner
- Warranty: See TCL's current terms
Also at Best Buy (SKU 6625842).
3. Best one-box upgrade over TV speakers
Sonos Arc Ultra
Dolby Atmos soundbar
Typical price: About $900–$1,100 at Walmart (list $1,099)
See price at Walmart- Picture: n/a (audio)
- Size / reach: 9.1.4 spatial audio; add Sub 4 and rears later
- Connections: Single HDMI eARC cable; Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2
- Warranty: See Sonos's current terms
4. Best start for a speaker system that can grow
Denon AVR-X1800H
7.2-channel 8K AV receiver
Typical price: About $750–$850 (Walmart $749; Denon list $849)
See price at Walmart- Picture: 8K HDMI passthrough, Dolby Vision, HDR10+
- Size / reach: 7.2 or 5.2.2 Atmos; Denon says small to medium rooms
- Connections: 6 HDMI in (3 × 8K), 1 HDMI eARC out; HEOS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi; Audyssey room correction
- Warranty: See Denon's current terms
5. Best way to go past 100 inches
Epson Home Cinema 2350 (V11HA73020)
4K PRO-UHD 3LCD smart projector
Typical price: About $1,260–$1,500 (Walmart $1,259; Epson $1,499.99)
See Home Cinema 2350 at Epson- Picture: 4K PRO-UHD (pixel-shift), HDR10/HLG, 2,800 lumens color and white
- Size / reach: 40–500 in image; throw ratio 1.32–2.15
- Connections: Android TV built in; HDMI ARC; lamp 4,500 h (7,500 h Eco)
- Warranty: 2-year limited projector, 90-day lamp
Specs from each maker's product page; prices are typical ranges seen in October 2026 and change often.
Buy right once: The screen size you buy is the one you'll watch for years. Size up within your distance range rather than down. Pick audio you can add speakers to, and HDMI 2.1 ports for the next console or streamer.
Before you buy, check:
- Seat-to-screen distance and the clear wall width
- How much daylight hits the screen
- Whether you can run speaker wire, and where the outlets are
Comparison table
| Model | Type | Picture | Size / reach | Connections | Warranty | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LG 65" C5 OLED evo (OLED65C5PUA) | 65 in 4K OLED TV (2025) | Self-lit OLED, Dolby Vision, 0.1 ms response | Also 42, 48, 55, 77 and 83 in | 4 HDMI 2.1, 144 Hz VRR, webOS updates up to 5 yr (webOS Re:New) | See LG's current terms | About $1,300–$1,400 at Walmart (LG list $1,499.99) |
| TCL 65" QM8K QD-Mini LED (65QM8K) | 65 in 4K Mini LED TV (2025) | QD-Mini LED, up to 3,800 dimming zones (series max), HDR5000 rating | Also 75, 85 and 98 in | 4 HDMI incl. eARC, 144 Hz native, Wi-Fi 6, ATSC 3.0 tuner | See TCL's current terms | About $1,100–$1,300 at Walmart (Best Buy $1,099–$1,299) |
| Sonos Arc Ultra | Dolby Atmos soundbar | n/a (audio) | 9.1.4 spatial audio; add Sub 4 and rears later | Single HDMI eARC cable; Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2 | See Sonos's current terms | About $900–$1,100 at Walmart (list $1,099) |
| Denon AVR-X1800H | 7.2-channel 8K AV receiver | 8K HDMI passthrough, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ | 7.2 or 5.2.2 Atmos; Denon says small to medium rooms | 6 HDMI in (3 × 8K), 1 HDMI eARC out; HEOS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi; Audyssey room correction | See Denon's current terms | About $750–$850 (Walmart $749; Denon list $849) |
| Epson Home Cinema 2350 (V11HA73020) | 4K PRO-UHD 3LCD smart projector | 4K PRO-UHD (pixel-shift), HDR10/HLG, 2,800 lumens color and white | 40–500 in image; throw ratio 1.32–2.15 | Android TV built in; HDMI ARC; lamp 4,500 h (7,500 h Eco) | 2-year limited projector, 90-day lamp | About $1,260–$1,500 (Walmart $1,259; Epson $1,499.99) |
Screen size and seating distance
The two common targets come from cinema standards. SMPTE suggests the screen fill at least about 30° of your view for mixed viewing, and THX recommends about 40° for a cinema feel[1]. From 9 feet, that works out to roughly 65 to 85 inches. Most people who regret a TV say it's too small, not too big, so if you're between sizes and the wall allows it, size up.
OLED vs Mini LED
- OLED (LG C5) lights each pixel on its own, so blacks are truly black and there's no blooming around bright objects. It's the best picture in a dim room and for movies. LG lists a 0.1 ms response time, four HDMI 2.1 inputs and up to 144 Hz for PC gaming[2].
- Mini LED (TCL QM8K) uses thousands of tiny backlight LEDs with local dimming. It gets much brighter, so it holds up better in a sunny living room or for daytime sports. TCL rates the series up to 3,800 dimming zones and HDR5000[3]; smaller sizes have fewer zones.
Ports and features that keep a TV current
- HDMI 2.1 with 120 Hz or more for today's consoles and the next ones. Both TV picks have it.
- HDMI eARC so a soundbar or receiver gets lossless and Atmos audio over one cable.
- Software updates. LG offers webOS upgrades for up to 5 years on the C5 (webOS Re:New)[2], so the smart features keep working longer.
- ATSC 3.0 tuner if you use an antenna. The QM8K has one[3].
Soundbar vs receiver and speakers
A soundbar like the Sonos Arc Ultra connects with one HDMI eARC cable and delivers 9.1.4 Dolby Atmos from a single box[4]. You can add a subwoofer and rear speakers wirelessly later. A receiver like the Denon AVR-X1800H runs 7.2 or 5.2.2 Atmos with separate speakers; Denon pitches it at small to medium rooms[5]. It needs speaker wire runs, but you can upgrade one pair of speakers at a time and it outlasts several TVs. If you rent or can't run wires, choose the soundbar. If it's a dedicated room you'll keep, choose the receiver.
When a projector makes sense
Past about 100 inches, a projector costs less than a TV. The Epson Home Cinema 2350 throws a 40 to 500 inch image at 2,800 lumens, with a 1.32 to 2.15 throw ratio. Its lamp is rated 4,500 hours, or 7,500 in Eco mode[6]. It needs a dim room; in a bright family room, a big Mini LED TV is the better buy.
Wall mounting
A 16:9 TV is about 0.87 times its diagonal wide. Match the mount to the TV's VESA pattern and weight from its spec sheet, and anchor into studs. A common rule of thumb puts the middle of the screen near seated eye height. Above a fireplace the screen ends up too high for comfortable viewing, so use a pull-down mount, and check that the TV maker allows heat below it.
Selling or flipping soon?
- TVs and soundbars leave with you and don't add to the sale price.
- Whether a wall mount stays depends on your contract, so put it in writing; patch and paint the wall if you take it.
- In-wall speaker wire and a recessed outlet behind the TV location are small touches buyers notice.
Compare the top picks · Big-ticket buys for flips and pre-sale upgrades
FAQ
What size TV should I get for a 9-foot viewing distance?
Roughly 65 to 85 inches. That range matches the SMPTE 30° and THX 40° viewing-angle targets. Use the TV size tool above for your exact distance.
Is OLED or Mini LED better?
OLED has the better picture in a dim room, with perfect blacks. Mini LED gets brighter, which suits a sunny room or daytime sports.
Do I need a receiver, or is a soundbar enough?
A soundbar is enough for most living rooms and needs one cable. A receiver with separate speakers suits a dedicated room and lets you upgrade speakers over time.
Sources
- RTINGS, TV size to distance calculator (SMPTE and THX viewing angles): rtings.com
- LG, 65" C5 OLED evo (OLED65C5PUA) product page: lg.com
- TCL, Mini LED TVs (QM8K) and Walmart 65QM8K listing: us.tcl.com
- Walmart, Sonos Arc Ultra listing (9.1.4, HDMI eARC): walmart.com
- Denon, AVR-X1800H product page: denon.com
- Epson, Home Cinema 2350 product page and specification sheet: epson.com
- LG, OLED65C5PUA product page; Walmart listing (price): lg.com
- TCL, QM8K product page and Walmart listing (specs, price); Best Buy SKU 6625842 price history (barcodedb): us.tcl.com
- Walmart, Sonos Arc Ultra listing (specs and price): walmart.com
- Denon, AVR-X1800H product page; Walmart listing (price): denon.com
- Epson, Home Cinema 2350 product page and specification sheet CPD-62413R3; Walmart browse listing (price): epson.com
Sizing tools
TV size by viewing distance
How big a screen fills the view from your seat, using the SMPTE and THX viewing-angle targets.
How it works: Screen width = 2 × distance × tan(angle ÷ 2); a 16:9 screen's diagonal = width ÷ 0.872. SMPTE suggests at least a 30° angle for a mixed-use room and THX about 40° for a cinema feel.
Estimate only; confirm with your installer or the manufacturer.
Sources for this tool
TV wall and mount fit check
Will the TV fit the wall, and how high should it go?
How it works: A 16:9 TV is about 0.872 × its diagonal wide and 0.49 × tall. A common rule of thumb puts the middle of the screen near seated eye height; the largest size shown leaves 6 in of wall on each side.
Estimate only; confirm with your installer or the manufacturer.
Sources for this tool
Soundbar or speaker system? (room size)
Match the audio setup to the room and to whether you can run speaker wire.
How it works: A single-cable soundbar avoids running wire; a receiver with separate speakers scales up. Denon describes the AVR-X1800H as filling small to medium rooms in 7.2 or 5.2.2.
Estimate only; confirm with your installer or the manufacturer.
Sources for this tool
Projector screen size and throw distance
Check whether a screen size works from where the projector can sit (Epson Home Cinema 2350 throw ratio).
How it works: Throw distance = image width × throw ratio. The Home Cinema 2350's zoom covers ratios 1.32 to 2.15, so the image width at any distance is distance ÷ 2.15 to distance ÷ 1.32.
Estimate only; confirm with your installer or the manufacturer.