Home cinema systems: Best Buys 

What type of home cinema system should you opt for - DVD or Blu-ray? And what surround-sound speaker system sounds the best - 2.1, 5.1 or 7.1?

Not only can the jargon be confusing, but it's not easy to find the the system that suits your living room and delivers the best audio experience - that's where we come in.

Which? tests all the major new home cinema systems launched in the UK, at prices to suit all budgets. After six weeks putting them through their paces in the Which? lab, we can tell the best home cinema kits from those that could let you down.

• Our experts scrutinise the picture and audio quality of all the systems to ensure they deliver top-notch surround sound effects
• They watch and listen to a wide variety of movies and audio material, from Hollywood blockbusters to costume dramas, from opera to rock and the spoken word
• We assess all the systems to see how easy they are to install, and also what they're like to use in your living room on a daily basis

Find the best home cinema system around and avoid getting stuck with a dud by taking out a  £1 trial to Which?

What makes a Which? Best Buy

We test thousands of products each year at Which? in a controlled environment that enables us to accurately repeat each test on each product - meaning our reviews are directly comparable. We buy the products we test ourselves, and go through great lengths to shape our test programmes to match the way you use the products.

Find out more about how we test products and find those that deserve to be Best Buys in the video below.

Expert home cinema system reviews you can trust

Our labs test models from the biggest home cinema brands on the market - including Sony, Panasonic, LG and Samsung. But we guarantee a Best Buy home cinema system will be easy to set up, give you great surround sound and picture quality and won't have you throwing the remote control across the room in frustration when you try to use it.

Which? is independent - we work for you, the consumer, so you can be sure that our product recommendations are influenced only by our test results. We don't take advertising and we buy all the products that we test ourselves, so our advice helps you to make the right choice first time and avoid costly mistakes.

More ways to save money

Which? reviews thousands of products and services each year, shedding light on the best and worst and helping you with your everyday decisions. With advice and reviews on everything from energy suppliers and high street shops to ebook readers, cars and mobile phones, Which? can help you save money.

Try a  £1 trial to Which? and you'll receive access to all our online content and get Which? magazine delivered monthly to your door. You can also phone our Which? Legal Service and personal finance experts for one-to-one help, plus you'll get access to Which? Local, where members share recommendations for the best services in your area.