Complete Home Cinema Accessories: What You Really Need (and What You Don't)

By Felix Brandner 4 min read

The complete accessory list for your home cinema: HDMI, screen, soundbar, bag. Budget setup and what you definitely don't need.

In 2 Minutes

  • Must-haves: Screen, solid mount, HDMI cable (2 m+), external speaker.
  • Nice-to-have: Fire TV Stick (Android-free only), blackout curtains, cable tray.
  • Avoid: Cheap screens with shine, HDMI under 1 m, no-name mounts without weight specs.
  • Budget reality: A solid accessory bundle runs 120–250 € on top of your projector.

You've bought your projector — and now you realize you're missing everything: screen, cables, mount, sound. We'll show you what actually belongs on your accessories list — and where you can save.

The accessory pyramid — what you need and when

Not every accessory is necessary on day one. Here's how we prioritize:

Level Accessory When to buy
Essentials HDMI cable, external audio source Right away with your projector
Comfort Screen, mount, remote control After your first movie nights
Upgrade Blackout, cable management, streaming stick Once usage becomes regular
Pro 4K source device, AV receiver, ceiling mount For a true home theater setup

Screen: The biggest quality leap

A white wall works at first. But once you mount a proper screen, the image suddenly gets way more vibrant. Here's why: screens are optimized for gain (light amplification).

  • Rollable screen (80–120"): From 80 €. Retracts into the ceiling, space-saving.
  • Fixed frame screen: Taut tension, black border — maximum image sharpness, from 150 €.
  • Motorized screen: Remote-controlled, from 200 €.

Tech tip

Gain values above 1.3 amplify the image, but narrow the viewing angle. For living rooms with multiple seating positions, gain 1.0–1.2 is ideal — even brightness from every seat.

HDMI cable: The underrated weak point

The cheapest cable is often the culprit behind picture drops and color noise. Three things matter:

  • Standard: At minimum HDMI 2.0, HDMI 2.1 for 4K.
  • Length: Under 3 m is unproblematic. From 5 m onward, get an active cable with built-in signal amplification.
  • Certification: Look for the "Premium High Speed" logo — it's not marketing, it's a real test.

Mount: Ceiling, shelf, or tripod?

Your mounting choice determines comfort and image stability.

Mount type Pros Cons
Ceiling mount Permanently perfect alignment Installation and wiring required
Shelf / dresser Zero installation effort Aesthetics need to work, wobbling possible
Floor tripod Flexible for outdoor and mobile use Not ideal for permanent setups

Sound: Why the built-in speaker isn't enough

Compact projectors have 5–10 W speakers. Fine for dialogue clarity, too weak for real movie atmosphere.

  • Bluetooth soundbar (from 80 €): Simple, no cables. Check for latency under 100 ms.
  • Stereo system via audio out: Best sound quality, if you have one. 3.5 mm jack or Bluetooth.
  • 5.1 system: Only if you really want cinema — budget 400 €+ and an AV receiver.

Streaming & source: Do you really need a stick?

Modern smart projectors like PIXORA One and PIXORA Max have Android 11 built-in — Netflix, YouTube, and Prime Video run directly. You only need a Fire TV Stick if your projector doesn't have a smart OS.

What you should not buy

  • No-name screens under 50 €: Often glossy, poor tension, visible wrinkles.
  • HDMI cables under 5 €: Signal loss, color noise, occasional dropouts.
  • Universal mounts without weight specs: Shaky mounting = blurry image.

Bottom line: Your next move

The right order: First a solid HDMI cable and external audio, then a screen, finally a mount. That way you only invest in what you'll actually use. Find discounted accessories and matching bundles in our projector collection.

We've tested all accessories ourselves — if it doesn't work, it's not in the shop.

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