About Home Theater Builder
Last updated 2026-06-17
What We Do
Home Theater Builder publishes ranked buying guides and product comparisons for AV receivers, amplifiers, preamps, soundbars, home theater speakers, subwoofers, surround sound systems, and Blu-ray and DVD players. Every ranking is built from manufacturer specifications, verified buyer demand, ratings, and price. We do not accept payment to rank or feature any product.
Our Editorial Team
Gavin Ross leads our receiver and amplifier coverage, focused on channels, power output, HDMI features, and value. Priya Nair writes our buying guides for soundbars, speakers, and subwoofers, translating specs and owner feedback into plain advice. Theo Brandt covers disc players and complete home theater systems, judging each on supported formats, connectivity, build, and price. The Home Theater Builder Research Team compiles category rankings and data from manufacturer specifications and verified owner demand across all the AV gear we track.
How We Build Our Rankings
Each product in our rankings must meet a four-part threshold: it must be a real, purchasable product from a verifiable brand, show verified buyer demand through review count or monthly sales data, carry a rating of at least 3.8 stars, and come from a brand we can confirm exists as a real manufacturer. Products that do not meet all four criteria are not included, regardless of price or category. We update rankings as new data becomes available.
Our Independence
Home Theater Builder is reader-supported. We earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. That commission never influences which products we rank, how high we rank them, or what we write about them. For more detail, read our affiliate disclosure and editorial policy.