Build Your Own Home Theater With These 5 Sam’s Club Finds

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Sam’s Club probably isn’t one of the first retailers that comes to mind when the phrase “home theater” gets tossed around. That’s a shame, because the Walmart-owned wholesaler actually stocks an impressive assortment of TVs, soundbars, and other audio-visual (AV) equipment. Fortunately, we’re all about eagle-eyed product selections at BGR, and we decided to task ourselves with hunting down the best home theater tech that Sam’s Club has to offer.

The following roundup highlights five home theater products you can purchase at Sam’s Club to help you build your own entertainment oasis. Do keep in mind that, in order to shop at Sam’s, you’ll need to be signed up for either a Club Membership ($60 annually) or a Plus Membership ($120). Final pricing and availability may also vary based on your region. Lastly, some of the home theater gear we’ve selected may not be sold anywhere else since wholesalers often carry specialized models you won’t find at other retailers.

A gargantuan TV is the main attraction of many a home theater, and one of the best 90-inch-plus screens at Sam’s Club is the $1,600 TCL 98-inch Q6 Series QLED TV. Delivering up to 4K video resolution, this huge QLED is powered by TCL’s AIPQ Processor with Deep Learning. Frame by frame, the TV analyzes and optimizes picture quality, ensuring you get the best colors, contrast, and motion clarity possible. The Q6 also supports every major HDR format and includes four HDMI 2.0 inputs.

Gamers will love the fact that the TCL Q6 is able to push a native 120-hertz refresh rate when you downscale resolution to 1440p. The TV also has an MEMC Frame Insertion feature, as well as Auto Low Latency Mode support. Buying through Sam’s Club nets you a three-year manufacturer’s warranty, and your TV purchase even comes with an HDMI cable (length unspecified on the site). Sam’s Club user feedback earned this TCL 98-inch a 4.2-out-of-5-star score, based on over 40 ratings.

A fun alternative to a traditional TV-focused home theater is ditching that LCD screen in favor of a projector setup. To that end, Sam’s Club shoppers might want to consider the $800 Samsung The Freestyle Gen 2, a 1080p LED projector that scored 4.4 out stars (out of five), based on over 420 ratings. This portable unit throws up to a 100-inch image (it goes as small as 32 inches), and its small form factor makes it an easy addition to any family room or theater space. The projector is also packed with picture adjustment tools, including auto keystone correction, autofocus, auto leveling, and more.

Manual zooming isn’t an option with this model, so if you want a larger or smaller image, you’ll need to reposition the projector. Other noteworthy features include Samsung’s Tizen OS for smart TV entertainment, a five-watt speaker system, and Bluetooth connectivity (you can have two sets of headphones paired simultaneously). It’s also worth mentioning that the Micro HDMI functions as an eARC connection, should you want to hook up a soundbar or AV receiver.

Every home theater deserves a proper audio system, and if we were shopping at Sam’s Club, we’d go for the $700 Samsung 3.1.2 Channel Soundbar. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill bar/woofer combo; it’s a fully functional Dolby Atmos system. Thanks to its two up-firing speakers, this Samsung bar delivers the object-based immersion that Atmos calls for. The bar also has an HDMI eARC port, a dedicated HDMI input, and digital optical, along with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.

If you happen to own a compatible Samsung TV, the HW-QS700F supports Q-Symphony, too, which means that your soundbar and TV speakers operate together for an expanded soundstage. As far as sound quality goes, this Samsung system has a balanced, bass-favored sound profile out of the box, which is great for movies and music (you’ll be able to choose from multiple audio presets, too). The Sam’s Club crowd awarded the Samsung HW-QS700F 4.7 stars (out of five), based on over 250 ratings.

A wall-mounted TV is a home theater staple, but you can’t stick that 65-inch OLED to the wall with a bunch of glue. You’ll need a proper wall mount to put your TV in ascension mode, and the $125 Member’s Mark Full Motion Wall Mount can be a solid option for most folks. Designed for TV sizes between 32 and 100 inches (or up to 170 pounds), the dual-armed mechanism lets you extend the TV a full 24.25 inches from the wall. It also allows you to swivel your TV up to 45 degrees and tilt your TV up and down, and it includes post-installation leveling to lock in the aesthetic you prefer.

More than 120 Sam’s Club shoppers left feedback about this mount, earning it a 4.7-out-of-5-star rating. Do keep in mind that you’ll want to hit two wall studs when hanging a full-motion mount since one isn’t going to be enough to handle the weight of a larger TV. One final nicety: The built-in cable management helps to organize all your HDMIs and other wires.

One of the elements that’s tough to carry over from a true theater into a home setting is an ultra-plush, reclining lounge chair. Fortunately, Sam’s Club delivers with the $467 Member’s Mark Ashton Power Recliner, which scored 4.2 stars (out of five) based on over 240 buyer ratings. Not only does the chair have a traditional recline function, but you’ll also be able to adjust the headrest. Member Mark went all-in on USB connectivity, too, as there are USB-A and USB-C ports, as well as an AC outlet and a wireless charging pad for all your Qi-certified tech.

The base of the recliner is outfitted with LED lights, as is the integrated cup holder — no more fussing over your beverage when the lights dim. There’s even plenty of storage (under both arms) for your suite of remote controls. As part of your purchase, you’ll also be able to set up free delivery to your home. Assembly is required — and the manufacturer provides tools and instructions — but Sam’s Club Plus members receive free white-glove delivery, which includes installation and trash removal.

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In building this list, we focused on helping the average person looking to put together an entry-level home theater using minimal hardware and accessories. We also wanted to cover a wide range of functionality to make sure you could cover all the basics in your new home theater.

While targeting some basic categories — sound, video, furniture, etc. — we narrowed our choices to products that have scored at least four stars (out of five) on the Sam’s Club website based on a minimum of 40 buyer ratings. We also stayed away from unfamiliar brands, opting instead for devices from big, well-known tech names.