Short version: we don’t run our own test lab. Instead, we go through the expert reviews and lab measurements that already exist for a product, collect the data in one place, and compare it against its real rivals. Every recommendation on CouchSetup comes out of that process.
We think that’s more honest than pretending we had 40 TVs in a living room, and for most buying decisions it’s also more useful. A big review outlet measures a TV once. When you line up five or six of those reviews side by side, you can see where they agree, where one of them had a bad unit, and what owners keep running into months later.
Step by step, this is what we do
1. Pick the products people are really choosing between
We start with what’s actually on sale at each price and room size, not with whatever is newest or most hyped.
2. Read the expert reviews
For every product we go through the main expert reviews: RTINGS, What Hi-Fi?, TechRadar, Tom’s Guide, CNET, ProjectorReviews and others depending on the category. We also watch two to four good video reviews, because seeing a TV in a real room or hearing a soundbar’s dialogue tells you things a spec sheet can’t.
3. Collect the data
This is the part most people don’t have time for. We pull the measured numbers from those reviews into one comparison sheet: peak brightness, reflection handling, contrast, input lag, frequency response, fan noise for projectors, and so on. Then we add the manufacturer’s official specs (sizes, HDMI ports, audio formats, weight) and the problems owners report again and again.
4. Compare against real rivals
A $500 TV gets judged against other $500 TVs, not against a $3,000 OLED. Where the experts disagree, we say so in the article instead of picking the quote that sounds best.
5. Keep it up to date
When a new model comes out, a price changes a lot or a product gets discontinued, we go back and update the guide. The “Updated” date on an article shows the last real revision, not a date we bumped for SEO.
What we compare in each category
| Category | The data we collect |
|---|---|
| TVs | Brightness and reflections for bright rooms, contrast for dark rooms, motion, input lag and 4K/120Hz for consoles, viewing angles, the smart TV system and its ads |
| Soundbars | Dialogue clarity, bass with and without a sub, night mode, Dolby Atmos, HDMI eARC, width under the TV |
| Projectors | Throw distance, measured brightness, fan noise, input lag, lens shift and how fiddly the setup is |
| Streaming devices | Speed, menus and ads, remote, app support, 4K HDR, Dolby Vision and Atmos |
| Furniture | Real dimensions vs your room, materials, weight limits, assembly and long-term owner feedback |
How the score works
Product boxes show a CouchSetup score out of 10. It’s based on the collected review data, value for the money, and how well the product fits the room that guide is about. We never copy store star ratings, and no brand can pay to change a score.
What we promise
We’ll never write “we tested” unless we actually did. Every review lists the sources it’s built on at the bottom. And if we ever do get hands-on time with a product, the article will say so clearly.
Found a mistake, or know a better source? Please let us know and we’ll check it and fix it.