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There are a lot of components that go into building a truly spectacular home theater. Maybe the most crucial? Cinematic sound. Relying solely on TV speakers may be OK for some; however, if you’re going for an impressive, immersive setup with a sizable screen, you’ll want to invest in something that really fills a room, whether it’s a set of multiple speakers, a soundbar, and a woofer, just a soundbar, or an all-in-one product.
If you’re going for a complete setup, it’s essential to know what each piece does. Soundbars typically go right in the center of the room, underneath the TV. Additional front speakers can go to the TV’s left or right, while surround sound speakers are designed to be placed elsewhere in the room. Subwoofers are important because they highlight the low bass tones of whatever’s playing, but the location is less critical. Wherever you have space for it, a subwoofer will do its job all the same.
Whether you’re going for a modest setup for a small room or your home theater is the biggest room in your house, we’ve got you covered with well-reviewed picks across price points and equipment types.
Vizio M-Series, $349.99, original price: $499.99
This four-piece set has exceptional value for the quality of the product and is equipped with Dolby Atmos sound.
Sonos Immersive Set with Beam, $1,140.00, original price: $1,426.00
This four-piece set includes a subwoofer, two rear speakers, and the Sonos Beam soundbar. The Beam provides immersive sound while the mini-sub balances bass. The setup is easy and can be done over wi-fi with the Sonos app. You can buy all three pieces of the set individually, but they were made to go together, working seamlessly to deliver Dolby Atmos surround sound to whatever room you put them in.
Logitech Z906 Surround Sound Speaker System, $399.00
Logitech’s seven-piece speaker set does not include a soundbar but instead comes with five surround sound speakers that can be placed anywhere. It supports Dolby Digital Audio and DTS soundtracks, plus the set has THX certification, so whatever you listen to will have as close to movie theater quality sound as you can get. The set also comes with a subwoofer that can be placed anywhere to enhance bass.
Yamaha YHT-5960U Home Theater System, $579.95, original price: $679.95
Like the Logitech set above, this doesn’t have a soundbar, but it’s more of a splurge if that’s what you’re looking for. One of the five speakers here functions like a soundbar, though, as the center channel speaker. The other four bookshelf speakers can go anywhere in the room and can be easily mounted on walls if that’s how you want your setup. The included 4K UHD AV receiver can also be upgraded to 8K if available. This set also has the Yamaha Parametric room Acoustic Optimizer, which analyzes the room’s acoustics to provide the best possible sound configuration.
VIZIO V-Series All-in-One Soundbar, $99.00, original price: $115.99
At the very least, a soundbar is crucial for your home theater. This all-in-one piece combines a soundbar with a subwoofer, so you’re getting Dolby Audio plus the low bass-highlighting capabilities of a woofer in one sleek piece. It’s optimized for 4K content with high-fidelity sound and is also ready to be paired with your voice assistant of choice — Siri, Google, or Alexa.
Polk Signature Elite System, $399.00+
Something unique about Polk’s highly-rated products is your ability to pick and choose speakers within a specific line. The Signature Elite system has a few components you can purchase individually to create your dream setup. With a gorgeous walnut wood finish, the set looks as beautiful as it sounds, delivering Dolby Atmos and DTS:X compatible sound. The Tower Speaker retails on sale for $449, the Center Channel Speaker, a.k.a. soundbar, retails for $399, and the set of two bookshelf speakers is also priced at $399.
There isn’t a specific subwoofer created for this system; Polk says you can use any of their woofers. We recommend the PSW 108 ($169.99) for a budget option and HTS 10 ($399) for a slightly pricier model.
Nakamichi Shockwafe 9.2.4 Channel Ultra Surround Sound System, $1,399.99, original price: $1,899.99
If money is no object and you want a highly reviewed, full setup, look no further. Nakamichi’s surround sound system comes with a center channel soundbar, four satellite speakers that can be set up around the room, and dual wireless subwoofers. New technology helps this system deliver 360-degree audio for the most cinematic experience, whether you’re watching sports, a sitcom, or a blockbuster action movie. With support for Dolby Atmos and 4K HDR pass-through, the sound quality will match the image quality.
