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With the explosion of home streaming, as well as movies going right to your TV (skipping movie theaters) it’s more important than ever to have the best surround sound system in your home. We scoured the entire internet, aggregated millions of actual customer reviews, and tested the top surround sound models.
We looked at high-end audiophile systems, budget options, and everything in between. Whether you want to spend $100 – or you want to spend thousands – we’ve got you covered.
The brands that you already know are definitely featured on our list – but there may also be some surprises. So without further adieu, here are our picks, for the best surround sound systems on the market today.
Our Top Pick
Logitech Z906 5.1 Surround Sound Speaker System
Logitech is very well known for making incredible sounding speakers, and this set is no different. We were blown away by the sound quality, the price point, and the customizable options.
As long as you are not looking for any insanely advanced options, this is a perfect home choice for most movie watchers and music streamers. While you can certainly spend more, for most people – this is the best surround sound system on the market today. Highly recommended.
Other Great Picks
Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra Surround Sound System
We definitely were not familiar with Nakamichi as a brand, before reviewing this awesome sound system. We were pleasantly surprised, to say the least.
We tested the Ultra model, and wow, we were completely blown away. While not the cheapest option on our list – if you care about high quality sound – this is an absolutely tremendous pick.
Klipsch Black Reference Theater Pack 5.1 Surround Sound System
This fantastic surround sound system has quite a reputation – and it definitely lived up to it, during our testing. It’s priced moderately, but has thousands of glowing reviews.
We put it through the wringer – and tried it with bass heavy hip hop, dynamic classical, and blasted action movies. And this set held up extremely well. Definitely another keeper.
Vizio Elevate Surround Sound System
This deluxe option offered some of the best sound quality we’ve ever heard, from a home theater. We were blown away that this seemingly small setup could provide such insanely great sound – and we know you will be too.
Vizio is known for their TVs, and we had one back in college. However, once you enter into the adult world, and need a great surround sound system – you may just want to make it this one.
Harman Kardon HKTS 16BQ 5.1 Channel Home Theater Speaker Package
Harman Kardon is definitely one of the most well known brands, when it comes to home speakers. We all used to own their desktop computer speakers, so we were pretty amped to test this home theater package.
While it’s certainly not a budget pick, if you care about overall sound quality – this is a spectacularly good unit. It’s also backed by a plethora of fantastic user reviews, which only further solidifies our recommendation. Another top pick, easily.
Fluance Elite High Definition Surround Sound Home Theater
This high quality audio system not only looks great – it offers top of the line performance. While definitely pricier than some of our budget picks, this home theater system is definitely worth it (at least in our opinion).
We could hear every last high and low note, and we felt like we were directly in the room with the band, when we listened to music. Highly recommend, and a pleasant reviewing surprise indeed.
Rockville HTS56 1000w 5.1 Channel Home Theater System
We were not all that familiar with Rockville as a brand, until we reviewed this home theater unit. We tested the model with the larger sub, and we definitely recommend it.
This unit offers a very low price point, which is definitely another plus. Overall, with thousands of glowing reviews, this is another fantastic pick. Highly recommended.
Polk Audio MagniFi Mini Home Theater
Polk Audio does it again, with this magnificent mini home theater. We loved the high quality sound, as well as the small size.
With thousands of glowing reviews, we’re far from the only ones who love this system. It also has an attractively low price point – especially considering the quality that’s packed into this home theater. Highly recommended.
Sony HT-S350 Home Theater Surround Sound Speaker System
Sony is well known for making high quality audio products, and this speaker system is no exception. It offers exceptional sound quality, as well as an affordable price.
We have Sony headphones, which have lasted for over 4 years, so we feel confident in recommending this surround sound system as one that will last. Highly recommend for anyone from audio novices to audiophiles.
Klipsch Cinema 600 Surround Sound System
This insanely great surround sound system from Klipsch may not be the least expensive option on our list, but it’s certainly one of the best, in terms of overall sound quality. With thousands of fantastic, five star reviews, we’re far from the only ones who love it.
We tried this system with Blu Rays, Spotify, Apple Music, and much more. And no matter what we were playing – things sound absolutely fantastic. Highly recommended, especially for those that care about audio quality.
What Is A Surround Sound System?
A surround sound system is a serious of different speakers, which allows for you to feel that the sound is truly “surrounding” you. Typically these systems consist of a subwoofer, a center channel speaker, left and right channel speakers, and possibly even more audio devices.
The range of sound quality is largely linked to how much you’re willing to spend. Cheaper surround sound systems usually offer lower audio fidelity, though this is not always true.
What Are The Benefits Of Having A Surround Sound System?
While traditional sound systems allow you to customize the basics (like treble, bass, and midrange) – surround sound systems allow you to truly become the master of sound design for your living room. You can choose speaker placement, adjust individual levels and tones, and turn on or off the bass-rattling subwoofer.
You also literally become “surrounded” by the sound – which makes action movies (and other similar experiences) far more enjoyable. You can pair a great surround sound system with a hugely immersive TV, and really feel like the movie theater has come home to you.
Which Is Best 5.1 Or 7.1 Surround Sound?
This all depends on your space, as well as your budget. There’s little argument that 7.1 isn’t better than 5.1 – it certainly is.
But if you have a smaller space, 5.1 surround sound may be more than enough. 7.1 costs more, but will easily fill a larger space better – and result in clearer and crisper audio quality.
Which Surround Sound Mode Is Best?
Once again, we do not think there is just one surround sound mode that is best here. Dolby Pro Logic is one of our favorites, however, as it works great with 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound.
However, it’s rare that we encountered a bad surround sound mode, throughout our testing. If you limit yourself to the best surround sound systems, it’s very unlikely that you will hear any surround sound mode that truly sounds inadequate, bad, or even a little bit tinny (or distorted).
What Is The Best Sound System For A Large Area?
We don’t think there is one sound system that will undoubtedly be the best for a large area. However, any of our picks on this list should work for serving the needs of huge-sounding audio, for large spaces.
Generally speaking, you will want to have more speakers rather than fewer, and lots of watts powering your system. These are the most important hallmarks for delivering crisp audio in a big space.
If you think about large scale concerts (like those held in sports arenas), they have hundreds of speakers, spreading the original audio signal far and wide. You can do the same thing – albeit on a smaller scale – right in your own home.
In fact, if we are talking about a large area outside, you may even want the best outdoor speakers. A surround sound system can work just as well outside, as it does inside – don’t limit yourself.
Other Buying Factors For The Best Surround Sound System
When it comes to choosing the best surround sound system, you will definitely want to scour Amazon. There are an insane amount of deals, whether you want a Bluetooth system, something with a subwoofer and soundbar, or simply bookshelf speakers.
High-end systems will set you back quite a bit, but if you want something more affordable, it will cost very little. Over Wi-Fi, you can now stream all formats, though if you care about sound quality, an iPad or phone won’t give you the same experience as really great tweeters.
Most TVs now thrive off of HDMI connections, but smart home systems can also take other inputs. Apple has made big strides with their Apple TV, but we love a great surround sound system for all of our media – with a clean and clear center channel, solid rear speakers, and a rock solid wireless subwoofer.
Nice extras like Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and other high-quality bonuses make a good system great – even though a lot of us are merely looking for the best soundbar, Google Assistant compatibility, HDMI inputs, maybe Chromecast compatibility, and an overall stellar sound experience.
If you want a surround sound system in your living room, you may want a floor standing model – though for better acoustics, you may want to hang speakers, keeping only your woofer grounded. Many audio systems now support voice control (like Amazon Alexa), and the best home theater systems also allow for the best budget decisions – you won’t be forced to spend an arm and a leg.
Audiophiles will likely want the highest quality systems possible, and Bose is one manufacturer that is very popular in terms of audio quality. Most of us just want to use a Blu-Ray player, Apple’s AirPlay, or the standard apps that allow streaming movies and TV shows – we don’t necessarily need Dolby Vision, or the best amplifier money can buy.
When it comes to audio quality, you’ll want to have balanced center speakers, left channel speakers and right channel speakers that have no coloring or distortion, and an even midrange. The human ear is more sensitive to high-end treble, though public places like movie theaters now blast most audio to ridiculously dangerous decibel levels.
If you want a great home cinema setup, you should make sure you have a solid AV receiver, and something like a Dolby Atmos soundbar system. Manufacturers like Sonos, Samsung, JBL, and Yamaha also make great products, and we found that streaming services like Spotify sounded great cross all the wireless speakers we tested.
Perhaps you care about obscure audio formats (like FLAC), or Bluetooth connectivity, or completely immersive sound. If you care about quality sound, you may want tower speakers, or a complete soundstage.
Satellite speakers also work well, especially if you have a great amp. Things like HDR, and the best Dolby Atmos systems will all provide excellent, high quality sound.
The Best Surround Sound System
There you have it – our picks for the best surround sound systems on the market today. Whether you want to spend $100, or $10,000 – we’ve got you covered.
We truly loved testing all of the different speakers, tweeters, and subwoofers – even re-watching movies we’d seen 50 times became interesting. While we showcased many great systems, the right one for you will depend on your overall needs, and your total budget.
Hopefully you found this review of the best surround sound systems helpful. If so, be sure to check out some of our other best product reviews.