Searching for the best home theater speakers or surround sound system for your living room can be challenging. From Dolby Atmos to Bose and Yamaha systems, it’s difficult to navigate the many different brands and specifications—from Bluetooth, wireless (wi-fi), digital audio, and more—the options are abundant. Luckily, I’ve done all the hard work for you.
Have you ever been enjoying a movie and notice that the sound fluctuates dramatically? Quiet conversation scenes are tough to hear, while sound effects from cars and the soundtrack are way too loud. This can ruin the movie experience and have you chasing the volume with your remote control. Purchasing a speaker system can fix this problem.
There are many things to consider when purchasing speakers; there are many sizes, shapes, and styles to choose from. Are you looking for wired or wireless speakers? No matter your choice, your goal is most likely an immersive sound for both music and movies.
The average audiophile is not always familiar with things like frequency or impedance—but do not be discouraged. In the following list, I’ve covered everything you’d want to know before buying the best home theater speakers you can find online.
Home Theater FAQ
1. Why Purchase a Home Theatre System to Begin With?
While all your brand new VIZIO TV may be HDMI, it probably didn’t come with a great sound system sound. Seeking the best home theatre systems may not be the first thing that comes to mind when furnishing your living room, but an excellent speaker system enhances your entire home experience. You just can’t get the full experience of music, movies, television, and gaming without a great sound system.
The standard speakers on most TVs are not high quality enough to drown out distracting noises like neighbors, pets, or the crunchy snacks your loved ones are enjoying right next to you. With a simple upgrade to your sound system, you increase the quality of your media bingeing and your home.
2. How Many Speakers Do I Need?
How many surround speakers do you need? What about a wireless subwoofer?
When it comes to the size of your home theatre system, you must consider the size of the room you are putting them in. Small rooms in an apartment or smaller homes will not need an epic subwoofer and six other speakers. An AV receiver, some bookshelf speakers or stereo speakers, and a center channel might do the trick.
3. What Important Factors Should I Consider When Shopping for the Best Home Theater Systems?
As you shop for the best home theater system, you need to think about what you need and prefer. If you have a modern decor and thin TV, then choose speakers that are sleek in design. Are you predominantly using your system for movies? Then be sure to get a high-quality center channel speaker. Your soundstage is an essential consideration before purchasing.
While it may be 2020, are you looking for a built-in blu-ray player—maybe Amazon Alexa—or something more? Do you need to be able to plugin headphones during late hours?
Our Buying Guide
For the systems on this list, I discussed the specifications of each audio system, the Price point, availability, size, warranty, and sound quality. All of these play a huge role in the ratings for the speakers covered in this article.
In a Hurry?
Our favorite: The Polk Audio TL1600 5.1 Compact Surround Sound System
Overall Price Range
Speaker systems vary in cost. You must consider how many speakers you need and how much power you need to fill your living room with the best home theatre sound. On average, you can get a receiver, five speakers, and a subwoofer for around $150 to $700. This is much cheaper than many soundbar speaker options on the market.
What I Reviewed
- Fluance SXHTB-BK High Definition Surround Sound Home Theater
- KEF T205 5.1 Home Theater System
- Monoprice 10565 Premium 5.1 Channel Home Theater System with Subwoofer
- Sonos Playbar, the mountable soundbar
- Polk Audio TL1600 5.1 Compact Home Theater System with Powered Subwoofer
- Klipsch RP-250C Center Channel Speaker
- JBL Cinema 610 Advanced 5.1 Home Theater Speaker System
- KEF LS50 Mini Monitor
- Klipsch RP-280F Floorstanding Speaker
- Polk Audio RC85i 2-way Premium In-Wall 8″ Speakers
Fluance SXHTB-BK High Definition Surround Sound Home Theater
Features
The SXHTB-BK theatre package from Fluance is an excellent system for a great price. The package includes two tall standing speakers that sit directly on the floor, two bookshelf speakers, and a center channel. There is no subwoofer included in this package, but you can easily add one for the deeper bass sounds.
The aesthetically pleasing standing speakers offer 6-inch woofers that easily cover the low, bassy frequencies of most movies and video games. The center channel’s tweeter is perfect for catching quiet dialogue clearly and consistently. Two bookshelf speakers help blend the sound perfectly, complimenting the standing speakers and center channel to make a natural sound.
Pros
- Lower than the average cost
- Standing speakers
- Balanced sound
Cons
- Bulky speakers
- Subwoofer not included
Price: $
Warranty
Lifetime manufacturer’s parts and labor with customer support
The KEF T205 5.1 Home Theater System
Features
If you are looking to avoid bulky speakers, then the KEF T205 home theatre system is for you. This sleek and modern looking sound system is one of the best home theatre systems for your living room. With six speakers total, this surround system will ensure the sound of your media fills the room.
The center speaker houses a 1-inch tweeter with two midrange drivers for clear treble and natural midrange tones. The right and left speakers are similar to the center but built to stand vertically. Rear speakers enhance the surround sound experience with smaller 1-inch tweeters and a single midrange driver. The T2 subwoofer is slim and easy to hide but packs a big punch for all of your bass needs.
This system can be mounted directly to the wall or placed on the small desk stands that come included in this package. The deepest speaker is only 1.25 inches, so this system can fit almost anywhere. For a system to match the modern design of the latest thin TVs, this package has some of the best home theater speakers.
Pros
- Industry-leading sound quality
- Sleek and modern appearance
- Compact
Cons
- High price point
Price: $
Warranty
Free 60-day tech support from the date of purchase. A manufacturer’s warranty can be requested.
Monoprice 10565 Premium 5.1 Channel Home Theater System with Subwoofer
Features
For low price alternatives to expensive speakers that don’t sacrifice too much sound quality, Monoprice has been the go-to brand for years. The 10565 Premium home theatre is no exception. This sound system is the best bang for your buck on our list.
The six-speaker package comes with surround sound speakers and an 8 inch, 200-watt subwoofer to balance the lower frequencies without distortion at high volumes. Satellite speakers boast 3-inch midrange drivers and 3/4 inch tweeters. The center channel includes the same speakers as the satellites but enclosed in a larger box to balance the natural tones.
With a decent receiver, this system can easily compete with more expensive packages but remains at an affordable price. For smaller rooms, this sound system has the best cost to quality ratio.
Pros
- Low cost
- Good frequency responses
Cons
- Bland appearance
- Inconsistent bass reproduction
Price: $
Warranty
Manufacturer’s warranty can be requested
Sonos Playbar, the Mountable Soundbar
Features
The Sonos Playbar is one of the best soundbar speakers on the market. While many soundbar speakers cannot compete with other home theatre packages, the Playbar is a rare exception.
Sonos have outdone themselves by equipping this speaker with 9 digital amplifiers that power 3 tweeters and 6 mid woofers. The tweeters and woofers complement each other well to create a balanced and natural sound, unlike most soundbars on the market.
Playbar supports Doby Digital 5.1 audio; its design is specifically created to playback center, left, and right channels found in 5.1 compatible devices. Hook the soundbar directly to your TV, but be sure your TV is Dolby 5.1 compatible for the best sound.
Pros
- High-quality sound technology
- Compatible with other Sonos products
- Dolby Digital 5.1 compatible
Cons
- NO DTS audio support
Price: $$
Warranty
The limited warranty covers manufacturer defects and defects in workmanship.
Polk Audio TL1600 5.1 Compact Home Theater System with Powered Subwoofer
Features
Compact and powerful, the Polk Audio TL 1600 home theatre system is one of the finest products available at the mid-range price. It also has a humble and stylish design that can easily fit any home decor.
The satellite speakers offer a clear sound that is complemented perfectly by the large subwoofer. This subwoofer is among the best—sounding amazing at high volumes without losing quality or distorting the bass. The center speaker allows dialogue to come through nicely while not being overshadowed by the powerful bass tones.
This package is easy to upgrade if you need more boom from your satellite speakers. When combined with a decent receiver, this system can fill small rooms wonderfully. For larger rooms, you may want to upgrade the satellite speakers.
Pros
- Powerful subwoofer
- Balanced center channel
- Versatile appearance
Cons
- Cannot fill large rooms
- Speaker cables not included
Price: $$
Warranty
A manufacturer’s warranty can be requested.
Klipsch RP-250C Center Channel Speaker
Features
For a delicate balance between price and quality, Klipsch delivers with their RP-250C center speaker. This speaker is a part of the Reference Premier series, a step up from the basic Reference series. This center channel system is a welcome upgrade to any home theatre system, as Klipsch takes the technology from their high-end line and apply it to the Reference Premier Series.
The housing for this speaker is sturdy and designed beautifully with copper-colored Cerametallic woofers. These 5.25-inch woofers minimize distortion at high volumes and offer a clean low end not found in many center speakers, making this channel speaker one of the best home theater speakers. These woofers are also lightweight for easy rearranging.
Compared to other Klipsch center channels the RP-250C is much shorter, offering more versatility to fit into small spaces and corners. The depth of the speaker is still wide enough to add weight to soundtrack and movies with heavy dialogue. An 8-ohm impedance ensures your preferred receiver can deliver a wide range of volume levels without sacrificing the hi-fi quality.
Pros
- Clear treble and mid-range
- Modern appearance
- Customizable grill
Cons
- May be too wide for some spaces
Price: $$
Warranty
Manufacturer warranty if purchased from a Klipsch authorized seller.
JBL Cinema 610 Advanced 5.1 Home Theater Speaker System
Features
JBL needs no introduction; they are known for having some of the best home theater speakers in the industry. The Cinema 610 perpetuates their reputation with excellent clarity and compact design.
The highlight of this package is the center channel speaker. The clarity you will get from this center channel is untouched by its competitors. Dialogue during movies will be sharp and clear, so you will not miss any plotlines. This is because of the two 3-inch, midrange speakers and their counterpart, a 1.5-inch dome tweeter.
Super compact satellite speakers make arrangement simple while also offering natural sound. The subwoofer in this package meets any industry standards for the price range, offering a distortion-free bass tone to balance the sharpness of the center speaker.
Pros
- Clear dialogue
- Compact satellite speakers
Cons
- Low-quality surround sound
Price: $
Warranty
Warranty information through the manufacturer’s website.
KEF LS50 Mini Monitor
Features
For bookshelf speakers, you want an excellent natural sound to blend the high and low tones. The KEF LS50 Mini Monitor offers some of the most natural sound quality available today. These are some of the highest-rated bookshelf speakers available, and this list is no exception,
Not only do these speakers look awesome with the black and copper color combo, but they have absolutely everything you could want from a satellite speaker. Based on technology used in professional music studios, the LS50 has a tweeter housed within the main woofer. This blends the stereo sound wonderfully, regardless of where you position the speakers in your home.
This groundbreaking technology is all housed in an 11.9 inch high and 8-inch wide casing. Although these speakers are technically bookshelf speakers, you can easily use them for a center channel or surround sound. The versatile technology and fresh look make the LS50 Mini Monitor one of the best home theater speakers available.
Pros
- Versatility
- Professional sound quality
- Compact
- Cool look
Cons
- Quality amplifier required
- High cost
Price: $
Warranty
Warranty available through the manufacturer’s website.
Klipsch RP-280F Floorstanding Speaker
Features
The second time the Klipsch Reference Premier series appears on our list and for good reason. The RP-280F is an excellent floor-standing speaker with the same sleek appearance of copper and black found in the RP series.
For movies or music, these speakers will offer clear and quality sound. With a little more power than typical bookshelf speakers, the RP-280F can be used with or without a subwoofer and still provide solid bass tones. One inch tweeters have you covered on treble tones, and the 8-inch, Cerametallic, mid-range woofers blend the sound together wonderfully.
Obviously, the size of these speakers will not be right for everyone; at 43 inches tall and 10 inches wide, you will need some space to fit these in. They will need to fit on each side of your screen, so be sure you have the room.
Pros
- High quality and natural sound
- Beautiful design and removable grill
- Subwoofer may not be needed
Cons
- Large size
Price: $$
Warranty
Warranty available through the manufacturer.
Polk Audio RC85i 2-way Premium In-Wall 8″ Speakers
Features
The Polk Audio RC85i are great paired with ceiling speakers, offering an authentic surround experience while not taking up too much space. They are suitable for rear speakers or positioned in front of you if that’s your preference.
With an 8 inch driver for mid-range tones and a 1-inch tweeter, these speakers can bring you a natural sound without sacrificing volume or quality. The housing of these speakers is made of water-resistant materials for outdoor use or use in saunas or restrooms.
Pros
- In-wall capability
- Water-resistant housing
- Swivel mount
Cons
- Lower sound quality compared to indoor speakers
Price: $
Warranty
Warranty available through the manufacturer.
Verdict — The Best Speakers for You
When choosing to equip your living room with a high-performance sound system, there is a lot to consider. Technical specifications and sleek design aside, what speakers you need is really up to you and your personal preferences. Not all speakers sound the same to everyone, and the look or size really depends on your home and style.
For this list, I have compiled an excellent array of quality speakers for many different purposes and price ranges. But, if I had to choose a favorite, it will have to be the Polk Audio TL1600 5.1 Compact Surround Sound System. Its clarity and design are fantastic for the price range—and it’s a complete system.
Regardless of how you go about choosing the best home theater speakers to suit your needs, always keep in mind what works best for you. Don’t choose a system simply because it’s a popular brand; find something that is suitable for your personal needs and fits well in your home.
