Home Theater Systems & Surround Sound Speakers - Sonos

Best Surround Sound System 2021: For The Best Home Theater

What should you look for when buying a Wireless Sound Bar and Speakers

There are numerous factors to consider when looking for the best wireless sound bar and sound system for your needs. We've collected a few aspects below.

Connectivity: First, figure out which TVs your TV is compatible with, and consider what other devices you'll want to connect, such as gaming consoles. Ports are important and that's where having multiple inputs comes in handy. While having options is great to have, there can be a big distinction in sound quality based on the device you connect.

Optical as well as HDMI are the two most commonly used devices, however HDMI Arc can pass audio in both directions, so you'll be able to connect your devices to your TV and still have the sound streamed through your sound system.

Audio Format: It's also essential to ensure that all your devices support the same audio formats before you plug in. Dolby Atmos as well as DTSX are two of the most popular high-res formats available today. While HDMI Arc can't transmit high-res signals such as Dolby Atmos and DTSX (yet), there's a new format that's being introduced that has the potential to do so. It's called "eArc," and it's getting more and more popular on the latest models. Based on the sound bar and system, these high-end formats can play back information encoded by movies and games, allowing you to immerse yourself in the authentic surround sound even using just your soundbar.

WiFi can be used to cut down on the cables, the majority of systems have wireless options, such as Bluetooth as well as WiFi (or both). It's not just for the sake of getting rid of messy and tangled wires , or the need to drill holes into your walls to accommodate speakers. Connectivity to WiFi can also be used to sync up with services like voice control Airplay, Chromecast as well, of course, adding other speakers. The synchronization process with the rest of your smart home is also possible, as some systems effortlessly connect to Amazon Alexa.

The extras are nice, but it's important not to lose your focus, and your ears, focused on the prize: the sound quality. We've selected these five varying sets to give everybody a an opportunity to improve their sound.

1. JBL Bar 5.1 4K Ultra HD Sound Bar

The JBL Bar 5. 1 was introduced in 2016. While it doesn't have the newest features, it offers an excellent value for the price of $200. The Bar 5.1 comes with four full-range drivers, which can cover any size room and an additional subwoofer for additional bass. There's no extravagant extras However, if you're searching for something that is simple, this might do the job.

2. Nakamichi 9.2.4 Channel Sound Bar

It's a beast. The system contains 9.2.4 channels, which include the sound bar, four two-way surround sound speakers and, not one but two 10-inch wireless subwoofers.

The bar itself is 45 inches in width, and has eight speaker drivers (including the two tweeters with side-firing) and is able to be connected to Dolby Atmos as well as DTSX when streaming through apps such as Netflix. Three advanced audio processing engines boost the surround effect and allow you to see the distinctive details of every audio mix.

It's a complete house shaker of an appliance that allows you to connect six devices, and features a 52-button wireless remote for full control over almost everything.

Amazon Buy Nakamichi 9.2.4 Channel Sound Bar for $1,399.99

3. Sony the HT G700 Sound Bar

At 38.6 inches in width at 38.6 inches, the Sony is small enough to fit into smaller configurations. The bar handles the mids and highs, and the included subwoofer bumps out the bass to a full and satisfying level.

Sony's "Vertical Sound Engine" surround sound system is built-in and does a great job of simulating sound from all directions, making it sound bigger as it separates the channels further than a single sound bar would normally do.

The remote's capabilities go beyond the essentials, but they also provide the ability to choose different sound settings based on the content you're watching for example, sports, news, and cinema. There's also the Night mode, which compresses the range and dynamic of a Dolby digital signal to provide better sound quality at softer volume.

Amazon Purchase: Sony HT-G700 Sound Bar at $598.00

4. Snos Beam Sound Bar Smart TV

Sonos has been producing excellent sound bars for a long time, and their new model isn't an exception. The Beam is made to work with any TV which includes built-in soundbars. It connects via Wi-Fi and includes four speakers that connect to the front of the TV. There's also an integrated subwoofer. You can adjust volume levels independently using the remote, and then the entire system will automatically sync with your Sonos speaker system.

The Beam integrates alongside Sonos its own streaming music service, which gives access to over 50 million music tracks.

The installation is as easy as connecting the beam to the TV and then the app's instructions guide you through the rest. It's also light enough to move around in the room, and even mount on the wall.

Amazon Purchase: Sonos Beam Smart TV Sound Bar for $469.99

5. Samsung HW-T650 Sound Bar

In order to provide one of the more immersive experiences with a sound bar Samsung's sound bar makes use of Dolby Audio and DTS Virtual:X to turn your living room into a theater. Sound quality that is powerful and 3D surround and a central channel for crisp dialogue audio make it feel like you're part of the action.

Connect to your TV using Bluetooth to go completely wireless, and with multi-connection, you can seamlessly switch between different devices. We like the smart and intelligent sound of this device regardless of no matter if you're watching an intense sports event or a quiet drama, it'll automatically optimize the audio settings. Gamers will also appreciate the optimized, directional sound from the dedicated "Game Mode".

This 38.6-inch speaker gives you the full bass sound with a subwoofer that is wireless, with no HDMI cables required.

Amazon Buy: Samsung HW-T650 Sound Bar at $279.00

1 tracks. The bass is quick, precise, and dynamic. That additional subwoofer really makes a difference and enhances the realism. We were not impressed by height results but, to be sincere, we didn't really expect them to be exceptionally immersive or precise. best wireless home theater system 2021. After all, the soundbar just mimics height effects.

Its combined power output is 1,000 W - best sound system for home theater. The system is priced under $1,300 which is not cheap however can be considered quite inexpensive thinking about the efficiency and the quantity of realism it offers. This is, by far, the most fantastic wireless surround stereo at this cost point. Considering that Ultra 9.

Best Home Theater System 2021

Home Theater Systems & Surround Sound Speakers - SonosBest Bluetooth Wireless Surround Sound System (2021)

2.4, these 2 systems have the very same inputs, the very same functions, and they support the same surround sound formats. We are just going to list all the features and focus our attention on the differences. If you desire to discover more about the features, read our review about Elite 7 (best home theater systems 2020).

The installation is nearly the very same. The calibration tool doesn't exist, but there're suggested speaker layouts for various space sizes in the user handbook. You have two extra speakers (rear surround speakers) and you are supposed to connect them to the left and right subwoofer. best home theater system 2021. The list of supported DSP sound modes is likewise the same.

Best Budget Wireless Home Theater System - Soundboxlab

Ultra 9. 2.4 likewise has Night mode with minimized bass and Clear Voice mode for better intelligibility. The list of supported surround sound formats is likewise the exact same. Ultra 9. 2.4 can decode any Dolby Digital or DTS surround audio track, including object-based DTS: X and Dolby Atmos. The remote has some small modifications when it comes to button layout but all the buttons are still there and the remote is still one of the greatest highlights.

Home Entertainment Theater-in-a-box - B&h Photo Video6 Best Wireless Surround Sound Systems In 2021 - Merchdope


Types of Wireless Surround Sound Systems

Wireless surround sound systems can be classified into two major types based on the way they get data: Bluetooth and WiFi.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth Wireless surround-sound speakers are the very first in their class to emerge on the market. However, since Bluetooth has to compress audio data prior to transmitting the data, its quality is a bit shaky.

Although they fall short in the quality category, Bluetooth systems are easier to install, less expensive, and more ubiquitous which allows the wireless surround-sound systems function with nearly any electronic device.

WiFi

WiFi surround sound systems wireless are newer to the market than Bluetooth technology, so there are some issues to be aware of when trying to connect a device that doesn't come with WiFi connectivity. However, most Bluetooth-enabled devices come with an app you can access via WiFi. It is a more complicated method of pairing your device, but the benefits of WiFi might be worth it.

WiFi surround sound systems that are wireless are more expensive than Bluetooth however they are of higher quality in all ways. The sound quality is undeniably better with WiFi because the data does not need to be compressed prior to transmission, and WiFi connections are far more stable than Bluetooth. WiFi wireless surround sound systems have a wider range than Bluetooth systems, making the ideal choice for spaces with a lot of space.

Audio Quality

The sound quality of a wireless surround sound system is based on a variety of technical specifications, such as frequency response, rated output power, RMS, signal to noise ratio and Total Harmonic Distortion which all create a unique audio experience. However, unless you spend a lot of time studying the audio industry, the majority of these numbers will be difficult to comprehend or completely meaningless.

To make it easier for you to comprehend, the audio quality can be easily divided into Bluetooth as well as WiFi.

Bluetooth Wireless surround systems offer lower quality of sound due to the fact that Bluetooth technology requires audio data to be compressed prior to it being able to be sent. The compression of data reduces audio quality, so even if the speakers you have in your home are capable of producing excellent sound quality, the transmission method will reduce their overall ability.

Wireless surround sound systems that are wireless don't limit their transmissions. This allows the data in audio to be sent in its original form and size, preserving the quality of the audio.

With any wireless surround sound system the quality of the sound depends on your perception.

This system completely deserves our suggestion. Well, we can only duplicate the very same things we have actually discussed in the Elite 7. 2.4 review. There's no auto-calibration tool. There are some advised speaker designs in the user manual and you ought to try to follow them. Likewise, there's the space size button on the remote that will enable you to choose in between little, medium, and big space.

Best Surround Sound Systems 2021 - What Hi-fi?

The remote is actually great and provides you so much control over the system however it wouldn't hurt to have a backup choice. Sonos is one of the leaders in the wireless audio market (best wireless home theater system 2021). This is one of the first companies that developed the concept of cordless (wi-fi) audio devices and brought that idea to reality.

They made a soundbar called PLAYBAR first and, after that, they chose to match it with some of their other items. There is a lot of possible combinations you can integrate one PLAYBAR (or PLAYBASE, which is SONOS wireless sound base) with SONOS subwoofer (simply called SUB) and 2 speakers (either PLAY:1, PLAY:2, or PLAY:3) and make your own 5.

Home Theater & Stereo Systems - Best Buy

FAQs regarding Wireless Sound Systems

Q. Are wireless surround sound systems equivalent to wired surround sound systems?

Surround sound wireless systems match the quality of wired systems and offer the freedom to place your speakers in a different location without having to connect into the central system. If you decide to purchase a cheap wireless surround sound system, there's the possibility that microwaves, smartphones, and other technological devices in your home could cause interference and degrade the quality of sound.

Source: bobvila.com

Q. How do Wireless Home Theater Speakers work?

Klipsch Director of Innovation and Technology Matt Spitznagle says the difference between wired and wireless is fairly simple. "You no longer need to run wires from a receiver or amplifier to your speakers," Spitznagle says. "We placed the amplifiers inside our speakers. This reduced the size of components needed to run a system.

Source: klipsch.com

Q. Can I use Bluetooth for surround sound?

Unfortunately, this isn't possible at this time. Surround speakers play a very specific aspect of a film or television show's sound, and Bluetooth isn't equipped with enough bandwidth to handle all the extra information. You can utilize them to enhance stereo sound but that's it.

Source: crutchfield.com

Q. How can I connect my TV to an audio system that is wireless?

Systems with surround-sound wireless need to be connected to audio outputs of your television. Many systems are able to connect using the HDMI Audio Return Channel (HDMI ARC). It's also possible to connect via the optical TOSLINK connection or coaxial connection in the event that it isn't available. However, you cannot establish the system with the analog audio output on your television because it is not compatible with surround sound capabilities.

Source: bobvila.com

Q. Are they worth the price?

In our opinion, the primary reason to purchase an audio system that is wireless is convenience. If you have no idea how to connect your system and conceal the longest cables, purchasing wireless systems is an option.

However, be aware that you'll have to pay more. The cheapest systems (those that cost less than $500) provide decent audio quality, but they typically consist of a sound bar and a wireless subwoofer , which is why they are only able to simulate surround sound, and aren't able to provide that full surround sound cinema-like experience.

The higher-end models, in particular those with two additional wireless surround systems, offer a much better surround sound quality.

Whether they are worth the price or not is dependent on two factors - your preparedness to handle cables as well as your budget.

So, if you don't want to invest long hours (or perhaps days) wiring your home, and you can afford to pay more than $500 for a wireless system, there are some great surround sound systems that wirelessly connect (JBL Bar 5.1, Nakamichi Shockwafe, Enclave Audio, SONOS, Harman Kardon Citation, etc. ).

If that's the case then audio systems with wireless surround are certainly worth the cost.

The finest thing is that you do not have to purchase all these speakers at the same time and sprinkle more than $1,500. You can start with the PLAYBAR (which is the primary system and the one that connects wirelessly to other speakers) and then make upgrades. We have actually decided to present to you the combination PLAYBAR + SUB + 2x, PLAY:1 however you can make your own mix (purchase PLAYBASE instead of PLAYBAR, PLAY:3 or PLAY:5 rather of PLAY1).