The best home sound system can envelop your living room with immersive audio and transform watching movies, TV, and sports into a more cinematic experience.
They come in a variety of sizes and feature sets, so you’re sure to find the right one for your space. From a simple soundbar to tiny stereo systems and full surround speaker setups, there’s a setup for every budget.
Soundbar
If you’re looking for a high-end sound system to fill your living room with sound, a soundbar is a great option. They’re smaller and less expensive than traditional speakers, and they can also deliver surround sound and a wide range of audio features.
When shopping for a soundbar, you’ll want to keep an eye out for features such as Bluetooth connectivity, which allows you to stream music from compatible devices to the speaker. ARC, or audio return channel, is another handy feature that connects the soundbar to your TV without requiring a wire between them.
Some soundbars, especially those that include surround speakers like LG Soundbar, will use sophisticated digital signal processing to amplify the sounds around them. However, this artificial processing can affect how the sound works in your room, so it’s important to check out the acoustics of the space you plan to use the soundbar in before purchasing. Some soundbars even offer a room calibration feature that will reposition the audio waves in your room to avoid dead zones.
Speakers
The best home sound system can turn watching TV, movies, and sports into a powerful, immersive experience. There’s a wide range of systems to choose from, from tiny stereo systems to full surround speaker setups.
If you’re in the market for a new soundbar, we recommend checking out Nakamichi’s Shockwafe Pro, which combines a sleek, minimalist design with plenty of power and surround sound. Its soundbar and two rear speakers are connected to a V-shaped 10-inch wireless subwoofer.
Another great option is the Sony HTA9 Home Theater System, which comes with four wireless speakers and a control unit. It’s ideal for smaller spaces and people who don’t want to commit to a full surround sound system.
Subwoofer
A subwoofer is an essential part of a good home sound system. According to audio expert Dan Brennan, they help spread low-frequency energy evenly throughout your room.
The best subwoofers are capable of delivering rich bass without distortion, which is essential for movies and music. Many of these models are also compact, so they can be placed in your living room without taking up too much floor space.
Another benefit of having multiple subwoofers in a surround sound system is that they can distribute the low-frequency energy evenly throughout the room. This is important when a lot of people are watching a movie or listening to music together.
The Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2.4 eARC SSE Max is our pick for the best wireless home theater speaker system thanks to its immersive, realistic sound and massive bass rumble from its twin 10-inch powered subwoofers. It also boasts state-of-the-art tech, including HDMI 2.1 and eArc for easy set up and a host of features that will bring your home theater experience to life.
AV Receiver
AV receivers take in audio and video signals from sources, then route them to their appropriate outputs (like TVs or projectors) and speakers. They often do more than that, too–in fact, they’re a critical part of the best home sound system.
The best AV receivers offer a range of inputs, including 4K and HDR support. Many also have built-in music streaming services, like Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and Tidal HiFi.
Another important feature to look for is a receiver’s power output, which will determine how loud it can drive your speakers. This will help to ensure that your system is not underpowered and can handle the full spectrum of frequencies your speakers are designed to reproduce.
It’s also worth looking for a receiver that supports Dolby Atmos, as this adds a height dimension to surround sound and can be deployed as a second zone to enhance the immersiveness of your experience. Ultimately, this is one of the most important features to consider when choosing an AV receiver.