Having a cozy place to watch the newest and boldest movies is essential for any entertainment goer. Nothing beats going to the theater for most folks, but there are plenty of ways to turn your at-home setup into the next best thing. This is where home theater systems come in, which consist of subwoofers, soundbars, speakers, and more. Depending on how much you’d like to invest here, you can unlock surround sound that rivals some of the best there is on the market.
Some systems will only come with a soundbar, while others will include up to seven different speakers you can strategically place around your home theater. Each of these systems has its benefits, whether it’s auto-analyzing acoustics in your room or offering Bluetooth functionality for you to stream your favorite music from your phone. Plus, if you’re into action movies and sci-fi movies, you can experience an immersive at-home theater experience from your living room or basement from specific titles that were meant to be heard in surround sound; (Top Gun: Maverick, Dune, and Blade Runner 2049, to name a few). We hope you find the best setup for you to make hosting movie nights even more epic this year.
TL;DR – These are our top picks for Best Home Theater Systems in 2024:
Yamaha YHT-5960U
Best Overall Bang for Your Buck
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This package has everything. The YHT-5960U includes an 8K AV receiver, a subwoofer, two front speakers, two rear speakers, and a center speaker. The receiver can be fully controlled from any mobile device, which opens the ability to use the YHT-5960U as more than just a home theater.
HDCP2.3 HDMI ports are loaded onto the system, which allow you to take advantage of popular features such as 4K/120Hz pass-through. With these ports, it is future-proofed for amazing 8K TV content. As for sound support: Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD Master Audio, and more. The system will configure itself with Yamaha Parametric Room Acoustic Optimizer to minimize reverb and unwanted sound as much as possible.
JBL Bar 5.1
Best 5.1 Surround Sound System
JBL
JBL Bar – Best 5.1 Surround Sound System
Soundbar with Built-in Virtual Surround, 4K and 10″ Wireless Subwoofer
The JBl Bar 5.1 has plenty of exciting features coupled with great sound. The package has a soundbar and a subwoofer, both of which are used to create 5.1 surround sound. On each side of the soundbar is a detachable speaker you can move around the room to create immersive sound. These are wireless and battery-powered, so you are able to place them anywhere you’d like.
It’s all plug-and-play, so you shouldn’t run into any issues when setting it up. By connecting the speakers to your audio source and plugging them into power, you’ll immediately have a surround sound home theater system ready to go. The JBL Bar 5.1 retails for $599. Overall, this package produces impressive sound for the price and can create an immersive experience for your home theater.
LG 5.1.2 Channel Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer
Best Budget 5.1.2 Sound System
LG
LG 5.1.2 Channel Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer
LG 5.1.2 Channel Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer
This LG package is perfect for anyone looking for a good 5.1.2 system. The S75QR Soundbar, a subwoofer, a wireless receiver, and two rear speakers are included. The system supports lossless audio, as well as Dolby Atmos audio. Additionally, pairing an LG TV with this system will automatically analyze the room and optimize sound quality.
The S75QR utilizes an LG technology called Meridian Audio Technology, which can turn standard stereo audio into an immersive surround sound experience that uses multichannel audio. It’s also equipped with Bluetooth, so you can stream music from your phone to the system. This package usually retails for $599, but you can regularly purchase it for $349 during sales seasons.
Vizio 5.1-Channel M-Series
Best System on a Budget (Under $350)
Vizio
Vizio 5.1-Channel M-Series
Premium Sound Bar with Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Bluetooth, Wireless Subwoofer and Alexa Compatibility
If you want a premium home theater sound but on a smaller budget, the Vizio 5.1-Channel M-Series package is the top choice. You’ll get a soundbar, subwoofer, and two rear speakers. This package supports Dolby Atmos, which is perfect for filling your theater with crisp and clear surround sound. Plus, the sound bar supports HDMI, eARC, and optical ports to plug in your desired audio source.
With a total of nine speakers between the different devices, the M-series is sure to turn your room into the perfect home theater. It’s very easy to set up and only requires you to plug the devices together and into your television. While you aren’t getting the same quality as a 5.1.2 or 11.1.4 sound system, this is a fantastic choice for the money.
Samsung – HW-Q750B/ZA
Best High-End 5.1.2 Sound System
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For a top-of-the-line 5.1.2ch sound system, look no further than this Samsung package. You’ll get the Samsung HW-Q750B/ZA soundbar, a wireless subwoofer, two rear speakers, and a wireless module for connectivity out of the box. One of the best features of this package is the built-in Airplay 2, Spotify Connect, and Chromecast. This allows you to immediately utilize these software and services from your phone without any controls at all. Pairing this sound system with a Samsung Q-series TV for the best effect in your home theater is highly recommended. This is one of the best 5.1.2 sound systems available, at a price of $799.
Samsung Q-series 11.1.4 ch. Wireless Dolby Atmos Soundbar + Rear Speakers w/ Q-Symphony
Best Dolby Atmos Experience
Samsung
Samsung Q-series 11.1.4 ch. Wireless Dolby Atmos Soundbar + Rear Speakers w/ Q-Symphony
Best Dolby Atmos Experience
For the best experience with Dolby Atmos, this Samsung system is the best there is on the market. A soundbar, subwoofer, and two rear speakers are included in this kit. This is a wireless solution that you won’t need to hardwire; you’ll be able to experience the Dolby Atmos sound with no HDMI inputs or optical audio required. The front of the system has a total of eleven speakers, which will fill the room to the brim with audio.
SpaceFit Sound Pro is a feature available on the 11.1.4 system. This allows your soundbar to adjust the audio in real time as it calibrates to your acoustics and space. Additionally, you can use Adaptive Sound to lower background noise and bring out voices in TV shows or movies. While the $1,899 price is steep, this system does go on sale often, and it is worth the money if you want the most out of your home theater.
What to Look for in a Home Theater System
How will it fit in your theater room?
A lot of the systems you’ll find on the market work better in specific types of rooms. That might mean it optimizes better in smaller environments rather than big ones, or vice versa. This should be noted within the product overview, and you can usually tell when looking at the speakers included.
Is it Bluetooth enabled?
Plenty of people want to utilize their theaters for streaming music. Luckily, the best home theater systems come equipped with Bluetooth functionality, so there are options for you to have a killer home theater audio system. You can use this to directly connect to your phone and stream whatever music you’d like.
Is it easy to set up?
No one wants to tinker and attempt to set up a piece of technology for prolonged periods of time. That’s why it is essential that your home theater is easy to set up and put together. Most systems nowadays have wireless functionality that only requires you to plug it into power. However, you’ll find plenty of cheaper and older systems that require wiring connections, which can take hours and even days to configure properly.
While you shop around and discover the best theater setup for you in your price range, you may also want to consider the best projectors for your home theater, the best cheap projectors, and even the top gaming projectors. On the TV front, if you’re looking to upgrade this year and aren’t willing to wait for the biggest discount times around Prime Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, here are the best tv deals you can shop right now.
Noah Hunter is a freelance writer and reviewer with a passion for games and technology. He also co-founded Final Weapon, an outlet focused on nonsense-free Japanese gaming in 2019.