Ask anyone who loves to watch movies at home, and they’ll tell you that a crucial part of home movies is the sound. Sure, a 51-inch flat-screen offers an immersive viewing experience, but most of these TVs can only give you stereo sound. You still need to connect your giant screen to a home theater system, specifically with a set of best 5.1 speakers to completely enjoy what you’re watching.
With a 5.1 speaker system, you’ll be doing more than just watching the movie. The surround sound will pull you in and give you that truly immersive audio and video experience. And whether you’re in the market for an upgraded home theater system or you want to try a 5.1 system out for the first time, we have a list of the ten top 5.1 speakers or home theater system to buy this year. You’ll surely find the one that’s best for your audio enjoyment.
Remember the following when buying a 5.1 speaker system
Speakers design
No longer are speakers boring and box-shaped. Updated systems have tall stereo speakers in varying shapes and designs, large and dominant surround speakers, and receivers in varying styles as well. Don’t limit yourself with a regular-looking speaker system, explore, find the one that will fit your living room design and style.
Connectivity
One of the most challenging things when setting up a home theater system is connectivity, especially when you’re using wireless speakers. So, find a 5.1 system that connects using wire if this is your preference or you can do away with wires and go wireless, it’s up to you.
Ease of use
Almost all 5.1 speakers, home theater systems, can be a challenge to use for the first time. You need to connect everything, make sure that all the speakers are working, and are in perfect balance plus consider setting the system up with your TV, gaming console, Blue-ray or DVD player, and more. You won’t find a system that’s plug and play, but once everything’s set, you’ll be enjoying awesome audio for all inputs.
Features you need
Every brand seems to have a special feature, but make sure to read between the lines. High definition audio is just similar to HD sound, high-fidelity sound, crystal clear audio, and many more. Learn to identify these features so you won’t have to pay more than what you need.
Best 5.1 Speakers or Home Theater Systems
Yamaha YHT- 5950U 5.1 Channel Home Theater System with MusicCast
The Yamaha YHT-5950U 5.1 channel home theater system is an upgraded speaker system that connects via Wi-Fi to other devices in your home. It has a sleek and compact design with a powerful subwoofer and a versatile receiver.
You’ll get clear and powerful 5.1 surround sound, 4K Ultra HD HDMI for pure sound, and Dolby Vision and HDR10. It also connects via Bluetooth and has MusicCast so you can enjoy music in different rooms. This system is easier to set up with its flexible speaker placement options. Finally, this is satellite radio compatible, so you’ll enjoy listening to your favorite sat radio stations anywhere you are at home.
Conclusion: The Yamaha YHT-5950U 5.1 channel home theater system, is a complete set of sleek speakers with an ominous subwoofer and versatile receiver. It can connect physically, through Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or via MusicCast. It provides high-quality audio and pure sound on any kind of input. If you’re looking for a good quality 5.1 speaker system with updated features, then this may be the one for you.
Pros
• Clear and powerful surround sound
• Wi-Fi enabled
• With many ways to connect
• Satellite radio-ready
• Offers 4K Ultra HD HDMI
Cons
• Needs calibration
• Connecting via wires is time-consuming
Klipsch Black Reference Theater Pack 5.1 Surround Sound System
The Klipsch Reference Theater surround sound system is one of the brand’s unique 5.1 systems. The Reference Series is about design and performance as this speaker system pairs with almost any kind of receiver you have at home. It has a wireless high-fidelity subwoofer and five simple, small yet surprisingly powerful speakers with glistening spun copper metal in the center that surely will catch your attention.
You’ll find this easy to install in any room because of the flexible system placement feature. It offers pure cinematic performance due to its injection-molded graphite woofers. It has lightweight cones that are rigid, which makes it easier to provide low-frequency responses.
The Klipsch Reference series has unique and updated technologies like the Tractrix Horn Technology that delivers improved high-end response and extension, for the cleanest and most natural sound.
Conclusion: The Klipsch Reference 5.1 speaker system looks luxurious with good sound quality, no matter where you place it. It offers high definition cinematic sound with a minimal footprint. You can use this at home, at your office, or anywhere you want to listen to good audio. You’ll find this easy to install, but it does not come with a receiver.
Pros
• With minimal footprint
• With tractrix horn technology and aluminum tweeters
• Down-firing wireless subwoofer
• Offers easy placement and installation
• Lovely design
Cons
• No rubber pad for subwoofer’s legs
Onkyo HT-S7800 5.1.2 Ch. Dolby Atmos Home Theater Package
The Onkyo HT-S7800 5.1.2 channel home theater package is composed of 7 surround speakers and a subwoofer. The front and left come with a two-way bass-reflex cabinet that accommodates the full-range Dolby Atmos height speakers.
The Onkyo HT-S7800 is loaded with features. It comes with a built-in Chromecast, it connects via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or by physical wires and is satellite radio-ready. At the back has 8 HDMI inputs and offers Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, DVD-Audio, and DTS-HD Master Audio, to name a few.
Conclusion: The Onkyo HT-S7800 5.1.2 Ch Dolby Atmos Home Theater Package that has powerful 7 surround speakers and a subwoofer. It comes with a subwoofer that offers loads of audio features, including wireless connections, HDMI inputs for high definition audio experience, satellite radio, and many more. The package is a good deal with only a few flaws; it could be the 5.1 speaker system for you.
Pros
• 7 surround speakers and subwoofer
• With more HDMI inputs
• Supports 4K sound as well as various HD formats
• Chromecast included
• Compact design
Cons
• Complaints about subwoofer
• Problems with connecting via Bluetooth
Bose Acoustimass 10 Series V Home Theater Speaker System
The Bose Acoustimass 10 Series is known as one of the top-performing home theater systems made by the audio company. This was made to provide quality sound for larger and more spacious rooms. It comes with Direct/Reflecting Series II with a slimmer speaker box profile, which can be mounted flush on the wall. You can adjust the volume as well as the low-frequency effects of these speakers, plus you don’t have to spend money on buying cables and connectors because these are already included in the package.
Conclusion: The Bose Acoustimass 10 Series V Home Theater Speaker System was designed to provide surround sound even in larger rooms. It comes with redesigned speakers with a slimmer profile for easy installation. You can adjust speaker volumes and low-frequency effects, plus it comes with everything you need for fast and easy installation. However, it does not come with a receiver, and it does not have wireless connectivity.
Pros
• Spacious surround sound for large rooms
• Can be mounted flush to the wall
• With high-performance drivers
• Comes with speaker wires and connectors
• With adjustable volumes
Cons
• No wireless connectivity
• Can take a lot of time connecting
Enclave Audio CineHome HD 5.1 Wireless Audio Home Theater System
The Enclave Audio CineHome HD 5.1 speaker system is a wireless home speaker system that’s capable of 360 degrees 24 bit HD wireless audio with each speaker having two full-range drivers. The receiver is Dolby Digital and DTS for intense cinema surround sound. You’ll get 3 HDMI inputs to easily connect the receiver to your TV, gaming console, Blu Ray player, cable box, and many more. You may also connect via Bluetooth and optical audio connections, and with the Enclave Audio app, you can stream audio to your device.
Conclusion: The Enclave Audio CineHome HD 5.1 Wireless Audio Home Theater reduces the need for using audio and video receiver and speaker cables. It’s a wireless speaker that provides 360 degrees 24-bit wireless audio and two drivers inside an improved speaker cabinet design to create a widespread immersive sound experience. It has multiple HDMI outputs and a variety of connections. There may be some flaws with this speaker’s design, but all in all, this is a speaker that can enhance the audio in a large and spacious room.
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Pros
• Wireless speakers
• Comes with a remote
• Custom designed speakers
• Dolby Digital and DTS supported
• With 3 HDMI inputs
Cons
• Problems with connectivity
JBL Bar 5.1 4K Ultra HD 5.1 – Channel Soundbar with True Wireless Surround Speakers
One of the most uniquely designed surround speaker is the JBL Bar 5.1 4K Ultra HD channel soundbar. It may look like an ordinary soundbar, but it transforms into a 5.1 home theater system with a full center, two front stereo, two surrounds, and a subwoofer. The small wireless surround speakers that connect to the center soundbar are rechargeable speakers, which will give you up to 10 hours of playtime. This wireless system offers Dolby Digital sound, Dolby Pro Logic II, and DTS. You can easily connect your 4K devices and listen to ultra HD audio with this JBL soundbar.
Conclusion: The JBL Bar 5.1 4K Ultra HD soundbar has a unique design for that powerful audio experience. It is a wireless speaker with HD capabilities, more HDMI connections, and Dolby digital-quality sound. It does not connect with wires but may take time to pair and connect.
Pros
• Offers true wireless home theater experience
• Wireless speakers can be used for 10 hours
• Capable of Dolby Digital audio
• No more connecting with wires
Cons
• Can take time to connect wirelessly
• You need to recharge the two small surround speakers
Definitive Technology ProCinema 600 5.1 Home Theater Speaker System
Definitive Technology offers the ProCinema 600, a home theater speaker system that has two 3.25-inches bass and midrange drivers with an efficient pressure-driven low-frequency radiator. It offers frequency response up to 30 kHz plus pure aluminum dome-tweeters all inside a sleek speaker cabinet.
Conclusion: Definitive Technology has a collection of 5.1 speaker systems for absolute music enjoyment. It may have a traditional design, and it’s hard to tell which one is the front speaker and which ones are the back or surround. But despite this flaw, this could be the 5.1 speaker system for you.
Pros
• With improved speaker impedance
• Improved base and midrange construction
• With pure aluminum dome tweeters
• Available in glossy black and glossy white
• Easy to connect
Cons
• Not wireless speakers
• Connects only using cables
• No receiver
ELAC Cinema 5 Home Theater 5.1 Channel Speaker System
The ELAC Cinema 5 Home Theater 5.1 Channel Speaker System comes with tweeters that create precise high frequencies and mid-range drivers that can also accurately replicate musical instruments and voices. It has a compact design with a unique structured cabinet finish and an elegant design that will fit any room. Everything connects using wires, and thus, you must spend time installing all its components for this to work perfectly.
Conclusion: The ELAC Cinema 5 Home Theater 5.1 Channel Speaker System is a set of speakers that produce highs, instruments, and voices in utmost precision. It has a sleek and modern speaker design making it a standout in any modern home. However, this does not come with a receiver and is not capable of wireless operation.
Pros
• Improved teeters and drivers
• With a compact design
• Offers powerful bass
• Plug and play device
• Simple and easy to use
Cons
• Connects using wires
• Needs time to install
Harman Kardon HKTS 16BQ 5.1 Channel Home Theater Speaker Package
The Harman Kardon HKTS16BQ 5.1 Channel Home Theater Speaker set looks luxurious and fit for any modern living room. It has voice-matched, two-way satellite speakers, a powerful subwoofer with bass boosting controls, and phase switches. This Harman Kardon model may be upgraded to 7.1 channels.
Conclusion: Harman Kardon is known for its quality sound systems, and the HKTS 16BQ is no exception. The only problem is, it does not come with a receiver. It is a complete 5.1 channel home theater system with voice-matched speakers, powerful subwoofers with adjustment switches. But despite a few flaws, this is upgradable to a 7.1 system.
Pros
• Complete 5.1 channel home theater system
• Voice-matched satellite speakers
• Down-firing 200W subwoofer
• With subwoofer controls
• Can be upgraded to a 7.1 system
Cons
• No receiver
Logitech Z906 5.1 Surround Sound Speaker System
The Logitech Z906 5.1 surround sound speaker system offers impressive Dolby Digital and DTS audio. It comes with THX-certified home theater speakers that guarantee true cinema-quality audio. The satellite speakers may be mounted. This Logitech surrounds speaker system is easy to set up and connect with other devices in your home. You can connect your PC, TV, music player, gaming console, and more. The receiver is compact with a wireless remote to easily change settings and personalize your surround sound system.
Conclusion: The Logitech Z906 5.1 Surround Sound Speaker System is a home theater system capable of Dolby Digital and DTS audio and is THX-certified speakers. It is flexible, easy to connect, and is easy to control. However, there are a few missing features like balance controls and volume adjustments for the front and rear speakers.
Pros
• THX-certified
• Dolby Digital and DTS audio compatible
• Compact receiver
• Easy to connect
• With wireless remote
Cons
• Lacking some features
• Not wireless
General Conclusion
From our list of the best 5.1 speakers or home speaker system, the Yamaha YHT-5950U 5.1 channel home theater system is our top choice. It is a complete set of sleek and modern speakers with an ominous subwoofer and a reliable receiver. This system can connect using wired and wireless connections. You’ll get high-quality audio and pure sound, whether audio is from your phone, TV, PC or game console. For a good quality 5.1 speaker system with the most popular features, the Yamaha YHT – 5950U 5.1 channel speaker system is for you.
- Related post: Top 10 Best Home Theater Speakers
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