The Best Surround Sound Systems

A winner of the CES Innovation Award, the Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2.4 is driven by its Spatial Surround Elevation processing technology. This tech sends the audio to nine channels to give a 360° sound experience. It comes with not one, but two 10-inch subwoofers, a sound bar with six 2.5-inch drivers and two 1-inch tweeters, and four satellite speakers which, combined with Dolby Atmos, truly put you in the center of the action. Even better, you don’t have to worry about wires cluttering up your living room. Of course, all this doesn’t come cheap, but there are plenty of other comparable systems that cost much more.

This Sonos cinematic surround sound systems includes the Arc sound bar, the Sub, and a pair of One SL speakers. The system is easy to set up—simply connect to Wi-Fi and control it using the Sonos app, a remote, and even your voice. This system also self-calibrates to match its acoustics with the environment it’s in for optimized sound without distortion. Both the Amazon’s Alexa and the Google Assistant are built right in to help consolidate your smart speakers into one system.

Plus, the futuristic design and look of this system—especially the subwoofer—modernizes any space without overwhelming existing decor and thanks to its compact size, can be tucked into any corner for an unobtrusive, but fully immersive sound experience.

For even more rich sound, consider the Sonos One smart speaker with built-in voice control or the Sonos Move, a portable indoor/outdoor speaker that’s weatherproof and drop-resistant.

The Cinema 600 surround sound system from Klipsch is a great option for those who don’t want cost to affect quality. This system is minimalist—it features a sound bar, remote, and 8-inch subwoofer for rich bass in a two-piece system (remote not withstanding.) Klipsch touts their hi-fidelity sound bar as a game changer that provides “unrivaled clarity” thanks to a center channel nestled between dedicated left and right speakers along its length.

If you’re looking for a surround system that won’t add a lot of clutter to your living space, while still delivering immersive sound, Sony’s innovative HT-A9 Home Theater System is a great option. It comes with its own Wi-Fi base unit that connects to your TV via HDMI then connects to the four satellite speakers. You can place your speakers in the most convenient spots. They will communicate with each other using the system’s 360 Spatial Sound Mapping, then generate 12 phantom speakers by bouncing sound off the ceiling and walls to create an immersive sound field.

If you’re a purist and only care about sound quality, the CineHome II might be the perfect pick for you. This system is wireless, a nice bonus that lets you tuck each speaker away for a totally immersive experience with you at the very center (depending on where you put the speakers.) The CineHome II comes with five speakers to deliver a theater experience in your living room, and it’s compatible with Bluetooth so you can stream from mobile devices and tablets.

As it does with televisions, Vizio offers a lot of value with its home theater systems. This five-channel system features Dolby technologies—Dolby Atmos and DTS:X—usually found on much pricier systems. Of course, there are some concessions that have been made. The two satellite speakers are wired, and for wireless connectivity, it only has Bluetooth. But if you’re primarily going to be using the system while streaming movies on your TV, then it shouldn’t be a problem, and you’ll get an immersive experience at a great price.

While most wireless systems still require you to plug in the satellite speakers, not so with this JBL five-channel system. Its two satellite speakers are battery-powered and can be recharged by attaching them to the sound bar, which can still operate using virtual surround while they charge. Other features like auto-calibration and Dolby Atmos make this an easy-to-use, great-sounding option.

If you already have an A/V receiver and you're looking for a good set of speakers, this five-speaker set from the experts at Klipsch is a good way to go. A few years old, this set used to cost four times as much as it does now, making it a good buy if you don’t have a receiver and want to get one. The subwoofer connects wirelessly at 2.4GHz so you can place it anywhere in the room and get high-quality audio. Not only do these speakers sound great, but if you leave the grills off, the spun copper speaker horns are eye-catching as well.