Best 5 Surround Sound Systems of 2024 : for Home Theatre Experience

Introduction

Surround sound systems have become the need of the hour, with new, original, and theatrical releases getting on the TV screens every second day. Earlier, high-quality videos were in high demand, but with time, audio quality has also gained importance. Kudos to Dolby Atmos, where sound effects allow the audio tracks to move in 3D, and speakers help reproduce the immersive elements for a theatrical effect at home.

While you can install high-end speakers in dedicated theater rooms, with our suggestions, you can get exceptional results even from standalone soundbars. This article will offer the five best surround sound systems to meet all your needs, whether you are an audiophile or gamer or love watching TV series and movies.

What is a Surround Sound System?

A surround sound system is primarily designed to improve and boost your audio experience for music, video games, TV shows, series, or movies, offering an immersive sound quality and effects with a sense of partial audio. Surround sound systems help create a theatre-like experience in your own space.

Surround sound systems differ from traditional stereo speakers that use two speakers to reproduce balanced and accurate music. On the contrary, surround sound systems add additional speakers for a more enveloping sound field, enhancing the immersion of the content played. However, many people argue that they disturb the intended stereo imaging and usually alter the original way music was mixed and mastered.

Selection Criteria to Find the Best Surround Sound System

When settling for the best surround sound system, several factors are considered. While the product may differ for every person depending on their needs, every person must consider these factors to pick the best one, and so did we to cater to our readers' needs.

Here are the selection criteria we used to provide you with a first-hand entertainment experience.

• Budget/price
• Size of the room
• Tech preferences
• A/V receivers
• Subwoofers
• Single or large soundbars
• Wired or wireless speakers
• Needs or requirements like gaming, listening to music, watching videos, etc.

Besides these factors, we have also considered each product's specifications, specialization, and user reviews for a detailed and critical product analysis.

List of Best Surround Sound Systems: Speakers and Soundbars for Immersive Home Cinema Audio

Here's a list of the five best surround sound systems to improve your entertainment experience with specifications, specializations, and their pros and cons to help you make an informed decision.

Product Number 1: Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2.4 Channel Dolby Atmos/DTS:X Soundbar

Specialization: Dual 10" Subwoofers (Wireless), 4 Rear Surround Effects Speakers, eARC and SSE Max Technology. DTS:X, Dolby Atmos, surround sound

Specifications

• Audio Channels: 9.2.4 with a total of 18 speaker drivers
• Speaker Type: Surround sound, subwoofer, and soundbar
• Total power or SPL loudness: 1300W/113dB
• Format compatibility: Dolby Vision with 4K HDR, Dolby Atmos, and DTS:X
• Frequency response: 20Hz to 22kHz

What Makes the Product a Must-have:

• Different audio modes work well
• Quick and easy setup
• Prompt and helpful customer support
• ARC helps retrieve audio when your TV uses other inputs for video

Major Disappointments with the Product:

• Lacks lossless Dolby Vision or native 7.1 TrueHD
• When the soundbar is reset, the two memories get set at super loud, and the loudness might shock you when you hit M1 or M2
• Lag of 3-4 seconds when audio first starts playing
• Does not support Alexa or Google Assistant

Nakamichi Shockwafe systems are one of the best wireless home theater surround sound systems with a clear, realistic, and immersive audio experience. With HDMI 2.1 connections and eARC to the TV, you get lossless audio of top-notch quality, 4K HDR, and Dolby Vision video. VRR helps gamers with next-generation consoles smooth out the video game motion.

Product Number 2: Samsung HW-Q990C

Specialization: Wireless Dolby Audio speakers. Rear Speakers Included Q-Symphony, SpaceFit Sound Pro, Adaptive Sound, Game Mode Pro, Airplay 2, AVA, and Alexa Built-in.

Specifications

• Connectivity Technology: Bluetooth and HDMI
• Audio Channels: 11.1.4 with a total of 22 speaker drivers
• Format compatibility: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus
• Video: 4K Video Pass and HDR 10+
• Connectivity: One remote control, HDMI IN (2)/OUT(1), HDMI eARC, HDMI CEC, Bluetooth, Optical input (1), Alexa Voice Assistant, Tap Sound, Airplay 2, Spotify HI-FI Connect, Tidal HI-FI Connect, Wireless Dolby Atmos, and WI-FI

What Makes the Product a Must-have:

• The compact size of wireless subwoofers thumps more sound
• Shows numbers instead of plus and minus when adjusting volume
• Pairs easily with Samsung TV
• As all cords are the same, it connects easily even with the external speakers

Major Disappointments with the Product:

• It does not work with multi-room setup
• The rear speakers are quite low-sounding
• Sound quality is a huge letdown
• Only the subwoofer is wireless, but the speaker is not wireless

Samsung HW-Q990C is another beautiful and best sound system for home as it provides creative features, especially when paired with Samsung TV models. The SpaceFit Sound pro room-calibration system amplifies everything by beautifully examining your space to optimize the audio mix. It also includes an up/side firing rear speaker kit.

Product Number 3: Sony Ht-A7000 A Series Premium Soundbar

Specialization: Fit for gamers with flexible Layout, 360 Spatial Sound Mapping, Dolby Atmos, Sound Field Optimisation, Bravia Acoustic Center Sync

Specifications

• Compatibility: Vivid visuals and fast-paced gameplay with 8K and 4K/120 passthrough
• Audio Channels: 7.1.2-channel with 11 total amplifiers
• Total power or SPL loudness: 500W
• Connectivity: HDMI 2.1 inputs w/8K passthrough x2, optical audio, analog audio, USB, Bluetooth 5.0, WiFi, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Amazon Alexa, Chromecast, Google Assistant
• 360 Spatial Sound Mapping: 360 Spatial Sound Mapping technology creates up to twelve phantom speakers

What Makes the Product a Must-have:

• Easy installation and setup with precise and unambiguous instructions
• Works seamlessly on Sony Bravia TV and syncs with the speakers well
• Natural tone with excellent delivery
• Built-in sub-woofers and battery-powered rears work well

Major Disappointments with the Product:

• Atmos Effects are not strong and can be disappointing
• It does not play well with high-end Sony OLEDs
• Aux connection works for barely 25 minutes when the TV switches back to its own speakers
• Requires recycling the soundbar and TV to get the sound reset

Sony HT-A7000 is also one of the best home sound systems with a great sound stage and sound dispersion. It integrates well with Bravia TVs and has presets such as Music, Standard, and Cinema that affect the volume and vocal dialog clarity. The five series sub and rears make the sound quality more transparent and more impressive.

Product Number 4: Sonos Ultimate Immersive Set with Arc

Specialization: Best for music and audiophiles with 7.1.4ch with its own voice control system and works with Google Assistant and Alexa, too.

Specifications

• Audio Channels: 7.1.4
• Format compatibility: Google Assistant, Multiroom audio, Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, Tidal Connect, Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Amazon Alexa
• Connectivity: HDMI eARC, Ethernet, and WiFi
• Total power or SPL loudness: Not Available
• Frequency response: Not Available

What Makes the Product a Must-have:

• It provides incredible audio with impressive surround sound imaging
• Offers spatial audio music with multi-room options
• Touch controls and sleek style with Era 300 surround speakers make it appealing
• Allows using Google Assistant and Alexa, including its own Sonos voice assistant

Major Disappointments with the Product:

• It only has one HDMI input to connect to the TV and no Bluetooth, so it cannot link to smartphones
• The room calibration is compatible only with the iOS app
• Requires Apple TV 4K hub for the best Apple Music spatial audio experience
• It does not work in the long run and requires a hard reset after a few times of usage

Sonos Ultimate Immersive Set with Arc is one of the best surround sound systems for music lovers. It has the most sophisticated and powerful rear channel speakers with the most comprehensive selection of immersive spatial audio music. The Sonos surround system transforms your music into a multidirectional and multidimensional 7.1.4 system.

Product Number 5: Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Max 5.1.4 Channel

Specialization: Best for watching TV with Dolby Atmos/DTS:X with high connectivity of HDMI, Tousling optical digital audio input, RCA analog audio input, Ethernet, Bluetooth 4.2, Chromecast, Tidal Connect, dual-band WiFi, Airplay 2, and Spotify Connect

Specifications

• Audio Channels: 5.1.4 with a total of 13 speakers and class D amplifiers
• Connectivity: Bluetooth
• Input: HDMI, Toslink optical, RCA, Subwoofer
• Surround Sound Supported: DTS-ES, DTS 96/24, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD, Dolby Atmos
• Frequency Response: 30Hz to 20kHz

What Makes the Product a Must-have:

• Exceptional audio performance, where the true voice sounds make you feel the characters are in the room with you
• The smaller size and cleaner finish enhance your living area, keeping it clutter-free
• Built-in calibration microphone for an amazing sound experience
• Customizable Ambeo effect that makes watching Atmos content interesting

Major Disappointments with the Product:

• Powerful hardware but many bugs with connectivity issues
• Issues with WiFi and disconnects from the home network automatically quarterly
• Heavy reliance on the app and when the connection breaks or the app glitches out, it leaves you stranded
• Sporadic plastic cracking sounds due to heat dissipation only when turned off
• Frequent soundbar freezes that make it impossible to power on/off

Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Max fulfills the 5.1 surround sound system needs in a single unit without the need for satellite speakers or subwoofers. Its technological feats are combined with its own immersive audio virtualization that won't fail to impress you with excellent sound quality. Its little screen in the front helps you read when you change the inputs or sound mode rather than a series of dots in the back of the mesh.

These were some of the best surround sound systems to elevate your video-viewing experience at home. However, what if your video's audio track does not meet the conditions for a surround sound system? At this point, UniFab Audio Upmix AI becomes your savior. Wonder what makes it our valuable suggestion? Let's find out ahead.

How to Upmixing Your Audio for Home theater Experience？

UniFab Audio Upmix AI is a smart and powerful software that uses AI technology to upmix audio tracks from video to EAC3 5.1/DTS 7.1 surround sound. You can load any video and upmix it with UniFab to premium surround sound by distributing it across different channels. Besides separating audio tracks, it also ensures each sound maintains its clarity. Most importantly, it has a built-in video editor to crop and trim your video frames and enhance the audio for the required segments only.

Key Features

• Efficiently upmix audio to 8-Channel DTS 7.1
• Accurately separates audio tracks from any video precisely and clearly
• Provides a simple and clear interface for operation to newbies
• Simple and easy trimming function to cut any unnecessary footage from video
• Faster 50x speed with GPU acceleration
• Supports video editing to meet personalized needs

Step By Step Guide

Final Words

Choosing the best surround sound system can be challenging as there are many in the market, each claiming to offer the best service and sound quality. However, you can consider critical factors like your room's size, budget, needs, requirements, current TV brand, and most importantly, your budget to pick only the best one that fits your pocket. Also, remember to check the user reviews to know the product's positive and critical aspects. We have already assisted you with the best surround sound systems. You can also try Unifab Audio Upmix AI to upmix your audio tracks with its advanced technology.