Home theater systems are designed to give you a fully immersive and realistic audio-visual experience—whether you’re tuned in to your favorite television channel, video streaming, watching movies, or playing video games. You can get the biggest high-resolution TV screen there is, but you’re only getting half the experience if you don’t complement it with great sound.
Obviously, we’re not talking about the TV’s built-in speakers. If you want really good audio that can make you feel more deeply immersed in what you’re viewing, you’ll need a separate amplifier and speakers that are designed to deliver a more three-dimensional sound.
Thankfully, there are a lot of great products to choose from. However, it can be pretty daunting—especially for those who don’t know much about electronics—to choose the right one for their homes and screens. The ideal solution is to go for all-in-one systems, also known as a Home-Theater-In-A-Box (HTIB)—or to at least get high-quality home theater speaker sets.
Types of Home Theater Systems
There are three main types of home theater systems.
Pre-packaged home theater systems (home-theater-in-a-box)
A home theater in a box (HTiB) is just what it sounds like: everything you need for a home theater, all conveniently packaged in one place. The kit includes speakers, a receiver, often a DVD or Blu-ray player, and sometimes even a projector and all the wires you need. We’ll discuss all those various components in the next section.
Home theater system made up of separate components
The next step up in price and sound quality is a home theater system made from separate, usually higher-end components. These pieces are generally available on their own, and they’re not typically made by the same company. This allows you to get the best individual component, or at least the best you can afford. However, you won’t get the ease of setup and package discount like with a home theater in the box.
Custom-designed and installed home theater
The most elaborate, and expensive, home theater systems are designed by custom install professionals to precisely fit your home and preferences. These may include hidden in-wall or in-ceiling surround sound speakers, elaborate decorations and designs, and even reclining theater chairs. These are certainly the most theater-like of the various home theater systems, but they come at a much higher cost.
In this article, we’ll help you understand what makes a complete home theater system and suggest a few of the best HTIBs and speaker sets that you can add to your home to improve the quality of your movie nights.
What are the Components of a Home Theater System?
When shopping for a home theater system, you may find that many of them may or may not include all of the necessary components. You’ll usually find speaker sets with matching receivers, or you may have to get a separate receiver. It’s important that you learn what’s included and what’s not so you can choose the right option for you.
Video Sources
The video source is what will provide the audio-visual content that you wish to watch, play, and listen to using your home theater system. These can be your DVD, Blu-ray, 4K media players, and maybe even gaming consoles. These normally have multiple connectivity options and Wi-Fi capabilities so you can also stream media from the Internet.
Audio-Video Receivers
The AV receiver or module is the brain of your home theater system. This piece of equipment is responsible for processing sounds coming from your AV source to your speakers, as well as connecting all your AV equipment together.
Many modern receiver components can be controlled wirelessly using a mobile app and can be connected to the Internet so you can use it to stream music without the need for a separate AV source. Some HTIBs include receivers that have the video source or player built into it, so you don’t have to purchase a separate player for your media and for streaming content from the Internet.
Speakers
Some home theater systems on the market may not have the video source or receiver, but it will always include a powerful set of speakers that are designed to provide high-quality sound. If you’re a beginner at this, we would recommend you buy HTIBs so you don’t need to get into the technical details of matching your speakers with an amplifier, receivers, and players.
The market usually recommends the traditional 5.1 system, which includes three front speakers, a subwoofer, and two side speakers, to give you beautiful surround sound. But if you want to upgrade your layout, the 7.1 system is for you as it includes two additional speakers.
HDTVs
They may not be part of home theater systems currently being sold in stores, but this makes up the biggest component where half of the magic will be displayed. It might be obvious, but we’d like to stress that high-resolution visual content from 4K players and the Internet will only be able to show video in its full, lossless glory if you also have high-definition 4K or OLED HDTV.
Slightly downgraded TVs like UHD and Full HD are also acceptable especially if you’re on a budget, but know that the size and specs of the TV can make, break, or not make the most of what’s being played.
Connectors
If you’re building your home theater system with one set of components at a time, consider the number of inputs and outputs you will need your components to have, as well as the types and amounts of cables and connectors that you need to get for them.
Many systems typically have one HDMI input so you can connect your player or gaming console, but you may want to find a system that offers more if you want to use multiple media sources at a time. Some also have optical or coaxial audio inputs, so make sure that you have the right cables for these and that your components allow the use of external devices.
Consult salespersons about what you want to connect to your sound system so you can find and purchase the right products for your specific needs.
Best Home Theater Systems
To give you an idea about home theater systems that you can have right in your home, here is a short list of some of the most well-loved bundles that can provide you with the best experience.
Most of these are complete HTIBs with matching receivers and speakers, sometimes also with a video source or player, while others are surround speaker systems designed to work together efficiently and with your receiver.
Klipsch Reference Theater Pack 5.1-Channel Speaker System
This 5.1-channel speaker system offers surround sound and superior acoustic performance through its Injection Molded Graphite (IMG) woofers. Meanwhile, its Linear Travel Suspension (LTS) tweeter will minimize distortion for an even more detailed experience. Its 2.4GHz connectivity allows you to simply connect the pre-paired transmitter to the subwoofer — or LFE out on your receiver — and place its wherever it fits best in your room.
Yamaha YHT-4950U 5.1-Channel Home Theater System, Black
This is another 5.1-channel option from Yamaha which includes a AV receiver with five speakers, subwoofer, and speaker wire in a single package. The system is compatibility with the latest HDMI standards and can support HDR (high dynamic range) Video, including Dolby Vision and Hybrid Log-Gamma. It also offers an ECO Mode, which can be turned on to reduce power consumption around 20 percent.
Klipsch Reference Cinema System, Black
This option from Klipsch provides Reference Series acoustics with Dolby Atmos technology. It has a dual port design for better cabinet tuning and a low frequency response for a solid bass from every part of the system. You can also rely on this system’s four satellite speakers and 10″ subwoofer to connect easily to your A/V receiver.
Sonos Immersive Set with Beam
This Sonos system has all you really need: a Beam Soundbar, wireless subwoofer, and two speakers. This will supply a 3D effect that will make you feel like you’re in any movie or show you’re watching. On top of that, you can control the system through the Sonos app, your TV remote, Apple AirPlay 2, or your voice using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant
Sonos Surround Set with Arc
If you’re looking for a more compact option, this set will set your television up for sucessful with its Sonos Arc Soundbar and two speakers. This is a fantastic choice for those with a smaller living area, who still want to have a full audio experience. The Sonos Arc Soundbar will connect to your TV’s HDMI eARC port to automatically sync with your remote, or you can voice control using Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.
How Do I Choose a Home Theater System?
There are a few important aspects to consider when shopping for the best home theater system. The first is how many speakers you should get. Most home theater systems are categorized as 5.1 for full surround sound. This means they have three speakers up front, including one under or above the TV, two beside or behind, and one subwoofer that can go anywhere in the room. Smaller systems might only have a soundbar and a subwoofer, without the rear speakers. Soundbar systems are simpler, but don’t create the full surround-sound experience.
It’s important to consider whether you have the space to mount or place surround speakers. One of the most common setup mistakes with home theater systems is incorrect placement of the speakers. Surround speakers need to be mounted behind you in your movie room.
The next aspect to consider is how many sound sources you’ll have. Sources include cable/satellite boxes, DVD/Blu-ray players, game consoles, phones, tablets, and media streamers like Roku or Chromecast. You can buy a separate HDMI switch if you have more sources than the receiver has connections. However, ideally your surround sound system will let you connect everything to its receiver, so you only need one remote.
Lastly, check if you need 4K compatibility. If you have a 4K TV, it will look its best if it receives a 4K signal. Many game consoles, media streamers, and 4K Blu-ray players send those high-end signals. The receiver will need to be able to pass the 4K signal on to the TV. Most do, but it’s worth checking before you buy.
Are Home Theater Systems Worth It?
Home theater systems are definitely worth the cost. Sound is at least 50% of the movie experience. That’s not just our opinion, but that of many top Hollywood filmmakers, including George “Star Wars” Lucas himself. Because sound is not as flashy as the visuals, it’s often forgotten or considered less important. This attitude is a big mistake, for several reasons.
First, consider intelligibility. All modern TVs have small, low-powered speakers. On some TVs these speakers face backwards, toward the wall. In most cases they point down, toward the stand or ground. Neither case is ideal for sound. If you’ve ever had a hard time understanding what an actor is saying, especially during scenes with lots going on, it’s likely because your TV speakers are “overwhelmed.”
Also, a good home theater system doesn’t just create surround sound, but better sound at lower volumes. So you’ll be able to hear dialog better in every situation.
Finally, think about immersion. There’s a reason movie theaters have so many speakers. Sound that fills a space is more natural, and you don’t need to spend tons of money to get that far more lifelike sound. Speakers positioned around you, plus a subwoofer to create deep bass sounds, all add up to a more immersive experience. That immersion factor can transform your TV or movie room into a mind-blowing home theater.
