18 Best Wireless Surround Sound Systems In 2024

In this article, we discuss the 18 best wireless surround sound systems. We cover key aspects like sound quality, connection types (Bluetooth or Wi-Fi), and overall practicality. The selection includes various models catering to different features and budgets, offering a comprehensive guide for enhancing home theater experiences with wireless surround sound.

If you are tired of all the cables lying randomly all over your home and you are searching for a hassle-free surround sound system for your home theater, the best thing you can do is to go wireless. Our article on 18 best wireless surround sound systems in 2024 is designed to help you understand all the important things you need to know about wireless surround sound systems and make the best possible choice based on your needs and your budget.

We have also made a list of 18 best wireless surround sound systems in 2024 so you don’t even have to spend hours reading about different features of different products – you can read our reviews and find out everything you need to know to make a decision. We have tried to list all the upsides and downsides of these surround sound systems and make your search much easier.

Introduction

Surround sound systems have been popular for quite some time. People simply love the convenience of having cinema-like experience without going to the actual cinema. The first surround sound systems appeared during the 1980s but they really became popular in the 2000s. A lot of technological innovations and improvements in audio and video equipment made it possible for regular people to have their own small home theater systems.

Today, many homes in the US are equipped with some kind home theater system (TV or projector, DVD or Blu-Ray player, AV receiver + set of surround sound speakers). The experience could not be better, right? Well, there is still one inconvenience. Don’t you hate all those cables going under your carpet, or even worse, lying on the floor or dangling from your walls? Unless your house or your entertainment center is pre-wired, you will have to spend a lot of time wiring your home theater system, connecting all the speakers to the receiver, and trying to make all those cables ‘’invisible’’. All that hassle makes you wonder if there is some simpler and more convenient solution. Well, as a matter of fact, there is. The last decade was really big when it comes to wireless sound.

First, some portable Bluetooth speakers appeared. Then, the manufacturers made it possible for us to pair two wireless (Bluetooth) speakers and use them as left and right stereo channels. After that, wireless (Bluetooth and Wi-Fi) multiroom speaker systems appeared and, in the end, some wireless surround sound systems were introduced.

These wireless surround sound systems are the main subject of our article and we are going to talk about different types of wireless surround sound systems, their characteristics, the amount of freedom they offer, different layouts (simulated and true surround sound), and we are going to present to you our list of 18 best wireless surround sound systems in 2024.

What Is Surround Sound and Do You Really Need It?

‘Surround Sound’ as a speaker setup that immerses the viewer in the center of the action, akin to a private cinema. It’s ideal for those who watch movies with surround sound audio tracks and seek the best experience. While not the only option for enhanced audio, surround sound provides a significantly immersive listening experience compared to standard TV speakers. For those prioritizing a cinematic feel at home, it’s a worthwhile investment.

Well, since you are here, you probably want something stronger than a pair of small built-in TV speakers. Surround sound is not the only option if you just want something louder than your TV. If that’s your only desire, you can check our articles on best wireless speakers for TV and best soundbars.

If you watch a lot of movies (using Blu-ray, DVD, or some of the streaming services) with surround sound audio tracks (5.1, 7.1, etc.), and you want to get the best possible experience, then surround sound system is what you need. Surround sound system puts you (the viewer) in the center of the action and makes you feel like you are in your own private cinema.

Surround sound system is a set of speakers (you need at least 5 speakers and one subwoofer in order to call it true surround sound system, but you can also buy some smaller system (less than 5 speakers) that offers simulation of surround sound thanks to a little piece of software and to a specific driver placement). In a traditional (wired) setup you will also need an AV receiver in order to supply power and audio signal to all those speakers, but if you decide to go wireless, you are probably not going to need it (in some cases, the speakers are battery powered, in other cases each speaker has its own power supply cable or it’s powered by the subwoofer with built-in amplifiers).

The most popular surround sound system configuration is 5.1 (5 speakers – 3 of them are in front of you (Front Left, Front Right, Center) and 2 on each side of your central sitting place (Surround Left and Surround Right) and one subwoofer). Today’s DVD and Blu-ray discs feature mandatory 5.1 audio track (Dolby Digital 5.1 or DTS 5.1 audio format).

If you want to improve your experience even more, you can expand your surround sound system by adding two speakers behind your ”sweet spot” (Surround Back Left and Right) and get 7.1 or add an additional subwoofer and make 7.2 surround sound system but, in order to get the maximum out of this system, you will need to play some Blu-ray disc with Dolby True HD or DTS HD audio track. Some of the latest Blu-ray movies feature Dolby Atmos or DTS:X audio tracks and, in order to hear that kind of surround sound properly, you are going to need one, two, or four height (or ceiling) speakers (which means that you have to expand surround sound system to 7.1.2, or 7.1.4).

For most people, 5.1 configuration is more than enough. All the DVD and Blu-ray movies, as well as movies and series from Netflix and Hulu, have 5.1 surround sound track and you don’t really need more than that to get a truly immersive listening experience.

Most of the wireless surround sound systems on our list are 5.1 and some of them can even simulate DTS:X or Dolby Atmos audio formats. As you might assume, simulation is never as good as the real thing, but still, something is better than nothing.

Wired Surround Sound VS Wireless Surround Sound

Wired systems are known for their reliable sound quality and stability but require extensive cabling. Wireless systems offer ease of installation and a cleaner look but may have slightly lesser sound quality and depend on network stability. The choice depends on personal preferences for sound quality, convenience, and aesthetic considerations.

Wireless surround sound systems have been introduced a few years ago and you can’t really expect them to be perfect. The quality of speakers (drivers) is not a problem but you might experience some transmission issues with some wireless systems (wired systems are more reliable). If you really want a perfect wireless surround system, you will definitely have to pay much more than you would pay for a wired surround sound system. If you compare two affordable (or cheap) systems within the same price range, you will definitely be happier with the sound coming from the wired one. If you are prepared to pay more than, let’s say $1000, the difference in sound quality (between wired and wireless) becomes less noticeable. So, basically, the fact that some surround system is wireless doesn’t have to mean that it’s not good (especially if you buy one of those high-end systems).

Types of Wireless Surround Sound Systems

There are Different types of wireless surround sound systems include traditional multi-speaker setups, soundbars, and modular systems. Each type offers unique advantages in sound quality, space requirements, and ease of use, catering to various preferences and home setups. This categorization helps users choose based on their specific needs and room configurations.

There are two types of wireless surround sound systems – Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (some use your home Wi-Fi network, others make their own 5GHz network and don’t use your home Wi-Fi at all). Wi-Fi connection is, in general, more reliable and more expensive.

Wi-Fi systems usually don’t feature Bluetooth so you can’t use them to stream music via Bluetooth from Bluetooth-enabled devices but most of them have their own apps and you can access some of the supported online streaming services through the app and stream the music that way (but you won’t be able to stream the music stored on your phone or PC). Wi-Fi systems also offer much greater range. So, if your home theater is in a large room, you will be better with a Wi-Fi surround sound. In terms of sound quality, Wi-Fi is definitely better than Bluetooth.

Bluetooth audio has to be compressed prior to transmission which means that you are not getting Hi-Fi audio. Wi-Fi allows transmission without compression so you can expect much better sound quality. Bluetooth systems are usually easier to install than Wi-Fi systems and that’s probably their only advantage (except for the price).

Best Wireless Surround Sound Systems – Comparison Table

Are They Really Wireless?

The majority of so-called wireless surround sound systems is not actually wireless. Most of them have the main unit (soundbar in most cases) that has to be connected to your TV through wires and it also has to be plugged into the wall outlet (SONOS and other Wi-Fi systems). This main unit receives the signal from the TV and then transmits it wirelessly to other speakers. All the other speakers also have to be plugged in so it’s hard to say that any of these ‘’wireless’’ surround sound systems are truly wireless.

Bluetooth surround sound systems are even less wireless than Wi-Fi systems. Soundbars are always wired and they send the audio signal to other speakers (in some cases, you will only get a wireless (Bluetooth) subwoofer while you need to connect surround speakers to the subwoofer or to the soundbar through wires). So, all these systems are wireless in a sense that you can stream music wirelessly from all the supported devices (Bluetooth-enabled devices for Bluetooth surround sound system or Wi-Fi enabled devices using the same Wi-Fi home network for Wi-Fi surround sound system). These wireless systems will reduce the number of cables (since you don’t have to stretch cables across your room and connect each speaker to the receiver) but you can’t eliminate all the cables – they won’t magically disappear.

Should You Go Wireless?

Well, in the end, it’s all up to you but you should know a few important things.

First of all, you can’t buy a decent wireless surround sound system for less than $300 (maybe $250) and that’s considered cheap when it comes to wireless surround sound. Most of those on our list of 18 best wireless surround sound systems in 2024 cost more than $500, and some even more than $1,000 (or $1,500).

Second, they are usually not as good as wired surround sound systems (in terms of performance, reliability, and sound quality) and you are basically paying more for the wireless transmission and convenience than for the sound. They are definitely not crappy but you can get similar performance for half the money if you decide to buy a wired system. Unfortunately, you will lose the convenience that comes with wireless technology.

Third, most of the wireless surround sound systems are not completely wireless. In some cases, they need to be plugged into the wall outlet, in other cases, surround speakers have to be connected to the subwoofer. You will eliminate most of the audio cables (connecting the speakers to the receiver) but you will still have all those power cables and you will need a wall outlet for each of the speakers.

Having all these downsides (price, reduction and not elimination of the cables) in mind, we still think that you should buy one of these wireless systems if you have that kind of money. If your floor is covered with cables and you cannot stand it anymore, eliminating those longest (speaker cables) going from your receiver to the surround or rear speakers will definitely make a difference. You can hide all those other cables behind your TV stand but it’s much harder to hide the speaker cables. The best solution is buying a wireless surround sound system. And if you go for one of those above $500 or $1000, you will be seriously amazed by the sound.

The List of 18 Best Wireless Surround Sound Systems In 2024

1. Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1Ch 400W 45″ Sound Bar with 8” Wireless Subwoofer

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Nakamichi maybe sounds familiar to older audio enthusiasts. It was one of the biggest manufacturers of old-school cassette tape decks during the 1970s and 1980s. The company was founded in 1972 and during the first two decades it was one of the most popular audio brands. After the introduction of digital audio, Nakamichi wasn’t such a big name anymore. The company wasn’t shut down and they managed to survive by making car audio systems.

In 2016, Nakamichi made a great comeback to the American market. A new branch of Nakamichi audio was opened in the US and their only area of expertise are home theater systems. Their first product was Nakamichi ShockWafe Pro 7.1 Bluetooth soundbar with a subwoofer and two rear speakers and it was a big success. After this one, they made three more systems – Nakamichi Pro 7.1 with DTS:X support, Elite 7.2 with DTS:X support, and Ultra 9.2 with DTS:X support.

This review is dedicated to Nakamichi’s first soundbar, the one that brought Nakamichi back to the market. It’s called ShockWafe Pro 7.1 but it’s more like enhanced 5.1 surround sound system.

Some of the greatest things about this system are that it offers much more connection options than previously reviewed SONOS 5.1 system, installation is relatively simple, surround sound performance is pretty good, and the price is more than affordable. ShockWafe Pro 7.1 is one of the best wireless surround sound systems under $500. Have in mind that this is the entry-level wireless surround sound system and if you want improved model with DTS:X support you will have to pay $150 more while 9.2 model costs more than $1000.

Greatest flaws of this system are lack of support for object-based surround sound audio and, in some cases, an unstable connection between the soundbar and subwoofer.

 What’s in the box?

All the pieces of ShockWafe Pro 7.1 come in one huge box. Each speaker is protected with Styrofoam and wrapped in plastic foil. Inside the big box, you’ll find another smaller one with all kinds of accessories. When it comes to accessories, Nakamichi was more generous than any other manufacturer of surround sound systems. Inside the big box, you will find Nakamichi Bluetooth soundbar, wireless subwoofer (also Bluetooth), two rear (or surround) speakers, and a remote with LCD display (+ 2 AAA batteries). In the accessory box you will find all the cables – subwoofer power cable, 2 26-inch long speaker cables (not regular speaker wire but proprietary), auxiliary cable, one HDMI cable, wall screws, wall brackets, mounting screws (for soundbar and speakers), wall mount brackets, and Velcro strips.

Soundbar weighs 7.25 pounds, it is 45.5 inches long, 3.3 inches deep, and 3 inches high. It looks quite interesting and unusual with all those angular edges. Inside the soundbar, there are 6 2.5-inch woofers arranged in 3 groups (channels), so you have left, right, and center channel. Additionally, there are two 1-inch angled tweeters on both ends of the soundbar. The idea is to improve surround sound experience with these two surround effect tweeters.

You will find 5 control buttons on the soundbar itself (power, source, DEMO, and Volume buttons) but you will have to use soundbar remote for most of the settings. You can also use TV remote if you want to turn on/off the unit or adjust the volume.

On the front side of the soundbar, you will see black aluminum grille with 10 LED lights at the bottom. These ten indicators will show you which input is selected, which type of surround sound is being played, and many other things (you will see a different combination of LED lights flashing or glowing depending on the source, surround soundtrack, type of settings you are adjusting, etc.). You can’t really consider these LED indicators intuitive and you should look at the LCD display on your remote rather than LED indicators.

All the connections are at the back – you will see two HDMI inputs with 4K pass (no HDCP 2.2 support), one HDMI ARC OUT for connecting your TV to the soundbar (if your TV has HDMI ARC IN port), one digital optical, one coaxial, and one 3.5mm input. There is also a USB port but it’s designed for firmware upgrades only. Soundbar also features Bluetooth 3.0 so you can pair any of your Bluetooth-enabled devices with it and stream music or podcasts.

Subwoofer weighs 15.5 pounds, it’s 7.9 inches wide, 12.3 inches high, and 16.7 inches deep. It’s also interesting and unusual (shape-wise) and it looks good in combination with the soundbar. Inside the subwoofer, there is an 8-inch down-firing driver (you shouldn’t expect extremely deep lows).

At the back of the subwoofer there is one pairing button with a blue LED indicator, power switch, AC input, and two output ports for surround speakers.

Satellite (surround) speakers weigh 1.1 pound each, they are 4.3 inches wide, 6.7 inches high, and 3 inches deep. Unlike subwoofer, satellite speakers are wired and you have to connect them to the subwoofer (not to the soundbar) and that’s why Nakamichi recommends placing the subwoofer on the opposite side from your TV (next to your couch, near the rear wall of your room). Each speaker has 1 2.5-inch driver. They can be wall mounted or placed on floor stands (you will have to buy stands separately).

 Things we like

Nakamichi ShockWafe 7.1 Pro is black, it’s quite stylish and just a little bit oddly shaped. The design is mostly a matter of taste and there is no universal beauty but we still think that most of you will like it.

Connecting the soundbar to all of your audio sources, pairing it with the subwoofer, and connecting the speakers should take no more than 10 minutes. Mounting soundbar and surround speakers will take more, but you will spend most of the time adjusting the sound and getting used to controls, programming your TV remote to use it with the soundbar, checking different EQ modes, etc. There is no automatic calibration tool (mic or some app). There is recommended speaker layout in Nakamichi user manual, and you should try to place the speakers in accordance with this recommendation in order to get the most out of this system.

The best thing about this system (besides the sound) is that you can connect all kinds of audio sources to the soundbar. This soundbar is basically a substitution for AV receiver, it saves space and makes things a lot simpler. You can connect your TV, gaming console, cable or satellite box, streaming device, your PC, and other devices to the soundbar and you can shift from one to another input with your remote.

You can also connect any Bluetooth-enabled device to the system and stream any music from your phone, laptop, iPad, etc. The range is pretty much standard (approx. 30ft). The connection is stable and we didn’t experience any signal loss. If you change the input source, your device will be disconnected and when you switch to Bluetooth input, device and soundbar will pair automatically. You can’t pair two or more Bluetooth-enabled devices simultaneously to the soundbar.

Shockwafe 7.1 Pro supports Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 surround sound formats. It doesn’t support any of 7.1 surround sound audio formats (DD TRUE HD or DTS HD Master Audio) nor object-based audio formats (Atmos or DTS:X). It can decode only 5.1 surround soundtracks so it’s probably not fair to advertise it as 7.1 system (if you consider those two small angled tweeters on both ends of the soundbar speakers, then you can say this is 7.1 but in reality, it is not – it’s 5.1).

7.1 Pro offers crisp clean sound with pretty good soundstage and nice separation between left and right channels. It delivers an immersive listening experience, especially when watching movies (music doesn’t sound that good – it is clean and pretty loud but you won’t get enough bass with that 8-inch subwoofer). The frequency response of the system spans from 35Hz to 22KHz, maximum SPL is 104dB, RMS power is 150W (peak – 400W).

On top of all this, you can choose between 6 EQ modes (Movie, Music, Game, TV, Sports, and Night) or you can adjust bass and treble manually. You can also adjust the volume of each channel or turn off surround speakers.

 Things we don’t like

First of all, we were not completely happy with the bass. It’s ok, but nothing more than that. It’s not punchy enough and it sounds a bit distorted at high volumes.

Subwoofer pairs with the soundbar wirelessly through Bluetooth, but the connection is not excellent. It happens occasionally that subwoofer simply stops working (and when subwoofer stops, surround speakers also stop) and then you have to restart them and pair them again.

There is no support for Dolby True HD, Dolby Atmos, DTS HD master audio, or DTS:X and some customers might see that as a deal breaker. Also, you will have only 2 HDMI inputs at your disposal and some of you might find that insufficient.

2. Nakamichi Shockwafe Elite 7.2.4Ch 800W Soundbar System with Dolby Atmos

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Here comes another surround sound system from the highly praised Nakamichi Shockwafe line. It’s called Elite7.2.4 and it’s an upgraded version of the previously mentioned Shockwafe 7.1 Pro (2016). Besides the obvious upgrade (2 subwoofers instead of one), this system also has more inputs, longer and more comprehensive list of supported surround sound formats, upgraded Bluetooth module, more reliable wireless connection between the soundbar and subwoofer, and an upgraded LED display (5-digit LED display instead of an array of LED lights). 

Considering the price and the performance, there’s not much to complain about. You may not like the fact that only the subwoofers are wireless and surround modules have to be connected to the subwoofers but you will have to live with it. 

What’s in the box?

Like with all the other Nakamichi speaker systems, everything comes packed inside one large and hefty cardboard box. There’s no separate box for each part but all the speakers are nicely protected. As you probably know, Nakamichi is very generous when it comes to accessories. It’s probably the most generous of all the manufacturers and they deserve some credit for that. Kudos Nakamichi! So, besides the speakers (soundbar, 2 subwoofers, 2 surround speakers), you will get 3 power cables (for the soundbar and subwoofers), 2 speaker cables (for connecting the surround speakers to the subwoofer), and a fully-featured and very user-friendly remote. You will also get a set of cables for connecting different audio sources to the soundbar (HDMI 2.0 cable x1, TOSLINK cable x1, AUX cable x1), all the necessary mounting hardware for the soundbar and surround speakers (speaker stands are not included), user manual, and a warranty card (standard 1-year warranty). 

Things we like 

The soundbar features that recognizable angular design. Every Nakamichi system comes with the same soundbar (except for the original Nakamichi Pro 7.1). This soundbar acts as the hub (it substitutes the AV receiver and three front channels. Compared to the original Nakamichi 7.1 Pro, this system has an upgraded soundbar with a more intuitive LED display (you have a 5-digit display instead of an array of 10 LED lights) and more connections. Like the original Nakamichi soundbar, this one has 6 drivers (2.5in, full-range). They are arranged in 3 groups and act as left, center, and right channels. The separation between the channels is pretty good (considering the fact that we are talking about the soundbar) and it will give you much better stereo separation than other similarly priced soundbars on the market. The soundbar also has two small 1in drivers on each end. These are so-called ambient effect drivers and, as the name implies, they will widen the soundstage and make your movie watching experience more realistic. All the drivers are protected with a semi-transparent grille. Right in the middle, beneath the Nakamichi logo, there’s a nice and intuitive LED display. All the connections are on the rear panel. The soundbar features 4 HDMI 2.0 ports. One of them is HDMI ARC OUT (this is the preferred connection if your TV has HDMI ARC input). All the HDMI ports are HDMI 2.0. They all support 4K pass-through, HDR, and they are all HDCP 2.2 compliant.  The soundbar also has one TOSLINK input, one coaxial input, one AUX input, and a USB port (for music playback and firmware updates). 

The subwoofers that come with the Elite feature the same kind of design as the previous Nakamichi system on our list (the original Nakamichi 7.1 Pro) and the same kind of driver (8in down-firing driver with rear-firing port). Besides the obvious difference (2 subwoofers instead of one), the subwoofers that come with the Elite are just a little bit larger. Each subwoofer has a Pairing button on the back (you won’t have to use it unless you experience some pairing issues), USB port (for firmware updates), and one RCA speaker output. You’re supposed to use these speaker outputs to connect the surround speakers. The original Nakamichi 7.1 Pro (and 7.1.4 Pro), had only one subwoofer and both surround speakers were supposed to be connected to that subwoofer but, in this case, one speaker is connected to each subwoofer. So, it’s a little bit different layout but it’s still very simple. It’s even easier this way. 

The surround speakers that come with the system are the same as the speakers that come with any other speaker system from this line (smallish 2-way speakers with 3in full-range woofers and 1in tweeters). 

Installation is relatively easy and shouldn’t take too long, especially if you don’t want to mount the soundbar and satellites. Nakamichi systems don’t come with an auto-calibration mic or some kind of software for calibration, but you can find the recommended speaker layouts for different room sizes and configurations in the manual and you should try to follow them. Also, the remote has a room size button (3 options – small, medium, large) so you can play with it and find the type of sound you like. 

Based on the time of day or the content you’re watching, you can select of one of many interesting DSP sound modes – night (lowers the bass), music, movie, entertainment (game/show/news), clear voice (improved intelligibility), stereo, and pure direct. You can also turn off the DSP effects if you want to hear the original audio track. 

The list of supported surround sound formats is truly impressive. The soundbar can decode standard Dolby 5.1 and DTS 5.1. It also supports Dolby True HD, Dolby Digital, DD+, DTS-HD, DTS-HD MA. In the end, it supports object-based surround sound formats – Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. 

The soundbar has a built-in Bluetooth module (Bluetooth 4.1 with aptX support). You can stream any audio content from any Bluetooth-enabled device (phone, tablet, laptop). Pairing and streaming are smooth and painless. 

To control the system, you can use the control panel on the soundbar (located on the top). This control panel has only 5 buttons and offers only basic adjustments (power on/off, source, volume). If you want to control everything else, you have to use the remote. 

The remote is one of the biggest highlights. It’s backlit so you won’t have any problems in the dark and it allows you to control anything you can think of. There’s a dedicated button for every single function. You can use it to select the source or the DSP mode, to adjust the master volume, dim the LED display on your soundbar. You can even adjust the amount of bass and treble, adjust the volume level of each speaker, turn off the subwoofers, or make quick lip sync adjustments (Lip Sync + and Lip Sync -). The remote is simply perfect. The system also supports IR learning feature so you can use your TV remote to turn on/off the system or to adjust the master volume. 

When it comes to performance, this system is almost flawless. Surround sound effects are powerful and immersive, especially when playing standard 5.1 and 7.1 tracks. The bass is fast, accurate, and dynamic. That additional subwoofer really makes a difference and improves the realism. We were not impressed by height effects but, to be honest, we didn’t really expect them to be extremely immersive or accurate. After all, the soundbar only simulates height effects. 

Things we don’t like

Well, there’s not much to complain about when you know what kind of performance this system delivers, but we can still think of a few things that could make it even better. 

First of all, unlike some other wireless surround sound systems, this one doesn’t come with an auto-calibration tool (mic, software, app). Adding one would make the installation easier.

Also, making an app that would allow you to adjust all kinds of settings would be a huge upgrade.

3. Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2.4Ch 1000W Soundbar System with Dolby Atmos

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Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2.4 is the biggest and most powerful system made by Nakamichi. Its combined power output is 1,000W. The system is priced under $1,300 which is not cheap but can be considered quite affordable considering the performance and the amount of realism it offers. This is, by far, the most amazing wireless surround sound system at this price point. 

Since Ultra 9.2.4 comes with the same soundbar as Elite 7.2.4, these two systems have the same inputs, the same features, and they support the same surround sound formats. We are just going to list all the features and focus our attention on the differences. If you want to find out more about the features, read our review about Elite 7.2.4. 

The biggest differences between the two systems are larger subwoofers (10in drivers instead of 8in drivers) and two additional rear speakers. 

What’s in the box?

Just like Elite 7.2.4, Ultra 9.2.4 comes in a rich packaging with many accessories. Inside the box, you’ll find your speakers (soundbar, 2 subs, 2 surround speakers, and 2 rear speakers), power cables (for the soundbar and subwoofers), speaker cables (for connecting the satellites), remote (batteries included), a set of audio cables (HDMI 2.0, TOSLINK, AUX), mounting equipment, user manual, and a warranty card. 

Things we like 

All the things we liked about the Nakamichi Shockwafe 7.2.4 are present here, too. The soundbar features the same kind of design, just like the subwoofers and satellites. 

The connections are also the same – 3 HDMI 2.0 inputs with 4K pass-through and HDCP 2.2 support, one HDMI ARC OUT, TOSLINK input, coaxial input, AUX input, USB port, and Bluetooth 4.1 with aptX support. 

The installation is almost the same. The calibration tool doesn’t exist, but there’re recommended speaker layouts for different room sizes in the user manual. You have two additional speakers (rear surround speakers) and you are supposed to connect them to the left and right subwoofer. 

The list of supported DSP sound modes is also the same. You can select the mode depending on the content, time of day, or your personal preferences. Ultra 9.2.4 also has Night mode with reduced bass and Clear Voice mode for better intelligibility. 

The list of supported surround sound formats is also the same. Ultra 9.2.4 can decode any Dolby Digital or DTS surround audio track, including object-based DTS:X and Dolby Atmos. 

The remote has some minor changes when it comes to button layout but all the buttons are still there and the remote is still one of the biggest highlights. So, you can still use it to select the source, select DSP sound modes, adjust the volume of each speaker, adjust bass and treble levels, or make lip-sync adjustments. 

The most important difference between Ultra 9.2.4 and Elite 7.2.4 is performance-related. Ultra comes with larger subwoofers and two additional surround speakers (rear surround). The Elite was really good. It was immersive, realistic, life-like. But Ultra… Ultra is even better. Those two huge bass modules will add some crazy rumble to every explosion and make you feel like you’re in the movie. It gets very close to the cinema experience. This system completely deserves our recommendation. 

Things we don’t like

Well, we can only repeat the same things we’ve talked about in the Elite 7.2.4 review. There’s no auto-calibration tool. There are some recommended speaker layouts in the user manual and you should try to follow them. Also, there’s the room size button on the remote that will allow you to choose between small, medium, and large room. 

The system doesn’t come with an app. The remote is really great and gives you so much control over the system but it wouldn’t hurt to have a backup option.

4. Sonos 5.1 Home Theater System PLAYBAR, SUB, PLAY:1

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Sonos is one of the leaders in the wireless audio industry. This is one of the first companies that came up with the idea of wireless (wi-fi) audio equipment and brought that idea to reality. SONOS is well-known for making wi-fi smart speakers and multiroom wireless speakers but they’ve decided to expand a little bit and start making home theater systems. They made a soundbar called PLAYBAR first and, after that, they decided to pair it with some of their other products. There is a lot of possible combinations – you can combine one PLAYBAR (or PLAYBASE, which is SONOS wireless sound base) with SONOS subwoofer (simply named SUB) and 2 speakers (either PLAY:1, PLAY:2, or PLAY:3) and make your own 5.1 surround sound system. The best thing is that you don’t have to buy all these speakers at once and splash more than $1,500. You can start with the PLAYBAR (which is the main unit and the one that connects wirelessly to other speakers) and then make upgrades. We have decided to present to you the combo PLAYBAR + SUB + 2xPLAY:1 but you can make your own combination (buy PLAYBASE instead of PLAYBAR, PLAY:3 or PLAY:5 instead of PLAY1).

In our opinion, this is the best wireless surround sound system on the market. It offers great sound quality, it is really simple to install and use, and SONOS app works flawlessly (you have to use it to calibrate and control the surround sound system because there is no remote).  The greatest flaws of this system are limited number of inputs (that’s an understatement since there are only one digital optical input and two Ethernet ports) and lack of support for DTS surround sound.

 What’s in the box?

Each piece of equipment comes in a separate box. Everything looks really premium and expensive – after all, it would be a surprise if that wasn’t the case considering the price of the system.

PLAYBAR weighs almost 12 pounds, it’s 3.35 inches high, 35.43 inches wide, and 5.51 inches deep. Besides the PLAYBAR, you will get a power cord, digital optical cable, Ethernet cable, Quick start guide, and a warranty card.

You have two options when it comes to PLAYBAR placement. You can mount it on the wall (wall mount kit is not included and you have to buy it separately – you can find PLAYBAR wall mount kit on Amazon for less than $40) or you can place it on your TV stand in front of your TV. It’s probably better to mount it on the wall – that way the drivers are facing toward you and make the soundstage much wider.  

SONOS tends to make simple and elegant audio equipment. PLAYBAR is a perfect example of that kind of approach. The front panel is completely covered with a black and soft grille made of acoustic fabric. The rest of the cabinet is made of hard plastic with a few metal elements. On the front panel, there is also IR sensor – PLAYBAR can learn commands from your TV remote or any universal remote so if you don’t want to use the app, you can use one of your remotes. There are 3 control buttons on the left side panel – play/pause (you can use it to mute the volume while watching TV), and two volume buttons. Between play/pause/mute button and volume controls, you will see a small LED status/mute indicator.

Inside the PLAYBAR, there are 9 drivers arranged in a phased array. CENTER channel consists of 2 woofers and a tweeter between them, there are two woofers on the left and right side and two angled tweeters on each end of the cabinet. Each woofer has 2.5-inch diameter, and tweeters are a bit smaller (1.5-inch). You won’t find that many drivers on other soundbars and that’s one of the biggest advantages of the PLAYBAR itself. Even if you decide to buy PLAYBAR only, you will be impressed by the soundstage and perfectly clear sound. PLAYBAR alone offers much better experience than any TV.

SUB also comes in the same type of package. It weighs 36.3 pounds and it is 15.3 inches high, 15.8 inches wide, and 6.2 inches deep. Its design is quite unusual – it has a hole in the middle and it’s black and glossy. It kind of stands out, since all the other speakers don’t have that shiny look. We would like it more without that gloss, but it’s just the matter of taste.

Besides the SUB, you will get one power cable, a quick start guide, and a warranty card.

You can place the SUB horizontally or vertically – both ways offer pretty much the same type of sound.

On the SUB, you will find only one pairing button (press the button to pair it with the PLAYBAR) and LED status indicator. That’s all, no volume controls or anything else. You have to use SONOS app to adjust the amount of bass and volume of the SUB.

Inside the SUB, there are two 6-inch oval drivers firing at each other with 2 class-D amplifiers (no info on amp output or max SPL). This kind of driver arrangement should cancel out all the cabinet vibrations. Bass ports are at the bottom. SUB can play sounds down to 25Hz.  

PLAY:1 speakers come in two separate boxes that look completely the same as the boxes for SUB and PLAYBAR (only smaller). Each PLAY:1 speaker weighs 4.08 pounds (they are pretty heavy for their size), they are 6.36 inches high, 4.69 inches wide, and 4.69 inches deep. In each box, you will find power and Ethernet cable, quick start guide, and warranty card.

Speakers look really nice. You can choose between two options – white speakers with a metallic grille or black speakers with a graphite grille.

The speakers can be wall-mounted or placed on speaker stands. Wall mounts and floor stands are not included and you can buy them on Amazon or order them from SONOS website.

The control buttons are on the top panel. You will see volume controls, play/pause/mute button, and small LED status indicator. On the back panel, there’s one pairing button and power cable.

Inside each PLAY:1 speaker, there are two drivers – one woofer and one tweeter with dedicated class-D amplifiers (just like BOSE, SONOS doesn’t provide any info on max SPL, amp output, frequency response, sound to noise ratio, etc.). You can control these speakers through the app, too.

 Things we like

SONOS 5.1 is one of the best-looking wireless surround sound systems on the market. They look minimalistic and elegant. The only thing that really stands out is the SUB because of its shiny finish. We would prefer the look without that finish but that’s just our taste. And we would pick black speakers with graphite grille – it fits better with black SUB and black and silver PLAYBAR.

Installing the system should not take more than half an hour. Physically connecting the soundbar to your TV takes a few seconds (but you need a TV with digital optical output). All the other adjustments are done through the app. When you’re done with pairing all the speakers into a system, you have to calibrate the system. That’s also done through the app. There a section called TRUEPLAY which is auto calibration tool. This tool uses mic on your iPhone to calibrate all the important sound-related characteristics and adjust the speakers. TRUEPLAY doesn’t work with Android devices and you are going to need an iPhone (or iPod) to calibrate the sound.

SONOS 5.1 system supports Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound and that’s pretty much it. None of the other 5.1 or 7.1 or object-based surround sound formats are supported. Luckily, most of today’s Blu-ray discs feature DD 5.1 soundtrack.

You can stream music and podcasts from your phone to the SONOS 5.1 system but there’s a catch. You can do that only through SONOS app. SONOS app has a bunch of streaming apps like Deezer, Spotify, Google Play, iHeartRadio, etc. integrated and you will have to open the SONOS app, then go to the section with all these integrated streaming apps and stream the music. It doesn’t matter if you have some streaming app already installed on your phone – you have to open SONOS app and access the streaming app through SONOS app.

There are two more additional features that you can activate through SONOS app – Speech Enhancement and Night Mode. You can use Speech Enhancement if you are hard of hearing or if you want to hear the vocals better. This thing really improves the intelligibility by making the voices louder and clearer and background sounds and music quieter. Night mode is something that you can use if you are watching TV or movies late at night. If you don’t want to wake up everybody, you just have to activate night mode and it will adjust the sound by making quiet sounds a bit louder and loud sounds quieter.

You will hardly find some wireless surround sound system that’s so easy to use and install, that works flawlessly, and offers very good sound. SONOS 5.1 is the perfect combo of these three things. Some would say that Denon Heos AVR 5.1 Surround System is better when it comes to sound quality and that’s probably true but there are some functionality issues that make it really user-unfriendly.

 Things we don’t like

SONOS 5.1 doesn’t support DTS 5.1 surround sound audio format and that’s the greatest downside of this system. It also doesn’t support any 7.1 or object-based surround sound formats but that’s not such a big issue. Most Blu-ray discs have either DD 5.1 or DTS 5.1 audio track and if you get a disc with DTS 5.1, you won’t be able to play that surround soundtrack.

SONOS PLAYBAR features only one INPUT port (digital optical) and there is not even one HDMI input. For some people that could be a huge deal breaker.

You have to use all the streaming apps through the SONOS app and that’s a bit inconvenient. On the positive side, SONOS app does have more than 80 different streaming options.

SONOS 5.1 system is slightly overpriced. PLAYBAR and PLAY:1 speakers are pretty good for the price, but SUB with 6-inch drivers should definitely cost less. You can find much better subwoofers for less than $700 but only SONOS SUB will work with SONOS PLAYBAR and if you are a fan of SONOS wireless audio, you won’t mind paying $100 more for SONOS 5.1 system.

5. Samsung Harman Kardon HW-Q90R

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Samsung is one of the leaders when it comes to wireless surround sound systems. They have already introduced more than a dozen different wireless systems and you can find 2 of them on this list. HW-Q line is created in cooperation with Harman Kardon (which is, by the way, Samsung’s daughter company). Most of the Samsung wireless surround sound systems are simple soundbar/subwoofer combos that only simulate surround sound, but their flagship models come with additional surround speakers and can be considered true surround sound systems. 

HW-Q90R is Samsung’s flagship wireless surround sound system for 2019. This is a 7.1.4 system (it simulates object-based surround sound) and it comes with wireless subwoofer and wireless surround speakers. The number of necessary cables is minimized and the performance is quite amazing. The biggest problem is the price. Q90R is priced slightly under $1,500. Another problem is the fact that it’s optimized for Samsung QLED TVs. It will work fine with other TVs but you won’t be able to experience all the benefits and use all the features.  

What’s in the box?

The box is quite large and weighs almost 60lb. Inside the box, you’ll find all the speakers (soundbar, subwoofer, rears), 4 power cords, remote (batteries included), one HDMI cable, mounting equipment, user manual, and 1-year warranty. 

Things we like 

The system looks quite sleek. The edges of the soundbar and surround modules are reinforced with aluminum. The soundbar is entirely wrapped in a semi-transparent black grille, just like the rear speakers.

The number of drivers built into the soundbar is quite amazing. There’re 13 drivers in total – 9 drivers on the front side (arranged in 3 channels – front, left, right), 2 drivers on the far-left and far-right end of the top panel, and two drivers on the left and right panels. The manufacturer’s idea was to envelop you with the sound coming from all directions. Each rear speaker features two drivers – one front-firing driver and one up-firing driver. In total, there are four up-firing drivers and they are supposed to bring the height effects to the next level and offer better object-based effects than any other wireless surround sound system on the market. The subwoofer features one side-firing 8in driver.

All the inputs are located on the rear panel of the soundbar. There are two HDMI inputs, one HDMI ARC OUT port, digital optical input, and USB port (for firmware updates). The soundbar doesn’t have an Ethernet port but it has a built-in Wi-Fi antenna and can be connected to your home Wi-Fi network. The number of available physical inputs is not amazing. The manufacturer obviously wants you to use your TV as a hub. Still, compared to the SONOS 5.1 system and to some other wireless surround sound systems, HW-Q90R offers satisfying connection versatility. HDMI inputs support 4K HDR pass-through and are HDCP 2.2 compliant. 

The installation is very simple and hassle-free. The preferred connection type for your TV is the HDMI ARC OUT port. All the wireless speakers will pair automatically with the soundbar. If that doesn’t happen, you can always do it manually by pressing the ID SET button on each speaker (page 7 of the user manual). The soundbar can be connected to a TV via Bluetooth (works with many Bluetooth-enabled TVs) or it can be connected via Wi-Fi (works with Samsung Smart TVs made after 2013). A small downside is a fact that there’s no auto-calibration tool. You can find the recommended speaker layout in the user manual (page 6 of the user manual) and you are supposed to position the speakers appropriately. 

You have multiple options when it comes to controlling the system. You can use the remote that comes with it, four control buttons on the top panel of the soundbar (power, source, volume), or your Samsung TV remote (in some cases, you can only control the basic functions). You can also use the SmartThings app (available for Android and iOS devices). The remote has a simple button layout but it allows you to control all kinds of things. For example, the settings button on the remote allows you to adjust the speaker levels, bass and treble, make your EQ settings by adjusting 5 frequency bands, make SYNC corrections, etc. The remote has two minor downsides – there’s no dedicated button for each function and it’s not backlit. 

The SmartThings app has pretty nice ratings on both Google Play and App Store. This app is not made exclusively for Samsung wireless surround sound systems but for all kinds of Samsung smart devices. It’s quite demanding and it’s also quite large so you might experience some issues with older phones. It worked flawlessly on iPhone 8 and Samsung Galaxy S9. The app allows you to control everything, just like the remote. It also allows you to perform the updates wirelessly. 

HW-Q90R has a few sound modes including standard, Game Pro (optimizes sound for gaming and it activates automatically if the console is connected to a Samsung TV), surround sound, and Adaptive Sound Mode. Adaptive Sound Mode is a very interesting feature – the soundbar will analyze the audio and optimize the output depending on the content you’re watching. 

The system is also Alexa-enabled so you can control it and stream music wirelessly via Amazon Echo, Echo Plus, and Echo Dot. 

HW-Q90R supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X object-based surround sound formats. It also supports Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, Dolby True HD, and Dolby DD+.

When it comes to wireless connectivity, you can choose between Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Both options are pretty easy to use. You have to use the SmartThings app to connect the soundbar to your Wi-Fi network. 

There are a few features that are Samsung-specific (the features that work best with QLED and other Samsung TVs). When connected to Samsung TV (via HDMI cable), you can use your TV remote to control the soundbar. This feature is called Anynet+ and it’s Samsung’s version of CEC. Also, there’s the Auto Power Link feature which turns on the system whenever you turn on the soundbar (when they are connected via optical or HDMI cable). 

HW-Q90R delivers surprisingly immersive performance. 9 front-firing, 4 up-firing, and 2 side-firing drivers, combined with that 8in subwoofer, will envelop you with sound from all directions. The watching experience is very lifelike. Even those object-based sound effects are pretty good. It’s still a simulation, and the sound is not perfectly directed but it’s much better than any other soundbar with up-firing drivers. The adaptive sound mode is a great feature, too – it analyzes the content and makes the adjustments to make your watching experience more interesting. So, if you are watching a basketball game, it will emphasize the audience and send that audio to your rear speakers. It will make you feel like you’re in the arena. Also, if you’re watching something at low volume, it will emphasize the mids while reducing the bass in order to make the dialogues more intelligible. The only thing that may need some upgrade is the subwoofer. Adding a larger subwoofer would make the movie-watching experience even more immersive but we don’t know what kind of effect would that have on the midrange reproduction (especially on the dialogues). With the existing subwoofer, all the speakers work in perfect synergy and deliver very reliable wireless performance. 

Things we don’t like

There’s no auto-calibration tool which is a bit inconvenient, but the recommended speaker layout is pretty simple and you shouldn’t have any problems with speaker placement.

At this price point, we have expected some additional features like Google Chromecast and Airplay support. At the moment, this system is Wi-Fi enabled and supports Alexa. Adding a few more wireless services would make HW-Q90R even more attractive. 

There are only two HDMI inputs and one HDMI ARC OUT which is not much and it means that you have to connect some of the devices to your TV. This is a common thing with soundbars and wireless surround sound systems so it can’t be considered a deal-breaker.

6. Polk Audio Signa S2

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Polk is always a viable option when looking for a budget-friendly solution. Polk Audio Signa S2 is an ultra-slim and ultra-compact soundbar/subwoofer 2.1 system offering versatile connectivity, great ease of use, Dolby Digital decoding, several DSP sound modes for improved sonic performance and better intelligibility, and pretty good overall audio quality. Naturally, you can’t expect a true surround sound experience from a 2.1 system but it definitely performs above expectations. 

What’s in the box?

Like most soundbar/subwoofer combos, Signa S2 comes in an L-shaped box. Inside the box, you will find the soundbar, subwoofer, remote (batteries not included), two power cables, optical cable, HDMI cable, and all the standard literature. You will also get a 1-year warranty on electronics and a 2-year warranty on the drivers. The soundbar can be mounted but the mounting kit is sold separately.

Things we like

Both main components of the system have a very small footprint and don’t require too much space. The bar is ultra-slim (2.15in), it’s 35.4in long and 3.2in deep. The enclosure is made of plastic and has a black finish. Some parts, like the side covers, have a shiny finish and look a bit cheap. The front panel as well as a large chunk of the top panel are covered with a protective fabric. The inputs and mounting holes are on the back and all the controls are on the top.

The subwoofer is, just like the soundbar, very compact (6.7in x 13.4in x 12.3in) and fairly light. The enclosure is made of MDF and is ported (front-firing bass reflex port). 

The soundbar houses four drivers arranged in two channels. You have two oval 1.25in x 4.4in full-range drivers and two 1in tweeters. The subwoofer houses one 5.25in woofer and a front-firing bass reflex port. The manufacturer doesn’t publish power outputs for this model but, according to some reviews and specs we’ve found on other websites, the peak power output of the soundbar is 120W and the peak power output of the subwoofer is 100W.

As far as connections are concerned, you have three options – HDMI ARC, optical, and AUX IN (3.5mm). You can use either but, naturally, the preferred option is HDMI connection. If your TV doesn’t support HDMI ARC, use optical. If your TV supports CEC, you will be able to control some basic functions of the soundbar (power, volume) with your TV remote. Aside from physical connections, the soundbar also features Bluetooth so you can also stream any audio content from any Bluetooth source wirelessly. This soundbar doesn’t support wi-fi connectivity but if you need one that features wi-fi support (and Google Chromecast) and is equally affordable, try the upgraded version – Signa S3 (priced under $250).

The installation shouldn’t take more than a few minutes. In case you want to mount it, make sure to order a mounting kit separately. To make it work, you just have to connect your TV and one or two additional audio sources to the soundbar, turn on the soundbar and subwoofer, wait until they pair with each other, and start using the system. In case you experience pairing issues, you can easily pair the subwoofer manually or reset the connection (the instructions are given in the user manual).

If you want to control the volume, change the source, or initiate Bluetooth pairing, you can use 5 control buttons located on the top panel of the soundbar or you can use the included remote. The remote gives you a few more options – it allows you to adjust the bass levels and enable one of the available DSP sound modes. The soundbar has four LED lights located on the front panel, right in the middle, and protected with that cloth grille. Different colors and different LED combos will light up when different sources are used and different audio formats are being processed. The LED indicators can be a bit confusing, especially at first.

The meaning of different LED combos (source – Signa S2 user manual)

Signa S2 features several sound modes. The purpose of each mode is to optimize the audio output for different types of content. There’s the movie mode, music mode, and night mode. The last one lowers the bass levels, improves the dialog clarity, and provides you with a more enjoyable listening experience at night. The soundbar also supports 3 different levels of VOICE ADJUST. These are special DSP modes designed to improve the intelligibility of dialogs.

The system decodes Dolby Digital 5.1 and that’s one of the key features the manufacturer likes to advertise. The unit can also decode DTS 5.1 and Dolby Digital Plus. It doesn’t support Atmos or DTS:X.

The audio performance is quite enjoyable. The system is loud, the bass is present and punchy, and the vocals are perfectly clear, even without the VOICE ADJUST feature. The system doesn’t create an incredible surround sound effect but it would be unreasonable to expect something like that from a simple 2.1 system.

Things we don’t like

The bar is mountable but the wall mounting kit is not included and you have to buy it separately.

Dolby Atmos and DTS:X are not supported.

The LED indicators can be confusing at first.

The unit has only one HDMI input.

7. Enclave Audio CineHome II

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The first wireless surround sound system from Enclave Audio, CineHome HD 5.1, was a big success. It was one of the first systems with a WiSA certificate and one of the best-sounding 5.1 wireless home theaters on the market, especially in its price range. 

The next generation of Enclave Audio surround sound systems brought us two units – CineHome II and CineHome PRO. The systems are fully redesigned and look more luxurious than the first one, but all the good things remained the same. Both CineHome II and CineHome PRO are the epitomes of convenience and ease of use. They both sound amazing, and the prices are still competitive.  Today, we will review the cheaper and a bit more compact of the two units – CineHome II. 

Unlike most wireless surround sound systems, CineHome II is, just like its predecessor CineHome HD 5.1, a true surround sound system. It doesn’t simulate surround sound or anything like that. The speakers don’t require speaker wire, but they do require power cables (6 cables in total), so you should think about the number and position of wall outlets in your room. If you don’t have enough wall outlets for all the speakers and other equipment, you may want to buy additional power strips. 

The price of the CineHome II is just slightly higher than the price of the previous CineHome HD 5.1. You can have it for $1,100. It may seem a lot, but if you compare it to other higher-end home theater systems, even wired ones, you will see that this can be considered affordable. Especially for a wireless surround sound system. Sure, you can get a soundbar-based system for less, but it will never sound the same as this thing. We’ve heard people calling CineHome systems soundbar killers and we couldn’t agree more with that statement. Nothing can replace a true surround sound experience with a dedicated speaker for each channel, regardless of how good the simulation is. But let’s leave the discussion about sonic performance for later and start this review as we usually do.

 What’s in the box?

CineHome II comes in a huge box with a nice sketch on the front side explaining the contents. Everything is nicely packed and protected with Styrofoam. On the top, you will find the main unit called the CineHub packed inside a separate box. Along with the CineHub, you will find a power supply for the CineHub and one HDMI cable. The old CineHome system didn’t come with this unit. Instead, the center channel was in charge of all the sound processing and wireless communication with other speakers. 

There’s another smaller box on the top, right next to the CineHub box. Inside this box, you will find six power cables, one for each speaker. Power cords for all the front speakers (FL, FR, C) and for the subwoofer are 6ft long. The cords for the rear speakers are 9ft long. 

When you remove the upper layer of Styrofoam, you will see your speakers – one subwoofer, two front speakers, a center channel speaker, and two rear speakers. Each speaker has a label on the back, so you won’t mix them up.

The package doesn’t come with a remote. You can control some basic settings with your TV remote (HDMI CEC has to be enabled) or you can use the CineHome CineHub remote app for advanced adjustments. You can also order the remote directly from Enclave Audio for $15, but we don’t think there’s a need for additional expenses. 

CineHub is a simple, compact unit. It looks like some kind of Android TV box. On the front, you have an LED indicator and an IR receiver. On the back, there’s one HDMI eARC output, one optical input, AUX input, and a DC input. The existence of CineHub is the first big difference between the old Enclave Audio surround sound system and the new ones. Not just the fact that you have a separate unit in charge of sound processing, but also the fact that Enclave Audio completely changed its philosophy when it comes to connectivity. 

The center channel was the hub of the old CineHome HD 5.1 system and it had 3 HDMI inputs and one HDMI ARC OUT. The new CineHub has only one HDMI eARC OUT and no HDMI inputs. In other words, Enclave Audio doesn’t want you to use your CineHub as the hub for your entire entertainment system. They want you to connect all video sources to your TV and then just send audio to the CineHub, either via HDMI, TOSLINK, or AUX cable. This will unload the burden from your surround sound system, but it will put a strain on your TV. 

Anyhow, an important thing to think about when buying CineHome II is the number of devices that you want to connect via HDMI cable. If your TV doesn’t have enough HDMI inputs for all those devices, you should probably buy an HDMI switch (that’s the cheapest solution). 

The speakers have hard plastic cabinets and solid semi-transparent grilles protecting the drivers. Three front speakers have the same measures (3.5x16x7”) but the driver arrangements are not the same. Behind the grilles of the FL and FR speakers, you have one 3” woofer, one 1” tweeter, and an airflow port at the top. The center channel has two 3” woofers and one 1” tweeter.

The subwoofer is quite chunky – it’s 11.75” wide, 14.75” tall, and 14.5” deep. It has a single 8” down-firing woofer paired with a down-firing bass reflex port.

Rear speakers feature a bipole design – each looks like an irregular hexagonal prism. This kind of design is supposed to additionally improve surround effects and make the stage even wider. Each rear speaker has two 2” woofers. 

On the back of each speaker (excluding the subwoofer), you have mounting holes and threads. You can mount the speakers on the wall, or you can buy the flor stands or table stands.

 Things we like

As mentioned earlier, the entire system has been redesigned and doesn’t look at all like the old version. It’s much more luxurious, more futuristic. The old version was a bit too boxy, too ordinary. So, a big plus for improved design.

Even if you’re new to the world of wireless surround sound, you shouldn’t need more than 30-60 min to take the speakers out of the box, place them, and set them up. This system is WiSA-certified and that means that the installation is absolutely hassle-free. CineHome II is not like some other wireless surround sound systems that are supposed to be easy to set up but are actually not (who said Bose?). 

Once you place the speakers and plug them in, you need to turn them on. On the back of each speaker, there’s a power button and an LED connection status indicator. When you turn them on, the lights will start to flash. Then, you need to connect your TV to the CineHub using one of the available connections (ideally, HDMI ARC), and turn the CineHub on. The CineHub will create a proprietary wireless network (using 5 GHz frequencies to avoid interference with all the devices in your home that use 2.4 GHz frequency) and will use it to connect all the speakers into a system. The system should be up and running in 30sec. 

After the initial setup, you have to download the Enclave Audio remote app (Android/iOS) that you’re going to use instead of an actual remote. This app will allow you to do some basic things (turn the system on, select the audio source, control the master volume), but will also let you do some fine-tuning. 

When you install the app and open it, you have to press the power button and then wait for half a minute or so for the app to register all the speakers. When that happens, the speakers in the app will light up (they will turn orange).

From the Home screen, you can mute the system, adjust the volume, and select source (HDMI, optical, AUX, Bluetooth). 

For additional settings, fine-tuning, and room calibration, you have to go to the SETTINGS tab. In this section, you can also do some manual calibration (adjust the distance between you and speakers), adjust individual speaker levels, select Dolby ProLogic Mode (Off/Auto/Movie/Music), select Dolby Dynamic Range Mode (Standard/Minimum/Maximum), or turn on/off Whole Room Stereo. Finally, you can use the Settings tab to install firmware updates or to send your complaints to the Enclave customer service.

Enclave Audio CineHome II – step-by-step setup

The app doesn’t have the most modern design and it’s not on par with the SONOS app (which is the king of all the apps when it comes to wireless audio), but it’s user-friendly and responsive. 

You can connect up to three audio sources to your CineHub. For your TV, the recommended connection is HDMI eARC. Besides that, you also have optical and AUX inputs for two additional devices. Thanks to Dolby ProLogic, the CineHub can up-mix any stereo recording to 5.1 surround sound. Or it can down-mix any surround sound recording to stereo if you select the Whole Room Stereo option. 

Besides physical inputs, CineHome II also features Bluetooth connectivity, so you can stream your favorite tunes wirelessly. The process of connecting your phone or some other Bluetooth source to the speakers is a little bit tricky. You have to completely close the app (not just leave it in the background), then open the Bluetooth settings on your phone, search for the available devices, find CineHome II, connect to it, and then open the Enclave Audio Remote app, and select Bluetooth as a source. 

How to stream music via Bluetooth using the Enclave app

CineHome II can handle both – Dolby 5.1 and DTS 5.1. In addition, it can handle Dolby Digital Plus and uncompressed LPCM. Other surround sound formats, like object-based Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, are not supported, but that’s perfectly logical. After all, this is a 5.1 system. 

The sound quality was, along with easy setup and use, one of the trademarks of the first Enclave Audio CineHome HD 5.1. In this respect, CineHome II is not different from its predecessor. The sound is clear, well-balanced, and fairly loud. The center channel delivers crispy clear dialogs. The separation and the size of the soundstage are amazing. The system can handle any music genre you can think of. Surround effects produced by those bipole speakers create a vivid experience. The bass is punchy, fast, accurate, and quite effective. It is definitely a good match for the system. 

The only problem, perhaps, is the size of the system. I mean, it’s perfect for small and maybe medium-sized rooms (up to 15x15ft), but it doesn’t feel right in a large room. It sounds a bit underpowered. 

You could try to improve that by adding more subwoofers. You can add up to 3 additional wireless subwoofers and make a 5.4 surround sound system (you are supposed to buy the same subwoofer model from Enclave Audio or some other certified seller). However, that will increase the quantity and not the quality of bass. Adding a bigger subwoofer is not an option because you would compromise the balance created by the rest of the system. 

The best option for large rooms, in our opinion, is going for a bigger system from the same series – Enclave Audio CineHome PRO. This system comes with bigger speakers, bigger subwoofer, and is THX-certified. 

For small rooms and in a price range up to $1000, the Enclave Audio CineHome II wireless surround sound system is one of the best options, along with Nakamichi Shockwafe Elite 7.2.4. It is, by far, the most convenient wireless surround sound system in its class.

 Things we don’t like

We can’t really say whether we like or don’t like the fact that the new system has only one HDMI eARC output and no HDMI inputs. We have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, that’s good for the surround sound system. CineHub can concentrate on sound processing and doesn’t have to spend resources on sending video to the TV. On the other hand, you have to think about the number of HDMI inputs on your TV and the number of devices that you want to connect via HDMI. If there are too many devices, you may have to buy an HDMI switch. 

We feel obligated to mention that we’ve noticed some negative comments regarding the Enclave Audio remote app on Google Play Store and App Store. The comments are mostly related to app instability (frequent crashes and loops) and to the inability to locate the speakers. During our testing period, we’ve had no problems with this app. The app is a bit basic and doesn’t have the most attractive user interface, but it works. The only tricky thing was to learn how to use the Bluetooth streaming option. 

CineHome II lacks special DSP modes you can find on some other wireless surround systems. There’s no Night Mode or special sound mode for improved dialog clarity. I guess you can play with individual speaker levels and create your own sound profile, but you can’t save different profiles as presets. Adding two or three sound modes or an option to save a few sound profiles would make the app and the entire listening experience much better.

8. Bose Smart Soundbar 600

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Bose is well-renowned when it comes to speakers and surround sound systems. The Smart Soundbar 600 is one of the best surround systems you can buy, thanks to its wide range of connectivity options, high-quality sound, and other features. 

It comes with a soundbar, a subwoofer, and two speakers, all of which are connected wirelessly. It’s worth noting that this surround sound system is quite expensive.

What’s in the box?

The box includes: 

• A soundbar
• Two speakers
• A subwoofer
• A power cord
• A remote control
• An optical cable 
• An HDMI cable
• A quick start guide
• 1-year limited warranty.

Things we like 

• This kit’s sound quality is amazing. 
• It features TrueSpace technology, which can analyze non-5.1 audio and turn it into surround sound.
• The build quality of the speakers is also fantastic. 
• We also like that you can connect the soundbar to the Bose app for more customization options.

Things we don’t like

• This kit is quite expensive, priced at more than a thousand dollars at the time this article was written. 
• It is a smaller set as well, so it might not be powerful enough if you have a larger home theater setup.

9. Yamaha YAS-207BL Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer Bluetooth & DTS Virtual:X

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Yamaha is one of the most respected names when it comes to home theaters and home audio equipment.

YAS-207BL is Yamaha’s first soundbar/subwoofer wireless surround sound system that supports DTS:X object-based surround sound audio tracks. This is one of the cheapest systems on this list and that’s probably because it’s not true 5.1 but it simulates surround sound and it also simulates DTS:X object-based surround sound (Atmos is not supported).

 What’s in the box?

Inside a large 29-pound box, you will find the main unit (YAS-CU207), the subwoofer (NS-WSW42), remote, two power cables, digital optical cable, mounting template (no wall mount kit – you have to buy it separately), user manual, and 1-year warranty.  

The soundbar is 36.6 inches wide, 2.4 inches high, 4.25 inches deep, and it weighs 6 pounds.

It is slim and sleek, it looks very stylish. The front panel and left and right ends are wrapped in traditional fabric grille.

On the front panel there’s a small silver strip at the bottom with Yamaha logo on the left side and 9 LED indicators in the middle – DD (green) or DTS (red), DPL (lights up when Dolby Pro Logic is activated), HDMI, TV (digital optical), Analog (AUX input), Bluetooth, Surround, Bass Extension, and Clear Voice. On the right end, there are 5 touch sensitive buttons – Input selection, mute, volume controls, and power button.

On the rear panel, you will find all the connections – AC input, one HDMI input, one HDMI ARC OUT, AUX input, digital optical input, and micro USB port (for updates only).

The soundbar can be mounted on your wall or you can simply place it on your TV stand, in front of your TV. You have to buy screws and everything else if you decide to mount it on the wall.

Inside the soundbar, there are four 1.75-inch woofers (frequency response spanning from 180Hz to 23KHz) and two 1-inch tweeters (frequency response spanning from 7KHz to 23KHz), The maximum output power of the soundbar 100W.

The subwoofer is 7.1 inches wide, 17.25 inches high, 15.75 inches deep, and it weighs17.4 pounds.

It’s completely black and it’s made of hard plastic. On the front panel, there is only one bass reflex port. On the rear panel, you will find a pairing button, standby LED indicator, connection indicator, and AC input.

Inside the subwoofer, there is one 6.25-inch cone driver with bass reflex port. The frequency response of the subwoofer spans from 40Hz to 180Hz.

The remote that comes with the system looks nice and stylish. Even more important, it’s functional and you can use it to adjust all kinds of settings There are 16 buttons on the remote – power button, input source buttons (HDMI, TV (digital optical), Analog, Bluetooth), Surround and Stereo buttons, Clear Voice, Bass Extension, Bluetooth Standby, Dimmer, Subwoofer + and -, Volume + and -, and mute button.

 Things we like

YAS-207BL is beautifully designed system. The soundbar is slim and it won’t block you TV if you decide to place it on your TV stand. The subwoofer is not too large and it won’t take too much space if you have a small room.

The installation process is very simple and it takes only a few minutes (if you don’t want to mount it). All the LED indicators should face toward the viewing position. This soundbar doesn’t have up-firing drivers like some other DTS:X enabled soundbars.

Controlling the unit is very simple and easy. You can do everything with your soundbar remote or you can use your TV remote to power on/off the system, chose the input, adjust the volume, and change audio output device (choose between TV and unit). You can do all this only if you use HDMI ARC connection and if HDMI control function on your TV is enabled. Also, you can install Home Theater Controller application for Android or iOS and control the system with this app.

The system supports Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 surround sound as well as PCM. This unit can also pass through 4K video and it features support for HDR and HDCP 2.2.

DTS:X 3D surround simulation is supported but you have to install the firmware update. By pressing surround button on your remote you will shift between different surround modes. When surround sound LED (the one with DD/DTS label) glows green you’re getting regular surround, blue is 3D surround (or DTS:X), when there is no light, you are in stereo. DPL LED with glow when stereo sound is played in surround mode (Dolby Pro Logic is activated).

The unit features Bluetooth 4.1. You can pair any Bluetooth enabled device with the system but you cannot pair two at the same time. The system will pair with the last Bluetooth device automatically when you press the Bluetooth button on your remote. You can also activate Bluetooth standby mode by pressing Bluetooth Standby button on the remote. When this mode is enabled, you can use your Bluetooth-enabled device to turn on/off the unit.

This system features some nice additional functions like bass extension, clear voice, and dimmer.

Bass Extension improves bass response just a little bit and makes it punchier but, to be honest, it doesn’t make a great difference and it causes mid-range frequencies to sound muddier than in standard mode.

Clear Voice mode will push forward certain frequencies and make dialogues much better and more intelligible than standard settings.

Dimmer button allows you to adjust the brightness or completely turn off LED indicators on the main unit.

Auto power (standby) function is disabled by default (for US market). When this function is enabled, the system will turn off after 8 hours of inactivity or after 20 minutes without an input signal.  

For a $300 price, YAS-207BL is very good surround sound system. It’s probably more appropriate for small and mid-sized rooms. The subwoofer is not too large but it’s punchy and fast. Compared to other soundbars within the same price range it does offer a bit wider soundstage (not like some true 5.1 systems but still decent).

As far as Virtual:X surround sound is concerned don’t expect too much. You won’t get perfect vertical audio experience but that’s pretty much what you get from any soundbar that imitates (simulates) object-based surround sound.

 Things we don’t like

As you could see, the number of inputs is very limited – there are only one HDMI input and one HDMI output. If you need more inputs, you should buy some other wireless surround sound system. Yamaha basically expects you to use your TV as a hub and connect all of your devices (or most of them) to your TV and then connect the TV and soundbar via HDMI.

Yamaha also recommends connecting gaming console to AUX input, but we all know that’s not the right way if you want surround sound experience.

10. JBL Bar 5.1 Home Theater Starter System with Soundbar and Wireless Subwoofer

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JBL is one of those big players that like to be competitive in every field of the audio industry. They are already famous for making portable wireless (Bluetooth) speakers like Flip, Charge, Xtreme, Pulse. But, this is not their only area of expertise, they also make all kinds of home and car audio, headphones, etc.

JBL Bar 5.1 is their 5.1 wireless surround sound system but it can be also considered a home theater in a box since it has a bunch of inputs and it doesn’t require AV receiver. It’s not the best surround sound system on the market but considering the price (the whole system costs less than $700), it’s safe to say that you will get a good value for money.

 What’s in the box?

JBL Bar 5.1 wireless surround sound system comes in a nice premium JBL box. JBL doesn’t give up on their packing policy and really tries to make a nice presentation. The box is quite heavy (47 pounds) and you might need help to bring it inside. You will find almost everything you need in this box – one soundbar, wireless subwoofer, wireless surround speakers (work on 5.8 GHz), remote (with batteries), 4ft long HDMI cable (you will have to buy three more for your other devices – that’s the number of HDMI inputs on the soundbar), 4ft long auxiliary cable, 4ft long optical cable (TOSLINK), calibration mic, mounting brackets, mounting guide, user manual, and 1-year warranty card,

The soundbar is 45 inches wide, 2.3 inches high, 3.7 inches deep, and it weighs 8.6 pounds. It features 6 2.5-inch woofers and 3 1.25-inch tweeters. Soundbar’s peak output power is 150W. There is no info on RMS power.

The soundbar is well-built. It’s mostly made of hard plastic but it looks quite strong. The front and top panels are covered with an aluminum grille. On the front panel, there is JBL logo in the middle and a small LCD status display just behind the grille (it will show you the selected source, volume levels, activated mode, etc.). On the top panel, there are 4 control buttons – power, 2 volume buttons, and source button. All the connection ports are at the back. You will see one HDMI ARC output (for connecting the soundbar to your TV), 3 HDMI inputs (HDCP 2.2 compliant), one digital optical input, one AUX input, USB 2.0 port (for audio playback (mp3 and WAV files) and firmware updates), and DC input.

The subwoofer is 16 inches wide, 12 inches high, 12 inches deep, and it weighs 28.7 pounds. It has one 10-inch down-firing driver and a huge bass port at the back. It looks massive and it can really shake your floor. The subwoofer is wireless and it pairs with the soundbar automatically when you turn them on. Wireless connection works on 5.8GHz frequency. Subwoofer’s maximum power output is rated at 300W (peak power).

Detachable surround speakers are 6.5 inches wide, 2.3 inches high, and 3.7 inches deep, and it each speaker weighs 1.3 pounds. These speakers are battery powered. Battery lasts up to 10 hours at 50% volume. Recharge takes up to 3 hours and in order to charge them, you have to attach them to the soundbar again. They don’t have their own proprietary power cables and they are only battery-powered so you will have to pay attention to the battery status (blinking red LED light indicates low battery).

Maximum output power (not RMS) of the system is 510W, and frequency response of the system spans from 35Hz to 20KHz.

Remote that comes with the system has an LCD screen – it looks quite nice and it’s really useful. You can use it to adjust all kinds of settings. You can use your TV remote to control the basic things (volume up or down, mute, power on/off). Most of the TV remotes made by Sony, Samsung, VIZIO, or LG will work without programming (the moment you turn the system on, you can control some basic things) and there is also IR remote learning procedure in case your TV remote doesn’t work with JBL soundbar right out of the box.

 Things we like

The system is nicely made. It’s not flashy or shiny, it looks simple and stylish. It is not really small so you will have to pay attention to the dimensions. Everything is made of hard plastic.

Installation is quite simple. After you set up everything and charge the surround speakers, you can take them out, place them behind or next to your listening position (they can also be mounted but you don’t have to do that) turn on soundbar, subwoofer, and speakers, wait a minute or less until the subwoofer and speakers pair with the soundbar. Then, you have to connect the calibration mic and place it at your listening position (at ear-level if possible), press the calibration button on the remote and wait until you see DONE sign on the LED display and you can start using the system.

You can use your TV remote to adjust the volume or mute the system (works with most of LG, Samsung, Sony, and VIZIO TV remotes). But, if you want to make some advanced adjustments, you will have to use JBL remote.

JBL remote allows you to control the master volume or control the volume of each channel separately. You can use dim display button to set display brightness or turn it off. You can also choose between different EQ modes depending on what you are watching at the moment (available EQ modes – Standard, movie, music, voice, sports). Remote also features Audio Sync buttons (+ and -). You can use it to make better synchronization if audio and video are not synced.

The system goes into Standby mode after 10min of inactivity and it will turn on automatically when you turn on the TV or when some other sound source sends audio signal.

JBL 5.1 also features Night mode which works basically the same as Night mode on SONOS device. It offers similar performance and works in the same manner – lowers all the loud sounds and enhances dialogues and quiet sounds. Night mode works only with DTS 5.1 and Dolby Digital 5.1.

DTS 5.1. Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Audio, and Prologic, are supported formats. Dolby 7.1, DTS 7.1 or object-based surround sound audio formats are not supported.

The soundbar also features Bluetooth 4.2 so you can use it to pair any Bluetooth-enabled device with the soundbar and stream anything you want. Bluetooth range is 33ft and connection is stable. The pairing process is pretty much standard, nothing unusual about that. One interesting additional function is SoundShift. When turned on (you just have to press the button on JBL remote) you can shift between Bluetooth and previous audio source without using the remote. The moment you disconnect your device, the soundbar will go back to the previous audio source. You have to activate SoundShift since it’s disabled by default.

JBL 5.1 has an interesting sound signature. The accent is on bass and it rumbles all the time. Incredibly strong bass is the greatest feature of the system.

All in all, this is a pretty good system. It performs better than expected and it is definitely worth the money.

 Things we don’t like

There is one issue we would like to mention but it’s not something that you can’t solve in a second. Mids and vocals don’t sound crisp and clean if your subwoofer volume is set too high. Bass is simply too strong for the rest of the system and all the other sounds get overwhelmed by the bass. Lower the bass volume and you will get much better sound. Even if your subwoofer volume is at 20%, you will get pretty decent surround sound experience.

11. Denon DHT-S316 Home Theater Soundbar System with Wireless Subwoofer

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Denon is well-known for its AV receivers and amplifiers but they also make other audio equipment, including soundbars, wireless subwoofers, and wireless surround sound systems. DHT-S316 is Denon’s entry-level soundbar/subwoofer combo. This system lacks some extra features like wi-fi connectivity, Alexa and Chromecast support and it doesn’t offer support for object-based surround sound formats, but it still delivers more than satisfying performance for the price. Along with Yamaha’s YAS-207BL and VIZIO’s SB3651-F6, DHT-S316 represents one of the best entry-level choices under $500. 

If you want a more advanced DENON system with wi-fi connectivity, multiple physical connections, Alexa and Chromecast support, and additional wireless rear speakers, you should check out other DENON HEOS wireless surround sound systems (like DENON HEOS HomeCinema HS2 combined with wireless DENON HEOS rear speakers – HEOS 1, HEOS 3 or HEOS 5). 

What’s in the box?

The box contains your DHT-S316 soundbar, wireless subwoofer, power cables, remote, HDMI and optical cable, mounting template, user manual, and 1-year warranty. It’s a simple package

Things we like 

DHT-S316 soundbar is 35in wide and it’s a perfect match for 40-50in TVs. The cabinet is made of hard plastic. Front panel and half of the top panel are wrapped in cloth grille. The grille protects dual 1.25×4.4in woofers and 1in tweeters arranged in only 2 channels. You’ll find a simple 5-button control panel on the top (power, source, Bluetooth, volume up/down). The inputs are on the rear panel. It’s a simple and very modest input scheme with one HDMI ARC OUT port, one digital optical input, and one AUX input. So, it’s not very versatile but that’s pretty much what you get for that kind of money. It’s more versatile than YAS-207BL and a bit less versatile than VIZIO SB3651-F6. On the other hand, it looks better than VIZIO surround sound system and it feels more durable. 

The subwoofer has a cabinet made of MDF. The front panel is covered with cloth grille. The grille protects one 6in front-firing driver. On the rear panel, there’s an AC input, pairing button (for manual pairing), and LED connection status indicator.

The installation is done in no time. Place the soundbar on a table, connect your TV via HDMI ARC port, connect additional sources via optical or AUX port, plug it in, and turn it on. Then, plug in the subwoofer. The soundbar and subwoofer will pair automatically and you’ll be able to use the system in a few seconds. 

To best option for controlling the system is the included remote. It’s simple, plasticky, it looks cheap, but it’s responsive and easy to use. It allows you to select the source, initiate Bluetooth pairing, adjust the volume, adjust the bass level, select the sound mode (movie, night or music), or choose one of three dialog enhancement modes. You can use the control panel on the top for some basic settings and you can use your TV remote to control the volume (if your TV is connected to the soundbar via HDMI cable). 

Sound modes represent different EQ settings and are supposed to improve the watching experience depending on the content. The movie mode emphasizes the bass and widens the soundstage while the night mode minimizes the bass and softens all the loud sounds. Music mode is the most balanced one. There are three dialog enhancement modes and they all have emphasized midrange frequencies. Dialog enhancement modes, especially the second one, make the voices much more intelligible. The third mode is probably the worst option because it sounds a bit unnatural. 

The list of supported surround sound formats is not large. DHT-S316 can decode LPCM, Dobly Digital 5.1, and DTS 5.1. That’s about it. There’s no support for other multichannel surround sound audio tracks and there’s no support for object-based audio tracks. 

The soundbar is also Bluetooth-enabled which is always appreciated. You can stream music or podcasts from your phone to the soundbar but you can’t watch YouTube videos on your phone while sending the audio to your soundbar because of the audio delay (Bluetooth 4.2 without aptX support).

DHT-S316 represents a significant upgrade compared to your TV speakers but it’s not the best virtual surround sound system on the market. The soundstage becomes quite wide when movie sound mode is engaged. The soundbar is loud and the subwoofer complements the audio coming from the soundbar but it’s not the most immersive experience ever. The good thing is that the connection between the soundbar and subwoofer is very stable and reliable. This is a great-sounding entry-level soundbar/subwoofer combo but it offers average (or even below-average) surround sound performance. If you want actual surround sound and not a simulation, you should go for a more expensive and larger DENON HEOS HomeCinema system (HEOS Bar + HEOS subwoofer + wireless HEOS rear speakers). 

Things we don’t like

The remote is not backlit and it looks a bit cheap. 

The number of supported surround sound formats is not impressive. DHT-S316 can’t decode object-based Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. 

12. Majority Everest 5.1

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Founded in 2012, Majority Audio is relatively new to the market when compared to older brands such as Bose, but their products have a great balance between quality and price.

The Everest 5.1 features a soundbar, two detachable satellite speakers that can be used wirelessly, and a wireless subwoofer. Overall, this set is a pretty good deal for that price!

 What’s in the box?

The box comes with: 

• A soundbar
• Two satellite speakers 
• A wireless subwoofer
• A remote control 
• A power cable 
• RCA and AUX cables
• A user manual.

 Things we like

• The Majority Everest sound quality is good, thanks to its soundbar, two speakers, and wireless subwoofer. 
• It can be used in a medium-sized room. 
• Its satellite speakers are both rechargeable and detachable with up to 8 hours of battery life. 
• You can use the speakers up to 20m away from the system.
• You can connect the set to the Majority HUB app on your smartphone.

 Things we don’t like

• This set isn’t compatible with Dolby Atmos.

13. Sony HT-Z9F 3.1ch Soundbar with Dolby Atmos and Wireless Subwoofer + 2 SA-Z9R rear speakers

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Sony is one of the companies that have been an integral part of the audio and electronics industry for decades. Their home theater systems, AV receivers, surround sound systems, TVs, and other audio and video equipment are very popular among all kinds of customers (regular, audio enthusiast, professionals, etc.).

We’ve decided to present to you one of Sony’s latest products Sony HT-Z9F 3.1 soundbar system combined with 2 rear wireless speakers. You don’t have to buy these rear speakers – soundbar and subwoofer are available for less than $900 but you will get so much better surround sound experience for additional $300. They really make a difference.

HT-Z9F offers support for 4K HDR video and all the surround sound audio formats (for devices connected through HDMI input ports) including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X object-based surround sound. Thanks to this new technology called Vertical Surround Engine, this soundbar system with only 3 front speakers (no up-firing speakers) is able to simulate 7.1.2 surround sound and give the 3^rd (vertical) dimension to the sound.

 What’s in the box?

Inside large premium-looking box, you will find your Z9F soundbar, wireless subwoofer, remote (batteries provided), magnetic speaker grille, one HDMI cable (there are three HDMI ports and you will have to buy two HDMI cables separately), wall mounts, wall mount template, operating instructions, startup guide, Dolby Demo Disc (which is a nice detail), and a warranty card.

Soundbar weighs 6.8 pounds, it’s 39.4 inches wide, 2.6 inches high, and 4 inches deep. Inside the soundbar, there are 3 1.8-inch full-range cone woofers rated at 35W per channel.

Between Left and Center channel, there is a Bluetooth indicator (lights blue when connected), a small display, and a remote-control sensor.

Controls are located on top. There are 6 touch sensitive buttons – power, input selection, Bluetooth, Music Service (you have to install the software update to make it work), and 2 volume buttons (+ and -).

Inputs and outputs are on the rear panel. You will see two HDMI inputs (with HDCP 2.2 support 4K/60p HDR), LAN port, HDMI ARC OUT (for connecting the soundbar to your TV if your TV features HDMI ARC input), USB port (for audio playback), analog 3.5mm input port, digital optical input (you can use it if your TV doesn’t have HDMI ARC input). There are also two IR repeaters and AC input.

The subwoofer weighs 17.9 pounds, it’s 7.5 inches wide, 15.1 inches high, 15.25 inches deep. Inside the subwoofer, there is one 6.4-inch cone type driver with 100W output power. On the front panel, you will see the bass reflex port and power/status LED indicator. On the rear panel, there are power button, LINK button, power input, and ventilation holes. Subwoofer connects wirelessly to the main unit (soundbar) through 5GHz frequency so it shouldn’t cause any interference with your home Wi-Fi network.

Rear speakers weigh 2.2 pounds each, they are 4 inches wide, 6.1 inches high, and 4 inches deep. The maximum output power of each speaker is 50W (100W combined and 20W RMS per speaker). Each rear speaker features one 1.8in full-range driver. Speakers connect wirelessly (they use 5GHz frequency just like the subwoofer) to the soundbar and they pair automatically the moment you plug them in and press the power button. If they don’t pair automatically, you can pair them manually – there’s a LINK button on the rear panel of each speaker.

They can be mounted on the wall or on floor stands, or you can put them on your couch or on a table behind your sofa.  

Remote that comes with Z9F is one of the most comprehensive soundbar remotes we’ve seen. You can use it to control every singly aspect of the reproduction (select input, sound mode, adjust volume of each speaker, play with the advanced settings, etc.).

 Things we like

Sony always makes elegant and stylish products – Z9F is the perfect example. The soundbar is slim and stylish. The subwoofer is compact. Both soundbar and subwoofer are made of hard plastic but they still look sturdy.

The installation process is very simple. You should connect all the devices first and then plug in the soundbar, subwoofer, and rear speakers. They will pair automatically. After that, you have to go through a step-by-step setup process. It’s relatively quick and simple – you just have to follow all the instruction from the on-screen-menu (in order to do this, you need to connect your TV to the soundbar through HDMI ARC). We should probably mention that there is no auto calibration mic – you have to enter the distance between the soundbar and other speakers manually (you will be asked to enter the distance at some point during the setup process). Some people prefer connecting all of their devices to the TV and then connecting TV and soundbar through HDMI ARC but you can also connect 2 devices to your soundbar through HDMI (Blu-ray player and your satellite/cable box for example) – it’s all up to you. Also, you can connect TV to the soundbar wirelessly through Bluetooth but we still recommend wired connection (having a wireless subwoofer and wireless rear speakers is just enough).

You can control all the sound and playback aspects through your soundbar remote. There are 7 sound modes available starting from standard and auto sound (this mode will make the adjustments depending on the audio input). There is also cinema mode (for more immersive surround sound experience), music, game, news (for clear dialogues), and sports mode (gives you the opportunity to feel the atmosphere at the stadium but also makes narrations more intelligible). You can activate any of these modes by pressing the dedicated button on your remote. There are also two special modes – Night mode (makes loud scenes quieter, increases the volume during quiet scenes, and reduces the amount of bass) and Voice mode (pushes certain frequencies forward and makes all the voices more intelligible). You can activate Vertical Surround Engine and get that immersive 3D surround sound effect with a vertical sound component at any moment (it doesn’t work in News mode). Still, vertical surround sounds much better in cinema and auto mode and it’s better for movies than for music.

All Dolby and DTS surround sound formats are supported through HDMI inputs (if you connect your Blu-ray player through one of two HDMI inputs you can even play Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio tracks). Through HDMI ARC output you will be able to play limited number of audio formats – LPCM (2 channels), Dolby Digital, DD+, Dolby Atmos, DTS 5.1, DTS ES Discrete and Matrix 6.1, and DTS 96/24 (not DTS:X or DTS HD High Res or Master Audio). If you are using an optical cable to connect some of your devices to the soundbar you will be able to play Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Dual Mono, DTS 5.1, and LPCM (2channels). You will be able to play a wide variety of audio files through USB input – DSD, WAV, FLAC, ALAC, AAC, mp3, WMA, etc.  

Z9F features Bluetooth 4.2 (class 1). Bluetooth connection works flawlessly. You can use it to pair any of your Bluetooth-enabled devices with Z9F. The soundbar will memorize up to 9 devices.

Besides Bluetooth connectivity, you can connect the soundbar to your home network (through LAN port or wirelessly through Wi-Fi).  

Soundbar has built-in Chromecast so you can stream music and podcasts from any of the Chromecast-enabled streaming services. You can also use Google Home with Z9F.

On top of all these features, you can install and use Sony Music app (previously called SongPal) to link all your Sony soundbars and other compatible Sony wireless speakers together and make a multiroom speaker system. Also, you can use this app to access some of the most popular streaming services (like Deezer or Spotify) and stream music directly from this app.

 Things we don’t like

The main unit has only 2 HDMI inputs and one HDMI output and some of you might find this insufficient. You can always connect your other devices to your TV.

This system is appropriate for smaller and maybe mid-sized rooms but it is definitely not powerful enough to fill large spaces with sound. You can’t really expect three small speakers (+2 rears) and a relatively small subwoofer to be that loud.

When it comes to Dolby Atmos and DTS:X we can’t say that we were amazed by the vertical sound component. It makes some difference and kind of feels like there is something going on above your head but it won’t make you look up thinking here comes the helicopter. Still, it’s pretty good for a soundbar.

14. Polk Audio MagniFi Max SR Home Theater Surround Sound Bar

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Polk is a famous US audio equipment manufacturer with more than 40-years long tradition. Their products are relatively affordable (though not as cheap as generic brands) and deliver pretty good performance for the price.

Polk is another reputable speaker manufacturer that tried to enter the wireless surround sound system market. They are definitely not the best out there, but they are getting better with every new product. Their Polk Audio MagniFi Max SR home theater system can be considered a cheap alternative for our favorite SONOS 5.1. MagniFi Max SR is not as great and reliable as SONOS 5.1, but it’s pretty good. The best thing is that you can have it for $400. Compared to more than $1,500, which is the price of SONOS 5.1, this is a very good deal. It’s also good to know that you don’t have to buy all the speakers at once. You can buy soundbar and subwoofer first for $300 and then make an upgrade if you want to.

 What’s in the box?

MagniFi Max SR comes in an unusually-shaped red box. All the fancy features and specs are listed on it. Inside the box, you will find the soundbar, subwoofer, two surround speakers, power cords for all the speakers, remote control (batteries included), one high speed HDMI cable (6.5ft long), one Toslink digital optical cable (6ft long), one 6ft long AUX cable, two wall mounting brackets (mounting templates are included, but other hardware isn’t), user manual, and a warranty card (3-year warranty for speakers).

You won’t get all the necessary cables and if you want to connect more digital audio sources, you will have to pay extra for 3 additional HDMI cables.

The soundbar has a very slim profile and can be easily positioned below your TV (on a table or mounted on a wall). It’s 43 inches wide, 2.1 inches high, 3.8 inches deep, and weighs 6.1lb.

The soundbar looks quite attractive. In a way, it’s similar to Yamaha’s soundbar YAS-207BL, only less sophisticated. Front and top panels are wrapped in fabric grille that protects the drivers. On the front panel, behind the grille, there are 10 status/source LED indicators. On the top side, right in the middle, there’s a simple control panel. You will see 8 buttons – power, source, Bluetooth, master volume buttons, Voice Adjust volume buttons (used to control the volume of certain midrange frequencies), and mute button. There are quite a few inputs on the rear panel. You have 3 HDMI inputs (support 4K HDR passthrough), one HDMI ARC output port (you can use it to connect your TV to the soundbar if your TV features HDMI ARC), one digital optical input (if your TV doesn’t have HDMI ports which is almost impossible, you can use this one), AUX input (you can use it to connect any analog audio source), Ethernet port, USB port for firmware updates (you can’t use it for music playback), wi-fi reset button, sync button with SUB and SURR sync status LED indicators, and power input.

Inside the soundbar, there’s an array of 7 drivers – 4 oval full-range drivers (1in by 3in), 2 0.75-inch tweeters, and one 1-inch midrange driver in the center. There are bass ports on the left and right end.

The subwoofer is pretty massive. It’s made of hard plastic and it’s completely black. The shape is a bit unusual (not a standard boxy sub). The subwoofer is 14.5in high, 14.6in wide, 12.1in deep, and weighs 13.5lb.

On the rear end of the subwoofer, there are only soundbar sync button with sync LED indicator, and power input. The subwoofer is completely wireless and has no speaker wire terminals. It can only be used in combination with MagniFi Max SR soundbar.  

The subwoofer features one down-firing 8-inch woofer. The enclosure is ported. The bass reflex port is located on the bottom, right next to the 8-inch driver.

Surround speakers are also wireless. They are quite small and feature the same kind of design as the soundbar. The front and top panels are wrapped in a grayish grille and the rest is made of plastic. On the rear panel, there’s a threaded insert (for mounting on the wall), and one sync button with a sync status LED indicator.

Each surround speaker features one 3-inch driver.

The system has the peak output power of 400W and its frequency response spans from 35Hz to 20kHz.

Inside the packaging, you will also find the remote. You can use it to turn on/of the soundbar, activate different modes (night mode, sport, movie, or music mode), select the source (HDMI 1-3, TV, AUX, Bluetooth), adjust the volume (master volume, bass volume, Voice Adjust volume, and surround volume), adjust the surround balance, and control the playback (play/pause, forward/rewind).

 Things we like

The design is quite stylish. Those glossy plastic edges look a little bit cheap and fragile. The overall impression is still very good. We are a bit worried about the build quality but there have been no complaints in the past and that’s reassuring.

The installation is more than simple. All the sources should be connected to the soundbar, and the subwoofer and surrounds just need to be plugged into the power outlet. Once you connect all the sources, you will have to sync the soundbar with the subwoofer and surround speakers (by pressing the sync button on the soundbar and then on other speakers). When all the speakers are synced, you can play music or watch a movie. The installation should last no more than 10-20min. If you want to mount the soundbar and surround speakers on a wall, it will take a little bit longer.

The system supports the most common Dolby and DTS surround sound audio formats, including DD+. Object-based DTS:X and Dolby Atmos are not supported.

When it comes to interesting technologies installed into the soundbar, it’s important to mention one of the most popular patents made by Polk called SDA (Stereo Dimensional Array) Technology.  This technology is supposed to improve the surround sound experience. Even though this is not a real 5.1 system (only 4 speakers), it really delivers an immersive and enveloping soundstage

The soundbar also features Voice Adjust Technology (also patented by Polk) which is supposed to improve the intelligibility and enhance the voice reproduction.

There are four different sound modes – movie, music, sports, and night mode. Movie mode boosts the bass and improves the surround sound and voice clarity. It’s optimized for movies and TV and it’s a default sound mode for optical and HDMI inputs. Music mode does a completely opposite thing – it eliminates bass boost and surround sound effects. Sports mode is supposed to enhance dialogues and night mode is supposed to drastically reduce the bass and improve the voice intelligibility.

You can also adjust the sound to your likings instead of selecting some sound mode thanks to separate volume controls on the remote (master volume, voice volume, bass volume, and surrounds volume).

The soundbar is compatible with some of the most popular TV brands like Sony, LG, and Samsung and if your TV is made by one of these reputable manufacturers and if it supports CEC you can use your TV remote to control the system volume, select source, etc. If it doesn’t support CEC, you can use the IR learning feature to ‘’teach’’ your TV remote to control different things.

The soundbar features built-in Bluetooth and wi-fi module. Bluetooth can be used for streaming music but it’s not good enough for watching videos because of noticeable sound delay (lack of aptX support).

The soundbar features built-in Chromecast and you can use it to stream audio (but not video) from your phone/tablet to MagniFi Max SR. In order to do that, you have to install the Google Home app on your phone (available for Android and Apple devices). There is no dedicated Polk app that you can use to control this surround sound system.

 Things we don’t like

In order to perform the initial setup, use IR learning feature, and check which source is active, you have to look at those LED lights on the front panel of the soundbar. Different combinations of LEDs indicate different modes, sources, etc. It’s not such a big issue since everything is nicely explained in the user manual, but some on-screen display would be a much better option.

Just like with many other wireless surround sound systems, you may experience some interference issues with MagniFi Max SR. Some long-term users have reported problems with popping/cracking sounds coming from the subwoofer and/or surround speakers and the only explanation given by the manufacturer is the interference. In some cases, moving the speakers and router further away from each other solved the issue, but in other cases, the issue was still there. It’s really hard to predict is it going to be an issue in your case.

15. TCL Alto 6+

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The TCL Alto 6+ is an excellent set for smaller home theaters and living rooms, featuring a 31.5-inch Dolby Audio sound bar and a wireless subwoofer with 240W of potency.

This set is quite basic and doesn’t feature any satellite speakers, but it is a nice option if you’re looking to upgrade the sound of your TV set without spending too much money. You can always upgrade the system with a pair of extra speakers as well.

 What’s in the box?

Inside the box, you will find:

• A soundbar
• A wireless subwoofer 
• A power cord
• An optical cable
• An HDMI cable 
• A wall mount kit 
• A remote control

 Things we like

• This set’s sound quality is impressive, especially when it comes to the bass response. 
• The subwoofer is quite powerful and should have enough power for small to medium-sized rooms.
• According to the manufacturer, a wall mount kit is included in the box, which saves quite some money.
• This set is 100% compatible with Roku TV, which provides a smoother setup process and makes adjusting the sound settings much easier.

 Things we don’t like

• This set isn’t compatible with Dolby Atmos. 
• It is not powerful enough for larger home theater setups.

16. Bose Lifestyle 650 Home Entertainment System

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Bose Lifestyle 650 is the Bose’s flagship wireless surround sound system. It’s one of the most expensive and most versatile wireless surround sound systems on the market. In some ways, it’s similar to previously reviewed Bose 5.1 700. They both excel in the design department and they both have a bunch of extra features (wi-fi and Bluetooth connectivity, Alexa support, great universal remote, and great app.). They also share some downsides, especially when it comes to installation. The installation of Bose Lifestyle 650 also takes quite some time and it’s not exactly hassle-free. 

The biggest advantage of Lifestyle 650 over Bose 5.1 700 is the number of inputs/outputs (HDMI IN x5, HDMI ARC OUT x1, optical x2, coaxial x2, RCA x2). Compared to other high-end wireless surround sound systems, the biggest disadvantage of the Lifestyle 650 (besides the price) is the number of cables. For a wireless system, Lifestyle 650 is not that wireless. The subwoofer and the rear speakers are considered wireless but those wireless rear speakers come with huge power bricks. The power bricks also act as wireless receivers and they have to be connected to the speakers. Also, those two front Omni Jewel speakers (front left and front right) have to be connected to the console (wired connection). 

What’s in the box?

Inside a large and heavy Bose-branded box, you will find a bunch of smaller boxes, packed in layers. The package contains the main console (which is the hub of the system) and all the speakers (Omni Jewel center channel, 4 tiny Omni Jewel speakers (two front and two rear speakers), and Acoustimass 300 bass module). Along with the speakers, you will get all the power cables and speaker cables (many of which have proprietary connections). The box also contains ADAPTIQ headset (for calibration), remote (with batteries), HDMI cable, optical cable, IR repeater, adhesive feet for the Omni Jewel speakers, owners guide, and a warranty card. Mounting gear (brackets, table stands, floor stands) is sold separately. 

Things we like 

As always, Bose did a great job when it comes to design. They did everything to make this speaker system stylish and attractive. They also paid attention to the form factor and made 5 small speakers and a slim console. The only really big piece of the equipment is the Acoustimass 300 bass module. 

Unlike other wireless surround sound systems with soundbars, the brain/hub of the Lifestyle 650 is the console that comes with the system, not the soundbar. In this case, the soundbar only represents the center channel and doesn’t have drivers for all three front channels (two small Omni Jewel speakers are used as the front left and front right channels). The center channel is much smaller than other high-end soundbars and it’s only responsible for vocals. Also, the center speaker doesn’t have any connections on the rear panel. All the input/output ports are located on the rear and front panel of the console. 

On the rear panel of the console, you have 5 HDMI inputs, one HDMI ARC OUT, 2 optical inputs, 2 coaxial inputs, 2 RCA inputs, 3.5mm input for an additional bass module, data port, IR repeater input, Ethernet port, and a USB port (for updates only). On the front panel, there’s a hidden compartment with an additional HDMI input, 3.5mm ADAPTOIQ input, and three buttons (power, source, and system setup). All the HDMI inputs support 4K pass-through and they are all HDCP 2.2 compliant. In a way, Bose Lifestyle 650 is a home theater system in a box and the console is wi-fi enabled AV receiver. 

The manufacturer tried to make the installation simple but it still takes quite some time. For the initial setup, you can use the remote or the Bose SoundTouch app (Android or iOS). If you decide to use the remote, you will just have to follow step-by-step instructions displayed on the screen of your TV. The OSD menu is simple and intuitive. During the setup process, you will be asked to connect the system to your home network, add speakers to the system, update the software, connect the ADAPTIQ headset to calibrate the sound, etc. Once you set everything up, you can start enjoying. 

The remote and the app offer so much control over the playback. The remote looks amazing. It’s fully-featured and it even has a small LCD display. You can use it to control your TV, your soundbar, and all the other sources connected to the console. You can use the remote to adjust bass, treble, center, and surround levels, or to sync audio and video. You can also use the app to control the system. It has all the features you can find on the remote but it also has some additional features. You can integrate your accounts for other streaming services (Spotify, Deezer, Pandora, iTunes, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, etc.) with the app and stream music wirelessly through the app. You can also update the system wirelessly and add Bose Lifestyle 650 to your multiroom system. 

You can choose between four sound modes (4 EQ presets) – dialog mode (speech enhancement mode), movie mode (optimized for surround sound), night mode, and music mode.

Lifestyle 650 supports all Dolby surround sound formats (DD 5.1, DD+, Dolby True HD) except for the object-based Dolby Atmos. It also supports LPCM and DTS 5.1 but it doesn’t support other DTS multichannel formats and it doesn’t support DTS:X.

The console is Bluetooth-enabled and it supports NFC pairing. You can stream any audio content from your Bluetooth-enabled phone/tablet/laptop via Bluetooth. The range is standard 30ft and the connection is stable. Watching videos on YouTube while sending audio to the system is not recommended because of the audio lag but you can try to sync audio and video with the remote. The system is also wi-fi enabled and it supports Alexa so you can control it with your Amazon Echo speaker. 

Lifestyle 650 offers quite enjoyable performance. It’s not the best surround sound experience you can get for this kind of money but it’s still respectable. The rear speakers have perforations on all 4 sides, which allows them to deliver 360° sound. The vocals are perfectly clear even without the dialog mode. The bass module delivers thunderous bass and brings the overall experience to a whole new level. All in all, Lifestyle 650 is a great-sounding system and it can handle anything you throw at it – music, movies, TV shows, news, games, sports, etc.

Things we don’t like

There is no doubt that Lifestyle 650 is a high-end system. It has so many useful features and more inputs than any other wireless surround system. The remote is excellent and the app is user-friendly and very stable. However, if you only care about surround sound performance, you should know that you can get better performance for this kind of money. Lowering the price would make this system much more competitive. 

At this price tag, you can complain about anything, but we are only going to mention a few things. The most important downsides are the lack of Chromecast and Airplay 2 support, the number of wires, and proprietary connections. 

Adding Chromecast and Airplay 2 would make Lifestyle 650 the most feature-rich wireless surround sound system on the market. 

Also, the number of wires in this ‘’wireless’’ system is really overwhelming. There are simply too many wires. What’s even worse is the fact that all the speaker cables have proprietary connections. So, if you lose or damage some cable, you will have to buy the exact same cable made by Bose.

17. Bose 5.1 700 (Soundbar 700 + Bass 700 + Bose Surround speakers)

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Bose is one of the most recognizable names in the audio industry so it would be strange not to see at least one or two wireless surround systems made by this audio giant. Bose 5.1 700 system consists of Bose Soundbar 700, wireless Bose Bass Module 700, and two Bose surround speakers. This system wouldn’t be our first choice but it still deserves a place on our list. It may not be incredibly versatile (when it comes to number of physical connections) and it’s not the easiest system to set up, but it has so many advanced features (Alexa and Google Assistant built-in, wi-fi connectivity, Bluetooth connectivity, Bose Music App, multiroom capabilities, smart remote, etc.) and it sounds pretty good. The system is priced slightly under $1,800 which makes it one of the most expensive systems. In our opinion, you can get similar surround sound performance for less money, but you can hardly get equally sophisticated design and the same set of extra features. The good thing is that you don’t have to buy the whole system at once if you don’t have enough money. You can start with the Soundbar 700 and then make upgrades.

What’s in the box?

Since each part of the system is sold (and packed) separately, your bundle will consist of multiple boxes and each box will contain one part of the system and all the necessary power cables. The soundbar also comes with a smart remote, ADAPTIQ calibration headset, one HDMI, and one optical cable. Each piece of equipment comes with a user manual and a 1-year warranty card.

Note: Since all the pieces are sold separately, you can combine speakers from different series. For example, Bose Soundbar 700 is compatible with Bose Bass Module 500 and Bose Acoustimass 300. It’s also compatible with virtually invisible 300 wireless surround speakers and Bose surround speakers 700. 

Things we like 

Bose soundbar 700 and Bass Module 700 look truly amazing. The soundbar is slim. The front, left, and right panels are covered with a hard aluminum grille. The top panel is made of tempered glass and it’s the most eye-catching detail. The Bass Module 700 complements the style of the Soundbar 700 and has the same tempered glass top panel. The manufacturer wanted a perfectly clean design without too many control buttons. On the top panel of the soundbar, you will only find mic mute and action buttons. These buttons are used to control Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

The soundbar has multiple transducers arranged in 3 channels. The center channel consists of 4 proprietary Bose transducers which are supposed to provide impressive dialog clarity. For the left and right channels, Bose used its proprietary PhaseGuide technology and an array of very small transducers. This technology is supposed to improve the spaciousness and widen the soundstage. The subwoofer has one 10in down-firing driver. 

All the connections are located on the rear panel of the soundbar. The number of connection options is quite modest. For connecting the audio sources, you only have eARC HDMI port and optical input. The soundbar also has an Ethernet port, ADAPTIQ port (for connecting the auto-calibration headset), IR repeater input, data port, bass port, and micro USB service port. 

After you unpack all the boxes, you can start the installation. Positioning the speakers and connecting all the sources shouldn’t take longer than 20min. Then, you have to perform the initial setup. The procedure is not as easy as you might think and it cannot be defined as hassle-free. It takes quite some time and you have to use the Bose Music app (available for Android and iOS) throughout the process. We will discuss the installation procedure in the Things we don’t like section.

In order to control the soundbar, you can use the remote that comes with it or the Bose Music app. Before you start using the remote, you have to set it up. The thing is – this remote can control all kinds of devices including your TV and Blu-ray player but you have to adjust the settings first and you have to assign a certain function to each button. The setup process is quite painful but, after you set everything up, you will be amazed by the functionality and the number of things you can do with it. The remote is backlit and the buttons will light up automatically when you take it. Depending on the device you are controlling at the moment, only the buttons you can use will be backlit which is tiny but very cool detail. 

The app is, just like the remote, very useful and quite intuitive. It’s absolutely necessary if you want to set up the system and it allows you to perform all kinds of settings (change EQ settings, make your own EQ presets, adjust the bass and surround levels, etc.). You can also integrate your Spotify, Pandora, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, and other accounts with the app and stream music wirelessly through the app. 

The soundbar is wi-fi and Bluetooth enabled. It also has Alexa built-in, it supports Airplay 2, and it features support for Google Assistant. An array of 8 mics makes the usage of Alexa and Google Assistant very easy. You don’t have to yell or repeat anything – the microphones will pick up your voice from up to 30ft. 

The system supports only DTS 5.1 and Dolby Digital 5.1. The soundbar can’t decode Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. 

Surround sound performance is really good. Wireless connection between the soundbar, subwoofer, and wireless speakers works like a charm, without any sync issues. The soundbar delivers very spacious sound and those small wireless speakers put you in the center of the action. Bass Module 700 brings the explosions and other special effects to life and makes the watching experience truly amazing. Surround sound performance is practically flawless. The manufacturer didn’t bother to offer a simulation of object-based surround sound and, in our opinion, that was a good idea. Accurate simulation of height-effects depends on so many factors and it’s really difficult to achieve. 

Things we don’t like

As said previously, the installation is not exactly hassle-free and it takes quite some time. Everything works like a charm once you finish the initial setup and the remote is really great, but you have to do a lot of things before you start using it. First of all, you will have to install the app before even connecting all the sources and you have to use it to add other speakers (bass module and surround speakers) to the system. You have to set up the soundbar and update the firmware. Updating could take more than 30 mins and, during this period, the soundbar won’t be discoverable. After the update procedure is over, the soundbar will appear in your app and you can start adding other speakers. After that, you have to calibrate the system. In order to perform the calibration, you have to connect the ADAPTIQ headset and follow the instruction given by the app.  

Another thing we didn’t like about this 5.1 system is the light bar status display. Instead of simple letters, Bose decided to use different colors and symbols to indicate different modes, sources, and processes. The lights look nice but aren’t very intuitive and you will need to use your manual to figure out what’s going on. It’ll take quite some time to get used to all the lights. A simple 4 or 8-digit display is always a better option.  

The system is very limited when it comes to connectivity. Like many other manufacturers, Bose wants you to use your TV as a hub. You are supposed to connect most of the audio sources to your TV and then use the HDMI ARC port to connect the TV to the Bose Soundbar 700. 

The soundbar can only decode DTS 5.1 and Dolby Digital 5.1 – no support for object-based surround sound formats and other multichannel surround sound formats.

18. VIZIO V51-H6

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Along with Polk and Yamaha, VIZIO is one of our top suggestions when it comes to budget-friendly soundbars, soundbar/subwoofer systems, and soundbar-based surround sound systems. VIZIO V51-H6 is one of the latest VIZIO systems. It’s super-compact and it’s perfect for small rooms. It can decode the most common Dolby and DTS surround sound formats but doesn’t support Atmos and DTS:X. The system also features several DSP sound modes designed to improve your listening experience and optimize the sound for different types of audio content.

What’s in the box?

Inside a fairly large box, you will find your VIZIO bar, subwoofer, 2 satellites, remote, power cables for the subwoofer and soundbar, color-coded speaker cables for the surround speakers, a set of connection cables (RCA to 3.5mm, 3.5mm-3.5mm, HDMI cable, optical), cable ties, and mounting equipment for the soundbar and satellites.

Things we like

The soundbar looks attractive and it’s mostly made of plastic. Fabric grille protects the front and side panels. The bar is 36in long, 2.2in tall, and 3.2in deep. The bar is mountable and comes with all the necessary equipment.

The subwoofer is also made of plastic and has a matching black finish. It stands on four legs with rubber pads. The sub’s dimensions are 8.3in x 8.3in x 9.8in.

The included surround satellites are really tiny (4.8in x 2.2in x 3.2in). Like the soundbar, the satellites are wall-mountable.

Both soundbar and satellites have the same kind of full-range oval drivers (1.66in x 2.77in). There’s one driver inside each satellite and three drivers arranged in three channels (there’s a dedicated center channel) inside the soundbar. The subwoofer has a down-firing 5in bass driver and a rear-firing bass-reflex port.

All the audio inputs are located on the back of the soundbar. The bar houses one HDMI ARC port (preferred TV connection), one TOSLINK input, USB port, and two AUX inputs. One of those two AUX inputs is labeled as AUX VA and is designed for connecting voice assistant devices (this input stays active even if some other input is currently active). The subwoofer has two audio outputs on the rear panel. These outputs are used for connecting the satellites (audio cables for the satellites are included in the package).

For basic controls and adjustments (power, Bluetooth pairing, source, volume), you can use the buttons on the bar’s top panel. For all the advanced settings, you have to use the included remote with an LCD display. The soundbar doesn’t have an LCD display that shows the input and active sound modes. Instead, it has a series of LED lights in the left corner. Different combinations of these LED lights indicate different sources, different modes, and other settings.  

V51-H6 also features Bluetooth connectivity so you can stream music wirelessly from any Bluetooth source. The range is pretty standard (25-30ft) and the connection is stable.

The installation is fairly simple. After you find the perfect spot for each speaker, you have to connect the sources to the soundbar, connect the satellites to the subwoofer, and then turn on the soundbar and subwoofer. They are supposed to pair with each other automatically but if that doesn’t happen, you can do it manually in less than a minute. You just have to press and hold the pairing button on the subwoofer’s rear panel for 5sec and then press and hold the power button on the soundbar for 5sec. 

V51-H6 comes with numerous sound adjustment options. For starters, you have four EQ presets (Movie, Game, Direct, and Music). Then, you can also play with the bass and treble levels. You can control the sound levels of each speaker separately (including the subwoofer levels). The soundbar also supports VIZIO’s TruVolume feature that levels the audio output and brings more consistent volume levels.

V51-H6 can decode the most common surround formats like Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital +, and DTS. It also supports Virtual:X which is supposed to give you some kind of simulation of overhead effects, but it doesn’t really do a great job. Unfortunately, the soundbar can’t decode DTS:X and Atmos.

The overall sonic performance is quite impressive. The sound signature is surprisingly neutral and balanced, which makes it perfect for all kinds of audio content (movies, music, TV shows, etc.). Naturally, you can play with the signature, adjust the bass/treble levels, and create the sound that suits your taste. The speech enhancement feature does a magnificent job with dialogs. That was one of our greatest highlights. 

Things we don’t like

The soundbar has only one HDMI ARC input. There’re no other HDMI input ports so you can’t use the bar as a hub.

Atmos and DTS:X are not supported. Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA are also not supported.

That array of LED indicators located on the left end of the front panel is quite confusing. For some reason, VIZIO refuses to replace these confusing LED lights with a simple LCD display. Luckily, there’s a nice display on the remote, so you don’t have to look at those lights on the soundbar.

Things You Should Pay Attention to When Looking for Wireless Surround System

The list of important features you should pay attention to when buying wireless surround system could easily be much longer, but we’ve decided to concentrate on three things only – sound quality, type of wireless connection (Bluetooth or Wi-Fi), and type of surround sound (true or simulated) along with supported surround sound formats.

Sound quality

When it comes to sound quality there’s a lot of technical specifications you can look at – frequency response, rated output power, RMS, signal to noise ratio, Total Harmonic Distortion, etc. You should be searching for wide and maybe not perfectly flat frequency response but rather something with an emphasis on bass (it should go as low as possible and as high as possible). Output power and RMS should be as high as possible as well as signal to noise ratio, and Total Harmonic Distortion should be lower than 1%. But, in the end, your decision depends more on your perception of the sound than on some numbers and we highly recommend trying the system in the nearest audio store before buying it. Numbers can tell you a lot of things and you can see the difference between high-quality and poor-quality speakers through these numbers but it’s even more important to hear the sound and see if it’s pleasant and loud enough for your taste.

Type of Wireless Connection and The Amount of Autonomy You’ll Get   

Basically, you can choose between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. We have already explained all the downsides and upsides of both connections at the beginning of this article. In short, Wi-Fi offers better sound quality and greater range but it’s a bit more difficult to install and it costs more. Bluetooth is easier to install and more ubiquitous (you can use it with pretty much all of your devices since all of them have Bluetooth while Wi-Fi could be a little bit trickier and you may experience some incompatibility issues). On the other hand, Bluetooth audio is compressed hence, worse than Wi-Fi audio.

Recommended Reading :

• 10 Best Portable CD Players With Bluetooth
• 7 Best All-in-One Stereo Systems With Turntables

 
The other important thing is the number of cables you have to use. You already know that wireless surround sound systems are not really wireless and that some cables are always present but how many cables is the important question. The fact that you have to connect the soundbar (usually the main unit) to your TV and plug it into the wall outlet is not a big deal since you can easily organize the cables and hide them behind the TV stand or behind the TV. And even if you don’t hide them, they won’t make a mess on your floor and you’ll be able to walk without tripping over them. Much more important thing is that you don’t have to wire up surround and rear speakers to the main unit or to the receiver – that’s the thing you want to avoid and that’s what most wireless surround sound systems offer. In some cases, you will have to place your wireless (usually Bluetooth) subwoofer with built-in amplifiers behind or next to your couch and wire two rear speakers to the subwoofer. In our opinion, this is not such a great option since the cables are only repositioned and not eliminated. The only thing that you get with this system is the Bluetooth connectivity and the ability to stream music from your Bluetooth-enabled devices (and they are much cheaper).

The Number of Speakers (Simulated Surround Sound VS Real Surround Sound)

Some wireless surround sound systems feature 5 speakers just like traditional setups but you will more often see a soundbar (with 3, 5, or more drivers) combined with two surround speakers and a subwoofer or, in some cases, only soundbar with subwoofer. All of these surround sound system support 5.1 audio tracks (DD 5.1 and DTS 5.1), but some of them can simulate 7.1 audio or even object-based audio (Dolby Atmos or DTS:X). Simulation is never as good as real 5.1.4 or 7.1.4 surround system and it usually sounds a bit strange, but it’s nice little addition to the package and you will be able to play these two audio formats if you want to.

New Trends in wireless surround sound and WiSA Certification

WiSA is an organization established in 2012 in California. This is actually an industry group whose members are audio equipment manufacturers like Harman/Kardon, JBL, LG, B&O, Klipsch, Pioneer, Onkyo, Polk, Enclave, Martin Logan, etc. WiSA is an acronym for Wireless Speaker and Audio Association and its main goal is to establish some standards in Wi-Fi audio and video equipment and certify products (wireless speakers, wireless surround sound systems, AV receivers) that meet WiSA standards. The final idea is to include all the producers of wireless audio equipment into this organization, establish some universal standards and make all the wireless surround sound equipment interoperable and reliable. At this moment, there’s a long road ahead of this organization since some of the famous manufacturers of wireless speakers and surround sound systems (like SONOS or BOSE) are still not members and there is no unique standard for all the wireless surround sound systems. But, you can be assured as a customer that all the WiSA certified products (like Enclave 5.1 that’s on the list) meet WiSA requirements and that they are reliable, interoperable with other WiSA certified equipment, and easy to set up.

FAQs

Conclusion

These are the 18 best wireless surround sound systems in 2024. There are many options in the market and we suggest you do some research before making up your mind.

Some specifications are important to consider beforehand depending on the layout and the size of your room. Some systems, for example, might be best suited for smaller rooms, while larger rooms will require more powerful speakers.

Thank you for reading this article!