Are you really happy watching a movie at home on a large TV, but the audio is completely flat with no sense of direction or immersiveness? Modern TVs come with all the cool features like Dolby Atmos and DTS Audio, but it’s only with the best surround sound speaker systems that you can truly be immersed in the movie you’re watching.
Surround sound speaker systems come with multiple speakers that you can place around your room to create cues that replicate audio the way that you’d hear it in real life. Be it a high-speed car chase or a high-artillery war epic, you’ll feel every car and every bullet pass by you; they’ll feel so real that you might even duck and take cover for yourself. These types of systems are mainly for people who want the best movie experience at home with the highest quality possible.
A lot of people shy away from buying surround sound speakers for TVs or other devices they own because it might be a daunting task to set them up if they aren’t technologically savvy, but now this: most modern speaker systems are designed to be user-friendly without compromising on the quality. But if you still think full-fledged speakers are too much, we’ve got some great soundbars with surround sound features that deliver the quality you need.
In this article, we’ve listed some of the best surround sound speakers that cater to different budgets, styles, and use types, ensuring there is something for everyone. These are expert-recommended speakers, so don’t hesitate to buy one!
What Is Better: 5.1 or 7.1 Surround Sound?
A 5.1 system consists of 5 speakers (front, left, center, right, left surround, and right surround) and one subwoofer. It’s one of the most used and affordable options compared to 7.1. Most of the streaming content or Blu-ray DVD content uses the 5.1 ch format, as it offers the ideal immersive environment to enjoy them. It provides excellent surround sound for small to medium-sized rooms, is relatively simple to install, and is generally more affordable.
On the other hand, the 7.1 system includes everything from the 5.1 system but with the inclusion of two additional surround sound speakers for a more immersive experience. This setup is ideally suited for large rooms to cover more area, but audio enthusiasts, whoever has the budget, generally choose 7.1 ch surround sound speaker systems. But do know this: 7.1 systems take up more space than 5.1 systems. So, unless you have the space and budget, you can stick to 5.1 surround sound speaker systems.
Best Surround Sound Speaker Systems in 2025
Be it movies, gaming, sports, or games, these are some of the best surround sound speaker systems that you can get!
BEST OVERALL
Klipsch Reference Theater Pack 5.1-ch Speaker System + Onkyo TX-SR3100 80W 5.2-ch AV Receiver
PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON
Why We Love
High-quality material construction
HDR and Dolby Atmos support
Enhances dialogues for clarity
Advanced tweeters for different frequencies
IMG woofers for low-frequency audio
But…
Speakers could get too loud
The Klipsch Reference Theater Pack offers the entire package to build your ultimate home theater system. It comes with 4x satellite speakers, 1x center speaker, and 1x subwoofer, with the addition of the Onkyo TX-SR3100 80W 5.2-ch AV receiver to customize the audio and make it all work together. Thanks to its cinematic acoustics, the audio quality from each speaker is exceptional—the dialogues are articulate, sound effects are highly immersive during action scenes, and the wireless subwoofer hits all the right marks, delivering effective low-frequency bass effects at the right moments. Despite being wireless, the subwoofer does not compromise the experience in any way, so it’s pretty great!
Each speaker is equipped with Klipsch’s proprietary Tractrix Horn technology and aluminum tweeters, ensuring clear and dynamic high-frequency sound. Installation is straightforward— satellite speakers are equipped with keyhole mounts and threaded inserts for easy wall mounting. This is one of the best surround sound systems you can get.
BEST 7.1 SPEAKER SYSTEM
Polk Audio MagniFi Max AX SR 7.1.2 Channel Soundbar
PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON
Why We Love
High-performing 10-inch subwoofer
Completely wireless for easy installation
4 HDMI ports, including 1x eARC
Dolby Atmos and DTS:X 3D support
Uses advanced patented technology
Various streaming options
But…
Occasional subwoofer disconnects
The Polk Audio MagniFi Max AX SR is a complete wireless solution for those who don’t like complicated setups—you get a clean and clutter-free look. The best thing about this is that it completely eliminates the requirement of multiple front speakers, but instead, you get an 11-speaker soundbar with dedicated up-firing drivers for both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, saving you a lot of space and the hassle of cable management. You still get the rear surround sound speakers and a 10-inch subwoofer, which, when combined, delivers a jaw-dropping experience—definitely something that you wouldn’t have expected from a soundbar.
It also features Polk’s patented SDA (Stereo Dimensional Array) technology, which creates an engaging environment, while the VoiceAdjust technology ensures dialogue remains crisp and intelligible. In addition to all these performance features, it also includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay 2, Chromecast, and Spotify Connect, enabling seamless wireless streaming from a variety of devices and services.
BEST BUDGET-FRIENDLY
Ultimea Poseidon D60 5.1 Soundbar
PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON
Why We Love
Impressive mobile app
Dolby Atmos decoding
Integrated BASSMX technology for deep bass effects
Customizable audio with 121 preset EQ matrices
Highly versatile connectivity options
But…
Cable management can be a hassle
The one thing that everybody wants is a surround speaker system for home theater that doesn’t cost a fortune, and from our research, the Ultimea 5.1 soundbar fits the bill perfectly. It is a powerful and immersive audio solution for a budget-friendly, theater-like experience. Featuring a 410W peak power output, the system includes a main soundbar, wireless subwoofer, and two rear surround speakers, delivering rich audio consistently. It’s even equipped with Dolby Atmos technology to create a realistic 3D environment for an immersive experience, be it movies, games, sports, or music.
The soundbar has 3x front-firing speakers built in, which is quite smartly designed, as it doesn’t look too big when compared to most other brands. The system is partially wireless, as the surround sound speakers are connected via a long cable, but the subwoofer has the liberty to be connected wirelessly. You also get the advantage of managing it with the Ultimea App Control, which feels like a fair exchange for the price that it comes at. This is a great budget surround sound speaker for TV!
BEST 8K SUPPORT
Yamaha YHT-5960U Home Theater System
PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON
Why We Love
5.1 channel surround sound system
YPAO Room Calibration
Enhance game-friendly features like VRR and ALLM
Compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant
4K120 and 8K60 passthrough support
But…
Installation may take time
The Yamaha YHT-5960U is an impressive surround sound speaker system that supports audio passthrough of 4K60, 4K120, and 8K60 quality, and since 8K is a technology still in its infancy, this system is completely future-proof for at least a decade. It even supports HDR formats like HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and HLG, ensuring your experiences are never limited due to technology. The system features YPAO (Yamaha Parametric Acoustic Optimizer), which analyzes your room’s acoustics and automatically calibrates the audio for optimal sound.
This Yamaha 5.1 surround sound speaker system also includes a powerful AV receiver and a full set of speakers, plus a 100W subwoofer for a rich and balanced surround sound to enhance the movie experience at home. Apart from TV, you can also connect and stream through MiraCast and AirPlay over Wi-Fi connectivity.
BEST HIGH-END
Nakamichi Shockwafe 9.2.4 eARC Soundbar
PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON
Why We Love
4K120 support with HDMI eARC
Cinema-grade audio quality
Wired and wireless connectivity options
Dolby Vision and HDR content passthrough
Upgraded range twin-cone drivers and silk dome tweeters
But…
Very expensive
If you need a premium movie-watching experience at home and have a significant budget, then there’s no better choice than the Nakamichi Shockwafe 9.2.4 eARC Soundbar. It is a cinema-grade audio solution that is designed to deliver an experience like no other. This powerhouse of a setup includes a soundbar, 2x wireless subwoofers, and 4x modular surround sound speakers, delivering an exhilarating 1300W peak power output! Every beat you hear out of it will pull you closer to the movie.
At the core of it, the system features Spatial Surround Elevation (SSE) Max technology, which combines three advanced audio processing engines to deliver a 360-degree sound with breathtaking clarity and depth. Additionally, the 2x wireless subwoofers provide a room-filling bass effect without any type of distortion. Designed for home theater enthusiasts, this is everything one would want.
Best With Dolby Atmos
Samsung HW-Q910D 9.1.2 ch Soundbar
PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON
Why We Love
Immersive 3D audio capability
Seamless synchronization with Samsung TVs
Wireless Dolby Atmos compatibility
Includes an HDMI eARC port
Can be activated with voice commands
Compatible with all smart home devices
But…
Occasional spotty wireless connection
The Samsung HW-Q910D 9.1.2 ch Soundbar is a high-performing soundbar that utilizes features like Dolby Atmos to raise the standards of movie-watching experiences at home. It features 9x main channels, 1x subwoofer, and 2x up-firing speakers to support Dolby Atmos and DTS:X in creating a 3D soundstage that brings every type of content to life. Q-Symphony is a feature that allows the Samsung soundbars to effortlessly connect with other Samsung TVs, so features like Dolby Atmos will work well even without any HDMI cables.
These Samsung surround sound speakers also boast other features like the Active Voice Amplifier, which clarifies every dialogue on your TV to ensure you don’t miss a single line. And with its SpaceFit Sound Pro, the audio gets automatically calibrated depending on the size of your room, eliminating any manual work.
Best for Multi-Device Setup
Logitech Z906 5.1 Surround Sound Speaker System
PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON
Why We Love
THX-certified speaker system
Supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
1000W peak power output
Easy-to-use remote control
Connects up to 6 devices at the same time
But…
Not the best bass effect
If you need a surround sound speaker system that can support most types of entertainment devices, then the Logitech Z906 can be a good fit for you! It delivers clear and powerful audio for all types of content. The Logitech Z906 is a powerful system with a 1000W peak power output and a THX certification that creates a room-filling sound experience using all its speakers and a dedicated subwoofer for a rich, deep bass effect. It also comes with a compact control console and wireless remote, so you can adjust volume, select inputs, and change sound modes like 2.1, 4.1, or full surround without getting up.
This system supports multiple input options, including 3.5mm, RCA, digital coaxial, optical, and six-channel direct, allowing you to connect up to 6 devices at once. Whether you’re switching between a TV, computer, gaming console, or DVD player, the Z906 makes it easy to control and customize your setup.
How to Choose the Best Surround Sound Speakers
Choosing the best surround sound speaker for you depends on various factors; let’s talk about a few of them.
Number of Channels: Your first step is to identify if you need a 5.1, 7.1, or 9.1 ch surround sound system. This depends on the level of immersion you need. As you go higher on the channel number, the speaker count also increases. These speakers are not only placed around you but are also mounted higher on the wall for a 3D audio effect. If you think that would be too much for you, then stick to 5.1 ch surround sound speaker systems.
Room Size: As mentioned earlier in this article, 5.1 ch systems serve rooms of small to medium size, whereas 7.1 and above are for larger rooms. It’s not only that you need more space to install additional speakers, but also to cover a larger area. But, of course, you don’t need to stick to these recommendations; you can always try different ones, no matter what the room size is.
Budget: Surround sound speakers don’t come cheap, so it’s very important that you understand where you’re going to invest your money. Most 5.1 ch systems fall under the $300-$1000 category, with 7.1 and 9.1 ch systems costing anywhere between $800 and $2000. So, understand your budget and choose based on that.
Connectivity: Having various types of connectivity ports is an absolute necessity if you’re planning to connect it to different devices. Options like HDMI, HDMI eARC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and optical are some of the most commonly used ports on electronic devices. So, ensure that you check your devices for the available ports and match them to the surround sound speakers that you’re going to buy.
How We Chose the Best Surround Sound Speakers
These surround sound speaker systems were chosen and tested by our team of expert technicians. They did extensive research on available options in the market to shortlist the most-preferred devices from consumers across the globe and tested all of them extensively to ensure they match the expected quality. The test was done for testing factors like audio quality, bass effect, ease of use, ease of installation, and so much more. These speakers were also paired with different devices, like TVs and gaming consoles, to verify that the quality remains the same across all devices. After all the testing and results were collected, the team finalized the top ones for this list.
FAQ
What type of speakers are best for surround sound?
You’ll need the full surround sound system with center, left, right, rear left, rear right, and subwoofer for the best surround sound experience.
How much does a 5.1 surround sound speaker cost?
Depending on the brand, quality, and features, it could cost anywhere between $200 and $1000.
Which is better, a soundbar or surround sound?
It depends on your preference, budget, and space. You can refer to our “Soundbars vs. Surround Sound Systems: What’s the Better Choice?” article for a detailed explanation.
Do you need 5 speakers for surround sound?
Yes, you need a minimum of 5 speakers for a surround sound experience.
