The best audio systems for home consists of a home theatre receiver (which provides power and connects everything) and speakers, which may include (but are not limited to) a centre speaker, right and left front speakers, right and left rear speakers, special effect speakers (or height speakers) for Dolby Atmos, and one or more subwoofers.
There are three types of people who buy best audio systems for home. Some people enjoy the process and jump right in, reading about all of the options, researching how different component combinations produce different outcomes, and so on. Others are unconcerned about features, specifications, or options; they just want best audio systems for home, thank you very much.
Then there’s the largest group, which includes everyone in the middle. Our post to the “best audio systems for home for 2022” was written for everyone, but especially for those two groups. The idea is that you could spend an entire year researching the best home theatre options and still fall short of our best audio systems for home career professionals’ level of knowledge and expertise.
So why not take advantage of the situation? Our picks for the best audio systems for home in a variety of categories are listed below, including best for the money, best looking, best audio systems for home in show, and so on. Along the way, there will be no hype, no BS, just some genuine, we-can’t-help-it enthusiasm for a fantastic home theatre experience.
You can also see our speaker and best audio systems for home recommendations here. You’ve got this, with over a dozen World Wide Stereo home theatre experts leading the way – and standing by to answer any and all questions.
Best Audio Systems For Home
We’ve made it simple to compare best audio systems for home from brands like Sonos, Bose, SVS, KLH, Klipsch, and others. Our daily deals keep you up to date, and we’ve got your back with our price match guarantee, 60-day returns, easy financing, and free shipping. Don’t see best audio systems for home you’re looking for on sale?
In our “Best audio systems for home” article, the Bose Soundbar 700 won best-of-show for surround sound. Bose does it again as the centerpiece of the Bose Smart Wireless 5.1 home theatre system. We chose the Bose SB700 because we were blown away by a sound field that: A) seemed much wider than any other 5.1 pre-packaged system we tested; B) made dialogue – even soft or whispered dialogue – crystal clear; and C) was equally effective regardless of where we sat.
This system is made up entirely of Bose’s new smart wireless speaker family. For a multi-room audio experience throughout the house, start with this 5.1-channel system and a Bose Home Speaker 500 in the kitchen and a smaller Soundbar 500 in the bedroom. You can control everything with simple voice commands thanks to Amazon Alexa’s integration.
Price: $1,199.00 – $1,399.00
SVS has become one of the most well-known brands in the industry over the last two decades. SVS was once known for its sternum-vibrating, room-shaking, award-winning subwoofers, but today’s new SVS systems can compete with anyone – the SVS Prime Satellite 5.1 home theatre package is a great example. It’s small and easy to fit in a small space, but turn it up and your small space transforms into the Hollywood Bowl.
Each SVS Prime Satellite speaker has a 4.5-inch midrange driver and a one-inch tweeter and is about the size of a loaf of bread. They’re small, but they pack a punch like Roberto Duran. The 12-inch driver in the SVS-1000 subwoofer’s already legendary 300-watt powered subwoofer, on the other hand, will have you clinging to your seat. It’s also compact and fits neatly into any corner.
The SVS Prime Satellite 5.1 Package is wired rather than wireless, but for the price, it could be the biggest “little” 5.1 system on the market. (Want something a little more substantial? SVS’s “Ultra” series of speakers are worth a look.
Another significant SVS benefit is gaming. Many of our customers keep their gaming systems in spare bedrooms or small dens. The SVS Prime Satellite 5.1 Package is for you if you really want to immerse yourself in a Gears of War or Call of Duty battle without using headphones – and you don’t want to spend a fortune doing it.
SVS is a fantastic company. Now is the time to shop. Okay, everyone, raise your tray tables and fasten your seatbelts. We’re going all out. Now we’re moving on from the smaller, easier-to-install home theatre systems to the larger, jaw-dropping setups. Our experts hand-picked the following systems, which are frequently mixed and matched from various audio brands.
Overall, it’s like upgrading from a scooter to a motorcycle: both are enjoyable and effective, but the latter is more concerned with accurately reproducing big, serious, cinematic sounds at home. Furthermore, these larger home theatre systems offer more sound and design aesthetic options.
Price: $10,192.00
Two audio pioneers with a long and illustrious history: One is known for its go-big-or-go-home sound and beautiful cabinetry, while the other is known for best-in-class amplification and cutting-edge technology. Saul Marantz and Paul Klipsch have over 100 years of combined experience and every award under the sun. Hello, and welcome to the best surround sound experience of your life.
Dolby’s sound engineers devised a way to create what some refer to as “3D surround sound” via a new technology called Dolby Atmos a few years ago. Dolby Atmos creates a sound layer that not only floats above the audience, but also floats in different areas above the audience. It does it so well that you can pinpoint specific sounds in specific locations—in the air.
The overall effect is thrilling, exhilarating, breathtaking, and sometimes stupefying. Don’t worry, kids; those dragons aren’t real; this is just a film. Despite the fact that most AV receivers nowadays come with Dolby Atmos support, many consumers never purchase Dolby Atmos speakers. It’s like never buying sails when you live on a sailboat.
So we set out to create an amazing, yet reasonably priced home theatre that truly delivers on all fronts: left, right, centre, sides, rear, below (via the subwoofer), and now, with Dolby Atmos, also in the air above. Finally, if you buy this home theatre system with the components we recommend and are about to turn it on for the first time, start with a big-budget blockbuster film.
Whatever the case may be, whether it’s the new Jurassic Park or Incredibles 2, Blockbusters are sound-engineered to take full advantage of height channels, so you’ll get the full experience: pterosaurs and prehistoric bugs flying around your living room, dive-bombing the sofa, and so on. You’ll see why this system wins our “Best Dolby Atmos” category so easily.
Price: $2,046.00
Sonos appears to be on a mission to sweep the field clean. Sonos, once regarded as an upstart among industry giants, is now doing for home theatre what they did for multi-room music, with impressive results.
According to CEPro magazine, the Sonos Arc 5.1 Surround Set is everything you’d expect from the world’s #1 wireless audio company. Highs are crystal clear, lows from the Sonos subwoofer punch hard, and dialogue from the Beam Sound Bar, the system’s centrepiece, is both eminently understandable and consistently front and centre.
Furthermore, the system is extremely intelligent and has an impressive feature set. Except for the power cord and HDMI output, it’s completely wireless. (Goodbye, tangled jumble.) The Sonos app is still the best and smartest in the business.
Apple Airplay 2 is pre-installed. It can stream almost anything thanks to Sonos’ support for over 50 music services. You’ve got an excellent choice when you combine Amazon Alexa and/or Google Assistant voice control with an unobtrusive, stylish, and made-to-blend-in look. Not only for true 5.1 surround sound, but also for great-sounding music.
Yes, it’s a little pricey, but we think it’s worth every penny. Also, Sonos is similar to LEGOs (which we discussed in detail in our Sonos Buying Guide). Now is the time to shop.
Focal Chora 7.2.4 Dolby Atmos Home Theater System
Price: $9,558.00
One fantastic listening experience equals one premier French speaker manufacturer plus one energetic subwoofer manufacturer. Not only is this a high-performing home theatre system, but it also sounds great for two-channel stereo listening when you just want to relax and listen to music. The Chora series from Focal is extremely well-made and designed to deliver realism that is unrivalled at this price point.
The 4-way floorstanding speakers in this package include a Dolby Atmos speaker built into the top panel of each speaker. You’ll think fighter planes are soaring over your head as you watch the latest action film, thanks to a dedicated centre channel and a pair of surround speakers that can be hung on the wall for a neat theatre look. Two 12″ SVS PB-2000 ported subwoofers round out the system.
We hope you’ve secured everything on your house’s walls, because if not, those items will end up on the floor. These 12″ monsters can easily produce some seriously impressive bass response, but with the built-in 550-watt amplifier keeping the subwoofer in check, they can also be quite refined.