Best Home Theater Systems of 2025

Soundbars offer plenty of performance in a compact package and cost much less to run than a loudspeaker system. You can even choose one with advanced features like Dolby Atmos and Wi-Fi streaming. Some soundbars offer an upgrade option that includes optional subwoofers and rear speakers, which is a nice feature.

However, if you really want to mix and match speakers, a AV receiver is for you. Unlike soundbars, receivers are capable of supporting many more sources, including record players and FM radio with six or more sources. HDMI entries. You can boot your system with just a few stereo speakersbut since you can get a Complete Klipsch 5.1 System for Under $500you don’t really need to wait.

Home theater systems are notoriously difficult, with several options and technical specifications to choose from. Here are the most important factors to consider.

Channels

An audio channel is a stream of data encoded in its source, such as music or a movie soundtrack. Music is often encoded with two channels, left and right, called stereo sound. These two channels deliver distinct and separate audio signals, giving you a soundstage. Newer films and television shows often have multiple channels of audio data – most often five channels plus a subwoofer – encoded into their source material. If you’re looking for a full surround sound experience, you’ll need more channels in your speakers or more speakers to support more channels.

Subwoofer integration

Designed to produce bass frequencies, subwoofers add power and dimension to your home theater sound. Subwoofer integration is the process of using volume and signal processing to blend a subwoofer with an existing system. Soundbar and subwoofer combos do this automatically, but AV receiver owners can use a calibration routine (or perform a manual calibration) to add a third-party subwoofer.

Connectivity

You’ll want to consider your system’s connectivity to ensure all of your loose cables are used. The most common analog audio connection is a single pair of audio RCAs (the red and white connectors), while a digital coax (or digital coax) is most common for digital audio. If you’re hoping for a wireless experience, many home theater systems come with Bluetooth or wireless connectivity options to minimize cables. HDMI uses cables to transmit digital video and audio simultaneously. Make sure you know what connectivity types your TV or projector supports before making a purchase.

Dolby Atmos capability

Dolby Atmos is a technology that adds height channels to traditional stereo and mono audio formats to create a three-dimensional audio experience. The number of channels is expressed as xxx where the first number corresponds to the surround channels, the second to the subwoofers and the last to the heights, for example 5.1.2. If you’re looking for a more realistic and immersive audio experience, you need to make sure your home theater system supports Dolby Atmos.