Where should you place your surround speakers?

The ideal surround sound placement will depend on your room and whether you use a 5.1, 7.1, or 9.1 setup. However, there are a few evergreen rules to follow regardless of how many speakers you use. It would help if you tried to have your speakers equidistant from each other with surround speakers placed in the corners around your listening area. You should also keep your speakers free of obstructions and away from alcoves, and if you can safely mount them on a wall, even better.

Will the distance of your speakers from the receiver affect sound quality?

Yes, while it's not always possible, you'll want to keep the cable tethering your speakers to your receiver as short as possible for the best audio quality. However, your sound quality will only suffer if they're 25 feet or more from your receiver. For any wired speakers, you should use a 14-gauge cable and a 12-gauge one for any speakers extending past 25 feet from the receiver.

How many subwoofers do you need?

It depends on the size of your room, but more subwoofers give you better bass quality and offer you more flexible placement when looking for the best spot for optimal sound quality. However, having more than one subwoofer in a tiny listening area may be overkill.

The Best Surround Sound Speakers

Bring the movie theater experience into your living room

Erika Rawes

Updated on January 8, 2025

Fact checked by

Stephen Slaybaugh

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro surround sound speakers. — Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro. Photo:
Lifewire / Bill Loguidice

The best surround-sound speakers make you feel part of the action. However, many factors must be considered, from the number of speakers (such as 5.1, 7.1, and 9.1 setups) to connectivity, which can also be an issue when connecting several speakers to a single source.

Here are our recommendations for the best surround-sound speakers for your home entertainment system.

Our Top Picks

Best Soundbar:

Nakamichi Shockwafe Elite 7.2.4 at Amazon $800

Jump to Review

Best Compact:

Monoprice HT-35 at Amazon $240

Jump to Review

Best Soundbar

Nakamichi Shockwafe Elite 7.2.4

PHOTO: Amazon

$800 at Amazon $1,098 at B&H Photo Video

Pros

Supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
Excellent bass with two wireless subs
No receiver needed

Cons

Bluetooth only (no Wi-Fi)

If you want full surround sound with booming bass but don’t want to invest in an expensive home theater receiver, the Nakamichi Shockwafe Elite soundbar is smart. This system has a lot of power with 14 drivers (including two down-firing wireless woofers with the Elite version).

The package includes the Dolby Atmos soundbar, two eight-inch wireless subwoofers, and two (two-way) rear surround speakers. These components make the system sound better than most traditional surround sound speaker configurations.

Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro — Lifewire / Bill Loguidice

The soundbar has an HDMI ARC port, three additional HDMI ports, an optical port, and a coax input, so you can easily connect your gaming console, TV, projector, or Blu-ray player and get started. With Dolby Vision and HDR pass-through, you get a clear picture with your surround sound.

Bluetooth connectivity lets you wirelessly stream music, while the system’s sleek and compact design will make your theater room look fabulous.

_{Channels: 7.2 | Wireless: Yes | Inputs: 3in/1 out (ARC)| Digital Assistant: None | Number of Speakers: 2}

Best Compact

Monoprice HT-35

PHOTO: Monoprice

$240 at Amazon $276 at Walmart View on Monoprice.com

Pros

Good for small spaces
Affordable
Solid build quality

Cons

Not the most powerful system

The Monoprice HT-35 is an excellent option for those who want a system that won’t take up too much space. It features four satellite speakers, a center driver, and an eight-inch subwoofer. Each satellite speaker stands just 7.5 inches tall and weighs less than three pounds.

The center speaker measures 10.2 inches long and stands 4.3 inches high, weighing just three pounds. The subwoofer is a 12.2-inch cube and weighs less than 20 pounds. Such lightweight and small speakers mean you can quickly and easily set them up or change the configuration without a fuss.

The backs of each speaker feature universal mounting holes for wall placement when floor space is limited. While this system is small, it delivers a big sound. The subwoofer provides up to 200 watts of power for deep, punchy low ranges.

The system supports 5.1 channel audio, so you can adjust each speaker individually for the best listening experience.

Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1.4 Sound Bar — Lifewire / Emily Ramirez

What to Look For in a Surround Sound Speaker

Room Size

Before you consider the power output of a set of speakers, consider the size of your room. If it's small (7x10 feet), you might not need too much power, and you can save a bit of money by buying a compact system. However, don't hold back if you have an expansive room (15x20 feet) to fill. Go for a full-size, full-range system with more than one woofer.

5.1 vs. 7.1

A 5.1-channel setup has five small speakers and a subwoofer, while a 7.1-channel includes two additional speakers. The other speakers provide richer sound but can get pricier. A 5.1-channel setup is usually more than enough, but a 7.1-channel can sound very impressive if you want to splurge. Look at our overview of 2.0, 2.1, 5.1, 6.1, and 7.1 channel systems if you're unsure what you have or want.

: ELAC Debut 2.0 F5.2 Floorstanding Tower Speakers — Lifewire / Emily Ramirez

Wired vs Wireless

A wired setup will have an edge in sound quality, but if you don’t mind sacrificing sound in the name of design, go for a wireless setup. (We have tips for hiding those unsightly wires.) Wireless connectivity is typically offered through Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Most home theater systems also have wireless subwoofers that pair automatically with the rest of your devices for improved bass.

FAQ

Where should you place your surround speakers?

The ideal surround sound placement will depend on your room and whether you use a 5.1, 7.1, or 9.1 setup. However, there are a few evergreen rules to follow regardless of how many speakers you use. It would help if you tried to have your speakers equidistant from each other with surround speakers placed in the corners around your listening area. You should also keep your speakers free of obstructions and away from alcoves, and if you can safely mount them on a wall, even better.
Will the distance of your speakers from the receiver affect sound quality?

Yes, while it's not always possible, you'll want to keep the cable tethering your speakers to your receiver as short as possible for the best audio quality. However, your sound quality will only suffer if they're 25 feet or more from your receiver. For any wired speakers, you should use a 14-gauge cable and a 12-gauge one for any speakers extending past 25 feet from the receiver.
How many subwoofers do you need?

It depends on the size of your room, but more subwoofers give you better bass quality and offer you more flexible placement when looking for the best spot for optimal sound quality. However, having more than one subwoofer in a tiny listening area may be overkill.