The Best Home Audio Systems of 2024

Find the best sound system for large rooms, small rooms and more

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The best home audio sound system can transform watching movies, TV, and sports at home into a powerful, immersive experience. They range from single soundbars to tiny stereo systems and complete surround speaker setups.

Factors like room size play a huge role in deciding the necessary power and wattage for your speaker arrangement, and other details should help you pick your perfect device.

Best Overall

Acoustic Audio AA5170 Home Theater 5.1 Bluetooth System

Acoustic
Courtesy of Amazon.com
Pros
  • Inexpensive 5.1 sound

  • Tons of connectivity options

Cons
  • Lesser known brands

  • Sound quality suffers at high volumes

The Acoustic Audio AA5170 Home Theater 5.1 Bluetooth Speaker System 700W with Powered Sub represents a sweet middle ground of booming power and affordable price. The system has six speakers, providing excellent coverage of any room you put it in.

At an excellent price, the system includes an amplified subwoofer; five discrete independent channel input/output speakers suited for surround sound; Bluetooth connectivity for mobile streaming, an SD card input, a flash drive MP3 player for assorted music playlists, an FM tuner to play your favorite radio stations, and 3.5 aux to RCA wires so you can start listening immediately.

The Acoustic AA5170 Home Theater uses only 700 Watts with a power frequency of 20Hz to 20KHz, packing a compact yet powerful speaker package suitable for any home theater system (although static can occur if played too high). The AA5170 works fluidly with your computer or laptop, gaming system, digital media player, or any other audio/video device equipped with Bluetooth, RCA, or 3.5mm auxiliary interfaces.

Channels: 5.1 | Wireless: Bluetooth | Inputs: 3.5mm, RCA | Digital Assistant: None | Number of Speakers: 5

Best Budget

Rockville HTS56 Home Theater System

Rockville-hts56-1000w-51-channel-home-theater-system

Amazon

Pros
  • Built in receiver

  • Independent volume control

  • Plug and play

Cons
  • No HDMI input

  • Reports of failing speakers

  • Reports of audio/video syncing issues

When you need an incredible surround sound system on a small budget, the Rockville HTS56 is the one for you. This home audio system comes with five speakers and an eight-inch subwoofer. The subwoofer features a built-in AV receiver and an FM radio antenna, so you won't have to spend extra cash on a separate unit. 

Each speaker and subwoofer has an independent volume control for superior sound customization, no matter how big your media room is. This system utilizes Bluetooth, USB, and RCA connections to hook up your TV, DVD or Blu-Ray player, and game consoles without frustration. The Rockville HTS56 home audio system has four LED lighting modes with seven colors to help customize your media or game room's look. 

Sony CMTSBT100 Micro Music System

Lifewire / Bill Loguidice

What to Look For in a Home Audio System

Sound Quality

Sound quality can be a personal feature—some people enjoy deeper bass, while others prefer a more balanced sound. Different speaker systems have different audio profiles (which can also be tweaked slightly by repositioning speakers in your room). Most home audio systems will have primary or center channel speakers, left and right channel speakers, and a subwoofer. This combination represents a good starting point for most home theaters, but a soundbar and subwoofer combo can also cut it for apartment dwellers.

Room Size

Power isn’t everything, and wattage is often overrated. If your speakers are intended for a smaller space, you likely don’t need a full 7.1 channel setup; a soundbar or single speaker might do the trick. To fill a larger room with sound spring for something more powerful. Look at our overview of 2.0, 2.1, 5.1, 6.1, and 7.1 channel systems to get a good idea of your options.

Wired vs. Wireless

As with headphones, wired systems often deliver better sound, but their setup tends to be more complicated. A wireless system is a good bet if you’re willing to trade some sound quality in favor of convenience. Standard wireless connectivity is offered over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Some sound systems also come with NFC for pairing. Most separate subwoofers are also wireless, meaning they pair automatically with the rest of your sound system when you plug it in.

Polk T15 Bookshelf Speakers
FAQ
  • What do you need to build a complete home audio system?

    The core prerequisites for a home audio system are simple: you need a receiver, a set of speakers, and some device to output sound (generally speaking, a cable box, streaming device, or computer). Additional gear, like extra speakers or a subwoofer, is the next step toward perfecting your home theater audio.

  • Is a home theater audio set up good for music?

    The home audio systems we recommend are universally great for listening to music, watching films, or playing games. The best choices for music will include at least 5.1 surround sound and, in some cases, may also feature a soundbar.

  • How much wattage do my speakers need?

    Wattage output is generally only an issue in sizeable spaces, and for most people, 50W should be sufficient to drive the volume they desire for their home theater system. As a rule of thumb, the more sensitive your speakers (how well they convert amplifier power into acoustics, measured in decibels per watt/distance), the fewer watts you'll need to drive them.

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