7 Best 5.1 Home Theater Systems – Reviews and Buying Guide

Everyone loves going to the movie theater. You get a more immersive experience there, and it’s fun to get out and have a nice time occasionally. However, some people want to get the movie theater experience, but they are too lazy to get out of the house. Home theater systems are the perfect solution for such people! These entertainment systems allow you to get an immersive, movie theater-like experience without any effort, and it also helps that you don’t have to pay for a movie ticket each time. Here are the top seven home theater systems on the market.

We also have another post for heavy music lovers about the best 7.1 home theater systems; check this one if you want more bass.

Top 7 5.1 Home Theater Speakers

Product NameVoice controlSubwooferSoundbar
Bose Lifestyle 650No100 wattNone
Onkyo HT-S7800YesNoneIncluded
Bose 5.1No110 wattNone
VIZIO SmartCast 36″NoUnspecified wattageIncluded
Enclave Audio CineHomeYes100 wattIncluded
Sonos 5.1No120 wattNone
Yamaha BluetoothYes120 wattIncluded

Bose Lifestyle 650 Home Entertainment System

Bose Lifestyle 650 Home Entertainment System, works with Alexa - Black
  • As main components, your purchase include: One Console, 4 OnmiJewel side speakers, One Omni Jewel center speaker, One Acoustimass wireless bass module, universal remote control, 2 wireless receivers, One ADAPTiQ headset and Owner’s guide
  • Dimensions (”): Console – 15.98 W x 2.56 H x 10.16 D | Omni Jewel Side speakers (each) – 1.84 W x 5.77 H x 1.84 D | Omni Jewel Center speaker – 21.34 W x 1.9 H x 1.84 D | Bass module – 11.61 W x 12.8 H x 11.61 D | Wireless receivers – 6.54 W x 1.6 H x 3 D
  • Wires length: 6-foot IR emitter, 5-foot optical cable, 6-foot HDMI cable, 5-foot power cord, 20-foot center speaker cable, 20-foot wireless surround speaker cable, and 20-foot front speaker cables
  • Front and center speakers have a wired connection, while the 2-rear speakers connect to a wireless receiver and AC power mains. The rear speakers and bass module connect to the front module wirelessly
  • Supported Audio formats - Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, Multichannel PCM. Video Source compatibility - Support for six 4K/60 video sources (HDMI 2.0/HDCP 2.2)
  • Omni jewel satellite speakers
  • Works with Alexa
  • The Exterior is made of premium glass and anodized aluminum
  • 8.8 pounds console, speakers 1.5 pounds (combined weight), center speaker 2.66 pounds.

What We Liked

360-degree sound: Sound technology has become very advanced. This home theater system is a good example of modern sound technology. The Omni jewel satellite speakers are fairly small, but they offer 360 degrees of sound very crisply. This means that you will get the best quality sound even if you are standing behind the speakers.

Good frequency response: The speakers play audio at balanced frequencies. This means that you will hear the exact audio that is in the file. A lot of speakers boost the low end to make the bass pop or the high end to make the sound of people talking clearer. This often ruins the overall sound. This home theater system gives you a more balanced audio output.

No distortion: Not only is the audio balanced, but the advanced DSP technology used in the speakers also removes distortion as well. This helps the audio you are listening to sound a lot clearer.

Works with Alexa: Alexa is a revolutionary virtual assistant created by Amazon. This home theater system can be connected with Alexa.

Sleek design: This product has a fantastic look. The premium glass and anodized aluminum used in the casing of this home theater system look sleek and modern, fitting in with modern interior decorating design schemes.

What We Didn’t Like

Expensive: Most people are willing to spend good money on an amazing home theater system, but this product might be too expensive even for these people. While the price is worth it, you are going to have to save up a lot if you want to buy this home theater system. This can be a problem for shoppers on a budget.

Onkyo HT-S7800 5.1.2 Ch. Dolby Atmos Home Theater Package

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  • Seven surround speakers and one subwoofer
  • Built-in Chromecast
  • Eight HDMI inputs
  • Supports distributed playback.

What We Liked

Superior audio quality: With this home theater set, you get top-notch audio quality. This means the frequencies will be balanced, with both low-end and high-end standing out. With this audio quality, you can listen to high-quality audio files and actually hear the difference!

Chromecast: People don’t use multiple devices for all of their needs anymore. Everything is done from a single source. This home theater system has a built-in Chromecast. This will help you use Netflix, YouTube, and all of your favorite apps and websites easily. You can turn this into an all-in-one entertainment package for the whole family.

Multiple HDMI inputs: Multiple-screen viewing is starting to become very popular. Shared screens are fun, but sometimes people want to have some privacy while they are watching something. This home theater system has eight HDMI inputs, so everyone in your house can have a great time watching their favorite movies and shows without worrying about someone else waiting for their turn.

Good value for money: This product is too good to be cheap, but it’s still pretty affordable. You can get a top-notch sound system for under $500 dollars. Most people assume that they have to spend over a thousand dollars to get something good, but this home theater system shows that you can get the good stuff for cheaper too.

What We Didn’t Like

Some durability problems: The casing of the speakers is fairly solid, but rough use can damage the woofers and reduce sound quality. This might be a problem for people who have rowdy kids.

Bose 5.1 Home Theater

Bose 5.1 Home Theater Set (Black): Soundbar 700 + Bass 700 + Surround Speakers
  • The best performing sound bar from Bose, featuring an unmatched combination of sophisticated design and exceptional sound
  • With alexa built in, just Ask to play music, get Answers to questions, and control smart home devices. An eight microphone Array ensures superior voice pickup
  • Play integrated WiFi music services like Spotify and music or use a Bluetooth Connection to play anything from your phone or tablet
  • This wireless, compact sub woofer is designed to be paired with the Bose sound bar 700 to bring music, movies, and TV to life with Deep, dramatic bass
  • A powerful driver and generously sized port deliver a dynamic range of rich, low notes so you can feel the full impact of pulse pounding scenes and playlists
  • Supports 4K audio
  • Room calibration
  • Premium glass and metal grille
  • Wireless.

What We Liked

Wireless design: Cables can be a huge nuisance because they get tangled up. This product’s components can be connected to one another wirelessly. This improves the home theater system’s overall look and also makes it a lot more convenient if you want to set it up somewhere else.

Room calibration: A lot of people don’t know how much the room you are in affects sound. This home theater system can detect the specifics of the room you are in. It can then use this information to adjust its sound quality so that you end up getting the best sound possible. This is a useful feature because you won’t have to worry about adjusting sound quality yourself.

4K audio: Both audio and video quality has gotten a lot better in the last five years. 4K is the gold standard now, and this product supports 4K audio. A lot of home theater systems are unable to handle 4K audio, so they end up compressing the audio file to make it easier to manage. If you play 4K audio on this product, you will be surprised at how amazing everything sounds!

Rich bass: When you play music on this home theater system, you will notice that it boosts the low frequencies a little. This gives you a richer, deeper lower-end sound.

What We Didn’t Like

Price: It’s not unusual to pay this amount for a great home theater system, but budget-conscious shoppers are going to find the price far too high.

Background noise: The speaker boosts audio clarity but fails to remove distortion. There will be a lot of background noise during moments of silence in films and TV shows, and this can spoil your experience.

VIZIO SmartCast 36″ 5.1 Wireless Soundbar System

VIZIO SmartCast 36" 5.1 Wireless Soundbar System - SB3651
  • Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Enabled for Wireless Streaming
  • Two Rear Wired Speakers and Wireless Subwoofer
  • Works with Google Assistant and is Chromecast Enabled
  • Optical and Analog Inputs
  • Includes HDMI and Optical Cables
  • Digital surround sound
  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • Lightweight setup.

What We Liked

Good connectivity: This home theater system has a good wireless range. You will be able to play music on it even if you are several rooms away.

Portability: This is a lightweight home theater system that has only a few parts. This makes it very portable. If you are going on vacation and want to take your home theater system along with you, this product will let you do that.

Good price: You can get this home theater system for under $300 dollars. Considering its various benefits, this price is a very good deal.

Sleek design: This product has a very stylish, modern aesthetic. The various parts of this home theater system have muted, round edges and a chrome color palette that looks very futuristic. You might want to buy this product just because of how great it looks.

What We Didn’t Like

Average sound quality: While you are going to hear your songs fairly clearly, the audio quality isn’t as good as most home theater systems. The speakers don’t get very loud, and they also tend to get distorted if you turn the volume up too much.

Enclave Audio CineHome HD

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Enclave CineHome PRO - 5.1 Wireless Plug and Play Home Theater Surround Sound System - THX, Dolby, DTS WiSA Certified - Includes 5 Active Wireless Speakers, 10-inch Subwoofer & CineHub Transmitter
  • SURROUND SOUND LIKE NO OTHER - The THX Certified CineHome PRO will transform your living room into a true surround sound cinematic experience that no sound bar can match—providing immersive, movie-theater-quality audio.
  • WHAT’S INCLUDED - This system includes an Enclave CineHub wireless transmitter, 5 wireless active speakers powered by custom-tuned Class-D amplifiers, a 10-inch wireless subwoofer, an HDMI Cable, power cords, a quick start guide & a remote control.
  • DOLBY & DTS AUDIO - Hear cinema-like surround sound with Dolby Audio and DTS encoding technologies, even from stereo signals. Experience your favorite shows and movies how the director intended with clear vocals and rich, room-filling sound.
  • PLUG & PLAY SETUP - The CineHub is equipped with ARC for a simple setup process. Connect the HDMI cable provided to the ARC port of your TV, ensure the sound output is set to HDMI ARC and you’re done!
  • REMOTE & APP CONTROLS - Enclave is designed to work with your TV or streaming device remote when connected via HDMI ARC to your TV. Want more bass? Connect your smartphone to CineHub with Bluetooth & use our Remote App to customize your sound.
  • Cable-free use
  • Three HDMI inputs
  • Android app.

What We Liked

Can be used from the app: If you download the enclave app, you will be able to use this home theater system without having to get up. You can also turn up the volume and control other aspects of the sound from the app.

Wireless: You won’t have to use cables with this home theater system which means that you can enjoy it without looking at a bunch of ugly cables.

Good sound quality: The sound that comes from these speakers is nice and clear without too much distortion. The noise reduction isn’t perfect, but it is better than a lot of products out there.

What We Didn’t Like

Price: This product does not give enough benefits to justify such a high price. You can get far better sound quality for a lower price, so a lot of buyers might want to go for those products instead.

Not easy to move around: This home theater system has a lot of parts, and all of them are quite heavy. You will have to carefully decide where you put this product because once it’s there, it will be quite difficult to move it. It’s also not good for people looking for something portable.

Sonos 5.1 Surround Set

Sonos 5.1 Surround Set - Home Theater System with all-new Beam, Sub and a set of two Play:1 Speakers. Compact Smart TV Sound bar with Amazon Alexa voice control built-in. Wireless Sound System and Music Streaming for your home. (Black)
  • Get full surround sound and deep bass, plus Alexa voice control, for your TV, music, and more
  • Beam is the smart, compact soundbar for your TV with Amazon Alexa voice control
  • Sub adds intense bass with two force cancelling speakers for deep sound and zero cabinet buzz or rattle
  • Two Play:1 surround speakers deliver theater quality sound
  • Ask Alexa to play music from Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, TuneIn and SiriusXM. Listen to hundreds of other streaming services with the Sonos app
  • Surround sound
  • Alexa voice control
  • Sub-woofers and force-canceling speakers.

What We Liked

Voice control: It is very convenient that you can tell this speaker what to do with just your voice. You will probably use your home theater system at the end of a long and tiring day. You would feel lazy at this point and would probably not want to move around a lot. This home theater system can help you relax and get the job done from the comfort of your couch or bed.

Noiseless speakers: This home theater system has great speakers that cancel out distortion and noise. The subwoofers also provide a rich low end that makes for enjoyable music listening.

Surround sound: If you place the speakers correctly, you will be able to get the perfect surround sound experience. This makes this product perfect for watching movies.

What We Didn’t Like

Connectivity issues: If you stream a lot of your content, this home theater won’t be a good fit for you. The connectivity issues won’t let you stream easily, as you might have to wait for content to buffer a lot before watching.

Too much low end: You will enjoy bass on this home theater system, but the overall sound quality is not up to the mark. The speakers focus too much on the low end.

Yamaha Bluetooth Music Cast Audio & Video Component Receiver

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YAMAHA RX-V385 5.1-Channel 4K Ultra HD AV Receiver with Bluetooth
  • 5.1 channel powerful surround sound with Bluetooth for wireless connectivity
  • Rated Output Power (1kHz, 1ch driven) 100W (8 ohms, 0.9% THD); Rated Output Power (20Hz 20kHz, 2ch driven) 70W (8 ohms, 0.09% THD); Maximum Effective Output Power (1kHz, 1ch driven) (Jeita) 145W (6 ohms, 10% THD)
  • HDMI with HDCP 2.3 (4 in/1 out)
  • 4K/60 Ultra HD support, HDR10, Dolby vision, hybrid log gamma and BT.2020 provide incredible contrast, smooth tone and rich, bright colors
  • YPAO automatic room calibration technology for an immersive movie experience
  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • Compressed music enhancer
  • 100-watt subwoofer.

What We Liked

Wireless use: You can connect this home theater set with your phone and play your favorite music all day long. This is useful because you won’t have to sit in one place while listening to music. Instead, you can move around and complete your daily tasks since the connection is wireless.

Music enhancer: A lot of the music files you listen to are compressed, which means the audio quality is not as good as it should be. This home theater system enhances compressed files.

Exceptional loudness: Sometimes, you might want to use your home theater system for a party. This system has enough loudness for a big yard or a large room that doesn’t have too much furniture in it, making it perfect for parties!

What We Didn’t Like

Too many parts: This product is a little messy. There are a lot of different parts, and they tend to get scattered around. You will need a lot of space in your home if you want to use this product.

Lack of durability: Lots of parts mean a high chance of something falling or getting bumped into. This home theater set is encased in rather flimsy materials that would easily get damaged.

Conclusion

And there you have it! These home theater systems represent the best that the market has to offer right now. You are going to have to save up a lot if you want to buy the very best product on the market, namely the Bose Lifestyle 650 Home Entertainment System, but there are more affordable options in this list as well. No matter what your preferences are and what your budget is, this list has something for everyone. If you are on a budget, check out Vizio Soundcast, it provides good results for a price that anyone can afford.

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