Best Home Theater Systems of 2024
If you're ready to upgrade your TV with great-sounding audio, we've gathered a number of top-tier audio systems for your home theater.
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- Ty was nominated for Best New Journalist at the Australian IT Journalism awards, but he has only ever won one thing. As a youth, he was awarded a free session for the photography studio at a local supermarket.
Our Picks
While a TV screen may be the first thing people notice about your living space, it's sound quality that truly transforms it into a home theater. Whether you want to invest in the best surround-sound system you can get, a 5.1 soundbar or a bookshelf speaker system we've got you covered.
At CNET, we test all kinds of home theater equipment based on our decades of experience testing and reviewing soundbars, speakers and AV receivers. We endeavor to find the best home theater systems by conducting performance testing under controlled conditions in the CNET Labs. Whatever route you decide to go with -- soundbars or discrete surround sound -- there should be something here that will improve your home entertainment experience. We'll update this list periodically as we review new products.
Best home theater systems of 2024
When it comes to bang for buck, it doesn't get much better than the Roku Streambar home theater system. This speaker offers both a dialogue-enhancing soundbar and a built-in 4K streamer in one package. If you want more bass or surround speakers, the system is also upgradable. Usually selling for $130, it's currently on sale for $100. Read our Roku Streambar review
Best budget surround-sound speaker package
Klipsch Reference Cinema Dolby Atmos 5.1.4 System
If you're looking for a surround set to pair with an AV receiver, then the Klipsch Reference Cinema Dolby Atmos 5.1.4 System can be yours refurbished for under $500. While the setup of the satellites can be a little fiddly, the extra effort is worth it -- sound quality is excellent. You would have to pay twice this to get equivalent sound quality from a rival system. Read our Klipsch Reference Cinema Dolby Atmos 5.1.4 System review
Best bookshelf speakers
Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2
If there's one area where we're spoiled for choice, it's affordable stereo speakers, and at just $280, the Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2s offer excellent playback of both movies and music. They offer a transparency that's unlike anything else near the price. While the Q Acoustic 3030is are more even-handed and have better bass response, they're also $549. Read our Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 review
Best home theater soundbar system
Vizio Elevate
For around the same price as the Sonos Arc, the Vizio Elevate offers everything you'd want from a Dolby Atmos system. With great sound, excellent connectivity and numerous streaming options this soundbar is a sort of hybrid between a receiver-based system and a soundbar. That revolving height driver is also a party conversation starter.
Best 8K receiver
Onkyo TX-NR6100
You may not be able to watch 8K video right now, but it's still worth buying an 8K-compatible receiver -- especially if you're a gamer. The TX-NR6100 is a great receiver with excellent sound quality and an unbeatable streaming suite, including Chromecast built-in. Read our Onkyo TX-NR6100 review.
Best audiophile soundbar
Sennheiser Ambeo Max
If you demand the best Dolby Atmos performance from a single soundbar, it doesn't get any better than the Sennheiser Ambeo Max audio system. It's not cheap, and it's not small, but if you want the best sound, this is it. Read our Sennheiser Ambeo Max review
How CNET tests home theater systems
CNET's AV studio where I test audio equipment
CNET follows a rigorous, unbiased evaluation process for all of its soundbar and AV system testing, from simple stereo speakers to Dolby Atmos systems. In the CNET AV Lab, I do comparative testing, pitting similar systems against each other side by side.
I evaluate the performance of each system with a number of different types of content, including movies, music, TV shows and games. I use a number of test scenes -- including the opening of Mad Max: Fury Road for playback of the spatial audio standard Dolby Atmos for systems and soundbars that support it. I also use the Thanator Attack scene of Avatar (26.53) to test a product's dynamics and detail retrieval.
When it comes to music, I use a number of CNET test tracks which you can find here in a Tidal or Spotify playlist. Tracks such as Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' Red Right Hand, with its deep bass and tenor vocals, help determine a system's ability to track male voices in particular, without sounding congested. The song also helps with uncovering hidden details and the relative dynamics a speaker system is capable of. Using both types of content -- movies and music -- I then grade the sound quality of each product. I evaluate characteristics such as speech clarity, dynamics/volume, bass response and musical playback.
CNET's dedicated audio lab in downtown New York includes a selection of televisions (with HDMI eARC), plus Apple TV 4K streamer and Roku Ultra streamers, a Microsoft Xbox Series X and an Oppo UDP-205 4K Blu-ray player. I also use Roon music software to stream to individual devices or the Oppo player as needed.
Factors to consider when buying a home theater system
Soundbars offer a lot of performance in a compact package, and cost much less to get up and running than a speaker system. You can even choose one with advanced features such as Dolby Atmos and Wi-Fi streaming. Some soundbars offer an upgrade path including optional subwoofers and rear speakers which is a great feature.
If you want to truly mix and match speakers, however, an AV receiver is for you. Unlike soundbars, receivers are able to support many more sources including record players and FM radio with six or more HDMI inputs. You can start your system with just a couple of stereo speakers, but given you can get a full 5.1.4 Klipsch system for under $500 you don't really need to wait.