The Best Home Theater Systems of 2023
Tom Power Jun 7, 2023 10:10 PM
If you're going to upgrade the sound on your TV, there are plenty of home theater systems available, but the options can be overwhelming. For the best possible performance, nothing beats an AV receiver and multi-speaker Dolby Atmos setup, but if you just want something simple and affordable then the soundbar is the answer.
Below is our recommendation of what we consider the Best Home Theater Systems of 2023.
Top picks
The Klipsch Reference Theater Pack gets big sound from a compact 5.1-channel sound system and it's a perfect home theater choice for apartments or game rooms. This speaker system is great for movies and music. You just need to add a receiver.
If there's one thing we're spoiled for choice, it's an affordable stereo speaker, the bookshelf 3030is speaker offers superb playback of both movies and music. Q Acoustics has a good bass response. This makes the 3030i more suitable for a living room home theater situation, especially if you're not using a subwoofer.
While there's essentially no 8K video right now, you can still buy an 8K compatible receiver. The Yamaha RX-V6a is the best with outstanding looks and powerful performance. It offers all the video inputs and streaming options you could hope for.
This surround package teams up with two pairs of five-star stereo speakers - the incredibly talented Debut 2.0 F5.2 floor standing controller and the Debut 2.0 B5.2 stand - then throws in a center speaker and sub speakers recommended to produce one of the more structured, detailed and well-suited sounds we've heard at this price point.
Dolby Atmos speaker topper is also available for an even more immersive audio experience.
We happily spend as much time as possible watching our favorite movie scenes just to hear what this speaker package can do. Their ability to produce delicate, streamlined, and smooth sound produces the kind of expansive and detailed soundstage that true cinema sound has. They put you in the center of the action, so succinct that you almost forget the speaker.
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- BrandKlipsch
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- BrandKlipsch
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- BrandKlipsch
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- BrandKlipsch
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Logitech Z906 5.1 Surround Sound Speaker System - THX, Dolby Digital and DTS Digital Certified - Black
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- BrandLogitech
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Klipsch Synergy Black Label Sub-120 12” Front-Firing Subwoofer with 200 Watts of continuous power, 400 watts of Dynamic Power, and Digital Amplifier for Powerful Home Theater Bass in Black
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Denon AVR-S540BT Receiver, 5.2 channel, 4K Ultra HD Audio and Video, Home Theater System, built-in Bluetooth and USB port, Compatible with HEOS Link for Wireless Music Streaming
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- BrandDenon
VIZIO Elevate Sound Bar for TV, Home Theater Surround Sound System for TV with Subwoofer and Bluetooth, P514a-H6 5.1.4
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Enclave CineHome II 5.1 Wireless Home Theater Surround Sound System for TV - 24 Bit Dolby Audio, DTS, WiSA Certified - CineHub Edition - Plug and Play Home Theater Audio
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- BrandEnclave Audio
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- BrandRockville
- SCORE8.4BTV Score
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- BrandBose
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Last update on 2023-06-07 / Affiliate links / Images, Product Titles, and Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API
This is not about TVs
While (obviously) a good TV and/or projector and screen are key to the experience, home theater is all about sound. What's more: the sound is so real, lifelike, and three-dimensional, it suspends doubt and puts you into action. And the louder and better the sound, the louder and better the experience.
What you need
A typical home theater system consists of a home theater receiver (where it gets power/everything it connects to) and speakers - including (but certainly not limited to): center speaker, right and left speakers, rear right and left speakers, special effects speakers (or height speakers) for Dolby Atmos, and one or two subwoofers.
The three distinct types
The type of home theater system you choose will depend on a number of factors, but here's the good news: there's a home theater solution for every situation. The three categories include:
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Pre-packaged home theater system (aka home theater). Very easy to install.
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A home theater system is made up of separate components. More customizable in terms of sound and design aesthetic.
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A specially designed and installed home theater: new walls, new ceilings, built-in components, luxurious theater seating and lighting, cinematic touches throughout, and more. (What we call the “whole shooting”). Expensive, yes, but more common than you might think.
The best home theater system is up to your demand. There are many different ways to deliver on a killer home theater system across a variety of room types, budget types, and personal preferences. And we cover all of them in the list above.
The killer surround sound speaker system will give you goosebumps. And the ultimate Dolby speaker system will really calm your skepticism and transport you to other galaxies. We are here for everything.