This is all doubly true for subwoofers. Wireless surround sound systems tend to be more expensive than equivalent wired systems because you still pay a bit of a premium for the extra convenience and tidiness of a wireless system. Why it made the cut: JBL cuts even more cords out of your life with its Bar 9.1 system, which uses the soundbar to charge the batteries of detachable rear surround speakers so you dont have to plug them into a wall outlet. But that doesnt mean zero cables. A new matte-black finish and 2nd-gen backlit remote round out the updates, which Nakamichi based on customer surveys, beta tests, and customer review feedback. Lows and mids sound warm yet not fuzzy, and the treble is precise without sounding harsh. Todays wireless surround sound systems still need to connect to a TV with an HDMI cable, and you need to plug in a power cord to various components such as a soundbar or a subwoofer. If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. Many of these systems also include mobile device sharing via Apple AirPlay 2 and/or Google Chromecast and support voice control from smart assistants. While the wireless component of most systems means you dont have to attach speaker wire, you usually still need to find a power outlet to plug in all your satellite surround speakers. Input 2022 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The cost has usually been just as high. The eight-speaker forward-facing configuration of a 1-inch tweeter, 2-inch mid-range driver, 4-inch woofer, and 4-inch passive radiatorone set left and one rightis optimized for music streaming thanks to a powerful quad-core ARM processor that handles high-quality audio with blazing speed. When youre finished, dock them in the soundbar and it takes about three hours to recharge them. Want more? 91-Year-Olds Invention Could Extend Battery Life, Why the WetBulb Temperature Matters in a Heat Wave, We Turned a Retro Camper Into Our Home for $10,000, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. Whichever soundbar you choose, youll unlock a whole new world of audio and wont want to leave the couch anytime soon. Prices have been fluctuating somewhat from month to month because of chip shortages/supply chain issues, but dont expect wireless surround sound systems to plummet in price too much anytime soon. BUY NOW: With the SOUNDBAR+ as its centerpiece (shown above), combined with a dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11ac-equipped PULSE SUB+ and two equally wireless PULSE FLEX 2i satellite speakers, the system can expand two-channel stereo content into a spacious soundstage thanks to Bluesounds audiophile-grade drivers, high-performance digital-to-analog converter, and clean, powerful Class D amplification. Each audio channel gets its own speaker unit that can sit horizontally or vertically to save surface area. Bose uses what it calls PhaseGuide technology to push audio to specific corners of a room, giving you a surround sound experience without the hassle of managing multiple pieces of hardware. Wi-Fi systems have extended rangeup to 100 feet between speakers, more if you have Wi-Fi boostersand better sound. It works.).
If you want a do-it-all soundbar that you can connect to everything you own without a struggle, the HT-A7000 is the bar to buy. Sonys HT-Z9F system looks as modern as tomorrow and offers digital capabilities to match. The best wireless surround sound systems dont compromise audio quality compared to wired alternatives, and they create less clutter. All these items need their own power cord, but thats all the connection youll be doing. If youve got an LG TV, this soundbar can be controlled with your LG Magic Remote for mid-movie adjustments. You get two powered subwoofers that also supply power to the two-way rear surround speakers. Not watching anything or wanting to restrict your soundtrack to a single room? Pairing Dolby ATMOS decoding with Sonys own proprietary Vertical Surround Engine, this soundbar with powered sub claims to reproduce the immersive sound of ceiling-mounted speakers. Because as stated above, not every TV supports Dolby Atmos, and not everybody is looking for all the streaming bells and whistles. Customers and critics alike have showered it with adoration since 2017. Still, its a lot more convenient than trying to tuck 50 feet of speaker cable into the walls or under the carpet. Most wireless systems wont be completely wireless; they will often connect from the sound bar or subwoofer to at least a couple of the speakers. The Sonos app lets you connect most other streaming services, and the iOS version can run auto-calibration to tune the speakers response to your particular space. Between the PopSci editors and me, weve tested variations of these wireless surround sound systems firsthand. Dont be fooled by claims of extensive bass performance due to ports or resonance chambers. To shake the floor, you need raw power and size. The Arcs minimal aesthetic comes with some limitations, such as a single HDMI connection and an app-only remote control. Wireless soundbars are meant to go with smart TVs, and they deliver clearer and more immersive sound than those antiquated old systems, at a fraction of the size and often at less cost. Modern TVs even massive, top-tier models are just too slim to house serious built-in speakers, and most sound straight-up awful compared to the most basic external speakers. Fortunately, the remote control has dedicated volume controls for both the subwoofer and rear surround speakers. Its a piece of art that also knocks your hair back with its sound. And you might need to crawl around a little to find the perfect place for your subwoofer. Each speaker also has to plug into a power outlet, unless theyre battery-powered (as in the case of the JBL Bar 9.1s rear surround speakers). You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, The Best Power Strips and Surge Protectors, The Best Outdoor Security Cameras for Your Home, The 10 Best Vacuums for All Types of Homes, The Best Dash Cams for Your Next Road Trip, The Best Humidifiers for Your Home This Winter, 10 Best Air Purifiers for a Breath of Fresh Air. Sound quality aside, its also the coolest looking soundbar out there. The good news is that a lot of receivers, even low-cost models, already have all the connections needed. 
The Bose Lifestyle systems are easy to set up, simple to use, and capable of working with Amazons Alexa. Buy It. I have previewed and reviewed productsboth in the pro audio and home audio realmson and off throughout most of the 21st century for outlets including Mix, Maximum Tech, DJ Tech Tools, Bob Vila, and some defunct publications printed on paper called magazines. If filling a single room with sound just isnt enough, there are options that let you expand into a multiroom system as well. According to our assistant managing editor, who has experienced a complete Bluesound PULSE set-up, adding in a pair of FLEX 2i speakers allows sonic textures to be even more open and expressivemost impactful when watching demo-worthy Atmos films like Mad Max: Fury Road and Baby Driver or while playing a selection of spatial audio from Apple Music on the Apple TV 4K. The sub is how you get all the earth-shaking booms and rumbles from superhero movies and car crashes. Sometimes you just have to ding the old credit card and enjoy the results. Youll want to make sure that your entire system fits inside a circle with a 30-foot (or less) radius, and youll need to be comfortable with the limitations in quality imposed by the low bandwidth of Bluetooth connections, which have to compress the signal a bit and take out some of the fine detail. Add a second subwoofer, and youre at 7.2. A solid soundbar is a must-have accessory for any home entertainment system. If you want the absolute best sound possible, theres still no way around doing that work. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. All Rights Reserved. And keep in mind that the definition of very good here might include better than you have ever heard before.. Most people will be satisfied with 5.1, but its possible to add two more speakers behind the listeners for a 7.1 setup. What should you be looking for? A helpful control app puts different sound modes at your fingertips, including the excellent Whole Room Stereo mode, which makes the CineHome PRO an impeccable system for music listening on top of its immersive surround sound performance for home theater. It uses some of the most advanced audio processing technology available and delivers the most immersive audio that could possibly come from a single speaker. The 10-inch subwoofer is also wireless. Remember that calling a surround sound system wireless means that you dont have to attach any speaker wire to the speakers. Youll hear an instant boost in audio quality with any of the following Dolby Atmos-enabled soundbars. You can relocate your PULSE FLEX 2i speakers around (or just get extras for other zones) and pass whatever music youre streaming from speaker to speaker if you move to specific areas, or have it play simultaneously throughout the housewherever the action is. The relatively modest sub wont carry the lowest lows, and the audio quality doesnt match a more expensive system, but for an affordable price, you get a very apartment-friendly form factor. Sound, for starters: Dolby and DTS surround sound are good; Dolby Atmos surround sound is top of the line. The Sonos Arc is the best all-around soundbar out there for under $1,000. By contrast, options like the JBL Bar 9.1 or Enclave CineHome PRO accomplish full-room surround sound with smaller footprints. What, you still have wired speakers in your home theater setup? Many people may assume that any wireless surround sound system they purchase will just work great out of the box with any TV, game console, or other devices they have. If youre already a fan of Boses home speakers and headphones, the brands top soundbar will slide into your audio setup seamlessly. The all-in-one bar comes packed with Dolby Atmos 3D sound, built-in Alexa connectivity and streaming via Apple AirPlay 2 or the proprietary Sonos app, and easy expandability to a wireless subwoofer and rear speakers if you really want to go whole hog. Whether a surround sound system is wireless or wired does not really determine its sound quality. You can pay a whole lot more money for a wireless soundbar and come away a whole lot less happy. Its the combination of Shockwafes three Spatial Surround Elevation audio processing engines for enhancing the sense of spaciousness to the soundstage, balancing the surround-sound mix across all the speakers, and creating audio height effects for object-oriented formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Upgraded hardware includes redesigned extended-range twin-cone drivers in the soundbar, new high-output amplifiers and upgraded drivers in the subwoofers, and 2nd-generation two-way Quad Modular Surround Speakers with new silk dome tweeters and extended range twin-cone drivers. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Same price as the TCL Alto 8 Plus, and also comes with a wireless subwoofer. The JBL 5.1 Soundbar system offers both. The common thread is no speaker wire, but no loss of physical speakers that bring true surround sound at home. Connected to the TV via a single HDMI (e)ARC connection, the dimensionally tall, but aesthetically unobtrusive Bluesound PULSE SOUNDBAR+ decodes Dolby Atmos material directly but with nuance, although with more subtlety in its height rather than in its width due to the lack of up-firing drivers. Besides those nitty-gritty details, the HT-A7000 with SW3 subwoofer and RS3S rear surround speakers is just a highly impressive system with a simple, wireless setup and a moderate-sized footprint. No. Take Boses powerful, compact subwoofer and pair it with their latest and possibly best soundbar: worth every penny. You may find this intelligent wireless surround sound combination sold as a single bundle for just over $2,000 but, if not, its worth the trouble to procure the Sonos Arc soundbar, Sub subwoofer, and a pair of One surround speakers piecemeal to create a formidable home theater system that you can also easily connect with your TV and any number of Sonos products to make a multiroom audio setup.