The home theater speaker package that comes with this system consists of compact black gloss speakers. Input connections are limited to a single optical port (plus HDMI eARC for the Beam and Arc). Get a proper speaker system and really enjoy watching that movie. Or, you can use the optical audio input for receiving audio from your TV if it doesnt have an HDMI ARC connection. The receiver doesnt have as many input connections as some of Yamahas higher-end models, but there are still more than many home theater systems offer. Theres no right and wrong here. Some brands offer ratings that sound impressive because they are very high. It is the same as the Elite system except it only comes with a single 8-inch subwoofer. Some manufacturers like Sonos and Bose dont offer any power ratings at all.
If you are looking for the best Dolby Atmos soundbar system for your home theater, then the Nakamichi Ultra should be high on your list of options.
Alternatively, you could buy a different brand for your height speakers. However, there are other speaker layouts that you can use for home theater. Moving on to the speakers, I have selected a very nice 5.1 surround sound speaker system from Polk Audio a respected name for many years in the AV world. And, it does many of the things any other home theater system does. Of course, all these extra connections are only a bonus if you need to connect more devices. So this is a good plus point for this Yamaha all-in-one. So, how do you get TV and movie audio into the speakers? Others could care less and cant wait to remove all those annoying speaker cables. Where do you plug everything in? A soundbar will usually take up less space and will be cheaper to buy. They want an easier solution. This is an interesting one. Did you know Sonos wireless speakers can double-up as a 5.1 surround sound system? Then you can add the Sonos Sub to fill out the sound with some real low bass action. Some people wonder if you can get the same audio quality as with using a good old cable. This will provide plenty of power for most home theater rooms. However, that may be all you need to get movie surround sound from your TV and DVD/Blu-ray player. The front and surround speakers weigh in at 1.3 lbs each, while the center is slightly heavier at 1.6 lbs.
When you buy one of these, you have everything you need without worrying about buying extra components. A dedicated home theater audio system will usually have a separate amplifier and more prominent speakers. Learn what to look out for and which are the top models to buy. You will find all types of products under this category including complete surround sound speaker packages with no amplifier included. Depending on your budget/requirements, these are good choices, so dont rule them out: A high-end Dolby Atmos soundbar system with a wireless subwoofer and two rear wireless surround speakers. There are several different types of home theater systems that will suit any living room. However, some soundbar systems do come with separate wireless rear or side speakers. If you are interested in 3D audio in the shape of Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, then this system can also handle that with some extras. From the initial pairing of the wireless speakers to adjusting the speakers levels and distance settings the app is also used in place of a standard remote control. However, they can also be placed to point upwards as Dolby Atmos elevation speakers. Theres always a trade-off against what you are willing to pay. With this, you could replace the rear surrounds with Yamahas compact wireless MusicCast speakers. Or, what about your Blu-ray player too? And how well an amplifier will drive a set of speakers.
Some soundbars have Dolby Atmos too. And, if you want to learn more about 3D audio, I have a guide that explains what Dolby Atmos is. Founded in 1948, this Japanese company became well-known in the 1970s with a series of ground-breaking stereo cassette recorders. Anyway, many people dont know that Sonos wireless speakers can double-up as a 5.1 surround sound system. WiSA stands for Wireless Speaker & Audio Association. The speakers here might be part of the Polk T-Series entry-level home theater speaker lineup, but they will be a cut above most speakers that you get with all-in-one systems. Obviously, if you are buying a wireless system, then speaker wire wont be an issue! A high-end Dolby Atmos soundbar for your home theater with an optional wireless subwoofer and dual wireless surround speakers, A 3.1-ch soundbar from this popular home theater speaker brand with a dedicated center speaker to increase the clarity of dialogue, A mid-range 5.1 soundbar home theater system with a wireless subwoofer and surround speakers, A budget home theater system with 5.1 speakers. If you wanted to reduce the cost a little more, you could get a slightly cheaper AV receiver. So, if that is all you need, theres no need to break the bank. If you want to save some money, CCA wire will do instead of pure copper. The setup and control of the CineHome PRO system are done in the free Enclave Audio mobile app. In the real world, their systems wont be as loud as the specifications suggest. Nothing to do with the quality, but because it doesnt fit into my traditional thinking on what a home theater system is. A soundbar is also a good choice for inexperienced users who want home theater audio that is easy to set up. For example, a surround sound 5.1 speaker system has a center speaker, two front left and right speakers, and two rear speakers. This model also has built-in Wi-Fi and Ethernet for connecting to streaming music services like Pandora, Napster, TIDAL and Amazon Music HD. Plus, HDR10+, HDR10, Dolby Vision and HLG pass-through.
However, these extra speakers are usually located in the soundbar rather than as separate rear or height speakers around the room. But not much, Two of your own speakers using the Amp or Connect:Amp. However, what interests us here, is that Nakamichi began producing a range of high-performance soundbar systems in 2016. Some Blu-ray players have two HDMI outputs. Therefore, you have support for HDR10+ (via a future update), HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG and BT.2020 out of the box. All the speakers are wired and the speaker cable is included as part of the package. This buying guide will give you the low-down on all you need to know to get yourself up and running. The most common layouts are 5.1 and 7.1. This would allow you to have wireless rear speakers in your 5.1 setup. I might have another view! Hopefully, the points above will have given you a better idea of what you are looking for. There are 3 HDMI inputs for connecting external devices. This is supported by HDMI ARC and is therefore supported by this soundbar. Do soundbars and budget all-in-ones sound as good as proper hi-fi amplifiers and good-quality tower or bookshelf speakers? Lets find out what else there is on offer. If you want to look at a full range of soundbars from budget to high-end from stereo to Dolby Atmos surround sound take a look at my guide to the best soundbars for your TV and home theater. However, for a small room, dual subwoofers might be too much. This is where the subwoofer comes in, which will handle the lower frequencies that the small fronts and surrounds might not do justice to. You can purchase soundbars for home theater audio that have separate surround sound speakers, Dolby Atmos speakers and subwoofers. This unit has Bluetooth support to stream audio from your handheld device into the sound system. because its an excellent system that will compete in sound quality and price with anything on this page. When buying a separate amplifier and speakers, one of the main specs to look out for is the power rating. At the end of the day, buying a speaker package and a separate AV receiver isnt for everyone. These are systems that include an amplifier and speakers all in the same box. These would work. And the good news is that the CineHome PRO takes everything up a level. It may seem like a stupid question, but one of the most difficult things is to pin down exactly what a home theater system is. The main advantage of an all-in-one system is that you will be getting an amplifier and speakers designed to work well together. With all the options out there, looking for the best surround sound system can make your head spin. This doesnt need to be too complicated and you dont need to spend too much on this. However, some models do offer more input options. The surround speakers arent the most stylish design. No? If you want some more information on this, take a look at my guide to buying the best speaker wire. If you dont want to bother with too much setting up and configuration.
Thats boring! The main differences in the CineHome II are: Apart from that, you get the same wireless WiSA technology to deliver high-quality audio in your room. The two rear speakers have a matching configuration except they only have one full-range driver each. The way many modern soundbars get the sound from your TV is via an HDMI ARC connection. Sonos is a multi-room wireless speaker system for the whole house, isnt it? This was often called home-theater-in-a-box. And, if you prefer, you can always buy their higher-end speakers instead. Perfect for a home theater sound system. If you dont want an amplifier in your room, it would be best to buy a soundbar system. In 2022, a top home theater system can give you a great audio experience to rival a more complex setup. And you can pay a whole lot more! This leads us to the current flagship model, the Shockwafe Ultra 9.2.4 soundbar system.
However, if you are an audiophile who is looking for the best audio performance, then maybe a separate receiver and speakers might be a better bet rather than an all-in-one system? Then, pass the 5.1 audio from the TV optical output to the Sonos or via HDMI ARC for the Arc/Beam. Or, was that just me? In simple terms, a home theater package makes it easy to improve the audio in your room. The integrated room calibration software can really make the difference between good and excellent sound in your room so always make sure you run this. For an old so and so like me, this is waaaaay out there! From this point, you can use the Sonos App to add surrounds to get yourself a 5.1 system. An all-in-one home-theater-in-a-box or soundbar can be perfect for many home theaters and will give you a setup that you will love. Dedicated speakers around the room will give a much better surround sound experience. These are all placed at the front of your room under the TV. I recommended a previous model before. You should check what audio formats your TV will output before you buy to avoid disappointment. It is a 7.2-channel receiver with a power rating of 90 watts per channel (8 Ohms, 20 Hz-20 kHz, 0.08% THD, 2 Channels Driven). Copyright 2009-2022 Home Cinema Guide | All Rights Reserved, Entry-Level Yamaha 5.1 Home Theater System. The bottom line is that if you are critical about sound quality, then the best solution is to go and get a demo of the system so that you can hear it for yourself. So, its not strictly an all-in-one system. So, the term home theater system might mean something different to different people. As a rough guide, if your viewing distance is around 6-12 feet, then any system or soundbar should be suitable. The Denon AVR-S960H is one of their mid-range models but that doesnt mean it will give you an average sound. This is the recommended way to connect a Sonos soundbar. It is a group of more than 60 brands that are working together to define standards for high-resolution, low-latency, multi-channel wireless audio. So, its a good option if you are interested in buying an AV receiver system but dont want the extra trouble of pairing it with a set of speakers. If that wasnt enough, you also have an optical, coaxial and 3.5mm AUX input for other audio sources and a USB port for playing WAV and MP3 files from a stick. Yamaha makes many high-quality AV receivers they are one of my favorite brands and this system is essentially a Yamaha AV receiver bundled with a compact 5 speaker package plus a subwoofer. The downside of doing this is that the soundbars only have a single input. It is the same as the Ultra, except for two slightly smaller 8-inch subwoofers and only two surround speakers. Ive mainly included soundbar systems that have dedicated surround sound speakers. If you only have optical audio outputs on your TV, you also get an adapter to connect the optical output to the HDMI input. If you have more specific needs, then maybe an all-in-one system isnt the right choice for you? Many people get confused about this.
Even the cheapest models. The most common speaker layout for home theater is a 5.1 speaker system. They are specifications measured against an accepted standard. Some wont ever be used. One is the AV receiver and the other is the surround sound speaker system. The YHT-5960U also supports Yamahas MusicCast multi-room audio, where you can add wireless speakers around the rest of your home. If sound quality is important to you, then a rule-of-thumb is you get what you pay for. 5.1 surround sound has five speakers in the room front left, center, front right, surround left and surround right plus a subwoofer. If not, you will need to rely on the opinion of others. You also have an optical audio input and a 3.5mm AUX stereo analog audio input which you can use for connecting other devices. This is known as a 3.1 speaker system. Or, if you are using the recommended HDMI ARC connection, then you will be able to use your normal TV remote for basic control if you have HDMI-CEC enabled. You might find this article on 5.1 surround sound passthrough on TVs helpful. The front left and right speakers are none other than the Polk Audio T50 floor-standing tower speakers. How Much Power Does My Home Theater System Need? You can find out more here. The front left and right, center channel and satellite speakers have single 2 full-range cones. Some features are required.
The sound at the front is completed by the Polk Audio T30 center channel speaker. Different budgets. But, in many cases, it will help to get a balanced and even sound for everyone in the room. Just buy some no-frills 14 or 16-gauge copper speaker wire and you are good to go. In this case, only the front left, center and front right speakers will be in the soundbar. However, the good news is that having this number of speakers will give you the best 3D surround sound effect. This is the unit where you connect your devices and which delivers the wireless audio to the speakers. Although a bundle will often prove cheaper. For internal TV apps, some will but not for external devices connected via HDMI directly to the TV. You need to make sure that your TV can output 5.1 Dolby Digital from the optical output. The following speakers can be used in pairs to create the rear surround speakers: You just need to make sure the two surrounds are of the same type. Some can, and some cant. If you set the crossover frequency at the right point, you can still get a full sound from smaller speakers. All-in-one systems are more likely to rely on cables but not all. The YHT-5960U is an update on my previous recommendation, the YHT-4950U, and Yamaha has improved this package in several ways including adding support for 8K video. The final thing that you would need is some speaker wire. However, most TV apps currently send a compressed version of Dolby Atmos with a Dolby Digital Plus signal. What about Netflix or Amazon Prime? Take a look at this official Sonos video which shows how all the different Sonos speakers can be used throughout your home: If you are looking for one of the best wireless surround sound systems around, then you will be excited by this option. When you search for the best home theater equipment to buy you are usually confronted with a long list of AV receivers, soundbars, surround sound speaker packages and all-in-one systems.
This could be an option for a later upgrade? My article on home theater speaker layouts gives more detail on 5.1 vs 7.1 and 2.0 vs 2.1 systems. Any system which declares it has 1000 watts of power isnt really telling me much. At home, he has spent more time than is probably healthy installing, configuring, testing, de-rigging, fixing, tweaking, re-installing again (and sometimes using) various pieces of hi-fi and home cinema equipment. No wonder people get confused when trying to research this stuff! Before buying a home theater package, think about these issues: When buying home theater equipment, one of the most difficult things is narrowing down your choice. So, if that wasnt enough choice, Ill complete the top 10 best home theater systems by summarizing the next 5. Having two subwoofers does mean that you should be able to get excellent coverage of the low-end around your room. There are several great home theater packages and soundbars which will provide fantastic sound in any home. If not, the Denon AVR-S960H is a solid choice.
Also, be careful when you are searching for these systems. A complete package will usually include all the extras required to get it all up and running. So, if you like the idea of a Nakamichi soundbar system, but want to spend a little less, then you might want to consider the Elite or Pro versions. The .1 refers to a subwoofer, which provides extra bass. Systems with a soundbar usually have all the speakers in one box. Plus, it delivers uncompressed high-resolution audio which should satisfy many of the audiophiles out there.
The Arc also supports eARC for sending high-resolution audio formats. However, I think for most people the tall and thin speakers will give a modern look to any room. The matching look of all the speakers is one benefit of buying a complete package. Alternatively, the Sonos Beam and Arc have an HDMI ARC input which you can connect to a suitable HDMI port on your TV. If you want a full home theater system that will immerse your whole room in surround sound, then youve come to the right place. Connect the Blu-ray player to the TV via HDMI and send both audio and picture to the TV. The front left, front right and center speakers each contain two 3-inch full-range drivers and a single 1-inch tweeter. Some systems will have one, or more, HDMI inputs. Another great feature of the CineHome PRO is THX certification. Connect the Blu-ray player to the TV via HDMI for the picture only. However, if you wish to use a normal hand-held remote, you can use a universal remote control. If you dont want to take my word for it (sheesh, tough crowd), take a look at this listening battle from CES2018: While the Nakamichi Ultra is the top-of-the-range, there are also a couple of different models with fewer features. The Ultra system comes with the main 45-inch soundbar, two side surround speakers, two rear surround speakers and two wireless subwoofers. I dont want you relying on the sound from your TV speakers. This means that you can send audio from your TVs internal apps and back into your speaker system.
Something like this will be fine: Just make sure you buy enough. The final piece of the jigsaw is the Polk Audio PSW10 powered subwoofer. All the systems I mention on this page are complete systems with speakers and amplifiers. This will allow you to connect your game console or Blu-ray player with a single HDMI cable. No support for eARC. For them, the best option is to look for an all-in-one system or soundbar. The subwoofer has an 8 cone rated at 50 watts (5 ohms, 100 Hz, 10% THD). If so, you could also use this for sending audio to the Arc or Beam. These days, systems dont usually include a DVD or Blu-ray player, and you will need to buy these separately. First, you can get a compact 3.0 speaker system using one of the four soundbars: If you dont know, a 3.0 speaker system has a front left, front right and center speaker to really bring the audio from movies and TV shows to life. The Enclave Audio CineHome II system has most of the benefits that I have already discussed. They can end up buying a speaker package without realizing that they will need an amplifier to make it all work. Big enough to really pack a punch but not too large to get in the way.
Others may have optical or coaxial audio inputs for audio-only. These are mainly designed to just play audio from your television. When it comes to all-in-one systems and soundbars, my general advice would be to forget about power ratings.
However, they arent measured against the same standards as those by Yamaha and Onkyo. It shouldnt add too much to your budget to get enough decent wire for your room. The design of the speakers may not be to everyones taste. Here you have 6 HDMI inputs and 2 outputs. THX has provided a benchmark for audio and video products for many years. This is more common on older TVs. However, the YHT-5960U receiver does support Yamahas MusicCast Surround system. The beauty of an ARC/eARC connection is that you can send audio from your TV apps into the speaker system. You dont have to get a subwoofer for your home theater audio, but if you do, then you can get small subwoofers if you dont have much space or bigger models that will provide excellent low bass for movie sound effects. So, as you can see, buying the best home theater system can be a perfect way for you to get a great surround sound experience. Or, your games console? All the systems here have positives and negatives. Soundbars dont need an amplifier as they are active systems with their own internal amplifiers. You will learn that power specs may not be as important as you first thought. However, the four surround speakers must be wired to the subwoofers two each. The final speaker in the package is a striking V-shaped 10-inch wireless subwoofer. If you are interested, you could buy the receiver that comes with this system separately it is the Yamaha RX-V4A. HDR pass-through is available for the most common versions. Dont laugh. The AV receiver included here is from one of my favorite AV receiver brands Denon. Although this is unlikely to trouble most people, support for composite video connections has been removed from the previous YHT-4950U model. But something like this will be perfect for someone who wants to go up a level or two without breaking the bank. But it will provide a solid bottom-end for music and movies alike. Yes, kids, we used to use tape! How Good Is the Sound Quality of Home Theater Systems? Well, part of it at least. If you want to keep the cost down a little, then there is another model in this range with fewer features. People have different needs and expectations. However, if you want something that sounds good for TV, movies and music, then you will need to up your budget a little more. There are 4 HDMI 2.1 inputs and 1 HDMI output, all with 4K/60, 4K/120AB and 8K/60B pass-through and HDCP 2.3 support. There are pros and cons of both types of systems. There is a single HDMI eARC/ARC connection that should be connected to an HDMI ARC input on your TV. Honestly, no. Well, lets go back to basics and simplify this a little. However, a few systems are limited in their input connections. At present the main choice is between two types of systems: So, the first choice you need to make is, do you want a more traditional all-in-one system or a soundbar system? If you are looking for a discrete soundbar system that you can hide in your room, then this package isnt for you. This will include an amplifier, surround sound speakers, and even the speaker wire to connect everything together.