The movie experience is changing. Instead of overpaying to pile into a theater, more people are investing in home theater systems to rent and stream content in the comfort of their own home. Whether you’re looking to spend only a few hundred or you’ve got a few thousand, there are some awesome home theater systems that you should consider.
In this post we’ll go over our top picks for 2020 home theater systems. Grab a bowl of popcorn and set up a home theater experience that makes every weekend memorable.
Best Home Theater Systems of 2020
Reviews of the Best Home Theater Systems of 2020
1. Klipsch Reference Premiere 5.1.4 Dolby Atmos
The best home theater system that money can buy. If you’re willing to shell out thousands for your home speaker system that makes all your childhood dreams come true—and elevates every movie you ever watch—then this is your system. Beautiful black and brass speakers, an impressive 5.1.4 setup, and absolutely clear sound quality. It’s super expensive, but if you can afford it—get it.
2. Yamaha YHT-4950U
The Yamaha brand speaks for itself, but the system speaks for itself too. It’s a great system that already comes with a receiver and 5.1 surround sound. The system is sleek and black, with simply speakers that fit around your room without taking up too much space. The speakers are wired to the main system, and it comes with speaker cable. You’ll get a subwoofer with an 8-inch cone and a 5 ohms output. You can also hook it up to the Yamaha MusicCast system to add wireless speakers so the output. You’ll be able to automatically connect to wifi through the receiver itself which allows you to stream music from your favorite services, directly!
The model also allows you to hook up 4 HDMI inputs, which should be more than enough for your home theater devices. Ultimately, you can also hook up to bluetooth connections. This is not a speaker system that you can use to fill an entire large room, but it’s absolutely perfect for smaller setups.
3. Enclave Audio CineHome HD 5.1 System
If you think that 2020 speaker systems should require you to mess with tangles of wires just to set up a home theater system, well the Enclave agrees with you. It’s not completely wireless because you need to run the HDMI to your TV and the wireless speakers still need power, but it’s about as close as you can get. You don’t have to run wiring from the receiver to the speakers, which gives you a lot more freedom to design the perfect system. The central speaker has all the tech to connect to the rest.
4. Sonos Soundbar 5.1 System
What if you could have a sound system without a receiver or even a main hub? Why shouldn’t the soundbar below the TV function as your receiver? The Sonos Soundbar 5.1 allows you to easily pair your speakers to use as regular front left and right, or surround sound speakers. The Sub, or soundbar, is the main hub of the speaker system and can also double as the subwoofer! You can add additional surround sound speakers through the Sonos App, which supports up to a 5.1 system. The whole system also connects to wifi.
The other great part of the Sonos system is that you can get it with only three speakers—and absolutely no wires. The whole system integrates seamlessly with Amazon Alexa, so you can extend the reach of your Amazon connections.
5. Focal Sib Evo 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos system
This one gets bonus points for incredible looks. The Focal Sib Evo has 5 awesome speakers and a simple subwoofer, and they elevate the tech-forward look of any entertainment center. Unfortunately, the lower price tag is a bit of a bait and switch. You’ll also need to purchase a receiver and speaker wire to get the whole system connected. The system has great sound and great effects, but you have to purchase more to get it set up. Great performance, but extra parts needed. Additionally, the system is probably ideal for action movie fans because some of the subtleties of music and dialogue can get lost in the booming.
6. Vizio 36-inch 5.1 SmartCast Sound Bar
If you really like the idea of a smart sound bar system but want something even more affordable, Vizio has just the product for you. The 5.1 SmartCast sound bar and system is really easy to set up, and all the brians are contained in your sound bar. You’ll still get all the Bluetooth capabilities that you need to stream your favorite content without too many cords (and definitely without any aux cords). The best part is the portability. You can easily get true surround sound without tossing massive subwoofers and systems into your deck. If you’re low on space and don’t want to spend a ton of money on a system, the Vizio selection is a great choice.
7. Onkyo HT-S7800 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos
A convenient, streamlined sound system which has all the audio components you need for a 5.1.2 Dolby system right out of the box. You’ll get the 10 inch subwoofer, along with all the surround sound speakers that you need. The speaker connections are wired, but all the wire you need is included in the box.
The front audio speakers are innovative, with drivers that aim sound upward toward your ceiling. Any Dolby Atmos content can use those drivers to fire sounds above your head so that it’s surrounded from up and down as well as horizontally around the room! The Onkyo speakers are balanced, not just built for explosions—but also built for the drama of a quiet conversation.