If you’re looking to create a home theater that will truly impress your guests, then you need to focus on creating amazing audio. This means finding high-quality speakers and sound systems that will provide an immersive experience for everyone in the room. With great audio, you can transform any space into a movie theater or concert hall, and your guests will be blown away by the quality of the sound.
If you’re interested in setting up a home theater, a 5.1 system in a box is a great way to get started. These systems come with everything you need to create an immersive surround sound experience, and they’re relatively easy to set up. Below, we’ve rounded up our top picks for 5.1 systems in a box.
Orb Audio Mini 5.1
Orb Audio’s Mini 5.1 Home Theater Speaker System is an innovative approach to home entertainment, boasting an impressive room-filling sound despite its compact size. This makes it a great option for anyone who wants to enjoy a high-quality audio experience without having to sacrifice space in their home theater setup.
The modular sound system has a set of five small, spherical Mod1X satellite speakers with their equally compact subMINI sub.
Even though they are only four inches, the satellite speakers have an amazing amount of power and offer a detailed midrange that is unexpected.
Their spherical design reduces sound distortion, making them some of the clearest speakers of their size. Although their dimensions do limit the maximum volume somewhat, you can still get room-rattling sound out of them.
The eight-inch subwoofer offers a lot of power, but it can be overwhelmed if you try to push it too hard. Fortunately, the low-end still sounds great and controlled in regular use.
You can also use the crossover frequency knob to adjust the sound coming from your sub. This is a great way to take the stress off of your sub or to simply blend your sound better. The knob ranges from 50-200Hz, so you have a lot of control over the output.
The orb design uses parallel-wired satellites that can be stacked on top of each other to give their output a boost. The brass binding posts to connect the cables are not the most user-friendly option, as certain setups require specific cable gauges. This can cause some frustration for users who are not familiar with the process.
To put it simply, Orb Audio’s unassuming 4-inch speakers shouldn’t sound as good as they do. However, they deliver amazingly clear and powerful sound that belies their size. Although they lack the ability to crank out extremely loud volume levels or reproduce deep bass tones, careful placement of the speakers in your room can help you achieve optimal sound. You may be surprised by how much power and punch these little speakers pack.
Sonos 5.1
Sonos is a top-of-the-line audio brand, but the awesome audio quality of their 5.1 Home Theater System might be out of reach for casual enthusiasts who are more familiar with brands like Bose. The Sonos system offers incredible sound quality that will satisfy even the most discerning listener, but it comes at a price that may be prohibitive for those who are simply looking for a good, basic sound system.
This bundle includes one Sonos Sub, one Sonos Playbar, and two Sonos Play:1 satellite speakers. However, you can save money by buying these components separately since the cost is approximately the same.
One of the main benefits of choosing Sonos as your audio system is the fully wireless setup. This means you can add more Play:1 speakers for extra sound without having to worry about messy wires. The Sonos System is also perfect for creating a multi-room sound system.
The Sonos Playbar is the centerpiece of the five speaker array, with nine separate speakers providing clear and present sound.
The Sonos App allows you to control your sound system from your phone or other devices, eliminating the need for a separate remote. The Playbar also serves as the receiver for its wireless sub and satellites, making it a versatile and powerful addition to any home theater setup.
A downside of the Playbar is that it only has a lone optical audio port, which means you have to use your TV as the receiver. This also means no support for DTS, which can be a big deal for some people at this price range.
The Sonos is a speaker. You can use your home internet to connect the Playbar to the Play:1s. The Sonos Sub fills in the deep, great sounds of your home theatre setup, so you can hear more music in your home theater setup.
The unique force-canceling design of the Sonos 5.1 reduces cabinet rumble and makes it easy to place against a wall or lying flat under a couch.
Even though the Play:1 speakers are at the low-end of Sonos’s Play line, they are still powerful and provide great rear sound in a small, compact package. They may be small, but they are very robust and sturdy.
These speakers are only worth their price if you use the Sonos System to its full potential. However, the system is versatile enough that almost anyone can benefit from it. When you utilize the system to its fullest, it provides a powerful feeling.
Onkyo HT-S3800 5.1
Onkyo’s HT-S3800 home theater bundle is an incredible value for budding A/V enthusiasts. The bundle includes a high-end speaker system and an audio receiver, providing everything you need to get started in the world of home theater. With Onkyo’s reputation for quality, you can be sure that this bundle will provide years of enjoyment.
A receiver is an important part of an advanced audio setup, as it allows you to connect multiple audio sources into your sound system. This gives you greater flexibility in what you can listen to and lets you create a more customized listening experience. receivers also typically offer better sound quality than other types of audio connections, so if you’re looking for the best possible sound from your system, a receiver is a way to go.
The receiver has a lot of inputs, all of which are color-coded for ease of identification. It can automatically tell which source is in use and also provides Bluetooth compatibility for playing content from wireless sources.
The addition of a subwoofer can really take your sound system to the next level, and this receiver has got you covered in that department. Not only does it serve as the power source for the subwoofer, but it also delivers a smooth, well-rounded sound that perfectly complements the speakers.
The audio quality of these speakers is clear and sufficiently loud, but not overwhelming as some people might prefer. This is acceptable because the lower maximum volume results in the more balanced sound that Onkyo is known to produce.
You will be more than content with the sound for the price, especially since it comes with a receiver that is HDCP 2.2 compliant and HDR-ready. This means you can display 4K HDR content through four different inputs.
Despite its many positive features, this audio system is not perfect. One downside is the lack of any true EQ control; you can only balance treble and bass. Additionally, The system lags when switched between sources.
The HT-S3700 is a great budget pick because of its good sound, solid build quality, and handy features like a remote. Some people may have minor complaints about it, but when you consider the overall value it offers, these are not major concerns.
Energy 5.1
Founded in 1973, Energy is a Canadian speaker company that has been flying under the radar for years. While they may not be a household name, they have established a strong following among audio enthusiasts who appreciate their high-quality products at an affordable price point. Energy’s 5.1 home theater system is one of their most popular offerings, and it delivers unbeatable value in terms of sound quality and features.
With a boxy design and glossy piano black finish, Energy’s Take Classic speakers are both minimal and powerful. Their cost-efficiency is evident in their design, making them a great choice for anyone looking for quality sound on a budget.
These compact speakers are perfect if you’re short on space. The center and satellite speakers come with both threaded and keyhole mounting options, so they’re easy to mount.
The Energy Take Classic is a very well balanced speaker in terms of sound. The different frequencies manage to not compete with each other, and it provides a surprisingly wide soundstage. This makes it very pleasant to listen to.
The 8-inch subwoofer delivers an amazing amount of power while still providing a clear sound. The volume, low-pass filter, and phase controls on the subwoofer are not properly set out of the box.
The sub plays bass heavy music but does not make it look horrible, and does good with standard audio dynamics of a movie as most entertainment systems are intended to. The subwoofer is usually located in the front left or right corner of a room, under or near a coffee table, end table, or sofa.
For its affordable price, the Energy Take Classic offers a well-tuned and immersive surround sound experience that greatly improves your sense of immersion when watching movies. This makes it an ideal choice for those looking to improve their home theater setup on a budget.
Wrapping up:
I hope you liked our article about the Best 5.1 Home Theater Systems and found it helpful in finding the perfect home theater system for you and your family. We worked hard to find the best systems out there so that you can enjoy your movies and music to the fullest. We would be thrilled to receive any questions or suggestions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us!
