Best home theater speaker systems Buying Guide: Welcome to What Hi-Fi?'s round-up of the best speaker systems you can buy in 2022.
There's no getting around the fact that to be the proud owner of a full surround sound speaker system you will likely need to engage in a fair bit of furniture rearranging to accommodate the addition of extra cables and boxes in your home. But we think the pay-off of a full, immersive home theater experience is well worth the initial inconvenience and needn't cost the earth.
How to choose the best home theater speaker system for you
Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.
The first thing to consider is the number of channels. A 5.1 system is most common and comprises five full-range speakers (two pairs of either floor standing or stand mount speakers and one centre speaker) and one subwoofer.
But other arrangements are also available, from 7.2, which adds surround back speakers behind your seating position and an extra subwoofer, up to ...well pretty much whatever your room can physically hold.
Dolby Atmos systems tend to include up-firing speakers that can help deliver more immersive surround sound, but make sure your speakers are compatible and they're paired with a capable AV receiver. Alternatively, you can achieve Atmos with in-ceiling speakers.
More speakers usually mean more convincing surround sound, although they can take up quite a bit of space. You'll also need to factor in the cost (and positioning) of speaker cable. Keeping your selection of speakers to one brand will help keep the sonic balance.
This is especially the case with the centre speaker, which should be from the same brand and ideally from the same range as the rest of your home theatre speaker system. This will help ensure the best sound possible.
Finally, price is key. You can spend a few hundred or tens of thousands, so make sure you peruse this list and find one that fits your budget. If you own a budget AV receiver there's no point partnering it with a high-end speaker package. As a general rule of thumb, we'd suggest spending around double the cost of your surround sound amp on a standard 5.1 speaker set-up.
All the speaker packages recommended below have been through our thorough testing process and they've passed with flying colors. So whether you're after a budget set-up, or the kind of home cinema system that makes Stonehenge look a bit on the small side, we should have something for you.
Tight on space? A class-leading soundbar might be the way to go.
Lean, attractive, interesting and unfussy: these words are equally apt for both the aesthetics and acoustics of these clever performers.
Upfront are the Award-winning Dali Oberon 5 floorstanders. The surrounds are either the five-star Dali Oberon 1 standmounters (£1699), which is the package we've tested, or the compact Dali On-Wall speakers (£1799). Your subwoofer is the Sub E9-F, while the Obereron Vokal centre is a real star in the middle.
The Dali Oberon 5 5.1 system presents every frequency in full, but with honesty and warmth that brings the best out of any soundtrack. They’re transparent but fun, powerful but subtle; we’d have them round to ours any day. That's why they were our 2020 What Hi-Fi? Awards Product of the Year.
Read the full review: Dali Oberon 5 5.1 Speaker Package
With poise, effortlessness, cut glass diction and charisma, the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 HCP is essentially the Audrey Hepburn of home theatre speaker packages. It offers rich bass without sacrificing or overpowering the mid and treble, presenting a mature sound that’s rich in impact, agility, detail and sensitivity.
The package is made up of a quartet of the excellent, mid-sized Diamond 12.1 bookshelf speakers for fronts and surrounds with the 12.C in the middle and the SW10 powered subwoofer supplying the bass.
The tautness and dexterity of the SW-10 is remarkable. It's an incredibly musical sub blending seamlessly with the smaller speakers, which themselves have an impressively well-integrated low end. The result is rich and lively sound,
Large enough to provide cinematic scale with a wide soundfield, but discreet and affordable enough to be accessible to a variety of audiences, the Diamond 12.1 system proves to be an excellent choice for both music and film.
Read the full review: Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 HCP
The Q Acoustics 3050i 5.1 Cinema Pack is boldly cinematic and hugely entertaining, and actually doesn't take up as much space as its sound might have you believe. You get a pair of 3050i floorstanders for your left and right channels, 3010i standmounts for the surrounds, the wonderfully expressive 3090i centre speaker and 3060S subwoofer.
The system's energy and exuberance is infectious, without being fatiguing, and those qualities are complemented by a great deal of maturity and insight too. The power and bass weight offered by the 3050i caters for greater intensity, without forgoing the snappy timing of their more diminutive partners.
That fluidity and fleet footedness is one of the most impressive aspects of this package, avoiding rigidity for a fast but natural sounding performance. We’d defy anybody not to enjoy an evening spent with this speaker package.
Read the full review: Q Acoustics 3050i 5.1 Cinema Pack
Near identical to the Q Acoustics package above, only with a second pair of 3010i standmounts swapped in for front right and left channels, the 3010i 5.1 Cinema Pack is another multi-Award winner.
These speakers' hi-fi roots are made clear right from the off, majoring in detail, dynamic expression and a surefooted sense of rhythm. What might be more surprising, however, is just how much scale is on offer considering their modest footprint.
For those who love a cinematic experience, but perhaps lack the space for floorstanders, this is an exceptional package.
Read the full review: Q Acoustics 3010i 5.1 Cinema Pack
The Silver 200s, the smallest of three pairs of floorstanding speakers in this sixth generation of Monitor Audio’s long-running Silver series, are the headline act in this surround package. But despite the 200 appearing in the title of this package, the floorstanders’ stage is shared with three equally talented protagonists – the Silver C150 centre speaker, Silver FX surround speakers and Silver W-12 subwoofer.
Crashes, bangs and wallops are thrown at the listener, as if physically tossed around the room with incredible cohesion as each speaker complements the others' character. As a whole, the package times with military precision, driving forward with relentless momentum.
Rarely are we so fully behind a speaker system for its work both in stereo and in surround sound, but with these Monitor Audio Silvers you truly are achieving both for the price of one.
Read the full review: Monitor Audio Silver 200 AV12
This surround package partners two pairs of five-star stereo speakers – the supremely talented Debut 2.0 F5.2 floorstanders and Debut 2.0 B5.2 standmounts – then throws in a likeminded centre speaker and sub for what is one of the most composed, detailed and well-matched systems we've heard at this price. Dolby Atmos topper speakers are also available for an even more immersive sonic experience.
We’d happily spend as much time as possible watching our favorite movie scenes just for the treat of hearing what this speaker package can do. Their subtle, sensible and silky sound production creates the kind of wonderfully open and detailed soundstage that true cinema sound is about. They put you in the heart of the action so succinctly that you almost forget about the speakers altogether.
Read the full review: Elac Debut 2.0 5.1 Home Theatre System
If space isn't an issue, you might want to treat yourself with this brilliant KEF set-up. It is these speakers’ sonic ability that warranted a five-star rating, of course, but there's no ignoring the KEF Q350 5.1 package’s brutish stature or the physical command its has over our listening room. It’s certainly not one for a small bedsit.
It's big and bold, with a sound to match: you're treated to a beautifully immersive experience, where the speakers and sub working together to create a wonderfully coherent soundfield. And the bass, while powerful, is never overstated, meaning the sound is never muddied or coloured. Take the plunge and you won't be disappointed.
Read the full review: KEF Q350 AV 5.1
If it wasn't for Q Acoustics' stellar offerings in the 5.1 space (above), this Dali would have picked up a What Hi-Fi? Award or two of its own. It pairs a quartet of Spektor 2 standmount speakers, back-to-back Award winners in their own right, with the Spektor Vokal centre speaker and small-yet-mighty Sub C-8 D subwoofer.
It provides a fast, detailed and gratifyingly entertaining listen, with the sub providing plenty of scale. Dialogue has a warmth to it that's sadly lost in many systems, and the impeccable sense of timing makes for a truly cinematic experience.
Read the full review: Dali Spektor 2 5.1
A 7.1 Dolby Atmos package at this price looks too good to be true. But not only is it an absolute steal, it's also a very tidy, compact affair – so compact, in fact, that Jamo suggests you put the subwoofer under the sofa. How's that for convenience?
The sound is dynamic and full of body, and the low end – while a little soft – is ample for all but the most discerning of home cinema audiophiles. If that's you, you'll be happy to spend a bit more for a smoother sound, but the Jamo is still a fine option at the money.
Read the full review: Jamo S 807 HCS
It's high-end by most people's standards but Evoke only sits around halfway up Dynaudio’s range. As the Danish brand has a bit of a ‘pay it forward’ approach to the high-end tech, Evoke benefits from innovative developments in driver design first used in its even pricier predecessors. This lends the Evoke a tenacious, premium sound consistent throughout the whole range and rhythmically taut across the frequency spectrum with a standout agile, low end.
The system comprises Dynaudio's Evoke 50 floorstanders, the Evoke 25C centre speaker, two Evoke 10 bookshelf speakers and the sealed-box Sub 6. Despite being on the large side, its clean, minimalist design lets the cabinets sit comfortably in most rooms. From the gently curved front corners and tapered trapezoid shape of the MDF cabinets to the contrasting matt black ‘screwless’ drivers and flawless glassy lacquer, every small detail helps the Evoke system neatly take its place.
Read the full review: Dynaudio Evoke 50 5.1
Borea is high-end French brand Triangle’s most affordable series of hi-fi speakers, and its BR08 5.1 speaker package consists of a pair of 3-way, front-ported BR08 towers, two dual-driver BR03 stand mounters, the Tales 340 subwoofer (the cheapest in Triangle's four-strong sub range) and finally the 2-way BRC1 centre speaker. This surround sound system can be extended by adding BRA1 height surround units ($599 / £349 / AU$900 per pair) to create a 5.1.2 or even 5.1.4 Dolby Atmos-capable system.
For its accessible price, the Borea BR08 5.1 is an entertaining and admirably cinematic surround speaker package. Add in the optional height units, and you'll also get one of the most convincing Atmos performances we’ve heard that doesn't involve ceiling rigging.
This system may require some tinkering to suit your space, Triangle suggests that the largest speakers, the BR08, will work best in rooms between 20-40m squared in size and recommends placing both the floorstanders and the bookshelf speakers 40cm from a rear wall and more than 50cm from the sides. The BR08 in particular have a powerful low end and, despite being front-ported, proximity to the wall has a sizeable influence on this. If you're able to, we’d advise upgrading the subs as the Tales 340 isn't up to the standard of the rest of the system. But the package as a whole offers enjoyable, dynamic surround sound at a reasonable price.
Read the full review: Triangle Borea BR08 5.1 speaker package
How we test speaker packages
We have state-of-the-art testing facilities in London, Reading and Bath, where our team of experienced, in-house reviewers test the majority of hi-fi and AV kit that passes through our door.
Each home cinema speaker package we test is paired with a reference level home cinema amp and is directly compared to the best in its price and features class – whether that's the current What Hi-Fi? award winner or a few of the latest models we've been impressed by in recent reviews. What Hi-Fi? is all about comparative testing, and we keep class-leading products in our stockrooms to easily compare new products to ones we know and love.
We are always impartial and do our best to make sure we hear every product at its very best, so we'll try plenty of different films that show what each system is capable of with both advanced and standard audio formats. We'll also listen to high-quality music streams from across various genres, allowing for plenty of listening time. We like to make sure we're happy that the system is performing at its best before we start testing, so we carefully place the speakers in our listening room, tweaking positions if necessary and, of course, running them in before we begin reviewing.
All review verdicts are agreed upon by the team rather than an individual reviewer to eliminate any personal preference and ensure we're being as thorough as possible. There's no input from PR companies or our sales team regarding the verdict with What Hi-Fi? proud of having delivered honest, unbiased reviews for decades.
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- See all our speaker package reviews
- Take a look at the best AV receivers to drive your speakers
- In-depth: How to combine stereo and surround sound in one AV system