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10 Best Surround Sound Systems 2026 in the United States

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Our Top Picks

#1

Winner

LG S95TR 9.1.5-Channel OLED evo TV Matching Home Theater Soundbar with Rear Surround Speakers and Wireless Subwoofer, Wow Orchestra, Dolby Atmos, WOWCAST Built-in (2024 Model)

Rating
10.0
Chosen by1,182
Audio Formats
Subwoofer

Most important from
412 reviews

Audio Formats
Dolby Atmos and DTS:X technologies do not disappoint, delivering a truly immersive soundstage.
Subwoofer
The wireless subwoofer delivers deep bass, crucial for a full home theater experience.

The LG S95TR 9.1.5-Channel Soundbar offers a comprehensive surround-sound solution, particularly well-suited for home theaters. With its 9.1.5 channel configuration, it delivers an immersive audio experience powered by Dolby Atmos and DTS:X technology. The inclusion of rear speakers with true wireless connectivity is a significant advantage, allowing for flexible placement and ease of setup.

These rear speakers, combined with triple up-firing channels, enhance the soundstage and dialogue clarity, making it a compelling option for movie enthusiasts and gamers alike. The soundbar’s integration with LG TVs via WOW Orchestra and WOWCAST allows for seamless operation and a clutter-free setup, ensuring no loss in audio quality while eliminating visible wires. This model also supports voice assistants like Google Assistant and Alexa, adding to its convenience.

The inclusion of a wireless subwoofer ensures deep bass, crucial for a full home theater experience. This sound system excels in delivering high-quality, immersive sound with convenient wireless features, making it ideal for users who prioritize ease of use and high-end audio performance.

Rating
10.0
Chosen by1,182
Audio Formats
Subwoofer

Most important from
412 reviews

Audio Formats
Dolby Atmos and DTS:X technologies do not disappoint, delivering a truly immersive soundstage.
Subwoofer
The wireless subwoofer delivers deep bass, crucial for a full home theater experience.
#2

Samsung Q990F 11.1.4ch Q Series Subwoofer + Rear Speaker, Wireless Dolby Atmos, Q-Symphony, Game Mode Pro, Adaptive Sound (HW-Q990F, 2025)

Rating
9.7
Supported Audio Formats
Number of Channels
Speaker Type and Size

Most important from
1222 reviews

Supported Audio Formats
Sound quality for movies in TrueHD and Atmos is impressive, with well-handled contrast between quiet and loud scenes, making action sequences feel impactful and clear.
Number of Channels
While the system excels in surround sound, it doesn’t quite match the expansive soundstage and imaging of large tower speaker setups for two-channel music.
Speaker Type and Size
The wireless subwoofer provides surprisingly good bass for its compact size, delivering solid LFE thunder without overwhelming the room.
Wireless vs Wired
The wireless subwoofer provides surprisingly good bass for its compact size, delivering solid LFE thunder without overwhelming the room.
Amplifier Power and Receiver Features
The remote control is user-friendly, but many users find it unnecessary once the system is paired with a Samsung TV due to automatic syncing features.

The Samsung Q990F is a powerful surround sound system designed to deliver a rich, immersive audio experience, especially suited for home theater and gaming enthusiasts. It features an 11.1.4 channel setup, meaning it has 11 main speakers, 1 subwoofer, and 4 upward-firing speakers that create 3D sound effects from all directions, including overhead. The 8-inch wireless subwoofer adds deep bass without cluttering your room with cables. This system supports Dolby Atmos, enhancing the sense of space and movement in movies and games. It also uses Samsung’s Q-Symphony technology, which syncs the soundbar with compatible Samsung TVs to produce more detailed and dynamic sound. The soundbar automatically calibrates audio to fit your room using a built-in microphone, so you get clear dialogue and balanced bass wherever it’s placed.

Connectivity is versatile, offering Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and HDMI options, plus voice assistant integration with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple AirPlay 2, making it easy to control and stream music from smartphones or tablets. With a powerful 756-watt output, this soundbar is loud and clear enough for lively parties or immersive movie nights. On the downside, at nearly 42 pounds and almost 5 feet wide, it’s a sizable unit that requires enough space and a wall or stand for setup. Also, while wireless subwoofer connectivity reduces cable clutter, the main soundbar still needs to be plugged in.

The Samsung Q990F is an excellent choice if you want a feature-rich surround sound system that fills the room with cinematic audio and works seamlessly with Samsung TVs. However, it may be more than needed for casual listeners or small spaces.

Rating
9.7
Supported Audio Formats
Number of Channels
Speaker Type and Size

Most important from
1222 reviews

Supported Audio Formats
Sound quality for movies in TrueHD and Atmos is impressive, with well-handled contrast between quiet and loud scenes, making action sequences feel impactful and clear.
Number of Channels
While the system excels in surround sound, it doesn’t quite match the expansive soundstage and imaging of large tower speaker setups for two-channel music.
Speaker Type and Size
The wireless subwoofer provides surprisingly good bass for its compact size, delivering solid LFE thunder without overwhelming the room.
Wireless vs Wired
The wireless subwoofer provides surprisingly good bass for its compact size, delivering solid LFE thunder without overwhelming the room.
Amplifier Power and Receiver Features
The remote control is user-friendly, but many users find it unnecessary once the system is paired with a Samsung TV due to automatic syncing features.
#3

Sony BRAVIA Theater Quad Home Theater Surround Sound System and SA-SW5 Wireless Subwoofer

Rating
9.1
Number of Channels
Wireless vs Wired
Speaker Type and Size

Most important from
379 reviews

Number of Channels
The phantom center channel imaging works perfectly, delivering clear front sound without needing a physical center speaker.
Wireless vs Wired
Setup is straightforward and quick, with seamless wireless speaker recognition and easy app control, making it much simpler than traditional multi-speaker systems.
Speaker Type and Size
The speakers feel solid and high quality, not cheap or tinny, contributing to a premium overall experience.
Supported Audio Formats
360 Spatial Sound Mapping enhances both movies and music, providing a wide front soundstage and immersive surround effects without overwhelming rear fill.
Amplifier Power and Receiver Features
Volume levels are sufficient for smaller rooms, but might be less powerful in larger open spaces with higher ceilings.

The Sony BRAVIA Theater Quad is a 4.1 channel surround sound system featuring 16 total speakers, including four wireless units, designed to deliver immersive sound with support for advanced audio formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. This setup enhances the home theater experience by using 360 Spatial Sound Mapping, which helps create a more realistic and enveloping audio environment. The included SA-SW5 wireless subwoofer is a strong point, adding 300 watts of power and 5.25-inch woofer size to boost bass impact without messy cables, thanks to its Bluetooth connection.

The system is versatile and compatible with various devices like smartphones, tablets, TVs, and laptops, controlled easily via an app. However, it is a tabletop mount system and may not suit users looking for floor-standing speakers or more extensive channel configurations. Also, while it offers solid power and sound clarity, the wireless range is limited to about 10 meters, which could restrict placement options in larger rooms.

This makes it a great choice for those wanting a premium, easy-to-set-up surround sound system focused on cinematic sound quality without complex wiring, though serious audiophiles or users needing waterproof or outdoor setups might want to look elsewhere.

Rating
9.1
Number of Channels
Wireless vs Wired
Speaker Type and Size

Most important from
379 reviews

Number of Channels
The phantom center channel imaging works perfectly, delivering clear front sound without needing a physical center speaker.
Wireless vs Wired
Setup is straightforward and quick, with seamless wireless speaker recognition and easy app control, making it much simpler than traditional multi-speaker systems.
Speaker Type and Size
The speakers feel solid and high quality, not cheap or tinny, contributing to a premium overall experience.
Supported Audio Formats
360 Spatial Sound Mapping enhances both movies and music, providing a wide front soundstage and immersive surround effects without overwhelming rear fill.
Amplifier Power and Receiver Features
Volume levels are sufficient for smaller rooms, but might be less powerful in larger open spaces with higher ceilings.

Buying Guide for the Best Surround Sound Systems

Choosing a surround sound system can greatly enhance your movie nights, gaming sessions, or music listening experience by providing immersive, multi-directional audio. Picking the right system involves understanding your room, your personal needs, and the system’s features. Before shopping, consider the size of your room and how much space you’re willing to dedicate to speakers and equipment. Also, think about what you will mostly use your system for, such as watching movies, playing games, or listening to music, since different setups can perform better for different tasks. Understanding the key specifications can help you find a system that best fits your lifestyle and preferences.
Number of ChannelsThis refers to how many separate audio outputs the system has for surrounding you with sound. Common setups include 5.1 (five speakers and one subwoofer), 7.1, and even higher channel counts. More channels create more precise and enveloping sound but also require more physical space and setup. For a small to medium room and general use, 5.1 is often sufficient, offering a solid surround experience. If you have a larger space or want the most immersive experience for movies and games, you might want 7.1 or more. Think about the physical size of your room, where you can place speakers, and how 'cinematic' you want the experience to feel when selecting the channel count.
Speaker Type and SizeSurround systems come with different sizes and styles of speakers, such as bookshelf, floor-standing, satellite, or in-wall/in-ceiling speakers. Larger speakers generally deliver louder and deeper sound, while smaller ones are more discreet and easier to place. If space and aesthetics are important, compact satellite speakers or in-wall speakers are a good choice, but for more powerful sound, especially in larger rooms or for music listening, bigger floor-standing or bookshelf speakers can be better. Consider how much space you have, whether you prefer your speakers to be visible or hidden, and what fits in with your room décor.
Wireless vs WiredSome systems connect all speakers with physical wires, while others use wireless links for some or all speakers. Wired systems can offer more reliability and consistent audio quality, but setting them up can be more complex, and you’ll have cables running across your room. Wireless systems make setup simpler and look tidier, especially in rooms where running wires is difficult, but they might occasionally have signal dropouts. Think about your willingness to run wires, the layout of your room, and your need for flexibility or ease of setup when choosing between wired and wireless.
Supported Audio FormatsSurround sound systems decode audio formats like Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Atmos, or DTS:X. Standard formats (like Dolby Digital and DTS) are widespread and provide solid surround sound. Newer formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X add ‘height channels’ for 3D sound effects, making audio even more immersive. To decide which formats you need, consider what kind of movies, games, or streaming services you’ll use most; if you want the latest, most immersive sound and your content supports it, look for systems with Atmos or DTS:X support. Otherwise, standard surround decoding is enough for most users.
Amplifier Power and Receiver FeaturesThe amplifier, usually inside an AV receiver, supplies power to your speakers and interprets audio signals. Power is measured in watts per channel and affects how loud and clear your sound can get, especially at higher volumes. For smaller rooms or casual use, moderate power is plenty, while large rooms or high-volume listening will need more. Also, check the receiver's features, like HDMI inputs, Bluetooth, streaming support, and calibration tools, to make sure it’s compatible with your other devices and fits your usage style. Prioritize features that match how you plan to connect your TV, gaming console, or music devices.

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