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A nice set of speakers is mandatory for home theatre. Because you not only need a good quality 4k or 8k display but you also need high-quality audio components that can match up with the quality of the display. After that, you will have the best home theater experience.
By selecting the best speakers and arranging them in the best layout you will get tremendous audio that will surround you. When the audio from the speakers is capable of surrounding you then you will truly feel the bullets and fighter jets flying from one end of the theatre room to another.
Our Top Tested & Reviewed Products At A Glance
This is why the best speakers are required to enjoy the audio that producers have intended you to feel.
How to pick the best speakers under $1000? Well, I have tested many sets of speakers in my friends’ houses, and clients’ theater rooms and have bought many for my business. That’s why I have picked the best ones from my experience for you guys to pick one for your taste.
Without taking so much time let’s deep dive into the reviews.
All Products At A Glance – Review Of Each Product Is Below This Table
| Speakers | Power | Type | Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polk Audio 5.1 Channel | 100 Watts | Speakers Set | 5/4.9 |
| Enclave CineHome II | Not specified by the manufacturer | Speakers Set | 5/4.8 |
| Harman Kardon HKTS 16BQ | 200 Watts | Speakers Set | 5/4.7 |
| JBL Cinema 610 | 100 Watts | Speakers Set | 5/4.4 |
| Definitive Technology BP-9040 | 300 Watts | Single Speaker | 5/4.9 |
| Polk Audio Monitor 70 II | 275 Watts | Single Speaker | 5/4.8 |
| Q Acoustics 3050i (Pair) | 165 Watts | Pair | 5/4.5 |
1. Polk Audio 5.1 Channel – Best For Small To Medium Size Cinema Rooms
Specifications
Power: 100 Watts | Channel: 5.1 Channel | Sound Formats: Dolby and DTS supported | Upgradable: Yes up to 7.1 or 9.1
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Reasons To Buy
- Nice integration among the speakers
- The subwoofer bass is deep
- The tower speakers can truly enhance the Dolby Atmos
- The center channel is good in clarity and sound consistency
- The rear speakers can pump out mid and high ranges clearly
Reasons To Avoid
- There is no LFE input on the subwoofer
- AV Receiver is required
Is It For You?
For those who want high-end speakers in this price range.
Build Quality
The speakers are well built and can integrate seamlessly to create a good environment for Dolby and DTS.
Sound Quality
The sound is amazing and the 15 speakers in the combination are capable of creating a Dolby Atmos bubble around the listeners but you will still need in-ceiling speakers for more realism in the Dolby Atmos.
The dialogues are clear and the sound is consistent. The Subwoofer bass feels in the chest.
If you have one seating row then you must perfect the sound in that row with the SPL meter for immersive sound.
Unique Features
The integration among the speakers, the chest-hitting bass, and the most robust and sophisticated sound quality are under $600.
Detail Review Of Polk Audio 5.1 Channel
This is a complete 5.1 channel home theatre system by Polk audio. This is always a good option to get all speakers for your surround sound from one brand. In this way, they can sync with each other perfectly and can communicate swiftly and seamlessly.
You get 5 channel speakers and one subwoofer in this system. There are 15 speakers in all these combined five channels. All 15 speakers combined with a subwoofer to give you immersive surround sound for movies, TV shows, sports, and gaming.
With the help of Polk’s specialized technology, all 15 speakers throw the sound waves evenly in all directions. All the listeners in the theatre room will hear similar notes of the sound and there will be no difference in the listening experience from person to person.
This system has 5 channels. That’s why we should break down this review for each component to understand it better.
Front Left & Right Floor Standing Towers
These are 2-floor standing towers for the left and right channels in this theatre system. These are very sophisticated speakers and each one consists of one tweeter for high-end frequencies and woofer for mid-range frequencies and 2 bass radiators.
The bass radiators are not alternatives for subwoofers. They are just producing low frequencies of waves to work in harmony with the built-in woofer in the speaker to better transfer the overall sound of this speaker to each end of the room and to prevent distortion in the sound during this travel.
These bass radiators can give you a normal amount of bass and for the more robust bass, you will need a subwoofer.
Upon my testing, these two tower speakers are capable of delivering good Dolby Atmos sound For a 3D audio experience. I felt the fighter jets, bullets, helicopters, and birds flying all around my theatre room.
I don’t recommend that you get these speakers for their bass radiators and expect the best bass out of it. The bass radiators are designed that way to give low response frequency to the main speaker and no huge bass is expected like from the subwoofer. The subwoofer is engineered for the bass.
You should use these towers in combination with this complete 5.1 surround sound for the best high, mid, and low mean bass.
Center Channels
The Center channel speaker has one tweeter and two drivers. The size of this center channel speaker is huge and almost twice the size of my PlayStation 4. But don’t be scared by its size because the sound is punchy with clear dialogues and a little bit of bass.
“For any person that every time needs to up the volume to hear the dialogues clearly. And the sudden background music change blasts the central speakers, and again he rushes down the volume to suppress this blasting music”.
If your center channel is giving you this problem, then this is the best center channel for you.
Because the dialogues are clear on each volume level and the sound is consistent.
The Rear Channels
These are 2 speakers and each speaker consists of one driver and one Tweeter. The sound was crisp and clear and the high range of the sound was not HiFi but it was crisp and clear.
When I first set it up, the sound was muddy and muffled. But when I optimized the sound of the speakers according to the environment of the room by a simple microphone that is provided with my AV receiver. The sound was drastically changed and after that, it was crisp and clear.
So keep this in mind if you face this problem then you must repeat the process above. These microphones are provided with almost any new receivers.
These speakers are the best fit for rear speakers because their bass is not good and the higher range is not hi-fi. Although the Polk audio is claiming that it can be used for the front left and right but I won’t recommend this it should always go to the rear.
If you are planning to buy these speakers separately then first don’t use them in the front but if you want to use them in the front then please add a subwoofer with them.
Otherwise, with this whole 5.1 channel, these speakers are doing really well in the integration with all other speakers in the system.
Subwoofer
The subwoofer is designed well and can throw a nice musical accuracy into your theatre audio.
The bass is deep and feels good on gaming. Movies, and music. The on-screen bullets and explosions can be felt right in the chest. This is the best subwoofer under $150.
At the back of it, you get a control panel for volume, frequency adjustment, and connectivity.
The best thing that I like about this subwoofer is the Auto on the button. When the receiver is on it will automatically turn on, when the receiver shutdowns it will automatically shut down.
To have the perfect sound you must install acoustic panels and soundproof your theater room. Clicking on the blue-colored words will take you to my written guides about them.
2. Enclave CineHome II – Best For its Convenience
Specifications
Power: Not specified | Channel: 5.1 Channel | Sound Formats: Dolby and DTS supported
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Reasons To Buy
- Super convenience of Bluetooth connectivity
- Don’t require AV Receiver
- Complete plug and play system. It can be ready to go within minutes
- Supports Dolby Atmos and DTS
- Smart app for controlling
- Crisp sound and clear vocals
- WISA certified
Reasons To Avoid
No remote is included.
Is It For You?
Those who want to have the real surround sound with a soundbar like a convenience
Build Quality
The speakers are well-built and the metal grills do look amazing.
Each speaker can integrate and communicate with the Cinehub flawlessly and seamlessly. I have never noticed any lag or latency.
Sound Quality
The sound is clear and crisp. The vocals from the center speakers are clear and amazing.
Unique Features
The super convenience that any newbie to home theater systems can set it up within minutes.
Detail Review Of Enclave CineHome II
This home theatre system is best for its convenience because it is wireless and can be set up within minutes after its unboxing.
The speaker connectivity to send audio signals from speakers to the receiver known as Cinehub is wireless but you will still need cables for the power of each speaker.
The Cinehub is the brain of the system. This needs a power cable and audio connectivity connection with the TV or projector.
Connect the HDMI cable to the HDMI port of the Cinehub and the other end to the ARC port of your TV or a projector.
Then power on the Cinehub and the speakers will sync without any issue. This system also supports eARC. If your smart TV or projectors support eARC then better be using this connectivity.
I have not noticed any issues during the syncing process.
Another best thing is that this theatre system has its own dedicated smartphone app. that is available both on the Play Store and Appstore.
You can control the volume of the whole system and the power levels of each speaker. you can change the sound output format and inputs of the Cinehub receiver.
This whole theatre system doesn’t need any type of AV receiver or amplifier.
This is a complete plug-and-play-like soundbar. But it is one step ahead of soundbars because it can provide you with a real 5.1 surround sound and soundbars can only virtualize the 5.1. And also this is WISA certified and supports Dolby Atmos and DTS.
You can connect your phone via Bluetooth to the system to hear your music on 5.1 surround sound.
In the box, you get speaker power cables for each speaker. Two gloves to avoid fingerprints on the system while assembling it.
You also get a user manual and quick start guide too.
Two points to remember about this theatre system
- You must play games on the Dolby Digital output option of your gaming console
- You should select Dolby Digital in the audio output settings of your Smart TV or fire stick for the best experience.
For fuller, more natural, and deep sound you must connect speakers like this to a preamp. Preamps refine sound signals that will give better sound. Read my best preamp review.
3. Harman Kardon HKTS 16BQ – Best For Non-Audiophile Person
Specifications
Speakers Power: 200 Watts | Channel: 5.1 Channel | Upgradable: Yes up to 7.1
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Reasons To Buy
- Sound is punchy
- Bass is deep
- Build quality looks premium
- Very well packed
- Installation is easy
Reasons To Avoid
- I faced problems with the mounting process
- You will need a receiver for these speakers
Is It For You?
For those who are above average home theater owners and want to have a nice quality of sound with bass on a budget.
Build Quality
The build quality looks premium and the vertical speaker build is looking good to me.
Sound Quality
The sound quality is punchy without any distortion. The bass is deep.
Unique Features
The packaging and build quality look premium
Detail Review Of Harman Kardon HKTS 16BQ
This is a complete 5.1 surround sound system by Harman Kardon. The bass is good and punchy and deep. The sound is loud and doesn’t fall harsh on the ears. The Crispness of the sound is amazing.
The frequency and bass can be controlled from the control panel at the back of the subwoofer.
The subwoofer is providing LFE input and left and right RCA inputs.
You got cables for the speaker and one for an LFE input in the box. You get the complete surround sound components and wall mounting hardware in the box.
The packaging is done amazingly and can prevent scratches on the speakers. The build quality of the speakers and subwoofers look premium.
On each satellite speaker you get one tweeter and two drivers, they combined to make a great sound.
Above-average people will like the quality of the sound. The bass is deep and the sound is punchy.
But remember to get the best sound out of your speaker you must have the best AV receiver and also you must have HD quality of media source that can deliver the quality that will justify these speakers and every other speaker.
4. JBL Cinema 610 – Best For Great Performance On A Budget
Specifications
Speakers Power: 100 Watts | Channel: 5.1 Channel
Today’s Best Deals
Reasons To Buy
- The sound is crisp
- Dialogues are clear
- Bass and mids are amazing
Reasons To Avoid
- Highs are not fantastic as like mids and lows
- Included wires are thin
- The mounting set is not that helpful
- Requires AV Receiver
Is It For You?
For those who want a complete set with crisp and clear sound on a budget.
Build Quality
The build quality is good and can give a nice touch to the overall design of your home theater room.
JBL will direct you on how to peel off the plastic over the red and black terminal. After that, you will see the terminals and can connect the red to red of the AV receiver and the black to the black of the AV receiver.
Sound Quality
The mids and bass are fantastic but the tweeter is lacking behind in throwing the highs. The woofers are powerful and capable of throwing fantastic mids.
Unique Features
The crisp and clear sound with clear dialogues.
Detail Review Of JBL Cinema 610
The sound of this speaker system is crisp and clear. The bass is fantastic. The dialogues from the center channels are clear and you can’t miss one or two dialogues in the flow.
In the box, you get a subwoofer, Satellite Speakers, a quick start guide, LFE cable, speakers wires, and Wall mounting set.
The speaker wires are thin and can indulge in crosstalk interference. That’s why I will recommend using 16 to 14 gauge wires for the speakers. The 16 is the maximum to get fit in the speaker wireless terminals at the back of each speaker.
The Wall mounting set which is provided with the speaker system is not so useful and you will need another professional Wall mounting set.
Apart from this, it will also need an AV receiver for the system to work. I will recommend using 4 ohms to 8 ohms capable of AV receivers with nice wattage.
5. Definitive Technology BP-9040 – Best For Built-in Subwoofer
Specifications
Speakers Power: 300 Watts | Output: Dolby Atmos & DTS:X | Drivers Type: 3 Ways
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Reasons To Buy
- Subwoofer with boom and tight bass
- High, mid, and low, all levels of sound are balanced.
- Build quality is amazing
- It is delivering nice Dolby Atmos
- It is having tweeter, woofer, subwoofer, and bass radiators
Reasons To Avoid
Each speaker and each speaker’s subwoofer needs wires to power up, that’s why wire management hustle is there
Is It For You?
- Those who want pro-level of sound with mid, high, and low levels presence.
- Those who want a subwoofer built in the speakers.
Build Quality
The speakers are professionally built and are very heavy. Be careful of pets and toddlers because they are fiber-covered.
Each speaker will require a base for standing.
Sound Quality
The highs are crisp and clear, the mids are capable of creating a presence in the sound, and the bass is tight and does not have distortion on a high level.
You don’t need a separate subwoofer because the built-in subwoofer is very capable.
Upon our testing, it was capable of Dolby Atmos. I played a rain-falling sound and I literally looked to the ceiling for the pouring rain. Amazing!!!
Unique Features
- The built-in subwoofer is a feature to have.
- All levels of sound are balanced.
Detail Review Of Definitive Technology BP-9040
This is a 3-way speaker and king of all the speakers in this price range.
In 3 way speakers, you get a tweeter for high frequencies, a woofer for mid, and the subwoofer for low.
They all are performing really well in their respective levels. The bullets firing, the glass and bullets casing hitting the floor, the dialogues, and explosions all sound natural, clear, and punchy.
Each speaker has its own subwoofer so there is no need to install a separate subwoofer. This will help you to save space and will free you from the subwoofer and speaker integration hustle.
if you want to buy two of these speakers for left and right. Then you will need a receiver that provides a connection to two subwoofers but if your receiver is supporting only one then a splitter will work for you.
These speakers are Dolby Atmos and DTS:X compatible. Read about my test about Dolby Atmos in the sound section.
You will need 14 – 16 gauge wires for the speakers and the subwoofers to connect it to the AV Receiver.
6. Polk Audio Monitor 70 II – Best For Clarity In This Price Range
Specifications
Speakers Power: 275 Watts | Output: Stereo | Drivers Type: 2 Ways
Today’s Best Deals
Reasons To Buy
- The sound is clear and crisp
- The sound is very detailed
- Vibration and distortion-free on high volume
- It can be used for Dolby Atmos
Reasons To Avoid
The bass is good but for the best bass you will need a separate subwoofer
Is It For You?
For those who want pro sound speakers on a budget.
Build Quality
The finish is amazing. There are two woofers instead of one. Because one woofer would be large and due to the size the mid would be sloppy and the bass would be lacking in quality.
The two woofers are small, that’s why you can get punchier bass and nice tight mid-levels
Sound Quality
The sound is crisp and clear and is distortion and vibration-free at a high volume. At high volumes, it can even shake the windows of the room.
Unique Features
The vibration and distortion-free sound on high volume and deep detailed clear sound.
Detail Review Of Polk Audio Monitor 70 II
These are floor-standing speakers with 4 woofers and one tweeter. The two woofers are for mid-levels and the two woofers for the bass. All the levels of the speakers are clear. The overall sound is superbly balanced.
It can also be used for the Dolby Atmos format of sound.
The sound is vibration and distortion-free and the bass can rattle the windows of the room at a high volume.
I have noticed many more new notes in my favorite music. The claps and whistles in the music were clear alongside the guitar music.
It was giving me nice concert-like music in my room. I will never use other speakers to listen to live concerts. I will always use these speakers. Because the clarity of the sound is amazing.
In order to manage the interference problems with other electronic devices, these speakers are magnetically Shielded.
You get a user manual, online product registration, and this speaker in the box.
If you get muffled sound after the installation of the speakers. Then you must start the calibration process of the speaker and the problem will be eliminated.
For the best dialogues clarity, you need the best center speaker. I have reviewed the best ones in this guide.
7. Q Acoustics 3050i (Pair) – Best For The Smoothness Of Sound
Specifications
Speakers Power: 165 Watts | Output: Stereo and surround | Drivers Type: 2 Ways
Today’s Best Deals
Reasons To Buy
- The smoothness of sound
- The sound is detailed
- The design is modern, clean, and smooth
Reasons To Avoid
Bass is good for stereo music only, for movies, you will need a separate subwoofer
Is It For You?
Those who want a smooth sound. If you are a fan of sharp sound then it is not for you.
Build Quality
- It comes in 4 finishes and personally, I love the walnut one. This is the one that I installed in my friend’s house.
- The front grill is magnetic that’s why it doesn’t need screws to attach it and it looks clean due to this magnetic attachment.
- The overall design is modern, clean, and smooth.
- It needs base stands for standing. The spikes of the base stability are affected by comfy and beefy carpets.
Sound Quality
The sound is smooth and can differentiate between different instruments.
The sound is not sharp, if you like sharpness then you don’t need these speakers. The sound is not sharp but smooth.
The bass is good for music but if you are a movie buff then you will need a separate subwoofer.
Unique Features
- The smoothness and detail of the sound.
- The design is modern if that concerns you.
Detail Review Of Q Acoustics 3050i (Pair)
These are two-way speakers with two 6.5 inch midrange drivers and 2 tweeters for high levels.
They both are capable and the mid and high levels are present throughout the sound frequency.
The sound from these drivers and tweeters is very smooth.
The sound is very detailed and my ears can differentiate between the music of different instruments playing together.
My ears even identified the beginning and end of particular instrument music in the sound. This detailed sound ability is really amazing.
The bass is good for music. For movies, I will recommend a separate subwoofer.
If you place the speaker close to the wall then you will not get nice bass and it will be wooly.
That’s why I placed the speakers at least 12 inches away from the wall and tweaked the angles of the speaker. After that, the speaker’s bass was very good and punchy. So keep this in mind.
But if you want to place it near to the wall then these speakers come with a sponge. You can stuff that sponge to the bass reflex port at the back of it to absorb the bass and make it nicer.
Below this port, you can get two binding posts for the wearing. I will recommend 16 gauge wires for the connectivity.
FAQs
Which speakers are best for home theater?
1st Option – If you like Dolby Atmos
If you want to feel the movie in a virtual sound bubble around you to give you a real-life feel, then the best speakers will be those that support Dolby Atmos.
The Dolby Atmos speakers are floor-standing speakers, in-ceiling speakers, and up-sound-throwing speakers.
Not every floor-standing speaker is Dolby Atmos supported, but those with good height can throw sound up to the ceiling from which it can fall over you.
In this way you can really feel like rain on the screen is raining over you from the ceiling and the fighter jets are flying over your head.
2nd Option – If you like surround sound
For surround sound, you should have speakers that support surround sound. If they support stereo sound then they can be arranged in the surround sound layout for the complete 5.1,71, or 9.1 surround sound.
Can home theater speakers be used for music?
- Many AV receivers and speaker systems themselves support memory card readers or USB device readers for your stored music.
- You can also connect your speakers to the smart TV and start streaming the music on the connected speakers with your TV.
- Many speaker systems are Bluetooth-enabled. You can connect your mobile via Bluetooth and enjoy your stereo music in full 5.1 surround sound.
- If your speakers are not Bluetooth supported then your AV receiver will be. You can connect your mobile to an AV receiver via Bluetooth.
- If your AV Receiver and speaker systems don’t support Bluetooth then you can connect the Bluetooth receiver to your speaker systems and can connect the mobile to the Bluetooth receiver.
How to set home theater speakers 5.1 in the room?
- You can place the center channel speaker below your TV or projector screen for optimal and clean dialogue deliveries.
- Place the left and right front speakers to the left and right of the center channel.
- Place the subwoofer between them against the wall but a little away from it.
- Place the rear speakers at the backside right and left of your seating area.
- This will complete your 5.1 surround sound layout in your room.
Helpful Resources For The FAQs To Read More
- Know more from my this guide. Are Atmos speakers worth it? (Resource for the first answer)
- Learn More HowToGeek blog How to place speakers for optimal experience? (Resource for the third answer)
