Home theatre system buying guide: Compare systems from Sony, Samsung, LG, Yamaha and more

If you're looking to enhance your home viewing experience, you may be thinking about buying a surround sound system. For keen audiophiles, a good home theatre system can add extra realism to movies and TV shows, providing cinema-quality sound you can enjoy right from your couch.

Home theatre systems range in price anywhere from $400 to $4,000 or more. We'll help you decipher any confusing technical jargon, take you through key sound system features and show you how to find the best home theatre system for your needs.

Compare some of the best home theatre systems

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Name	Product	Average Price (AUD)	Number of channels	Bluetooth streaming	Audio formats	Purchase Today
JBL Cinema SB150		$399	2.1	Yes	Dolby	Buy at JBL	The JBL Cinema SB150 system comes with a wireless subwoofer and wall mounting accessories.	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Yamaha YHT-1840		$399	5.1	No	DTS, Cinema DSP, Dolby	Buy at The Good Guys	The Yamaha YHT-1840 system has an eco-mode that reduces power consumption by 20%.	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Sony HT-RT3		$499	5.1	Yes	LPCM, PCM, Dolby	Buy at Sony	The Sony HT-RT3 system has specialised sound modes for sports, movies, gaming and music.	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Pioneer HTP-074		$599	5.1	Yes	DTS, Dolby		The Pioneer HTP-074 system comes with 5 speakers and a subwoofer.	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
JBL Bar 3.1		$699	3.1	Yes	Dolby	Buy at JBL	The JBL Bar 3.1 system is designed to work with most top television remote controls and is Bluetooth compatible.	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Sony HT-RT5		$999	5.1	Yes	LPCM, PCM, DTS, Dolby	Buy at Sony	The Sony HT-RT5 system has Chromecast built-in, allowing you to play music directly from YouTube Music, Spotify and more.	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Onkyo HT-S5805		$1,314	5.1.2	Yes	PCM, DTS, Dolby	Buy at Appliances Online	The Onkyo HT-S5805 system offers Bluetooth audio streaming from your phone, tablet or computer.	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
LG SK10Y		$1,699	5.1.2	Yes	LPCM, DTS, Dolby	Buy at Ebay	The LG SK10Y system is compatible with Google Assistant and offers 5 different sound modes.	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Yamaha Blockbuster 5500		$1,999	5.1	Yes	DTS, Cinema DSP, Dolby	Buy at The Good Guys	The Yamaha Blockbuster 5500 system can be integrated with Alexa voice control.	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Samsung HW-N950		$1,999	7.1.4	Yes	DTS, Dolby		The Samsung HW-N950 system comes with a 7.1.4 channel soundbar that has up and side-firing speakers.	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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What is a home theatre system?

Technically speaking, a home theatre system includes all the audio and visual equipment in your living room – TV screens, speakers, Blu-ray player and everything else.

However, people generally use the term "home theatre system" to refer to the audio component of your living room electronics. An all-in-one home theatre system (sometimes also called a home theatre in a box) has a few key components:

AV receiver

The AV receiver is the brain of your home entertainment system. It's the central hub where you can organise the audio and video inputs and outputs from all your connected devices. In other words, it takes the pictures and sound from your DVD player or games console and feeds them to your TV screen and speakers.

Speakers

Most home theatre systems have at least five speakers to create a surround sound effect. In some units, the speakers are separate and include a centre speaker and front and rear speakers for the left and right side of the room. However, some other systems incorporate multiple speakers into a soundbar system.

Subwoofer

The subwoofer delivers the bass and is essential for those deep booms and rumbles you get in any action movie worth its salt. Most systems have one subwoofer but some come with two or more.

Please note that it's also possible to buy an AV receiver on its own and a separate speaker package. While this allows you to pick and choose the features you want, it can lead to a complicated set-up process and may be too technical for some people.

Pros of home theatre systems

Why buy a home theatre system? There are a couple of key reasons:

• High-quality sound. You may have the biggest, clearest TV screen in the world, but pictures are only one half of the viewing experience. The other half is the sound, which is something modern flat-screen TVs aren't all that great at producing.
• Get the cinema experience at home. A home theatre system gives you high-quality surround sound to match those crystal-clear images you see on your screen. The aim is to create a fully immersive experience – rather than simply being launched at you front on, these systems let you hear sounds from above, beside and behind.

The end result is more realistic and enjoyable viewing, regardless of whether you're watching an action movie, your favourite TV show or live sport. You may also want to buy a home theatre projector and pair it up with your sound system for an even more impressive home cinema set-up.
Top 9 sites to buy speakers online

Cons of home theatre systems

Home theatre systems have a couple of major disadvantages:

• They're expensive. You can easily pay a few grand for a top-spec system.
• They take up space. Many systems take up a whole lot of space in your lounge room and create excess clutter.

If you don't have much space to work with, or if you're happy with the viewing experience provided by your TV's built-in speakers, there's no point splashing out on a top-end surround sound system.

However, if you decide you want better sound quality than what your TV offers without taking up as much room as a home theatre system, you might want to consider buying a soundbar instead. Soundbars offer a noticeable boost in sound quality and are also a more affordable option than surround sound systems, so check out our soundbar buying guide for more information.

Speaker configuration: Types of home theatre systems

If you've started comparing home theatre systems already, you will have seen different systems referred to by a variety of numbers – 5.1, 7.1, 7.1.2 and so on.

These numbers indicate how many speakers and channels a home theatre system has. The most common options are 5.1 and 7.1 home theatre systems, but there are many other configurations available.

• The first number indicates how many speakers or channels the system has. Most home theatre systems have five or seven.
• The second number indicates how many subwoofers are included. Most have one subwoofer but others have more.

Many systems only have two numbers, but some also feature a third number that indicates the number of "height" channels a system has. In other words, it refers to how many upward-firing or ceiling-mounted speakers are included to produce sound that creates a sense of height.

When you see a system with a third number listed in the sequence, this means it supports Dolby Atmos, which is an advanced surround sound technology. However, there's a competing technology, known as DTS:X, which is designed to work with standard surround sound set-ups and unlike Dolby Atmos, doesn't require additional overhead channels.

How to compare home theatre systems

You'll need to consider the number of speakers and subwoofers you need, the size of your room, how you'll use the system and how much you're willing to pay.

Home theatre systems aren't cheap. Entry-level models generally range from $400 to $600, while top-spec units start around $1,500 and go up to $4,000 or more for high-end or bespoke options. While you generally get what you pay for, make sure the extra spend is worth it for what you need. Many people will be more than happy with a 5.1 system, so paying for anything larger may be overkill.

These are the key factors you need to take into account:

• Room size

  You not only need to consider how much space your speakers will take up, but also how the size of the room will affect their performance characteristics. For example, small speakers in a large, open room may sound localised and inadequate, while large speakers in a small space can create an overload of bass.

• Speakers and subwoofers

  The ideal number of speakers for your system will depend on how you plan on using it. For example, while extra speakers lend themselves to an improved movie-watching experience, anything more than five speakers may not offer any noticeable advantage when listening to music. The space you're working with will also have an effect. For example, if your couch backs up against a wall, there's no point trying to fit a 7.1 system into the available space.

• Wireless or wired

  Cheaper systems tend to use cables which, although functional, can be messy and present a tripping hazard. Wireless Bluetooth speakers are an increasingly popular option, but sound distortion and drop-outs can be a problem.

• Ease of set up and use

  Check out some online reviews from other users to find out how easy the system is to set up and use out of the box. Is it easy to connect and configure with all your other entertainment devices? Is there an automatic set-up process to help take the hassle out of selecting speaker locations and distances? Is the instruction manual simple and straightforward?

• Connectivity

  Check how easy it is to connect external devices (like games consoles and DVD players) to your sound system. Some units offer HDMI inputs, optical or coaxial audio inputs, or all of the above. Before you buy, make sure the system has the right ports (and enough of them) to connect everything you want.

• Design

  You may also want to consider the look of the speakers and how they'll match the existing decor in your room. This will often involve a trade-off between style and substance – for example, while compact speakers can be sleek and unobtrusive, they may not offer the same impressive performance as bulkier units.

  Additional features to look for:

  • Two-zone. A two-zone (or zone 2) feature allows you to send a second signal to speakers or a separate audio system in another room. This means you could be watching a DVD in one room while someone could be simultaneously streaming their Spotify library through another set of speakers at the same time.
  • Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth allow quick and easy connection between your home theatre system and other compatible devices, allowing you to stream music, TV shows and apps.
  • Blu-ray/DVD player. Some entry-level models come with a Blu-ray/DVD player built in for extra convenience.
  • Remote. Is the remote that comes with the system sensibly laid out and easy to understand? Some units can be controlled directly from a smartphone app.
  • Warranty. Check the length of the manufacturer's warranty – this typically ranges from one to three years – and exactly what it covers.

Which home theatre system is best for me?

The best home theatre system for you depends on several key factors, most importantly your budget and the size of your room. Before you start shopping, take some time to think about the key features you want in a sound system and how much you're willing to spend. Once you have a clear idea of what you want, start comparing the pros and cons of suitable models.

If you want to buy a home theatre system to enhance your viewing experience, start comparing your options now.