Mar 19, 2024
The remarkable experience of a movie theatre can be recreated through home theatre within the comfort of one's own home. The sound plays a crucial role in delivering an authentic home theatre experience. Speakers for home theatre elevate the audio quality and affordable options are available to enhance the listening and viewing experience. Upgrading to a home theatre setup enhances various activities such as streaming, sports, Blu-rays, video games, and more.
Although the speakers play an essential role in a home theatre, the screen component also holds significance. The choice of the best screen type depends on individual media needs and the available space. Monitors work well in smaller areas, while TVs offer the advantage of live sports and streaming platform applications.
To ease into the home theatre experience, basic soundbars provide an affordable and easy-to-install option that significantly improves upon built-in speakers. Soundbars enhance audio quality and can serve as a foundation for a more extensive system. The Sonos Beam (Gen. 2) and the Roku Streambar Pro are recommended soundbars.
Advanced soundbar packages are an excellent choice for those looking to take their home theatre setup to the next level. These packages include additional speakers like subwoofers and rear speakers, allowing for a more immersive surround sound experience. The Samsung HW-Q990B and Sony HT-A7000 soundbar packages are known for their exceptionally good quality and features.
For the ultimate home theatre experience, component systems are the optimal solution. These systems consist of discrete speaker pairs and an audio-video receiver. While they require more planning and setup, they offer the most powerful and precise sound reproduction. A recommended combination for a component-based system is the Marantz SR6015 receiver paired with the Polk Dolby Atmos Home Speaker Bundle.
| Feature | Sonos Beam (Gen. 2) | Roku Streambar Pro | Samsung HW-Q990B | Sony HT-A7000 | Marantz SR6015 | Polk Dolby Atmos Home Speaker Bundle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $449 | $199 | $1,499 | $1,399 | $1,599 | $1,199 |
| Channels | 5.0 | 3.1 | 9.1.4 | 7.1.2 | 9.2 | 5.1 |
| Sound Format | Dolby Atmos, DTS:X | Dolby Digital, DTS Digital Surround | Dolby Atmos, DTS:X | Dolby Atmos, DTS:X | Dolby Atmos, DTS:X | Dolby Atmos, DTS:X |
| Dimensions | 22.9 x 2.5 x 3.9 inches | 27.8 x 2.4 x 3.7 inches | 39.8 x 6.3 x 3.5 inches | 43.9 x 7.1 x 3.0 inches | 17.1 x 17.1 x 4.3 inches | 23.7 x 13.7 x 3.9 inches |
| Weight | 4.3 pounds | 2.9 pounds | 20.9 pounds | 33.1 pounds | 25.7 pounds | 19.2 pounds |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2 | Ethernet, HDMI, USB, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI, eARC, USB | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI, eARC, USB | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, HDMI, eARC, 7.2-channel pre-amp out | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, HDMI, eARC, 5.2-channel pre-amp out |
| Additional Features | Seamless integration with other Sonos speakers, voice control with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant | Voice control with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, remote control | Upfiring speakers, wireless subwoofer included | Upfiring speakers, wireless subwoofer included, side-firing speakers | 9.2-channel surround sound, Audyssey MultEQ XT32 room correction | Dolby Atmos-enabled wireless speakers, Polk Smart Command Bar included |
| Pros | Excellent sound quality, compact size, easy to use | Affordable price, good sound quality, voice control | Powerful sound, lots of features, wireless subwoofer included | Powerful sound, lots of features, wireless subwoofer included | 9.2-channel surround sound, Audyssey MultEQ XT32 room correction | Dolby Atmos-enabled wireless speakers, Polk Smart Command Bar included |
| Cons | Doesn't support DTS:X, no upfiring speakers | No wireless subwoofer included, no voice control | Expensive, no Dolby Vision support | Expensive, no Dolby Vision support | No 4K upscaling, no voice control | No wireless subwoofer included |
