A multi channel home theater system makes any media content more lively. Therefore, when you couple it with your home theater, get ready to drown in the sea of immersive true sound effects. So, here we will discuss some of the best home theater audio systems that support multi channel audio.
Polk Audio 5.1 Channel Home Theater System
Sony SSCS3 3-Way Floor-Standing Speaker
Logitech Z906
Polk Audio Signa S4
Rockville HTS56
Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra
Klipsch Dolby Atmos 5.1.4 System
Enclave CineHome
Bose Soundbar 300 with surround speakers
Monoprice 10565 Premium 5.1 Channel
What is a multi channel home theater?
A home theater audio system with multi channel support may refer to stereophonic, surround, or ambisonic sound. In most cases, budget sound systems come with stereophonic sound capability. Although, a premium quality multi channel home theater will have both stereo and surround sound capability.
Factors to check when choosing a multi channel home theater system
When looking for a good home theater audio system for multi channel support, you should be aware of some crucial factors. For instance, power output level, connectivity, product type, placement capability in your room, etc. Here we will describe the aspects in-depth so you can choose the best among the top home theater systems.
Power Output Level
Based on your room size and personal preference for loudness, choosing a powerful home theater system is important. So, you should always choose a home theater with at least 100 watts of power output. There are plenty of options available, and you can easily choose one with a higher power output accordingly. Additionally, try to get the best home theater power managers to ensure consistent voltage and safe power delivery.
Connectivity
When choosing a multi channel home theater system, ensure your media center supports its connectivity. Most modern home theater systems come with wireless and wired connectivity, but only a few of them supports HDMI audio. So, check carefully before buying.
Product Type
There are various types of home theater setups available based on room size and shape. The most popular ones are satellite, bookshelf, and soundbar types. Generally, a satellite speaker’s sound quality focus on midrange frequency and bass. On the other hand, the bookshelf and soundbar type focuses on a broader range of frequency. Therefore, choose the suitable one according to your setup and preference.
Room dimension
For choosing the best home theater audio system for your media center, the room dimension is a very important factor. For instance, satellite speakers are best for large rooms. Whereas bookshelf and soundbar-type speakers are best for smaller and mid-sized rooms.
Best multi channel home theater system | Top 10 choices
Among thousands of options, choosing the best and most reliable multi channel home theater system is now harder than ever. Besides, checking all the factors and making sure everything is right as advertised is another herculean task. So, here we will share our experience with some of the well-renowned home theater systems.
List of the best multi channel home theater systems
- Polk Audio 5.1 Channel Home Theater System
- Sony SSCS3 3-Way Floor-Standing Speaker
- Logitech Z906
- Polk Audio Signa S4
- Rockville HTS56
- Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra
- Klipsch Dolby Atmos 5.1.4 System
- Enclave CineHome
- Bose Soundbar 300 with surround speakers
- Monoprice 10565 Premium 5.1 Channel
Polk Audio 5.1 Channel Home Theater System
Product type: Bookshelf style with subwoofer
Power output: Up to 100W
If you want your music and movies to really come to life, invest in a subwoofer with a 10-inch driver and surround sound speaker set. This speaker unit from Polk is quite ideal for a room of average or smaller dimensions.
Additionally, a 10-inch subwoofer comes with a custom-designed directional port. Therefore, it ensures tight bass and enhanced low-frequency response, bringing your music and movies to life.
Pros
- 10-inch massive sound driver for amazing sound quality
- 100W subwoofer for powerful bass
- Very wider dispersion with minimal sound distortion
Cons
- Nothing significant
Furthermore, Polk’s proprietary Dynamic Balance Technology ensures broader dispersion and low distortions. Therefore, all of the speakers with subwoofers in the room provide superb 3D surround sound with thumping bass for every listener. Overall, it is the best home theater in a box for any spaced home theater of up to about 500 square feet.
Quantitative Measurement
- Sound quality: 9.5/10
- Immersiveness: 9/10
- Design: 9/10
- Durability: 10/10
Sony SSCS3 3-Way Floor-Standing Speaker
Product type: Floor standing
Power output: Up to 145W
When you are looking for the best high end home theater system, you will definitely come across Sony’s multi channel home theater at some point. This system provides stand-alone speakers with high-quality sound for a stereo or home theater system. Note that to experience complete surround sound immersion; you have to buy all five components of this system.
Pros
- Remarkable sound clarity
- Maintains amazing sound details even in the highest volume level
- Amazing surround sound immersion capability
Cons
- Bass performance could be better
Additionally, the speaker’s three-way coaxial, four-driver setup ensures full-frequency audio for enhanced movie, music, and gaming experiences. Overall, you can make a powerful home theater system optimized for multi channel audio with this unit.
Quantitative Measurement
- Sound quality: 9/10
- Immersiveness: 9/10
- Design: 10/10
- Durability: 8/10
Logitech Z906
Product type: Satellite Speaker
Power output: Up to 1000W
A multi channel home theater is a must if you want to enjoy Dolby Digital and DTS soundtracks in their full glory. Therefore, Logitech brings you this powerful THX-approved speaker for your media room. The four pieces of 67W wall-mountable satellite speaker ensure cinema theater-grade sound quality.
Pros
- Theater-grade sound quality
- THX certification ensures top-notch audio detail maintenance
- Affordable pricing
Cons
- The Subwoofer unit tends to get hot over time
Furthermore, the power output is 500 watts on the low end and 1,000 watts on the peak. Therefore, you can hear and feel every small audio detail, thanks to its booming bass and high-quality sound.
Quantitative Measurement
- Sound quality: 8.5/10
- Immersiveness: 8.5/10
- Design: 9/10
- Durability: 10/10
Polk Audio Signa S4
Product type: Soundbar with Subwoofer
Power output: Up to 120W
When browsing for a good home theater audio solution, you will find Polk Signa among these list of top 10 multi channel home theater systems. It provides a High-Tech Wireless Subwoofer with Ultra-Thin soundbar that provides 3D Surround Sound. Additionally, it features an improved 7-driver array and a dedicated full-range center channel for better audio quality.
Pros
- Compact and efficient design
- Dedicated voice and bass adjustment feature
- Supports Dolby Atmos out of the box
Cons
- The auto sleep mode may seem inconvenient sometimes
Furthermore, with the dedicated center channel and Polk’s exclusive voice and bass adjust technology, you can fine-tune the volume of sound objects easily. Therefore, it ensures that you never miss a word of the dialogue or tune. In a gist, surely it is one of the best home theater audio systems money can buy.
Quantitative Measurement
- Sound quality: 9.5/10
- Immersiveness: 9/10
- Design: 9/10
- Durability: 10/10
Rockville HTS56
Product type: Subwoofer, Soundbar & Surround sound speaker
Power output: Up to 1000W
When looking for a surround sound home theater system that has large power output, Rockville is there to save your day. This home theater audio unit from Rockville provides a thousand-watt power output, which is enough to blow the roof of your house. Also, it comes in a combination of subwoofers, satellite speakers, and surround sound speakers.
Pros
- Amazing sound quality and frequency response
- Multi-color LED for aesthetics
- Inbuilt FM receiver
Cons
- No Dolby or DTS support
Despite missing Dolby or DTS support, the sound quality is crisp and clear enough. In addition to the usual features, it also provides an LCD display and FM radio player. Overall, it is a complete audio package for any home theater setup.
Quantitative Measurement
- Sound quality: 9.5/10
- Immersiveness: 8/10
- Design: 9/10
- Durability: 10/10
Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra
Product type: Subwoofer, Soundbar & Surround sound speaker
Power output: Up to 1000W
In the ranking of the best high-end home theater speakers, Nakamichi stands with the top seven multi channel home theater audio systems. Its dual 10″ wireless subwoofers can generate rumbles with bass, transforming your living room into a hub of adrenaline-pumping excitement. Also, you can crank up the volume to movie theater levels without any audible distortion.
Pros
- Two powerful subwoofers
- Multi channel surround sound speakers produce remarkable audio details
- 360° surround sound for a theater an experience
Cons
- Very expensive
Therefore, you can recreate the atmosphere of a real movie theater in your home easily.
Furthermore, the exclusive Spatial Surround Elevation (SSE) technology will elevate the surround experience to an unprecedented level. Overall, a superior combination of dual subwoofer, rear speakers, and Dolby technology is enough for a good home theater audio system.
Quantitative Measurement
- Sound quality: 9.5/10
- Immersiveness: 9.5/10
- Design: 9/10
- Durability: 8/10
Klipsch Dolby Atmos 5.1.4 System
Product type: Component Speaker
Power output: Satellite 50W (200 watts peak), Center 75W (300 watts peak)
This multi channel home theater system features four satellite speakers equipped with Dolby Atmos technology. Therefore, together they create an immersive 360-degree surround sound field by reproducing height effects from both the front and rear of the room.
Pros
- Satellite and component speaker combination
- Amazing frequency response
- Sturdy build quality
Cons
- Subwoofer performance is quite average
Furthermore, the metal tweeters and proprietary Tractrix 90° x 90° horn design produce a powerful high-frequency response and a more expansive soundstage. The internal digital subwoofer amplifier is powerful and efficient for the original sound feeling.
Quantitative Measurement
- Sound quality: 8.8/10
- Immersiveness: 9.5/10
- Design: 9/10
- Durability: 8.5/10
Enclave CineHome II
Product type: Surround Sound Speaker with Subwoofer and Transmitter
Power output: Up to 100W
The Enclave CineHome II provides premium audio quality at a reasonable price. When searching for the best brand for home theater speakers that works without an AVR, Enclave got your back.
Pros
- Very powerful and accurate sound volume
- Aesthetic looking with the sturdy build quality
- Built-in aluminum tweeters provide amazing sound details
Cons
- Each speaker requires a separate power source
This multi channel home theater unit contains a wireless Enclave CineHub transmitter and five active speakers created and calibrated precisely for this system. Therefore, you can experience cinema-quality surround sound from stereo signals, thanks to Dolby Audio and DTS encoding technology.
Quantitative Measurement
- Sound quality: 8.5/10
- Immersiveness: 9/10
- Design: 8.5/10
- Durability: 9/10
Bose Soundbar 300 with surround speakers
Product type: Soundbar with Subwoofer and Surround Speaker
Power output: Up to 800W
This multi channel home theater package from Bose features a sleek matte-black exterior with a smooth metal grill. This sound bar is perfect for watching TV, listening to music, or playing video games. Furthermore, it produces a sound that is both loud, clear, and bass-heavy.
Pros
- Good value for money
- Dedicated mode for clear dialogues and audio clarity
- Good frequency response
Cons
- Noticeable lag in remote control functionality
Additionally, this smart soundbar has Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant preinstalled for convenient hands-free voice control. Also, a 360° noise-canceling mic array constantly scans the room for your speech. Overall, it’s an excellent home theater audio unit for smart media consumption.
Quantitative Measurement
- Sound quality: 9.5/10
- Immersiveness: 9/10
- Design: 8/10
- Durability: 8/10
Monoprice 10565 Premium 5.1 Channel
Product type: Satellite Speakers with Subwoofer
Power output: Satellite Speakers 100W, Subwoofer 200W
While having a home theater audio system with excellent sound quality is everyone’s dream, sometimes concessions must be made due to cost or personal preference. But now, Monoprice’s budget home theater audio system is here to save your day.
Pros
- Good audio quality
- Sturdy build quality
- Good surround speaker performance
Cons
- Frequency response is not very good
Overall, it provides a very high-quality audio reproduction, stylish design, compact size, and a shockingly affordable price. In a gist, it is the best of small home theater speakers if you are on a tight budget but prefer good audio quality.
Quantitative Measurement
- Sound quality: 8.5/10
- Immersiveness: 9/10
- Design: 8.5/10
- Durability: 9/10
What is Dolby Multichannel?
Dolby’s high-density Multichannel Amplifier is a newly upgraded and efficient sound amplifier device. Due to its remarkable efficiency and minimal equipment necessity, it is currently the most popular amplifier technology available. This device is remarkably capable of handling 16, 24, and 32 channels.
Additionally, it provides enhanced power handling for lower-impedance speakers and direct integration with high-end sound processors.
Closure
Here we have enlisted all the best-performing multi channel home theater devices available and reviewed them. Therefore,you can choose which home theater system is best for your use case and room. Furthermore, you can also explore some of the best outdoor soundbars for projectors to go with your system. You can check out our other blogs Best Soundbars for Sony TV and Best Headphones for Skateboarding.
