We’ve had the pleasure of reviewing many surround sound systems of all different types and sizes. Here are the best surround systems that you can get. After all, sound is 50% of the cinema experience
When it comes to a surround sound set-up you’ve got various options. Home cinema enthusiasts will favour a more traditional system, especially if you have a dedicated home cinema room with a projector screen. Wireless looks better in that there aren’t wires trailing around the room, as well as fewer boxes taking up space, and you get convenient features such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
When we test surround sound systems we look at how well they distribute sound around a room, with immersion the key to the best surround sound systems. We looking for good integation across the frequency range from treble down to the bass, as well as cohesion between the front and rear speakers so that there aren’t any holes within the soundstage. Everything must feel seemless.
We are looking to boost our options (if any brands are interested in sending some, please get in touch); but for now we’re currently focusing on wireless surround sound systems. If you haven’t quite found what you’re after, have a look at both out best soundbar and best Dolby Atmos soundbar.
And while you’re building a home cinema, it’s worth looking at our best projector and best TV list for the best home cinema experience.
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Learn more about how we test surround sound systems
Surround sound systems were created to boost put sound all around the listener – which means we end up watching a lot of TV. We play lots of movies and TV shows for scale and effects steering to ensure the surround sound systems that come through the doors at Trusted Reviews are given a proper challenge. We’ll play different genres of music, too, since a good surround system can double-up as a great music system.
Wireless surround sound systems feature network functionality for hooking up to other speakers and playing music around the home, so we test for connectivity issues and ease of use. We cover the spectrum of models available, everything from wireless systems to more traditional set-ups to ensure our reviews benefit from our extensive market knowledge. Every product is compared to similarly priced rivals, too.
Pros
- Powerful, detailed, room filling sound
- Outstanding Dolby Atmos/DTS:X soundstage creation
- Excellent connectivity
Cons
- It’s not cheap
- New subwoofer design could be more sensitive
- Requires some manual set up intervention
Pros
- Big, clear, and powerful sound
- Detachable speakers
- Good wireless support
Cons
- Overhead performance could be clearer
- Samsung HW-Q990D is available
Pros
- Compact active speakers
- Genuinely immersive listening experience
- Excellent two channel upscaling
Cons
- No subwoofer included
- Limited inputs on control box
- You’ll need plenty of power points
Pros
- Dynamic and spacious movie sound
- Clean highs and lucid vocals
- Superb mini subwoofer
- Fast setup
Cons
- Occasional wireless dongle audio dropouts
- No Wi-Fi
Pros
- Huge, open movie soundstage
- Punchy and detailed music
- Controlled, well-timed bass
- Fine build
Cons
- Front soundstage can feel restrained
- Menu scrolling/selection is fiddly
- No Wi-Fi or streaming platforms
Pros
- Excellent surround coverage
- Clear, detailed voices
- Easy plug-and-play
- Clean-lined, quality build
Cons
- Raspy top-end
- Over-busy remote
Pros
- Immersive surround sound
- Easy to use
- Long battery life
- Smart design
Cons
- Battery life depletes in standby mode
- Sounds strained at high volumes
- Less convincing with music
- No Wi-Fi
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Powerful, detailed, room filling sound -
Outstanding Dolby Atmos/DTS:X soundstage creation -
Excellent connectivity
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It’s not cheap -
New subwoofer design could be more sensitive -
Requires some manual set up intervention
Much like its predecessor, the HW Q990F is a four-piece system made up of a soundbar, separate subwoofer and two rear speakers. However, there’s some new features that make the HW Q990F a worthy update.
Firstly, Samsung has switched up the design from the Q990D. Not only does it have a lighter colour scheme, but the soundbar now sports a horizontal striping effect rather than the standard hard mesh finish.
In addition, and perhaps most notably, the Q990F now boasts a new subwoofer component that switches from the old upright, single-driver design to a cubic shape with active 8-inch drivers on two of the cube’s opposing sides.
We hailed this new subwoofer component as nothing short of a success and found that it performs much better than its, already outstanding, predecessor. Its bass levels are smooth and deep, with no hint of sharpness or gruffness either.
Design changes aside, the key features of Samsung HW-Q990F are its 11.1.4 channel configuration, support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X sound formats. Plus, Samsung claims its new design can help the system hit frequencies as low as 32Hz. There’s also onboard processing that can upmix simple stereo music to take advantage of all the system’s available channels, AI Adaptive Sound that analyses the incoming sound and calculates the best settings for it and Active Voice Amplifier which listens out for increases in ambient noise.
The HW-Q990F can also receive Dolby Atmos soundtracks wirelessly from compatible Samsung TVs, as well as being able to share speaker duties with them courtesy of Samsung’s Q Symphony feature.
While the subwoofer may hog the limelight, it’s worth noting that the other components all add up to delivering a brilliant soundstage. The main bar in particular delivers power, phenomenal channel projection, huge impact, stellar detail and uniquely precise staging and effects placement that few other soundbars can match.
Overall, if you want the absolute best of the best, then the Samsung HW Q990F is not one to be missed.
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Big, clear, and powerful sound -
Detachable speakers -
Good wireless support
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Overhead performance could be clearer -
Samsung HW-Q990D is available
Although it has been succeeded by the Bar 1300 MkII, the JBL Bar 1300 remains one of the best modular systems.
What does this mean? You can detach the ends of the main bar and use them as rear speakers, creating a surround sound system whenever you like. On full charge the detachable speakers can last for 12 hours, just about long enough for another Lord of the Rings: Extended Trilogy binge.
The design itself is bland, but soundbar systems aren’t meant to be stared at. With the speakers attached to the main unit, the soundbar is one of the longest we’ve tested so a wide piece of AV furniture is required. You get a display that’s easily viewable from the distance of a couch, and in terms of connections you get three HDMI inputs for plugging sources straight into the bar.
Both Dolby and DTS soundtracks are covered, with JBL’s MultiBeam technology performing a similar trick to Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound Mapping in assessing the room space and creating the optimal sound. The JBL One app offers the remote control functionality in full, with EQ options, and the ability to adjust the performance of the speakers by adding more height. You can also play from the likes of Tidal, Amazon Music, and Qobuz from the app.
The performance is powerful from the get-go, the 10-inch subwoofer harnesses plenty of weight and punch without overwhelming. Tonally, the JBL goes for a crisp, detailed, and clear performance; the dynamic range is superb in terms of describing the difference between quiet and loud and midrange clarity is excellent, dialogue always comes through clearly.
It’s the equal of Samsung’s HW-Q990D in several ways, but isn’t the complete performer we found that soundbar to be, especially in terms of delivering height. It’s an excellent choice though, and worthy of an audition.
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Compact active speakers -
Genuinely immersive listening experience -
Excellent two channel upscaling
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No subwoofer included -
Limited inputs on control box -
You’ll need plenty of power points
After testing the waters with its HT-A9 surround system, Sony has gone down an even more unqiue design road with the Bravia Theatre Quad system (or HT-A9M2), which it as aspirations on being a high quality, space-saving and room-friendly design.
It is expensive at £2499 / $2500, and the cost becomes a touch painful considering a subwoofer isn’t included. You’ll need to stump up more for either the SW3 or SW5 sub if you want to add more bass to the system.
The bass from what are small boxes is perfectly good, able to go down as low as 50Hz, which is perfectly respectable. It’s a system our reviewer found worked brilliantly with Hollywood blockbusters, the height provided is impressive but it’s the way the system steers sounds across the soundstage to creates its sense of immersion, with dialogue always rooted in the centre (despite their being no actual centre speaker) that really impresses.
The Bravia Theatre Quad speakers can be stood up on supports or mounted to a wall depending on your space. There’s a hub that connects each speakers and is where you’ll find all the connections located. None of the speakers run on battery, so you will need to have a plug (or extension) nearby for power.
The 360 Spatial Sound Mapping is the real star of the show, mapping your room to convincingly splay sound effects around you, regardless of whether the speakers are placed in an optimal position or not. Audio track includes support for both Dolby and DTS formats, so home cinema purists may want to consider this package over others, despite its premium price.
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Dynamic and spacious movie sound -
Clean highs and lucid vocals -
Superb mini subwoofer -
Fast setup
-
Occasional wireless dongle audio dropouts -
No Wi-Fi
We were seriously impressed by the Loewe We.Boost system thanks to its marvellous sound quality housed in such a compact system. In fact, we concluded that the subwoofer alone is easily one of “the most impressive integrated system bass enclosures” we’ve heard.
At 38.7cm high, the subwoofer should tuck neatly into a corner. Internally, it’s fitted with a 6.5-inch floor-facing active woofer while its 4-inch passive reflect port is near the top side of the rear panel.
Alongside the subwoofer, there are four separate satellite speakers with a 12 x 12cm footprint, the We.Boost system is not only flexible but this design should help improve the sonics too.
Setting up the We.Boost system is a breeze, as you simply need to plug each of the components into the mains, then connect the included HDMI eARC dongle into your TV. From here, the system will leap into action without you needing to go through a complicated set-up process.
Just keep in mind that the We.Boost doesn’t include a Wi-Fi connection, which is a shame.
While there is no DTS:X accommodation, the We Boost system supports Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby True HD. It can also accept a PCM signal if you’d prefer.
There are three listening modes to choose from, which although isn’t necessarily the most comprehensive of them all, does allow you to choose between either surround, dual stereo or bass-reduced night settings.
We found that the We.Boost did a brilliant job of enhancing almost everything we threw at it, from dialogue to action-packed blockbusters. Even when paired with a decent TV, everything undoubtedly sounds clearer than without.
Although you won’t benefit from Wi-Fi, the We.Boost offers such a brilliant sound performance for a generous price that it’s an easy recommendation for us.
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Huge, open movie soundstage -
Punchy and detailed music -
Controlled, well-timed bass -
Fine build
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Front soundstage can feel restrained -
Menu scrolling/selection is fiddly -
No Wi-Fi or streaming platforms
The HT-SBW55121 is Sharp’s current flagship that’s made up of a soundbar and subwoofer that offer up to a 5.1.2 channel configuration. However, you can build out to 7.1.4 channels with the help of the 2.0.2 wireless surrounds which cost an additional £219 each (HT-SPR52021).
The soundbar itself is fitted with a total of eight drivers, including four front (left, right and two in the centre) alongside two pairs of side and up-firing drivers. Together, the 126cm soundbar and 45cm tall subwoofer share the same cotton mesh design which, although looks neat, is susceptible to dust and marks so handle with care.
Otherwise, the soundbar and subwoofer supports full Dolby Atmos and DTS:X immersive audio, and there’s also 3D sound processing too. Both need to connect over Bluetooth too, and annoyingly there’s no Wi-Fi or app control included.
Speaking of connectivity, you do benefit from HDMI eARC for lossless audio, a 3.5mm line-in, two HDMI 4K inputs and a USB port too.
Overall we were impressed with the Sharp system and found it presents a balanced soundstage, especially when streaming music. When watching TV and blockbusters, although there was some shrillness which isn’t uncommon with soundbars, all-in-all we’d say the HT-SBW55121 offers a pleasant listening experience.
However, it’s when the Dolby Atmos comes into play that the Sharp comes into its own. While we did note the front soundstage to be slightly laid back, generally the speakers managed to create an immersive experience.
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Excellent surround coverage -
Clear, detailed voices -
Easy plug-and-play -
Clean-lined, quality build
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Raspy top-end -
Over-busy remote
While we haven’t always praised Majority’s efforts when it comes to speakers and other gadgets, the Everest 5.1 is a good surround system for anyone who wants to enhance their home entertainment set-up without spending for the privilege.
Thanks to its oval cross-section, the Majority Everest 5.1’s soundbar has a softer look to it compared to competitors, while the soundbar’s 90cm length means it pairs nicely with either a 55- or 60-inch display. However, it’s worth noting that the soundbar can extend to 124cm when the surround speakers are twist-locked onto the ends.
Speaking of which, neither of the speakers have a hard power connection which is one of the key features of the Everest 5.1 and either screw onto the steel feet or bond with the soundbar.
At the back of the soundbar, there’s a healthy amount of connectivity ports, including an HDMI ARC, optical, line-level RCA, 3.5mm jack and USB. Plus, alongside the plastic remote (which is a little busy but useful), Majority includes a set of RCAs and a 3.5mm cable in the box too.
Overall, the Majority Everest 5.1 is an impressive performer. Not only can the system easily enhance dialogue, but it especially surprised us with its surround immersion. Sure, it may not be as impressive as more expensive options and has the same thinness as other budget models, but for this price you can’t help but be impressed.
If you want an inexpensive and easy way to enhance your TV, movie and even just music listening, then we’d easily recommend the Majority Everest 5.1.
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Immersive surround sound -
Easy to use -
Long battery life -
Smart design
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Battery life depletes in standby mode -
Sounds strained at high volumes -
Less convincing with music -
No Wi-Fi
The HT-AX7 might be one of the more peculiar products you’ve come across in that it’s a ‘personal’ sound system.
So unlike the Samsung and JBL efforts on this list, this isn’t for your TV but for mobile devices like a smartphone, tablet, and laptops. It’s a rather ingenious concept in our view.
It’s made up of three elements: two detachable speakers that you can place around you and the main speaker unit that sits in front of your seating position. It’s easy enough to ferry from room to room, and the width of speaker makes it easy to place if you’re short on space.
It connects via Bluetooth with no Wi-Fi support, an omission we thought was odd. The wireless performance is strong, but we would have liked the ability to use Wi-Fi alongside Bluetooth for casting directly to the speaker. Wi-Fi also tends to use less battery life too.
The 360 Spatial Sound Mapping support creates a soundstage around your sitting position with both physical speakers and virtual ones, although Sony claims it can produce overhead sounds, we found that to be more marketing mumbo-jumbo.
Battery is claimed to be around 30+ hours, and we certainly get the impression they could last that long from our time using them, although when the speakers are in standby mode they do consume battery so that’s something to watch out for if you don’t use the speaker for a week (or two).
The performance with movies and TV shows is quite impressive. There’s a wider, bigger soundstage to enjoy than if you were listening through a pair of headphones or the mobile device. Synching between what’s on the screen and the speakers is excellent, the rears fill in the space behind you in a way that keeps up the levels of immersion.
At higher volume levels it can sound thin, and with music it’s not that great. You won’t get much bass either, but that’s no surprise for a speaker of this size.
FAQs
7.1 surround sound would offer the more immersive performance, due to the number of speakers with the set-up ensuring that there is sound coming from multiple directions. If you don’t have room to fit a 7.1 system then a 5.1 would suit absolutely fine.
Full Specs
| Samsung HW-Q990F Review | JBL Bar 1300 Review | Sony Bravia Theatre Quad Review | Loewe We. Boost Review | Sharp HT-SBW55121 Review | Majority Everest 5.1 Review | Sony HT-AX7 Review | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK RRP | £1699 | £1299 | £2499 | £999 | £549 | £299 | £449 |
| USA RRP | $1999 | $1699 | $2500 | – | – | – | $499 |
| EU RRP | €1650 | €1399 | €2699 | – | – | – | €549 |
| CA RRP | CA$2199 | – | CA$2499 | – | – | – | Unavailable |
| AUD RRP | AU$2099 | – | AU$3699 | – | – | – | Unavailable |
| Manufacturer | Samsung | JBL | Sony | Loewe | Sharp | Majority | Sony |
| Size (Dimensions) | x x INCHES | 1376 x 139 x 60 MM | 275 x 55 x 289 INCHES | x x INCHES | 1260 x 125 x 75 MM | 900 x 98.3 x 65.6 MM | 306 x 123 x 97 MM |
| Weight | – | 16.7 G | 2.61 KG | – | 12.3 KG | – | 2 KG |
| ASIN | – | B0BCVRKKM6 | B0CZ7MGY3H | B0DM6G9RVQ | B0D37M2TWG | B09DTCGT7Q | B0CC6J8J64 |
| Release Date | 2025 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2025 | 2023 | 2023 |
| Model Number | – | – | – | – | – | – | HTAX7.CEL |
| Model Variants | – | Bar 1300X | – | – | – | – | – |
| Audio Resolution | – | – | – | – | – | – | SBC, AAC |
| Sound Bar Channels | – | 11.1.4 | 4.0.4 | 4.1.2 | 7.1.4 | 5.1 | – |
| Driver (s) | – | Six 46x90mm racetrack, five 20mm tweeters, four 70mm upfiring, 10-inch woofer; two 46x90mm racetrack, two 20mm tweeter, two 70mm upfiring, two 48×69 passive radiators | – | 4 x 1.5-inch tweeters; 4 x 3.5-inch mid drivers; 4 x 2-inch height drivers; 6.5-inch woofer; 4-inch passive reflex port | Four 40x90mm, two 37x86mm side-firing, two 2.5-inch Up-firing, 6.5-inch subwoofer | 2 x 2.25in 4 x 2.25in mid-tweeter; 2 x 2.25in full range; 1 x 5.25in bass | Two X-balanced, two passive radiators |
| Front Speaker (Dimensions) | 1232(w) x 70.8(h) x 138(d)mm | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Subwoofer (Dimensions) | 249(w) x 251.8(h) x 249(d)mm | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Surround Sound Systems | 129.5(w) x 201.3(h) x 140.5(d)mm | – | – | 120 x 201 x 120 | – | – | 122 x 39 x 122mm |
| Audio (Power output) | 756 W | 1170 W | 504 W | 720 W | 650 W | 300 W | – |
| Connectivity | two HDMI inputs, HDMI output, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2, Optical digital audio input | Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Bluetooth 5, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect | HDMI, HDMI eARC, S-Centre Out, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.4 | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.2 |
| ARC/eARC | ARC/eARC | ARC/eARC | ARC/eARC | ARC/eARC | ARC/eARC | ARC | – |
| Colours | Grey | Grey | Grey | Grey | Grey/Black | Black | Grey |
| Frequency Range | – Hz | – | – Hz | 20 20000 – Hz | – | 70 15000 – Hz | – Hz |
| Audio Formats | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Audio, DTS, DTS:X | Dolby Atmos, DTS:X | Dolby Atmos, DTS: X, LPCM | Dolby Atmos, olby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby True HD, PCM | Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital, DTS:X, DTS-HD, DTS 5.1 | – | – |
| Power Consumption | – | – | – | – | – | – | 51 W |
| Subwoofer | Yes | Yes | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | – |
| Rear Speaker | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | – |
| Speaker Type | – | – | – | – | – | – | Portable Speaker |
| Inputs | – | – | – | – | – | – | USB-C |
| Front speaker (Weight) | 7.3 g | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Subwoofer (Weight) | 8.3 g | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Surround sound speaker (Weight) | 3.4 g | – | – | – | – | – | – |
