Sharper Image 51 Home Theater Sound System Review

If you want to enjoy your favorite movies, video games, or fifty-fifty music in surround audio merely don't accept infinite for a full dwelling house theater setup with satellite speakers, a v.one soundbar setup may be what y'all're looking for. Yous tin generally wait a 5.i soundbar system to come up with a fairly wide 5-channel bar and a split subwoofer, but some models integrate the sub straight into the bar. This kind of setup won't sound every bit natural as a more traditional home theater speaker system, but it provides a more than immersive listening experience than a regular 2 or three-channel soundbar. Some 5.1 soundbars even have upwardly-firing speakers to give the impression of height with Dolby Atmos content, which some Blu-rays and streaming services back up.

We've tested over 130 soundbars, and below yous'll find the all-time five.1 soundbars to buy. Make sure to check out our recommendations for the best soundbars, the best budget soundbars, and the best Dolby Atmos soundbars.

1. Best 5.one Soundbar: Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module

   The best 5.1 soundbar nosotros've tested is the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module. This premium 5.i.ii setup is a great option for watching movies. Its two detached satellites aid to accurately correspond audio objects in the soundstage, so, for instance, racing cars in a chase scene seem like they're moving past you from one accurate location to another.

   Like most premium confined, it has a room correction characteristic to optimize audio reproduction based on your room's unique acoustics - Bose calls this feature ADAPTiQ. With it on, its sound profile is very neutral, meaning that dialogue in your favorite movies is clear and authentic in the mix, and activeness scenes make you feel the thump and rumble in the depression-bass. Its soundstage is very wide, also, so it seems like the action is happening all around y'all.

   Unfortunately, this bar doesn't come with equally many customization features every bit some of the other more premium models on the market place. There's no EQ, so y'all merely accept simple bass and treble adjustments to customize its sound. There'southward no DTS support, either, and while this format is pretty rare on its own, it's often the fallback for higher quality DTS-HD MA formatted Blu-rays. Nonetheless, this bar is one of the best soundbars we've tested.

   See our review

2. Alternative With DTS Support: Sonos Arc with Sub + 1 SL Speakers

   If you lot want a 5.1 soundbar with DTS back up, bank check out the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers. This premium setup doesn't support as many wireless playback options similar the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module. However, a contempo update to the Sonos S2 app allows it to playback DTS content unremarkably found in movies. Otherwise, the two bars offering very similar performances. Information technology likewise has a room correction feature, which Sonos calls Trueplay, though it'southward only bachelor with iOS devices. With Trueplay on, its sound contour is a bit vivid, but you can utilize its bass and treble adjustments to create a more neutral sound if you want. It also offers a very immersive surround sound, and information technology's a solid choice for listening to Dolby Atmos content.

   You lot can't go wrong with either of these premium setups. Consider the Bose if you want a Bluetooth-compatible soundbar with a better soundstage. Check out the Sonos if y'all desire to picket DTS content.

   See our review

3. Best 5.1 Soundbar With Passthrough: Vizio Elevate

   The best 5.1 soundbar with passthrough that we've tested is the Vizio Elevate. Unlike the Sonos Arc with Sub + Ane SL Speakers and the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module, this setup has a Full HDMI In port that supports high-quality passthrough, including Dolby Vision Passthrough. You lot tin can use the bar as a hub betwixt different devices to play 5.one surround sound movies and video games from your PC on your TV. Additionally, text on your screen appears clear and crisp.

   This premium 5.one.four setup has decent performance with surround sound, cheers to its two satellite speakers that offer a clear and real representation of sound objects similar voices and moving vehicles. Its soundstage is quite wide, too, and the bar's unique design means that its sides can rotate up to brand the soundstage seem even wider. Its bass-heavy sound profile means that y'all feel the extra punch in the bass range, especially during action scenes, while its balanced mids ensure that dialogue is still clearly reproduced.

   Unfortunately, this soundbar doesn't come with a room correction feature, meaning that it tin can sound a chip different depending on the room y'all're in. It's also not platonic if you prefer a more neutral audio since you need to apply its bass and treble adjustments to reduce the amount of bass it reproduces. All the same, it's a very versatile 5.1 setup.

   See our review

4. All-time Standalone 5.one Soundbar: Bose Smart Soundbar 900

   If you're low on infinite, the best 5.1 soundbar with a standalone pattern that nosotros've tested is the Bose Smart Soundbar 900. It's the aforementioned bar that comes with the full setup, but without the subwoofer and satellites that have up actress room in your living space. Information technology has a pretty wide and immersive-sounding soundstage that moves sound all the fashion to the walls of your room, besides.

   The standalone bar offers a lot of the same features equally the full setup, including the ADAPTiQ room correction characteristic. With it on, its neutral sound profile ways that dialogue is clearly and accurately reproduced, with a petty actress dial in the high-bass range. There's Atmos back up, and its surround sound functioning is okay, especially compared to other standalone setups.

   Information technology isn't as good for surroundings sound as the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module. Without the satellite speakers, the soundstage is a bit smaller, and the focus isn't as good. Sound objects, similar gunfire in a shootout scene, seem like they're coming from speakers placed in front of you lot rather than from authentic locations around y'all that reflect the action on your screen. It also lacks low-bass, so there's less rumble with action-heavy scenes.

   See our review

5. Alternative With Integrated Subwoofer: Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar

   If yous want a standalone five.one soundbar with an integrated subwoofer, bank check out the Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar. Its integrated sub can reproduce a more than extended low-bass that helps you feel the thump and rumble in your audio, especially with action scenes in 5.i movies. Still, its large and beefy pattern may not be ideal for all listeners, particularly with more than affordable models similar the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 around. Still, the bar has an impressive operation with surround and Atmos content, thank you to its AMBEO 3D mode that offers a wide and immersive soundstage. At that place'south fifty-fifty a room correction feature, resulting in a fairly neutral sound that can reproduce voices and pb instruments clearly. Despite its low-frequency extension, its bass response isn't very audible out-of-the-box, but y'all can use its bass and treble adjustments as well as its graphic EQ to add more than thump and punch.

   If you want a more affordable, meliorate-built standalone soundbar with a better soundstage, check out the Bose. If you desire a standalone bar with an integrated sub that tin reproduce a more extended depression-bass, check out the Sennheiser.

   See our review

6. Best 5.1 Soundbar Under $500: Vizio G Series M512a-H6

   The Vizio G Series M512a-H6 is the best 5.1 soundbar under $500 that we've tested. This well-built 5.one.ii setup offers an impressive price-to-functioning ratio, with ii discrete satellite speakers that offering good environs sound. When listening to five.1 content, the bar represents a articulate and real performance, so the sounds you hear mirror the activeness on your screen.

   Out-of-the-box, it offers a neutral, counterbalanced sound profile out-of-the-box suitable for listening to many dissimilar types of audio content. With its balanced mids, dialogue in movies is clear and detailed, and its dedicated subwoofer ensures that you feel the rumble in bass-heavy movie scores and action scenes. It has a wide soundstage, besides, and so sound seems to stretch all around you.

   Unfortunately, its functioning isn't as impressive as the Sonos Arc or the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 full setups. There'southward no room correction feature, so its sound varies depending on the acoustics of your infinite. Also, the frequency responses on its environs channels aren't as balanced, so y'all notice a little more muddiness in the sound compared to the premium models. Still, it's an affordable alternative.

   See our review

7. Best Budget 5.1 Soundbar: Vizio Five Serial V51-H6

   The Vizio V Series V51-H6 is the all-time budget 5.1 soundbar we've tested. The manufacturer recently released the side by side-generation Vizio V Serial V51x-J6, merely this setup remains the best choice between the two models. In that location aren't a lot of differences in features or operation, aside from the fact that the V51-H6 reproduces a more extended depression-bass than the newer version, significant you tin can feel more thump and rumble in your audio.

   Compared to other products in its toll range, information technology has a pretty versatile performance, and it even comes with discrete satellites to ameliorate its surround audio. These satellites ensure a articulate and existent representation of surround objects in 5.1 content, like helicopters that seem to fly overhead from 1 pinpoint location to another. Dialogue is clear, cheers to its balanced mids, and at that place's plenty of rumble in the bass to bring activity scenes to life.

   How does it stack upward with the more premium models? Kickoff, there's no room correction feature, pregnant that it sounds dissimilar depending on your room. The lack of Atmos support is pretty typical for bars in its price range, but still, it's disappointing if you picket lots of movies on streaming platforms and Blu-ray discs. Its soundstage is decent, just it isn't as wide or immersive-sounding as the top picks. If you're on a tight budget, it's a solid selection for five.1 surround sound.

   See our review

Recent Updates

1. Apr 08, 2022: No changes in product picks. Small updates to the text for clarity.

2. Feb 08, 2022: Updated the Sonos Arc to 'Alternative With DTS Back up'. Minor updates to the text for accuracy. No changes in product picks.

3. Dec 10, 2021: Replaced the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers with the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module. Moved the Sonos to the 'Better Surrounds Culling'. Added the Vizio Elevate every bit 'All-time With Passthrough'. Replaced the Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar with the better value Bose Smart Soundbar 900 as 'Best Standalone'. Moved the Sennheiser to 'Alternative With Integrated Sub'.

4. October 12, 2021: Replaced the Vizio M Serial M51a-H6 with the next generation Vizio M Series M512a-H6. Pocket-size updates to the text.

5. Aug thirteen, 2021: Added the LG SN10YG equally 'Best For Bass'. Added the Vizio M Series M51ax-J6 and the Vizio M Series M512a-H6 to Notable Mentions.

All Reviews

Our recommendations above are what nosotros think are currently the best five.one soundbars for almost people to buy. We factor in the price (a cheaper soundbar wins over a pricier i if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no soundbars that are difficult to discover or almost out of stock everywhere).

If you lot would like to choose for yourself, here's the listing of all our reviews of soundbars with 5.one channels. Be careful non to get caught upwards in the details. No soundbar is perfect. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits volition thing more in your choice.

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Source: https://www.rtings.com/soundbar/reviews/best/by-type/5-1