Your home can look beautiful, but sound changes the experience of a space. Think about watching your favorite movie with weak TV speakers versus rich, room-filling sound. Choosing the Right Sound System can make music feel part of the room when you cook dinner.
Nevertheless, a good sound system can make your home feel more comfortable, entertaining, and immersive. However, the setup can be overwhelming, so Choosing the Right Sound System provides a clear starting point.
There are soundbars, wireless speakers, surround-sound systems, subwoofers, bookshelf speakers, Dolby Atmos, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth. The list goes on. So how do you know what you actually need? The answer starts with how you use your home.
Start With How You Listen
Before buying anything, ask yourself one simple question:
What do I want my sound system to do?
Are you primarily:
- Watching television and movies?
- Listening to music?
- Playing video games?
- Entertaining guests?
- Listening throughout the entire house?
- Looking for better sound without filling your room with speakers?
Your answer can dramatically change which system makes sense for you.
For example, someone who watches Netflix every night may be perfectly happy with a high-quality soundbar. A serious music lover may prefer a pair of stereo speakers. Someone building a home theater may want a complete surround-sound system. There isn’t one ‘best’ Choosing the Right Sound System for every home. There’s only the best system for your space and lifestyle.
1. Consider the Size of Your Room
Your room matters more than many people realize. A compact soundbar might sound fantastic in a small apartment living room but may struggle to create the same immersive experience in a large open-concept family room.
Small Room
Consider:
- Compact soundbar
- Bookshelf speakers
- Small wireless speakers
- 2.1-channel system
Medium Room
Consider:
- Larger soundbar
- Soundbar + subwoofer
- Stereo bookshelf speakers
- 5.1-channel system
Large Room
Consider:
- Premium soundbar system
- Soundbar + subwoofer + rear speakers
- Full surround-sound system
- Floor-standing or larger bookshelf speakers
Don’t make the mistake of assuming that more speakers automatically means better sound. Speaker placement, room acoustics, and the quality of the equipment all matter.
2. Soundbar or Traditional Speakers?
This is probably the biggest decision you’ll make.
Soundbars: Simple and Stylish
If you want better TV sound without turning your living room into a recording studio, a soundbar is probably your best starting point. Soundbars are relatively easy to install, take up little space, and many modern models can create surprisingly immersive sound. Some can also be expanded with wireless subwoofers and rear speakers.
Current testing from RTINGS and What Hi-Fi continues to show how competitive modern soundbars have become, particularly models with Dolby Atmos and separate surround speakers.
Best for:
- TV watching
- Movies
- Small and medium living rooms
- Apartments
- People who don’t want lots of wires
- Clean, minimalist interiors
3. Traditional Speakers: For the Music Lover
If music is your priority, you may want to consider a pair of powered bookshelf speakers. These are speakers designed to sit on shelves, media consoles, speaker stands, or furniture specifically designed for audio equipment. One advantage is that you’re listening to true left-and-right stereo sound, rather than relying on a single soundbar.
For example, the Audioengine A5+ is a powered bookshelf speaker system that can work for music, computers, turntables, and home theater applications. The A5+ is currently available from Audioengine, with additional retail availability through stores such as Best Buy.
Best for:
- Music lovers
- Vinyl enthusiasts
- Home offices
- Smaller entertainment areas
- People who prefer stereo sound
- A more traditional speaker setup
4. Don’t Forget the Subwoofer
If you love action movies, music with strong bass, or that “cinema” feeling, a subwoofer can make a huge difference. A subwoofer is designed specifically to reproduce low-frequency sounds.
Think:
Explosions. Bass lines. Thunder. Deep musical notes. Without one, your system can still sound good. But adding a dedicated subwoofer can give the sound considerably more depth.
This is especially useful in larger rooms. However, don’t automatically buy the biggest subwoofer you can find. Too much bass in a small room can actually make the sound feel muddy or overwhelming.
5. Do You Need Surround Sound?
If you want your living room to feel like a movie theater, surround sound is worth considering.
A traditional 5.1 system generally consists of:
- Front left speaker
- Center speaker
- Front right speaker
- Two rear/surround speakers
- Subwoofer
A newer Dolby Atmos system can add a sense of height to the sound, making effects seem to come from above as well as around you. For example, a helicopter scene in a movie can feel like the sound is actually moving overhead rather than simply coming from the television.
But there’s a catch.
Surround sound works best when you have enough space to position the speakers correctly. If your sofa is pushed against a wall or your room has an unusual layout, a traditional surround system may not be the most practical option.
6. Think About Your TV
Your television and sound system need to work together. One of the most important connections to look for is HDMI eARC, which allows compatible TVs to send high-quality audio to the sound system.
Before purchasing, check:
- What HDMI connections does your TV have?
- Does it support HDMI ARC or eARC?
- Does the sound system support the same connection?
- Will your game console connect through the TV or sound system?
- Do you need additional HDMI inputs?
This is one area where spending five minutes checking your TV specifications can save you a lot of frustration later.
7. Wired vs. Wireless
Here’s another important decision.
Wired
Pros:
- Reliable connection
- Excellent for dedicated home theaters
- No concern about wireless interference
- Often more flexibility for serious audio systems
Cons:
- More cables
- More complicated installation
- Speaker placement can be limited
Wireless
Pros:
- Cleaner appearance
- Easier installation
- Flexible speaker placement
- Great for modern homes
Cons:
- Requires power for many wireless speakers
- Wireless systems can be more expensive
- Some systems work best when you stay within one manufacturer’s ecosystem
If your priority is a beautiful, uncluttered living room, wireless is extremely appealing.
8. Consider a System You Can Upgrade
One of my favorite approaches is not trying to buy everything at once.
You can start small and build.
For example:
Stage 1: Soundbar
Stage 2: Add a subwoofer
Stage 3: Add rear speakers
Stage 4: Add speakers to other rooms
This approach allows you to spread the cost over time instead of spending thousands of dollars all at once. Sonos is particularly well suited to this approach because its products are designed around an expandable ecosystem.
My Sound System Recommendations:
Best Premium All-Around Option: Sonos Arc Ultra
If you want a sleek soundbar that looks at home in a beautifully decorated living room, the Sonos Arc Ultra is one of the strongest premium options. It supports Dolby Atmos, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and HDMI eARC and can be expanded with additional Sonos speakers and a subwoofer. What Hi-Fi currently rates it as one of its top soundbar choices.
Best for: Premium living rooms, movie lovers, music, and people who want the option to expand.
Where to shop: Sonos, Best Buy, Amazon and other major retailers.
Best Mid-Range Movie Setup: JBL Bar 500MK2
If you want powerful movie sound without jumping all the way into a premium multi-speaker system, the JBL Bar 500MK2 is worth considering. It includes a wireless subwoofer and supports Dolby Atmos. RTINGS currently identifies the JBL Bar 1000MK2 as a strong mid-range choice, while the Bar 500MK2 offers a simpler 5.1-channel configuration.
Best for: Movie nights, families, medium-size living rooms, and people who want strong bass.
Where to shop: Best Buy, Walmart and other major electronics retailers.
Best for Music: Audioengine A5+
If you’re more interested in music than creating a surround-sound theater, take a look at the Audioengine A5+. They’re traditional powered bookshelf speakers with stereo sound and multiple connection options.
Best for: Music lovers, home offices, turntables and people who prefer the look of traditional speakers.
Where to shop: Audioengine and retailers such as Best Buy.
Best Premium Bose Option: Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar
If you want something simple but don’t want to sacrifice premium sound, the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar is another strong option. It supports Dolby Atmos and Bose’s TrueSpace processing, and it can be paired with additional Bose equipment.
Best for: People who want premium sound without building a complicated system.
Where to shop: Best Buy, Bose and other major retailers.
What About a Full Home Theater?
If you’re serious about creating a dedicated movie room, you may eventually want to move beyond a soundbar.
A traditional speaker package paired with an AV receiver gives you much more control over individual speakers and can provide a more authentic surround-sound experience.
However, it also requires:
- More equipment
- More wires
- More space
- More setup
- Proper speaker placement
Traditional speaker systems can deliver excellent results, but soundbars are considerably easier to install and live with. For most households, I’d start with a quality soundbar and only move into a full home theater if you’re genuinely passionate about home audio.
Don’t Forget About Your Décor
Here’s something we don’t talk about enough when choosing audio equipment:
Your sound system is part of your room.
You don’t want to spend hours decorating a beautiful living room only to add equipment that makes the space feel cluttered.
Think about:
- Speaker color
- Speaker size
- Cable management
- Wall mounting
- Placement around furniture
- Whether the equipment complements your TV console
- Whether speakers can be hidden within your existing design
A sleek black soundbar can disappear underneath a wall-mounted television. Bookshelf speakers can become part of your décor when placed on beautiful shelving. And wireless speakers give you considerably more freedom to design the room around your lifestyle rather than designing the room around the technology.
The Bottom Line
Choosing a sound system doesn’t have to mean buying the most expensive equipment you can find. Instead, start with your room, your lifestyle, and your listening habits. For viewers who primarily watch TV, start with a soundbar. Those who love music should consider stereo bookshelf speakers. If you want movie-theater sound, look at a system with a subwoofer and surround speakers.
If you’re building a dedicated theater, consider a traditional surround system. And if you’re not sure where you’ll eventually end up, choose an expandable system so you can start small and upgrade as your needs change. The goal isn’t to fill your home with speakers.
The goal is to make your home sound as good as it feels.
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