Home Theatre Systems

8 Best Home Theatre Systems in India (2023)

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April 30, 20224248 views0

If you are an audio lover or just looking for the best home theatre systems, you have come to the right place. We have researched all the best and latest music systems available on the market and compiled a list after taking into account their features, affordability and feedback from buyers. You can also read our buyers guide if you want to get good knowledge about home theatres before buying one. We have comprehensively answered all the common questions that buyers like you want to know.

We begin our list of the best home theater system in India 2022, with this 5.1 channel Sony home theatre system. You will be immersed in every movie you watch from the comfort of your living room with a Dolby Digital surround sound experience. It features rear speakers with an external subwoofer that works with the 7.62cm soundbar that puts you right in the middle of the action with its truly cinematic sound. Having a power output of 600 W, it gives you a heart-thumping experience with clear bass from the subwoofer. It has multiple connectivity options like NFC technology, HDMI ARC, USB port and wireless connectivity via Bluetooth etc., so that you can start streaming instantly.

Features:-

a. 5.1 Channel Real Surround Sound

This home theatre system from Sony delivers authentic surround sounds for all music, games, movies, and sports played on it. Its slim soundbar along with two rear speakers work together to create a wide-frequency, balanced audio response, and its external subwoofer adds more power to the bass. Now you can feel every exciting action sequence turn real around you.

b. All the Magic of the Movies

You can immerse yourself in any movie with 5.1 channels of real surround sound of this sound system. Its external subwoofers and rear speakers work with its 3-channel soundbar to deliver true cinematic surround sound. You will also get the purest surround sound with its S-Master digital amp.

c. Dolby Digital

With Dolby Digital, you can enjoy high-quality, dramatic surround-sound from 5.1 separate audio channels.

d. 600 W Total Power Output

It delivers the soundscape for your favourite thrilling movies, with a total power output of 600 W.

e. Easy Set Up

The Sony Digital Soundbar theatre is ready to use straight from the box. All the cables from its different systems run into the subwoofer, so all you need to do to play is plug it in and wire up the speakers according to their colour-coded connections.

f. Optical Inputs

Enjoy a high-quality movie experience with surround sound by simply connecting an optical cable to your DVD or Blu-ray Disc player or your TV.

g. One-Touch Listening

You can stream music instantly by touching your NFC-enabled smartphone or other devices to this device’s on-body N-mark. There’s no need for complex set-up sequences or wired connections with this sound system.

h. USB Port

The home theatre system comes with a USB port to connect your smartphones, USB sticks or smartphones. Enjoy a stable and hassle-free connection to charge your devices or play MP3 files.

i. HDMI ARC Output

The HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) simplifies your audio set-up by carrying the audio to your soundbar without needing an extra audio cable. All of your audio can now be heard in high-quality as every device connected to your TV can be heard from the multi-bar.

Technical Details:-

Model: HT-RT3

Speaker Surround Sound Channel Configuration: 5.1_channel

Audio Output Mode: Surround

Speakers Maximum Output Power: 600 Watts

Special Features: Subwoofer, NFC Enabled

Batteries: 2 AAA batteries required.

Compatible Devices: Mobile (IOS, Android, others), Tablets, Laptops, and all bluetooth devices

Mounting Hardware Device: 1 U{ includes (Bar Speaker-1U, Surround speakers-2U, Subwoofer-1U, Remote control – 1U , R03(size AAA) batteries-2U, , High Speed HDMI Cable-1U, Operating Instruction-1U, Startup Guide-1U)}

Speaker Connectivity: Bluetooth, NFC, USB, Optical,HDMI

Battery Cell Composition: Alkaline

Connector Type: Wireless, Bluetooth, NFC

Item Weight: 11 kg

2) Sony HT-IV300 Real 5.1ch Dolby Digital DTH Home Theatre System

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Our second entry on the list of best home theatre systems India is another home theatre system from Sony. Take your TV viewing experience to the next level by connecting your DTH system to the Home Theatre (HT). With just a tap of a button, you can use Bluetooth or NFC to wirelessly stream your audio or video content from your device. It’s also equipped with HDMI ARC terminals to help connect to the latest Smart TVs. With this powerful 5.1 channel, 1000 Watt surround sound Home Theatre System, you can get an immersive, stadium-like experience from the comforts of your home. You can watch your favourite movies with minimal distortion and detailed, consistent sound output for maximum impact of dialogues and realism.

Features:-

a. Stylish Design

This sleek and stylish speaker brings alive any corner of your room. With a compact size to avoid clutter, you can place these multi-angled speakers in any manner to get the perfect sound.

b. Compact Size

The compact design of this HT helps it avoid clutter and occupy less space. With a size 40% smaller than most conventional HT, it’s the most compact Home Theatre system at its release.

c. 1000 W Surround Sound

The powerful 5.1 channel speakers have 1000W of output power so that you can turn your home into a personal theatre.

d. Connect to DTH

You can upgrade your TV viewing experience with multiple connectivity options. You can plug it in directly to your DTH with HDMI wire or optical cables. You can also connect the HT to a Blu-ray player or your PlayStation.

e. Play Anything

You can connect your smartphone or tablet to the Home Theatre System with Bluetooth/NFC or play

multiple formats.

Technical Details:-

Model: HT-IV300//M E12

Speaker Surround Sound Channel Configuration: 5.1 Channels

Wattage: 1024 Watts

Speaker Connectivity: Micro USB

Connector Type: Bluetooth, NFC

Special Features: Internet

Mounting Hardware: *Front Speaker (2U) , *Surround Speaker (2U) , *Center Speaker (1U) , * Subwoofer (1U) ,Speaker cords (4U) , * FM wire antenna (aerial) (1U) , * remote control (1U) , * R03 (size AA) Batteries (2U) , High Speed HDMI cable (1U) , *Operating Instructions (1U) , * Foot pads 1U

Item Weight: 10 kg 800 g

Net Quantity: 11 Units

3) boAt Aavante Bar 1500 2.1 Channel Home Theatre Soundbar with 120W boAt Signature Sound, Wired Subwoofer, Multiple Connectivity Modes, Entertainment EQ Modes and Sleek Finish (Black)

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There’s no need for big and bulky speakers to get an immersive audio experience with our next entry on the list of the best home theatre speakers in India. Designed with a sleek and stunning look, this boAt soundbar has multiple connectivity modes, including HDMI, USB, AUX and Remote Connectivity. You can experience a cinematic experience in your home with this 2.1 channel surround sound. It emits a powerful 120 Watts RMS sound with down-firing 60 Watt Subwoofers providing accurate and thrilling bass that can be felt from any corner of the room. The soundbar’s high-end equalizer technology optimizes the sound output according to the source of entertainment, whether it’s movies, music or video games.

Features:-

60W Wired Subwoofer Connection

The 60W Subwoofer provides a sound output with real and thrilling bass. Your music listening experience gets upgraded by this down-firing subwoofer as it delivers bold sound to any seat in the room and an audio experience you can feel and hear.

2.1 Channel Surround Sound

The boAt Aavante Bar comes with a 2.1 Channel Surround System to provide a cinematic experience. It enhances the way you experience entertainment at home by creating an optimal environment for all your favourite content.

Sleek Superior Design

The soundbar comes in a sleek and stylish design with a premium finish and complements the furnishing in your home perfectly.

Easy Access Integrated Controls

Sometimes you need to choose the perfect audio settings to match your mood. Adjusting the settings is child’s play with a simple control system and remote control.

Technical Details:-

Item Dimensions LxWxH: 96 x 7.8 x 7.3 Centimeters

Warranty: 1 Year

Product Dimensions: 96 x 7.8 x 7.3 cm

Batteries: 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required.

Compatible Devices: Bluetooth, AUX, USB, HDMI, Optical

Special Features: Subwoofer

Mounting Hardware: Line In Cable, User Manual, Warranty Card, Remote, Aavante Bar 1500, Screws for Wall Mount

Number of Items: 6

Audio Output Mode: Surround, Stereo

Speaker Surround Sound Channel Configuration: 2.1_channel

Speakers Maximum Output Power: 120 Watts

Speaker Amplification Type: Active

Speaker Connectivity: Wired

Wattage: 120 Watts

Batteries Included: No

Batteries Required: No

Battery Cell Composition: Lithium Polymer

Signal To Noise Ratio: 72 dB

Connector Type: Wireless, Bluetooth, USB, AUX, HDMI

Item Weight: 6 kg 400 g

4) Polk Audio Signa S2 220W, 2.1 Ultra-Slim Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer, HDMI, Bluetooth Enabled Music Streaming (Black)

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Upgrade your home-theatre experience with the Signa S2 Univeral TV Sound Bar and Wireless Subwoofer system from Polk Audio, our next entry on this list of best home theatre systems in India. Experience crystal-clear dialogue and never miss a word of your favourite TV show, movie or sporting event with Polk Voice Adjust™ technology. Get immersive, room-filling surround sound from performance-tuned Dolby Digital decoding. Its compact, wireless subwoofer delivers deep, powerful bass. It has a 2-inch low-profile design to prevent blocking of the IR remote sensor or the bottom edge of your television. It offers quick, easy set-up with a bunch of connectivity options such as Bluetooth technology, HDMI ARC, optical cable etc.

Features:-

a. Performance-Tuned Surround Sound

This compact soundbar, along with its wireless subwoofer, delivers incredible, room-filling sound using Dolby Digital 5.1 decoding and a performance-tuned driver array.

b. Polk Voice Adjust Technology

Allows you to customise voice levels to get crisp and clear dialogue and never miss a word of your favourite movie, TV show or sports event.

c. Wireless Music Streaming

Using Bluetooth technology, you can stream music directly from a tablet, smartphone or any other compatible device like Amazon Dot.

d. Compact Wireless Subwoofer

The compact wireless subwoofer brings your favourite movies and TV shows to life with deep bass impact.

e. HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC)

It allows you to send audio to the Signa S2 through a single HDMI cable from sources connected to your TV. You can also control the volume of the Signa S2 using the TV remote control (requires CEC enabled TV)

f. Universal Compatibility

You can watch your favourite shows with exceptional clarity and contrast on any television, including 4K

and HD TVs, as the Signa S2 has universal compatibility.

Technical Details:-

Model: AM6214-A

Speaker Surround Sound Channel Configuration: 2.1

Wattage: 100 Watts

Special Features: Subwoofer

Speaker Connectivity: HDMI

Batteries Included: Yes

Connector Type: Bluetooth

Mounting Type: Wall Mount

Item Weight: 1 kg 770 g

5) Sony HT-S500RF Real 5.1ch Dolby Audio Soundbar Home Theatre System(1000W, Dolby Audio, Bluetooth Connectivity)

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This 3ch soundbar features on our list of best home theater system 2022, delivering cinematic sound at your home with 1000 Watts of total power output. You can get lost in the moment with this Home Theatre system as it creates an authentic cinema experience using 5.1ch real surround sound. Its Bluetooth soundbar has 2 front tweeters to deliver higher frequency sound and an 18cm subwoofer to deliver clear and powerful bass. It has two powerful rear Bookshelf speakers, which can be discreetly placed on shelves or wall-mounted to fill your room with sound. It supports both Dolby Digital and DTS digital surround and has multiple connection options such as Bluetooth connectivity, HDMI ARC, USB port and Optical Input etc.

Features:-

a. 1000W Power Output

High sound pressure is generated with 1000 Watts of output from both the soundbar and tall-boy speakers. This results in a clear and loud output from the high volume boxes.

b. Real 5.1ch Surround Sound

With a 3-channel soundbar, two powerful rear speakers and a subwoofer, it can create an authentic 5.1ch surround sound cinema experience.

c. Dolby Digital

With Dolby Digital, you can enjoy high-quality, dramatic surround sound from 5.1 separate audio channels.

d. Powerful Bass with 18cm Bigger Subwoofer

You can enjoy clear and powerful bass while watching your favourite content with this bigger subwoofer unit.

e. Front Tweeters for High Sound Clarity

This Home Theatre system has 2 Front 1-inch tweeters of very high quality, which produces high-frequency sound to enrich your surround sound experience.

f. Bookshelf Rear Speakers

To enhance your theatre-like experience, this sound system comes with two 21.6cm Bookshelf Rear Speakers with a full range 65mm driver.

g. Premium Design

It’s new Diamond-shaped Punching Metal Grill design maximises the aperture ratio delivering higher sound pressure to enhance your sound experience.

h. Designed and Tuned for India

The HT-S500RF has been tuned and designed, keeping in mind the usage and habits of the average Indian customers. Its design ensures that every Indian customer can enjoy to the fullest their favourite music.

i. Easy Set-up

The music system is ready to go, straight out of the box. All you need to do is plug it in to instantly enjoy 5.1 channels of real surround sound. It is easy to keep the speakers neat and tidy, as all the cables run into the subwoofer.

j. Multi Connectivity Options

The HT-S500RF has multiple connectivity options like HDMI ARC, USB, Bluetooth and Optical IN etc. This ensures that you can listen to your favourite music seamlessly, whether it’s through a memory drive or wirelessly.

k. Manage your Sound Setting/Content with Music Centre App

Using Sony’s Music Centre App, you can control you can manage your pen drive content seamlessly and

play only the songs you like. You can also control wirelessly streamed music or play them over USB.

Technical Details: –

Model Name: HT-S500RF

Audio Output Mode: Surround

Speaker Surround Sound Channel Configuration: 5.1_channel

Wattage: 1000 Watts

Compatible Devices: Mobile (IOS, Android, others), Tablets, Laptops, and all bluetooth devices

Special Features: Subwoofer

Mounting Hardware: HDMI Cable – 1 U, Instruction Manual -1 U, Remote Control – 1 U, AAA Battries – 2 U

Speaker Connectivity: Wireless

Total USB Ports: 1

Connector Type: Bluetooth

Item Weight: 13 kg 600 g

6) Sony HT-G700 3.1ch Dolby Atmos/DTS:X Soundbar with Wireless subwoofer (400W, Bluetooth Connectivity, Dolby Atmos) - Black

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The 3.1 Channel Dolby Atmos/DTS:X Soundbar from Sony is on our list of the best home theatre system in India, as it couples powerful cinematic surround sound with crystal-clear Dialogue. It uses Vertical Surround Engine to deliver ‘vertical’ audio creating virtual 7.1.2 channel surround sound. You will hear a multi-dimensional and realistic sound coming from all directions, including from the above. It has an easy-to-connect wireless subwoofer for deep and rich bass and a dedicated Centre speaker to make the dialogues from your favourite moves come out crystal-clear. You can fine-tune your listening experience with a button for every setting like Auto Sound, Cinema, Music, Standard Surround and Voice modes. This home theatre provides multiple connectivity options, including HDMI ARC and Bluetooth Connectivity.

Features:-

7.1.2ch Surround Sound

Sony’s advanced surround technology, Vertical Surround Engine, lets you enjoy the thrill of the latest home theatre technologies such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X in a compact form. Along with the unique Sony signal processing and vertical surround, the three front speakers helps create an immersive virtual surround sound.

Vertical Surround Engine

This latest technology from Sony lets you enjoy the thrill of Dolby Atmos without having to set up a complex speaker system. The front speakers reproduce “Vertical” audio regardless of what type of room you are in and without the ceiling. Thus, the speaker’s virtual surround sound in 7.1.2ch seems to come from all directions.

Immersive Audio enhancement

The HT-G700 can upscale even regular stereo audio of every movie and TV show to 7.1.2 surround sound. Just hit the Immersive AE (Audio Enhancement) button, and you will get a fully immersive surround sound experience.

Wireless subwoofer

You can place the Subwoofer anywhere you want without having to bother with wires. The wireless Subwoofer delivers deep and rich bass sound.

S-Force PRO Front Surround Sound

The S-Force PRO Front uses wave-front technology to deliver natural 3D sound to a larger area using the single surround bar and Subwoofer. No more need to install multiple speakers, as the HT-G700 fills the room with surround sound with stunning depth. Even the most subtle and faintest sound effects from your favourite music and movies are reproduced with the highest quality.

Centre Speaker for clear Dialogue

The speaker system has a dedicated centre speaker to ensure that dialogues are heard clearly across the room. Whether it’s a whispered dialogue in a Hollywood movie or a quick-fire dialogue in a TV show, the centre speaker ensures crystal-clear voice sounds. It also helps to deliver a richly detailed music experience.

Choose the perfect setting

With a button for every sound setting, you can customize your listening experience for whatever you’re watching or listening to. Take your pick from settings like – Standard Surround, Auto Sound, Music, Cinema, Night and Voice modes. You can also use the subwoofer control to fine-tune the sound to your viewing experience.

HDMI Earc/ARC

HDMI ARC allows a one-cable connection for both audio and video information from your TV.

Bluetooth Connectivity

Using Bluetooth connectivity, you can connect your TV or stream music wirelessly.

The HT-G700

You can immerse yourself in your favourite TV shows and movies with powerful surround sound with the Sony HT-G700. It features a wireless subwoofer for powerful bass, a central speaker for clear dialogues and 7.1.2 virtual surround sound technology.

Technical Details:-

Item Dimensions LxWxH: 98 x 11.1 x 6.7 Centimeters

Warranty: 1 Year

Model: HT-G700//C E12

Product Dimensions: 98.04 x 11.13 x 6.68 cm

Special Features: Subwoofer

Mounting Hardware: Remote Control 1 U, HDMI Cable 1 U, AC Cord 1 U, Batteries AAA 2 U, Instruction manual 1 U, setup guide 1 U, Warranty Card 1 U

Speakers Maximum Output Power: 400 Watts

Speaker Connectivity: Wireless

Power Source: AC

Batteries Included: Yes

Batteries Required: Yes

Total USB Ports: 1

Connector Type: Wireless

Maximum Operating Distance: 1 Feet

Contains Liquid Contents: No

Includes Rechargeable Battery: No

Remote Control Included: Yes

Supports Bluetooth Technology: Yes

Item Weight: 11 kg

7) Polk Audio MagniFi Mini Soundbar Home Theater System

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Even though it has an ultra-compact design, the MagniFi Mini manages to deliver a room-filling home theatre experience of a full-sized soundbar. It resolves the problem of distorted dialogue using VoiceAdjust^TMtechnology by customising the voice levels to make them crisp and clear. With its patented surround technology and 5.1 Dolby Digital decoding, it delivers an immersive and room-filling surround sound. Its wireless subwoofer delivers a deep bass impact that you can feel. Connecting to the MagniFi Mini is quick and easy. You can stream your favourite music from your smartphone, tablet or other compatible devices using Google Cast, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. You can use HDMI or optical digital cables to connect to your TV and use a cable box, TV or satellite IR remote control to control the sound system.

Features:-

a. Polk VoiceAdjust

Now you can customise the voice levels to get clear vocal clarity and not miss any word/dialogue of your favourite TV show, sporting event or movie.

b. High Quality Home Sound Bar System

It delivers a powerful theatre-like experience of a full-sized soundbar despite its compact and sleek design. It has the following features to bring you the best of home audio:

Ultra narrow soundbar
Polk SDA surround sound technology
Patented Voice Adjust technology
Universal compatibility with TV and IR remotes
Night Mode
Slim Wireless Subwoofer
Music, Movie and Sports audio modes
Six driver speaker array

c. Wireless Technology

This is the only mini soundbar with a wireless subwoofer. The soundbar and the wireless subwoofer reproduce a deep bass impact that you can feel, creating an immersive and room-filling experience.

d. The Complete Home Audio Package

The sound system comes with a catalogue of unique features to make it an ultimate home entertainment system:

HDMI and optical cable
Digital sound quality
Wireless subwoofer and remote
Night Effect setting
Intuitive Quick Start Guide
5.1 Dolby Digital
Voice Adjust technology
Wireless Streaming using Bluetooth or Google Cast
Ultra-compact size

e. Movies, Music and Sports

It has one-button EQ settings for Sports, Music and Movies to optimise the subwoofer and the soundbar.

f. Elevated Surround Sound

It has six-driver arrays and a powerful wireless subwoofer, which along with the exclusive Polk SDA digital and Dolby Digital surround sound technology, create an immersive and elevated surround sound experience.

g. Ultra-Compact Size

In spite of measuring only 13.4 inches in length and 3.1 inches in height, the MagniFi Mini has an ultra-compact size that fits most tight spaces. The soundbar will fit under most TVs and not block their IR sensors while delivering room-filling audio.

h. Take Charge

The remote control contains separate controls for bass, master volume, and Voice Adjust control so that you can customise sound at the touch of a button.

Technical Details:-

Audio Output Mode: Surround

Speaker Surround Sound Channel Configuration: 5.1_channel

Audio Wattage: 150 Watts

Batteries: 2 AAA batteries required. (included)

Hardware Interface: Bluetooth 4.0

Compatible Devices: Suitable Amplifier (Not Included)

Special Features: Subwoofer

Mounting Hardware: MagniFi Mini Soundbar And Subwoofer

Speaker Connectivity: Wireless

Batteries Included: Yes Battery Cell Composition: Alkaline

Connector Type: Wireless, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, HDMI

Device Interface – Primary: Buttons

Material: MDF

Form Factor: On The Floor

Supports Bluetooth Technology: Yes

Item Weight: 5 kg 670 g

8) Sony HT-S20R 5.1ch Dolby Digital Soundbar Home Theatre System (400W, Bluetooth Connectivity) – Black

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The last entry on our list of the best home theater in India, is this 5.1-ch Home Cinema system which delivers unforgettable movie moments with its authentic surround sound. Its 3-channel soundbar and wired external subwoofer combine to produce powerful cinematic sound. With advanced Dolby Digital technology and a total power output of 400 W, it delivers dramatic and high-quality surround sound from its 5.1 separate audio channels. The device is set up in seconds straight out of the box and has multiple connectivity options to make playing your favourite movie or music easier. It supports USB plug and play Bluetooth connectivity and lets you connect to compatible TVs with a single cable via HDMI ARC. It also lets you choose the perfect setting, including Standard, Auto, Cinema and Music as well as Night Modes and Voice Modes.

Features:-

a. Dolby Digital

With Dolby Digital, you can enjoy dramatic and high quality surround sound from its 5.1 separate audio channels.

b. 5.1ch Real Surround Sound

The 3-ch soundbar, rear speakers and an external subwoofer of this home theatre system work together to deliver immersive, dynamic and cinematic sound with 5.1 channels of real surround sound.

c. 5.1-ch Home Cinema System

This sounds system lets you experience 5.1 channels of real surround sound. The 3-ch soundbar, wired rear speaker and external subwoofer combine to produce a powerful theatre-like audio experience. Bluetooth and USB connectivity make it easy to connect and play your favourite tracks.

d. 400W Power Output

The total power output of this home theatre is 400 Watts, which gives a thrilling soundscape to every movie that need it.

e. One Cable Connection via HDMI ARC

You can connect the sound system to compatible TVs with a single cable reducing the hassles of the cables cluttering. You can also connect TVs not compatible with HDMI ARC to the optical input and enjoy the high-quality sound for your favourite shows and movies. If both the HDMI and Optical inputs are not working, you can connect using analogue input.

f. Set up in Seconds

You can enjoy 5.1 channels of real surround sound straight out of the box as the HT-S20R is always ready to go. All you need to do to play it is to plug it in and wire up the rear speakers and external subwoofers.

g. Bluetooth Connectivity

All features of this soundbar are not confined to movies and
TV as it offers Bluetooth Connectivity to stream your favourite music directly
from your smartphone.

h. Choose the Perfect Setting

You can fine-tune your listening experience by choosing the mode right for you, with a button available for every sound you are listening to. The modes include- Auto, Standard, Music and Cinema, as well as Night Mode and Voice Mode to customise your audio experience.

i. USB Plug and Play

You can plug and play music from a memory stick by using the USB port on this home theatre system.

Technical Details: –

Model: HT-S20R

Audio Output Mode: Surround

Speaker Surround Sound Channel Configuration: 5.1

Wattage: 400 Watts

Special Features: Subwoofer

Mounting Hardware: Remote Control 1 U, Audio Cable 1 U, AC Cord 1 U, Battries AAA 2 U, Instruction manual 1 U, set-up guide 1 U, Warranty Card 1 U

Speaker Connectivity: Micro USB

Power Source: AC

Total USB Ports: 1

Connector Type: Wireless, Bluetooth, USB

Maximum Operating Distance: 1 Foot

Supports Bluetooth Technology: Yes

Item Weight: 13 kg

What Are Home Theatre Systems and How Do They Work?

Home theatre is an approach to home entertainment where you try to recreate a movie-theatre experience at home using a combination of electronics. This results in a more immersive experience when you watch a movie on such a system than on an ordinary television. To get this experience, people would go out to see a movie and spend some extra money rather than watch the same movie on an ordinary television. To recreate a cinema-hall experience, there are certain elements that you need in your home-theatre.

Sound-Experience:

In a movie theatre, you can hear music, dialogue and sound effects coming not only from the screen but from all around you. Standard movie theatres have three speakers behind the screen, and several ones spread all in the rest of the theatre. Thus, the best home theatres have surround-sound systems that try to recreate this using several speakers spread around the room where the music system is placed.

Movie Screen:

A movie theatre has a large screen that takes up most of the audiences’ view so that they can fully immerse themselves in the movie with no distractions. An effective home theatre experience is not complete without a good, large television.

Large, Clear Pictures:

One of the reasons why we enjoy going to the movies is that film projectors large, sharp pictures with extraordinary details. Seeing more details and fluid movement on-screen makes us more engrossed in the world of the movie.

Thus, we can surmise that to create a home-theatre experience, you would need the following components:

Large-screen television with a clear picture (measuring at least 27 inches diagonally)
Something that play/broadcast movies in surround sound
At least 4 speakers
Equipment to split up the surround-sound signal and send it to the speakers

There are a number of ways to make an arrangement of these components, depending on how much you are willing to spend on them. If you have a good television and a stereo system, you can upgrade to a crude home theatre with a few inexpensive components and a couple of speakers. A basic home theatre system with a DVD player is the next best option. You can also buy a “home theatre in a box” if you want to avoid the hassles of setting up a home theatre system. You can also get more advanced home theatre systems with a larger television and expensive sound systems.

What Are Benefits of Having a Home Cinema System?

Home theatres are tailored for you and built for your home. All the equipment, furniture, layout and room are picked by you and for you. You can make any additions to your custom-made home theatre system and increase your enjoyment of watching movies, concerts or sporting events.
You can enjoy the movie-going experience from the comforts of your and without paying for the tickets and the overpriced popcorn. With none of the hassles involved in watching in a movie theatre, you can choose the best seats in the house and bring in whatever food you want.
These days, streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime etc., offer exclusive and incredible content, including original films, binge-worthy television series and indie documentaries. Home entertainments have become more than watching just movies.
Latest home theatre systems allow you to take your gaming sessions to a new level with immersive surround sound and larger than life imagery.
Rather than sit on the same type of seat like everyone else, you can sit or lay back on your new recliner or large sectional sofa. Furniture customised for your maximum enjoyment makes home-theatre a better experience than going to the movies.
The movies never stop playing when you go to the washroom, but in a home-theatre, you have complete reign over your remote control.
With a music system and a large TV, you can transform any rooms like a bedroom, garages, offices etc., into an excellent theatre.
Home buyers see a dedicated home theatre as a bonus, so you can increase your home’s property value by the addition of a home theatre system.

What Do I Need to Get to Have the Perfect Home Cinema Experience?

A home theatre is a luxurious addition to your home and has both function and value. With it, you can make your movie nights more exciting while enhancing the style and décor of your home. To get the perfect experience of the best home theatre systems, you can take the following steps:

i. Using Dark Paint for Walls and Ceiling

Light deflection is not desirable for the walls of a home theatre; therefore, you can get the walls painted with dark-coloured paint. You can also paint the ceilings with grey or another neutral colour for minimum light reflection.

ii. Planning a Robust Lighting System

You can control lighting in your home theatre with a light control system. You can use soffits, dimmers, recessed lights and rope lights to form the backbone of the lighting system of your home theatre. You should try not to place these light systems in front of the viewer so as to not degrade the viewing experience.

iii. Controlling Sound within the Theatre

You can limit audio bouncing around the walls, floor and ceiling of your home theatre by using wall-to-wall carpeting, draperies and other soft materials on the walls to absorb sound.

iv. Ultra-Comfy Seating

One of the main requirements for having the best home theatre system is having soft, melt-into sofas. Place recliners and/or couches at the proper distance from each other to give some breathing room for the audience. You should also make sure that all seats have a clear view of the screen so that you don’t end up getting neck pain and bad eyesight.

v. Building a Proper A/V Component Rack

You should get an A/V rack (audio-visual component rack) to control all the components of your home theatre like cable box, BluRay player and network media streaming box (ex-Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast). It should be located near an electrical source and have internet access, and should be properly ventilated.

vi. Managing Clutter

Hide your wires and equipment inside storage boxes and organise your CDs and DVDs in closed cabinets.

vii. Control Ambient Light and Sound

Block outside light from ruining your viewing experience by choosing a space with little lighting. If you cannot do that, use light-blocking curtains and shades and if you are using a projector, use one with a high lumens rating.

What Do Channels Represent in a Sound System?

Channels in a home theatre system refer to a single audio output. So a single “channel” of audio passes through a single speaker. In other words, a single speaker as a part of a surround sound system is a single channel. The term can be confusing as it gets thrown around a lot, but it’s helpful to understand it if you are looking to configure or expand your speaker system.

Generally speaking, a channel is sound going to or from a single point. Thus, stereo music being a 2 channel system means that it sends audio signals to 2 individual speakers having their own unique audio output. Similarly, a 5.1 channel surround sound system refers to it having 5 individual speakers as well as a subwoofer. Speaker systems can, thus, go from a single channel to as many as 9 ones. The most common ones are the 5.1 and 7.1 channel speaker systems. Most DVDs come out with the option of supporting 5.1 channel output.

The number after the decimal point (.1 for the above examples) represents a single subwoofer or any other device that controls low-frequency audio. This number is kept separated from the number of speakers because subwoofers are a different piece of kit. Most speaker systems are .1 or .2 representing how many subwoofers they have. Most sound systems will have at least a single subwoofer to produce deep bass

What Are the Different Types of Home Theatre Systems?

Based on the configuration of channels on speakers, the following are the different types of speakers:

i. 2.0: This is the normal stereo sound and includes a left and a right speaker. Both normal video playback and music recording is done on stereo channels.

ii. 5.1: This is the most standard format used by surround sound systems and has the easiest set-up compared to more expensive sound systems. Besides the two normal left and right speakers, it has 2 surround speakers and a centre channel.

iii. 6.1: It has everything offered by 5.1 channel systems but has an additional back surround channel placed at the rear of the seating area resulting in a more immersive sound.

iv. 7.1: These split the signal of the back surround channel into 2 separate audio channels for a greater immersive experience.

v. 8.1: These are the best home theatre systems India as they belong in the audiophile territory, and you will need to build it yourself. The more speakers you distribute around your home theatre, the more immersive movie-experience you will get

Home theatre audio systems can also be divided into the following types based on the configuration they are sold as:

i. Home theatre in a box:

It includes a subwoofer, a disc player/amplifier and five surround sold together as one unit and includes all wiring.

ii. Component System:

It has source components (such as a disc player), an A/V receiver and speakers.

iii. Soundbar:

It consists of a long, thin bar and contains several loudspeaker drivers. A separate, wireless subwoofer is usually included with these models

iv. Component Separates:

These replace the A/V receiver with power amplifiers and a separate preamplifier/processor.

How Does Home Theatre Systems Compare to Soundbars?

Televisions have come a long way in the past decade, with major improvements in its technology becoming smarter, slimmer and better in display quality. The reduced size of TVs with all these technologies created less room to develop audio of similar quality. Thus, consumers look for an external sound system like soundbars or a home theatre system. Here, we will compare both sound technologies to see which one is better.

Why Pick a Soundbar?

A soundbar is compact and can be neatly fitted in front of the TV.
Some people consider soundbars to be the best music system for home. This is because it is very easy to set-up since it doesn’t have multiple components to connect with wires. This is unlike a home theatre system which is more complicated with a lot of components and wiring.
A common misconception of a soundbar is that it houses a single speaker in the bar. Soundbars have multiple speakers within the same bar, easily placed on a shelf or mounted on the wall with the television. Most soundbars also offer surround style audio with multiple speakers, but these can’t be used to surround the audience.
Higher quality soundbars often have a “3D” mode that simulates surround sound by varying the audio such that you feel as if the sound was coming from around you.
They offer fairly decent bass and low-quality sounds, and some come with an external wireless subwoofer to help generate enough bass to satisfy any ears.
Despite providing all these features, soundbars are generally more reasonably priced than home theatres.

Why Buy Home Theatre Speakers?

Home theatre speakers come in sets, which means you can get a full surround sound set-up using them. You can discretely place these speakers on shelves or mount them on walls to distribute sound from every angle.
Home theatre speakers offer more surround sound options. You can get a 2, 5, 7 or 9 speaker set depending on the type of surround sound. The most common and popular set-up is the 5 or 7 surround sound speakers, which also includes a receiver and a central speaker.
The best home theater speakers help you create a movie-theatre like style set-up. Generally, its audio quality has higher quality and depth than any soundbar system.
With more speakers, the option to customise your sound experience also increases. You can place the speakers in different locations and experiment with their set-up to get the best optimal acoustics.
You can chase the ultimate audio performance with home theatre systems as they offer the option to add components like speakers or a Blu-ray player to deliver high quality audio.
The option to customise means you don’t have to stick to a certain brand for all your components. Besides being able to choose the best audio components for your set-up, you don’t have to replace their entire thing when one of these get outdated or start malfunctioning.

How Are Home Theatre Systems Different From Multimedia Speakers?

Multimedia speakers, also called stereo speakers, have two speakers- right and left and one of them contains the power amplifier. A home theatre system comes with many additional parts, such as a pre-processor to process audio and video signals, an amplifier to power the various speakers and a subwoofer for bass delivery.
Home theatre systems start with a 5.1 channel configuration and comprise 2 front channels, 2 rear channels, a low-frequency channel and a central channel. Most complex home theatre systems can have as much as 12/13 channels. The simplest multimedia speakers have 2.0 or 2.1 systems. However, it’s interesting to note that there’s not much difference between high-level multimedia speakers and entry-level home theatres.
The prices ranges of both systems can also vary in extremes. The highest level stereo speakers can cost as much as entry-level home theatres, while the most expensive and the best home theater system in India can cost as much as a luxury car.

How Many Speakers Do I Need With My Home Theatre?

The number of speakers in your home theatre systems depends on the number of channels you want your sound system to have. Given are some of the number of speakers you can install and their set-up:

· Quite a few audio buyers have figured out their optimal number of speakers is just one- a single soundbar. A soundbar houses several speakers in a single bar. It avoids the problem of having to deal with overly complicated AV receivers in home theatre systems. Thus, it’s clear why some people would consider this the best speakers for home theater. It simplifies the set-up with minimal clutter as most soundbars don’t have a lot of wires.
If you use your speakers for only listening to music, you don’t need the classic 5-speaker set-up. A stereo home theatre with a stereo receiver and two speakers are a step up from soundbars in audio performance while avoiding the complicated set-up of AV sound. Many of these also have a subwoofer to enhance the low-frequency sound of your music.
You can add a central channel speaker to get a 3.1 channel music system with three speakers in total. With this set-up, the dialogue seems to come from the centre of the screen.
A traditional home theatre set-up contains 5 speakers- a left and a right front speakers (usually bookshelf speakers), two rear left and right speakers, a central speakers and lastly, a subwoofer. These basic systems have the most affordable home theater price in India. With this, you will need to install an AV receiver with outputs for no less than five channels and one subwoofer.The 5.1 system is more than enough to fill your room with immersive sound with thunderous low end and intense high end audio. Another advantage of using the 5-speaker set-up is that almost all DVDs are recorded as 5.1 and formatted for this speaker system. You can also upgrade your 5.1 channel music system to a 5.1.2 by installing 2 upward-firing Dolby Atmos speakers. This technology by Dolby creates a “3D surround sound”. Here, a layer of sound hovers in the air in different areas above the audience so they can feel specific sound effects coming from a particular direction.
If you have a large enough space to dedicate to your passion for home theatre, you have the option beyond the basic 5.1 system. You can add one or two extra speakers for the back surround channel for a greater level of immersion to make a 6.1 or 7.1 channel music system, respectively. The more speakers you add, the more immersive viewing you will get,but you would have to build the system yourself. You can go all the way from a large 7.2 system to an extensive 11.4 set-up to get an almost movie-theatre experience. However, these have the highest home theatre price in India and are usually bought by the most passionate audio lovers.

What the Roles of the Different Speakers Used in a Home Theatre System?

There are a lot of speakers of various shapes and sizes in a home theatre system. Each serves its own unique purposes but works together to sound like a real movie theatre in the space of your living room.

A full scale 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos home theatre sound system is made of the following components that work together to create a realistic sound effect:

i. Left and right channel main speaker
ii. A central channel speaker
iii. Left and right surround speakers
iv. Left and right rear speakers
v. A Subwoofer

The role of the different speakers used in this full-scale configuration is given below:

i. Left and Right Main Speakers

The left and right front speakers of sound systems have two main roles- A) As stereo music players, they are main speakers for playing music B) As a part of home theatre systems, they are responsible for off-screen effects and most of the soundtrack. They are usually positioned behind a projection screen or on either side of your video display. They can be bookshelf speakers, mounted on a wall, installed in-wall or floor-standing. As these speakers are important for playing movies and vital for listening to music, you should not cut corners when buying one of these speakers.

ii. Central Channel Speaker

Many audiophiles revere this speaker because it’s a hard-working speaker, delivering more sound than all the rest of the other speakers combined. These are usually narrow and long to fit under your television screen, but some are in-wall or on-wall speakers, usually installed behind a projection-screen. The central channel speaker is responsible for delivering all of the spoken voice in a movie or a TV show. Without a good centre speaker, you would have trouble understanding the dialogue. That is why it’s best to buy identical left and right front speakers so that the soundtrack and voices mix seamlessly. If you have trouble getting centre speakers of the same set, you should make sure that it is of the same brand and series as the front speakers.

iii. Surround sound Speakers

In home theatre systems, there are at least two surround sound speakers (left and right) on either side of the audience to give them an immersive and enveloping sound. For better/pricier home systems, there would be at least two more rear surround speakers (left and right). Just like the front speakers, these can be – on-wall, in-wall, floor-standing or bookshelf. These can be positioned in several ways- A) Directional and close to the ear level if used with Dolby Atmos height speakers as recommended by Dolby Labs or B) Dipole speakers placed back-to-back on a wall at equal distance from each other as recommended by THX. As with the other speakers, you will generally want these to be of the same manufacturer and model series as the other speakers in your sound system.

iv. Atmos Height Speakers

These are relatively new object-based surround sound speakers from Dolby Labs, which delivers the height sound-effects that you get in a movie theatre. These can be in-ceiling or ceiling mounted speakers bouncing the Atmos effects off the ceiling. Its better version is one with 4 Atmos speakers sitting on top of the front and rear speakers to get even better sound. There are Atmos speakers on the market that are built in front and rear speakers for a cleaner look. Some new Atmos speakers are angled for mounting at the intersection of your wall and ceiling. As with all speakers, it’s best to go for the same brand for all your speakers in your home theatre system.

How Does the Material of the Speakers Affect the Sound Quality?

A home theatre built with poor material cannot last for a long time. Since your best home theatre is something you don’t want to buy every few years, it’s important not to compromise on the build quality of your speakers.

Speaker cones require materials that are durable and rigid while being lightweight and capable of starting and stopping vibrations at any time. Even-tempered and consistent materials are required for the speaker cones as it has to reproduce specific vibrations without any distortions. The popular materials for speaker cones are:

Plastic: These have a low production cost while making very consistent builds. Plastic cones also tend to have good sound-dampening qualities. However, many users don’t like it’s a less lively and bland listening experience.
Paper: These have a brighter sounding tonal quality, and many users feel its sound is more alive. Treating the paper before making paper cones result in a more rounder sound while using the untreated paper result in a brighter and wide-open sound. The material itself is susceptible to change in tonal qualities as it can absorb moisture in the atmosphere.
Aluminium: Aluminium speaker cones are durable, and you don’t have to worry about them getting dented. Its sound can be quite detailed though it also typically have little dampening. Some users don’t like the metallic “slappy” sound of its bass response or its audible peaking.
Aramid fibre: It is the cone material of choice for its extreme robustness while maintaining the best tonal characteristics. The aramid fibre responds quickly to vibration and reproduces it accurately though it’s very rigid and stiff, which is desirable from a mechanical standpoint. Woofers made of aramid fibre smooth highs, beautiful mid-range and satisfying lows and are present in the best music system in India.

Other materials in various components of speaker systems also have their unique benefits. If you are looking for power saving speakers, you can go with one with magnetic fluid. This dissipates heat build-up in the speaker coils and offers excellent audio clarity. Butyl rubber is used in speaker surrounds for its excellent flexibility and durability. Glass-imide is used in voice coil formers for its heat resistance. Mylar, also known as PET, is fairly inexpensive and has been used in tweeters and midranges for some time. Neodymium magnets are used as permanent magnets in many speakers.

What Type of AV Receiver Is Best For My Home Theatre System?

The audio/visual (AV) receiver is the brains behind the entire home theatre system. It is responsible for receiving, interpreting the audio signals coming through the cable box into your television and speakers. A good AV receiver perfectly complements the best home theatres and can improve the functions of your home theatre in the following ways:

It correctly interprets all the data from audio signals and assigns a specific channel to each speaker.
Enhances your Blu-ray player with stellar sound.
An AV receiver can be wireless. This allows it to stream anything from your music library to your favourite music stations from anywhere.
A good AV receiver is your home’s main audio hub as well as a party machine as it can send and receive audio signals from anywhere in your house.
It allows you to seamlessly switch between the various “sound” modes like Live Cafe, Dolby Cinema Surround Sound and Stereo modes.

To operate a basic home theatre system, you will need an AV receiver with no less than five audio channels and an output for a subwoofer. If you are an audiophile or want to future-proof your sound system, you should get an AV receiver with a minimum of seven channels and Dolby Atmos. If your room is not spacious enough or if you don’t plan to spend too much money on buying a home theatre system, you can skip buying an expensive receiver.

What Connectivity Options Can I Get From My Home Theatre?

As we have mentioned before, a basic home theatre set-up includes a TV, video player, media streamer and a music system of a subwoofer and several surround sound speakers. Connecting these elements involves connecting the source components like media streamers, cable boxes and Blu-ray players to endpoints like TV and loudspeakers. These can be connecting by the following options:

Wireless Connectivity

Many of the best home theatres come with wireless connectivity options like Bluetooth, NFC or even Wi-Fi to connect the home theatre system without the hassles of many wires running throughout the entire room. Wireless receivers, subwoofers, surround speakers and soundbars etc., wirelessly transmit signals over speakers. However, these don’t have the same audio quality of good wired sound systems that audiophiles are looking for.

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface)

It is a one-size-fits-all solution for audio and video connection and allows for playback for the latest devices using audio formats such as DTS HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD. Newer HDMI versions can support DTS:X and Dolby Atmos soundtracks. It is cheaper than optical cables and has a higher bandwidth capacity. More and more manufacturers are switching to HDMI cables as it makes connecting simpler with one cable.

Optical Fibre

An optical digital connection uses light and optical fibres to transmit the audio signal to your speakers. These cables, made from plastic, glass or silica, are excellent audio transmitter because noise cannot pass through them. It also has the advantage of not losing audio quality even when the connection is as long as 30 metres. It’s very adaptable and has the ability to transmit uncompressed DTS and Dolby Digital surround sound. Thus, manufacturers of the best music system in India use optical connections with game consoles, home theatre systems, TVs and set-top boxes.

USB

Many speakers and receivers now have a USB port to directly connect a pen drive or other USB based audio sources.

Aux or 3.5 MM Cable

This is the best option to connect to a TV that doesn’t support both HDMI and optical fibres. Most soundbars and other audio systems support a 3.5mm auxiliary connection. Its other advantage is that it’s very inexpensive and doesn’t require any technical knowledge to connect. However, it only supports stereo output, so it cannot be used to take advantage of the 5.1 channel sound system.

RCA (Yellow, Red and White cables)

Older CRT televisions don’t have HDMI, optical ports or a 3.5mm connection. There are only two options to connect such devices- RCA or coaxial cables. Fortunately, most soundbars and home theatre systems support a 2-channel audio configuration. However, only left and right audio signals are supported by RCA cables, so you can’t take advantage of 3.0 channels or higher.

Coaxial Cable

If you are using an even older TV, this may be your only option to connect it to audio sources. You will need a VCR or DVD player to connect your TV to a soundbar. The process may be complicated, but it’s the only way to establish an audio connection with very old devices.

What Do You Mean by Surround Sound Technology?

Surround sound was the name of a specific multi-channel system designed by Dolby Laboratories. Today, it’s a generic term for a multi-channel sound system used in theatres and home theatres. This technology enriches the audio quality using additional audio channels. The sound produced by this technology is from a 360^oradius in the 2D plane. It uses multiple channels, with each having its dedicated speaker connected to the whole system.

This provides listeners with a richer and fuller sound as well as an excellent audio ambience. It is used in movies, video games and television for an immersive audio experience. Surround sound helps to
faithfully reproduce the sound of the original audio from home theatre systems as well as improve the system’s tonality and dynamic range even at low – moderate volumes.

There are various techniques and formats to produce surround sound. There are two main codecs made for surround sound – Dolby Atmos and DTS. The reproduction of surround sound can also vary through the addition of audio channels and their positioning. 5.1 is the standard surround sound system, and 7.1.4 is the fully upgraded Dolby Atmos surround sound system. Surround sound systems can also be True or Virtual. Virtual surround sound uses fewer speakers instead of bouncing sound off walls to make it seem like the sound is emanating from multiple speakers.

Dolby vs DTS Sound System- Which One Is Better?

Over its many years of improvement, DTS and Dolby Digital have remained the most popular surround sound formats for home theatre systems. Both are widely supported by many devices such as computers, Blu-ray players, home cinema systems, game consoles, set-top boxes and even smartphones. Given is a brief introduction of both these technologies to see which one is better.

Dolby Digital

Dolby Digital is the ‘industry standard’ when it comes to delivering a cinematic surround sound experience. This multi-channel audio codec made by Dolby Labs provides audio compression, which helps movie-makers record surround sound. Since its first introduction in 1992, Dolby has released advanced codecs. This includes – Dolby Digital Plus, which supports 7.1 channels and HD surround sound, Dolby TrueHD, a lossless format and Dolby Atmos, which is a next-gen, object-based audio system.

DTS

This company has been competing with Dolby Labs for a long time for surround sound supremacy. This audio compression technology is encoded at a higher bit rate and thus, considered by some experts to have better sound quality than its competitor. Like Dolby Digital, DTS has released advanced surround sound formats like the DTS-HD High Resolution supporting 7.1 channel speaker systems, DTS-HD Master Audio, a lossless format and DTS:X, which is a direct competitor for Dolby’s Atmos.

Which One is Better?

All the best home theatre systems support both DTS and Dolby Digital. Both offer the same sound codecs, are used to compress and decompress audio files and have multiple extra technologies like specific encoders to enhance stereo and surround sound for enhanced immersion. Their many similarities make them roughly comparable, but they still have some differences. Some of these are discussed below.

Some experts state that the DTS format is of better quality as it is encoded at a higher bit rate. Others contend this, saying that Dolby Digital is a more advanced technology and can produce better sound at lower bit rates.
Compression rates and bit rates are different for both. Dolby Digital compresses 5.1 audio to a bit rate of 640 kbits/s for Blu-ray discs and 448 kbits/s for DVDs. On the other hand, DTS has less compression and supports higher bit rates of up to 1.5 Mb/s and 768 kbits/s.
The compression gap becomes more glaring when for the competing HD and lossless formats. Dolby Digital Plus supports a bit rate of up to 1.7 Mb/s while DTS-HD High Resolution supports up to 6 Mb/s. Dolby TrueHD supports 7.1 max channel sound at 18 Mb/s with the lossless format for Blu-ray discs. On the other hand, DTS-HD Master Audio supports up to 24.5 Mb/s with the lossless format for Blu-ray discs.
Though DTS seems to have a clear advantage at encoding with higher bit rates across all formats, a higher bit rate doesn’t necessarily mean higher quality. Dolby argues that its codecs are simply more efficient than DTS codecs and can sound even better at low bit rates.

The difference between bit rates is highly subjective and only becomes noticeable with expensive and the best home theatre speakers. However, even this happens when your hearing is good enough to hear such small differences in the first place. At the end of the day, most good home theatre systems support both formats and use default standards for whatever source you use with them.

How Much Power Do Home Theatre Systems Consume and How Can I Reduce It?

Wattage is an often-cited term used by speakers and home theatre manufacturers to differentiate top of the line products from the bottom ones. For speakers, it means the amount of work done (measured in Watts) to move the drivers inside the speakers. This power is supplied by the amplifier. The power capacity of the amplifier is, therefore, an important measurement of how well an amplifier or a receiver performs.

Wattage is often used as a marketing device as higher price range products are defined by a much higher wattage than lower-priced ones. The best home theatre speakers are sometimes three or four times more than the least expensive ones. Manufacturers imply that more wattage simply means better speakers, which is not at all true.

So, how much wattage do you really need for your speakers? Given are some of the points you need to understand to know how much wattage your speakers need.

The most basic requirements that home theatre systems need don’t increase the cost of speakers by much. Therefore, wattage is often increased unnecessarily in many new products for the cost of good-sounding gear. As a result, many audio products on the market are of lower quality and way more overpowered than needed.
Efficient speakers need less wattage as they make more sound with less power. Using separate parts (like amplifiers) for separate components, ports in the cabinets and large paper cones etc., are features found in efficient speakers.
Larger rooms need speakers with more power but not as much as some manufacturers would have you think. For an 18 by 18 feet room with 9 feet ceilings, you will want 25 watts per channel with highly efficient speakers and 40 watts for inefficient ones.
Music type can also affect the need for wattage. For the 18 by 18 room, an extra 125 watts may be required for bass reinforcement.

How Can I Get the Best Audio Quality From My Home Theatre?

If you got a new soundbar, the best music system for home or just want to improve the sound of an existing one, here are some tips you can follow to get the best quality audio:

i. Changing the Position of your Seating and subwoofer

Most people place their subwoofer on the corner of the room, which is often not the best set-up. You should move the subwoofer around your room and test each position with some bass-heavy music to find the optimal position for the subwoofer. For those with a large room, Sony recommends a maximum distance of twice the length of TV measured diagonally.

ii. Improving the Acoustics of your Room

If you can hear echo or ambience in your room when you clap your hands, you need more padding in your room to absorb the extra sound. You can also try moving around the furniture like glass cabinets or shelves, which may reflect sound in a certain way. Acoustic wall panels make for the most consistent padding and enhance the experience of home theatre systems.

iii. Checking your Cables

The length, thickness and composition of cables can make a lot of difference in the sound you hear. You may want to check the speaker’s impedance and the wire’s resistance before deciding on the optimal length. Insulating the wires so that they are not exposed also improves the quality of the speaker system.

iv. Toeing in the Speakers

This refers to pointing the speaker systems at appropriate angles based on the audience’s seating position. Your front speakers should be positioned 22-30 degree angle towards the seating position. Unless you have a single soundbar, don’t place your speakers directly at the centre of the seating area.

v. Adjusting your Equaliser

You can balance the bass and treble on the equaliser settings to get the perfect sound. Play a movie or a TV show that you watch often, and try all sorts of settings to see which one best suits your ear.

vi. Calibrating your Speakers

All the latest home theatre systems provide you with a microphone and a program to calibrate your

speakers. In case you didn’t receive one or got it misplaced, you should call the brand’s customer support

to get you one. You can also use an SPL meter to calibrate all your speakers.

How Should I Set up My Home Theatre System?

A basic home theatre set-up may include a TV, an AV receiver, Blu-ray/DVD player and a media streamer. For 5.1 surround sound, you may need a subwoofer and five speakers (including front, centre and surround speakers). Given is an outline for how to connect such a system:

i. Connect the TV monitor output of the home theatre receiver (A/V receiver) to the video input on your television. HDMI is the most effective and the simplest connection here.

ii. Connect the TV’s audio outputs to the Aux/TV inputs on your AV receiver. You can also use HDMI-ARC if both your TV and receiver have the feature.

iii. If you receive TV signals from a cable/satellite box, you can connect the AV output directly to the TV or to the home theatre receiver and then route the signal to your television.

iv. Make sure that your Smart TV is connected to the internet.

v. If your AV receiver can access both audio and video signals from HDMI connections, you can connect the HDMI output from a Blu-ray player to and from the receiver. Some of the latest home theatre systems can also be connected with HDMI ARC. If only HDMI pass-through is offered by the receiver, you will have to make separate audio connections to and from the player. DVD players have to be connected similarly to the DVD Video input on the receiver.

vi. You can connect media streamers like Chromecast, Roku, Amazon Fire TV directly to the TV or to the AV receiver, which is then routed to the TV.

vii. Position the speakers around your room, then connect them to the AV receiver. Make the connections with the correct channels and polarity such that the positive (red) and negative (black) connect to similar coloured terminals.

viii. Connect the subwoofer line output of your home theatre receiver to your subwoofer.

What Additional Features Should I Look for in My Home Theatre System?

Besides all the essential features that we have discussed so far, there are a few features buyers can look for in the latest home theatre systems.

i. Surround Sound: The basic home theatre system has 5.1 surround sound. The best home theatre systems can have 7.1- or even 9.1-channel surround sound. You can also add subwoofers and Dolby Atmos/DTS: X object-based surround speakers.

ii. Connectivity: Wireless products are dominating the market, and people are buying wireless soundbars, subwoofers and home theatre systems to not only get the latest technology but also have it future-proofed. Many speakers and speaker systems support Bluetooth, USB and NFC for easy connectivity.

iii. Amplified Speakers: Few home theatre systems have amplified speakers,which is especially useful when you are short on space.

iv. Centre Speakers: New home theatre systems have dedicated centre speakers for an enhanced listening experience. Soundbars have a central speaker unit built-in with the front left and right speakers.

v. Equalisers: Many home theatres have dedicated equaliser built-in so that you can fine-tune the sound to suit your environment.

vi. Lighting Knobs: Home theatre systems have lighting systems to create the perfect ambience and embellish the entire experience.

vii. Remote Control: All good home theatre systems include a remote control for convenient operation with simply the click of a button.

viii. Materials: Good materials used to manufacture your home theatre can make it more durable. Some produce the central control of a home theatre with aluminium, while others make it with fibre. The external frame can be made with polished wood or plastic. Wooden ones are expensive but make up the extra cost by lasting for a long time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Surround Sound System Is Better- 5.1 or 7.1?

5.1 are the most affordable and entry-level surround sound systems. Generally, they give a better listening experience compared to soundbars and stereo systems. 7.1 sound systems are pricier but have the best surround sounds among home theatres accessible in the market. These are better suited for audiophiles who have some basic knowledge about setting it up.

What’s the Best Positioning for a 5.1 Home Theatre System?

Put the central speaker in front of you for a better sound spread. Put the rear speakers behind you and the surround speakers on the left and right side of you for an immersive listening experience.

Where Should I Place My Subwoofer for the Best Sound Experience?

You can place the subwoofers anywhere as they don’t affect the audio based on its direction. Try putting them in different positions and playing bass-heavy music to see where it sounds the best.

Should I Upgrade My Home Theatre System?

Yes, you can upgrade it when you want to. Easy upgradability is one of the most beneficial features of having a home theatre system. Make sure that the speakers are at least of the same brand so audio can get synchronised. You can also upgrade your subwoofers and receivers but make sure to check if they can work with each other.

Where Can I Buy a Home Theatre System?

You can buy home theatre systems online on online platforms like Amazon or Flipkart. You can buy a home-theatre-in-a-box for easy installation or buy each part after doing research on them online. You can also get them in top electronics shops and even get someone to do the installation for you.

How Long Does a Home Theatre System Typically Last?

For light users, a home theatre system can last for as long as 10 years though it would probably become very outdated by then. For heavy users, it can go to about 5 years. Fortunately, you can replace the outdated/damaged components of the system with compatible ones.