A Home theater system is not just a TV on steroids; it is a complete sound-based revamp of your home’s entertainment capabilities. The goal here is not to make a visit to your favorite movie theater unnecessary but to provide the best possible backdrop for your next evening in. A proper home theater will bring both audio and video resolution to a completely new level, whether you’re using it for family movie night, playing video games, or watching the game.
Below, you will find the best-value options for entry level home theater systems. Some are all-in-one box systems, while other may give you the chance to mix and match things a little bit. However, they will all radically transform your rainy evenings for years to come. Are you ready to stop binge watching your favorite series from a tiny tablet or simple TV?
Pioneer 5.1 Home Theater System
Affordable on-point technology and superb sounds have always been two of the signature offers that make up Pioneer’s international reputation. This Japanese manufacturer is well known for their car stereos and efficient portable mini projectors. Their home theater systems follow up wonderfully on this expectation; this model offers all the basics, some unexpected surprises and great Dolby-surround compatibility in a surprisingly small package.
The video set up can handle Ultra HD and HDR resolutions, alongside 3D movies. The attached speakers can connect easily to a variety of appliances thanks to a smartly-designed Bluetooth compatibility. In addition, it includes a 5.1 channel AV receiver, 5 compact speakers and a supporting subwoofer.
Polk Audio Blackstone
American family-based manufacturer Polk Audio was one of the not-so-secret engines behind the 1970s rock music scene. Founded by a team of engineers who wanted to bring a concert-worthy sound experience into people’s living rooms, this brand has characterized itself by its attention to detail and their equipment’s ability provide rich bass sounds.
Unlike other brands of similar origins, they have kept themselves firmly stationed in the sound niche. Therefore, while you won’t find any fancy 4K Television sets sporting their logo, you will find amazingly powerful add-ons to revamp your home’s sound system. Their Audio Blackstone Home Theater System, for example, is perfectly worthy of any newly-minted sound engineer. The full package has 6 pieces, including 2 front and 2 surround speakers, plus a central speaker and a subwoofer. Everything is made from high-grade, 3.25-inch polymer-composite, which lessens sound distortion sharply.
Finally, this system comes with a series of adjustment options that will allow you to make the most of their naturally rich baritone vocals. These include a built-in subwoofer power amp, a variable low-pass filter, and a phase switching toggle.
Onkyo 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos Home Theater
While remaining relatively obscure for the public, New Jersey’s own ONKYO has been quietly bringing the best of Japanese audio technology to the American continent for quite a few years. This has earned them a loyal following among audiophiles, who are quick to praise the high-fidelity sounds they offer and handle their own standards of brand recognition.
If you are ready to research your first home theater system, however, you definitely deserve to enjoy what this brand has to offer. Their 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos package is easy to install but offers near-infinite opportunities for tweaking and improvement. The all-in-one design appears modest at first glance, but it packs enough features to stand its ground among much pricier upper-tier offers.
With 7 speakers and one subwoofer, Onkyo pushes the envelope of the kind of immersive sound you can get in your own home. It includes eight built-in HDMI ports, all 4K video compatible, which is more than enough room to hook all your gadgets and extra speakers. In addition, it offers full compatibility with Bluetooth and built-in synchronization with Chromecast and Spotify.
Yamaha YHT-4930UBL Home Theater Box
Yamaha has been synonymous with music for long enough that it is almost impossible to think of the guitar world without mentioning the brand. They offer a lot more than just instruments, however; over the last few years, their offers in the high-fidelity sound niche have grown exponentially, in both products and accolades.
Their YHT-4930UBL Home Theater system is easy to install, simple to expand, and pleasurable to hear. It includes six speakers: one central, one subwoofer, and four satellite speakers, which are enough for a classic Surround experience. However, it has 3 extra ports for whenever you are ready to upgrade – although their full-range drive cones are likely to satisfy you for years to come.
The main box can handle up to 4K Super HD video quality as long as you have a TV or projector that can handle. A pass-through is also included if you need to feed a high-end signal to a slightly older TV. There is also an option to adapt to Dolby Vision and Hybrid Log-Gamma, but 3D is not included.
Sony 7.2 Home Theater System
As one of the most established electronic manufacturers around the world, there is little left to say about Sony and its history other than the fact that they are sure to have a version of pretty much every type of system for every budget range. Their 7.2 Home Theater system is not quite entry level, as it offers a noticeable upgrade from standard 5.1-based system. However, it is still far from their top offers, at least when it comes to price.
Relatively larger than average, the main box offers full compatibility with Dolby Atmos sound, Play Station 4 consoles, 4K video, HDR, and Google Home voice commands. As for the sound capabilities themselves, they don’t fall short at any point. The system includes eight different speakers, including 2 bookshelf speakers and 2 standing towers. This is the kind of package that requires you to have enough room on your house to fit it properly without the walls shaking.
If you do have the available space, then it will transport you out of your home completely and set you in a middle of a crowded stadium. The woofers are 5 inches thick and reinforced with mica foam. Power peaks at 145 watts.
Focal SIB EVO 5.1.2 Home Cinema System
Equipment that will be displayed right inside your home needs to be beautiful in addition to efficient, especially if you have already invested a lot in your living room’s décor. Focal is an American brand that has been providing sleek and beautiful electronics since the late 1970s. They provide some of the best headphones and headsets in the market, and now, with the SIB EVO speaker set, they are finally making the leap at large-scale sound.
The six-speaker set is beautiful and compact, although that doesn’t mean the volume stays low. In addition, this set pairs beautifully with a Yamaha RX-A780 receiver, which sharply upgrades the compatibilities and feats this set up can offer. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, 4K and HDR support, and instant built-in Spotify synchronization are more than worth the extra assembly time.
Klipsch Black Reference Theater Pack 5.1
Small and efficient, the Klipsch Black Reference Theater Pack stands to represent everything that makes Klipsch one of the best international representatives of German engineering. In addition, its signature quasi-vintage look that often borders on a steampunk aesthetic is a great addition for any household, especially if yours has a craving for the unusual.
The initial specs give all the impression of aiming to keep it simple, thanks to its 5.1-only set up. However, when paired with its powerful yet totally wireless subwoofer and control box, the resulting sound quickly jumps from “entry level” to “neat and rich.”. This all happens before we start exploring Klipsch’s exclusive Horn tractrix, which radically cleans up the sound when playing orchestral or live recording. This will allow you to fill the house with low-frequency sounds without actually having to fill it with speakers.
As an added bonus, all satellite speakers are equipped with keyhole mounts, so you can exhibit or hide them as needed.
You may also be interested in some of the best small home theatre movie projector screens from our list. Check them out.
Enclave Audio CineHome HD 5.1
Enclave is not just an ominous-sounding word; they are also a well-reputed audio supplier with a penchant for pushing the envelope and having a personal beef with cables. This is why their Enclave Audio CineHome system goes almost as wireless as it’s humanly possible; most homes still rely on electricity, so it has kept a general plug cable. However, all six pieces that comprise this set are completely free of audio or video receiver cables. Instead, they rely on a Smart Center Hub that keeps everything connected via Bluetooth, while still keeping a high audio quality.
Free from physical constrains, this CineHome pack is now free to offer full 360 degrees of HD audio and video transmission. It is also fully compatible with Dolby Digital sound and DTS, and offers enough input ports to hook up 3 different HDMI devices, plus a 3.5mm analog and optical outlets. It works seamlessly with Chromecast and any Android device, Amazon Fire, and Apple TV.
Sonos Bean Home Theater System
Founded in 2002, Sonos remains a relatively newcomer to the consumer electronics scene. However, as it was founded by three of the most brilliant minds that Santa Barbara had to offer, they have quickly positioned themselves in the portable and professional music industry.
Their Sonos Bean Home Theater system is a great example of what they can achieve. Here, high technology meets superb sound fidelity. The final product sits comfortably at the crossroads between a Home Theater System and a Smart Home Headquarters. It offers easy installation and quick pairing with any Smart TV, game console, and even your Alexa, AirPlay, or Google Home accounts – and then place a complete set of club-worthy speakers at the complete disposal of your favorite device.
The starter set comes with two speakers and one base, but just like all Smart Home products, it is fully modular and can easily be expanded according to your needs and available space. Its large range, which can easily be expanded with a signal bouncer, allows you to hook up an entire townhouse to the same immersive concert.
Here are some of the top home theatre projectors in 1080p and 4k. Be sure to browse them.
LG Electronics CJ45
LG is probably too well-known at this point, so its higher-end electronic wonders usually fall under the radar of their larger, consumer-friendly microwaves and dishwashers. This should not be taken as a sign that they can’t handle the production of a proper Home Theater System; the CJ45 package proves that they can excel at it.
A 3-piece set of satellite speakers, a subwoofer, and a central speaker offer more than enough sound power for a small house or loft. The total output power of 720 watts stands to prove this. In addition, the device has full Bluetooth connectivity and can pair up three different devices simultaneously, offering even the opportunity to share their Jukebox. The Karaoke creator mode, which is something that most Home Theater options no longer include, is a nice throwback to the past and it will surely afford you many unforgettable house parties. The main box can be connected with a standard analog stereo and two USB devices.
The controls offer very sophisticated and advanced options, but their basic functions are intuitive. The speakers are all equipped with red LED lights, which offer a nice sound effect. The set is also very affordable for those on a budget.
Orb Audio Mod1 Mini Home Theater System
Don’t let the word “Mini” fool you; just because Orb Audio has decided to go small, doesn’t mean they have decided to go weak. After all, this up-and-coming electronics manufacturer has designed their game around the “smart” concept. This is not limited to just Smart Home connectivity or witty comebacks. From their very inception, this brand claimed its territory among the new generation of urbanites who wanted to live in spacious and stylish lofts but didn’t want spacious rents.
The unapologetic retro appeal provided by the speaker set will immediately remind you of the good old radio days. The sound quality, on the other hand, does not romanticize the past but fully embrace the latest advances instead: audiophile worthy music and transparent tunes mesh greatly with the modular design, which allows you to easily expand on the original five-piece set provided.
Set up is kept easy thanks to clearly labelled cables and a discreet dual port design hidden beneath the main piece. This system can generate as much bass as a 12-inch cabinet, while keeping energy costs low.
Our guide to the top-rated huge home theatre movie screens offers more great devices for your home. Check them out.
Bose CineMate 15 Series
What kind of audio-oriented electronics list is ever complete without a Bose product? For the most part, only the ones that are aiming at pleasing the low-budget audience. Although Bose has a well-deserved reputation for providing professional sound systems and stereo set ups, it can be quite hard to find something that counts as “entry level.”
However, we could not rest easy until we could find the very best you can get without going into debt. The Bose CineMate 15 Series is a 2.1-channel speaker system that offers full compatibility with Dolby Surround Sound systems, a truly immersive quality, and a remarkable low price. If you already have an HDTV, you will find that this system can be installed in a matter of minutes (provided you have already decided where to place its 4 different speakers).
The speakers all use Bose’s patented Gemstone array, which increases sound depth. The main module is equipped with two LED indicators, and can respond to IR and voice commands alike. You can get it for an unbelievably low price.