When building out an entry-level home theater system, one of the first things you need to decide is what kind of sound system you actually want. There are three main options to choose from: a soundbar system, an AV receiver and bookshelf speaker system, and home theater starter kit. There are advantages and disadvantages to each (which we’ve highlighted below), but once you’ve figured out the sound system you can pretty much pair it with any TV and streaming device with it.
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Option 1: The Soundbar System
CourtesyThe easiest option is to build your home theater system around a soundbar. This is because it plugs directly into your TV meaning you don’t need an AV receiver. A lot of soundbar manufacturers, like Sonos, Bose and JBL, also build compatible subwoofers and rear-channel speakers that you can purchase as a home theater package or separately (if you decide you want to build out your system at a later date. The downside is that you don’t get the flexibility to build out and customize your system in quite the same way. (You can’t pair a Sonos soundbar with a Bose subwoofer or Klipsch’s rear-channel speakers, for example. ) But if you just want to be done with the project, this is a great way to go.
SonosSonos Beam
The Beam is Sonos’s excellent entry-level soundbar. You can add two One speakers and a Sub to create a Sonos 5.1 surround sound system.
BoseBose Soundbar 700
The Soundbar 700 is Bose’s flagship soundbar with built-in Alexa. You can easily add Bose’s subwoofer and surround sound speakers later down the road.
SonosSonos Arc
The Arc is Sonos’s only soundbar that supports Dolby Atmos. Like the Beam, it’s pretty easy to add two surrounds and a Sub (or two) for a complete the home theater system.
Option 2: AV Receiver and Bookshelf Speakers
CourtesyThe most traditional route to building a home theater is to buy an AV receiver and a pair of bookshelf speakers. There are a couple advantages to doing it this way. There’s more room for customization as each component isn’t tied to a larger ecosystem. It gives you the flexibility to add better speakers, a subwoofer or even surround speakers later down the road (provided your AV receiver supports a larger system). Also, if you have a pair of bookshelf speakers that you love, you can easily turn them into a pair of home theater systems. The downside of this is that it’s a little complicated. If you’re looking to save money and you don’t plan on upgrading your system later on, you can buy a more affordable AV receiver that doesn’t support Atmos and doesn’t support surrounds.
DenonDenon AVR-S540BT
The Denon AVR-S540BT is one of the best entry-level AV receivers. It supports up to 5.2 channels and works with 4K TVs.
YamahaYamaha RX-V4A
The Yamaha RX-V4A is a 5.2-channel receiver that can work well with 4K and 8K TVs. It supports Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (such as AirPlay and MusicCast) for music streaming.
OnkyoOnkyo TX-NR696
The Onkyo TX-NR696 is a 7.2-channel AV receiver that can deliver 100 watts per channel, meaning it can power most bookshelf and floorstanding loudspeakers.
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$599.00 (83% off)
KlipschEditor's Choice
Klipsch R-41M
The Klipsch R-41M are solid entry-level bookshelf speakers. So solid, in fact, that Klipsch actually sells them in larger home theater systems.
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$160 (20% off)
Q AcousticsEditor's Choice
Q Acoustics 3020i
The 3020i are some of our favorite bookshelf speakers in the mid-price range. They’re available in white, black, walnut and graphite finishes.
KEFKEF Q150
The KEF Q150 are the updated version of the company’s revered Q100 bookshelf speakers. They’re frequently on sale on Amazon for significantly less than $600.
Option 3: A Home-Theater-In-A-Box System
CourtesyThe third option is to buy a home-theater-in-a-box system, as it’s essentially a smaller and more affordable surround sound system. Most come with an AV receiver, but not all so you’ll have to look out for that; if you need to purchase one separately, it’ll likely add $300-or-so. In general, however, this is the perfect compromise between a high-quality soundbar and a full-fledged surround-sound system.
MonopriceMonoprice 10565
The Monoprice 10565 is a 5.1.2 home theater system complete with rear-channel speakers. It supports Dolby Atmos, but doesn’t come with an AV receiver.
OnkyoOnkyo HT-S3910
The Onkyo HT-S3910 is a 5.1 system that comes with an AV receiver, supports Dolby Atmos and is be compatible with most 4K TVs. It has built-in Bluetooth, too.
KlipschKlipsch 5.1 Reference Theater Pack
The Klipsch Reference Theater Pack is a 5.1 home theater system that was originally priced at $999 when it was released in 2018, but now you can snag it for less than half that.
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$549.99 (27% off)