Page Text: Best Wireless Surround Speakers: Sonos PLAY: 1
Best Wireless Surround Speakers
For a wireless surround sound speaker that will be the ultimate in simplicity, consider the Sonos PLAY: 1.
$319.95
Buy on Amazon
The Sonos PLAY: 1 is a dynamic system that’s not just a speaker – it can fit in the palm of your hand. Yet, it fills the room with a stunning sound comparable to any speaker in this price range. You’ll like the fact that setup takes less than five minutes. All you really need is some time and your playlist. You may be wondering what makes this small speaker such a big deal. Well, it easily connects to your program and does not just play your list, elevates every sound for a crisp experience no matter where you are.
You’ll be able to upgrade this system as you go, if you feel that need, too. So if you’re not sure how much the one speaker will work for your whole house, you don’t have to make the decision right now. You can get the one speaker and if you decide you want a bit more of the same to cover more of your home, you can build on it for a more thorough system later.
Nearly 5,000 customer reviews on Amazon have earned this speaker an overall rating of 4.2 stars; so if you have doubts, take comfort in the statistical probability of your satisfaction. After all, 83% of customers that reviewed it were satisfied!
Sonos PLAY: 1 Key Features:
Portable
Five-minute setup
Who Should Buy a Wireless Home Theater System
If you have a set up that justifies use of the term “Home Theater” you’ll want a wireless system that will make the most of your home theater. For a space that you’ve taken great strides towards making a home theater, you’ll want to make sure that effort isn’t wasted by buying an inferior home theater system. You’ll be able to set the room up with surround sound speakers that really kick your movie watching experience up a notch to keep you fully immersed into whatever world you’re watching. Even if you already have a surround sound and an impressive arrangement, the set up of a wireless is so painless, you may want to upgrade just to rid your home theater of those unsightly wires. Because no matter how epic the picture of your television is, there’s definitely room for improvement on your sound.
Even if you don’t have a large space to really justify your use of the term home theater, you can still benefit from a home theater system – even small TVs can sound better or worse based on the supplemental electronics you purchase to support that television. A good sound system will make the smaller TV seem big by allowing you to immerse yourself into the world that lies ahead on the screen before you and with a full-bodied sound, you’ll be better able to do that. An added bonus, even if you don’t have that impressive TV – you can typically use these home theater systems for your music needs, as well, making the music something truly amazing. Without the pressure of the impressive “home theater” you’ll be able to opt for a less robust system and that means you can get a single speaker or perhaps a sound bar to make sure you’re getting all the sounds occurring without relying on the sub-par speakers from your television or music device.
Best Overall Wireless Home Theater System
For the best in home theater systems, look no further than the Rockville HTS56 1000w 5.1 Channel Home Theater System.
$184.95
Buy on Amazon
Important Features to Consider
A wireless home theater systems should have a few important features. Here’s what to consider when selecting a wireless home theater system:
Sound bar. A sound bar may get a bad rap for not offering enough sound variety, but for what it is, it really is a revolution for audio. Bearing in mind that the sound bar has no subwoofer and is located directly in front of the audience, the sound is impressive. It won’t take too much time to set up, either; they’re often plug and play with just a bit of clicking through set up and though they’re still going to give you superior sound to the TV itself, you won’t need to worry about the space it takes up at all. It will lie flat, usually under the screen of the television and though it is wide, it’s so thin that it will fit most anywhere that’s convenient. And while we can’t pretend you’ll get a full surround sound out of a sound bar, you’ll still be getting a lot better sound than your TV could give you.
5.1 system. A 5.1 speaker system is the most common for a home theater system because it will offer you a true surround sound. The ‘5’ refers to the number of speakers; the four corners are each the same, so you can interchange them, with a main unit up front and center. That makes three towards the front of the room and two behind your “optimal seat” (in your home, it’ll most often be in front of and behind a couch). But if you’re not making sure the base knows which speaker is the front left and which is the rear right, you won’t have audio that syncs with the video so be careful in set up. For an automated home theater system, set up may be a bit less trouble than it was in days of yore. (Check reviews if you’re worried, or pay the Amazon expert the extra money for proper installation which you won’t have to struggle to learn.) The ‘.1’ refers to the one subwoofer that lets you hear the lower, bass sounds to finish out the audio range and provide full capability.
Subwoofer. Though the quality of sound coming from speakers has evolved and the technology has progressed, the one irreplaceable aspect of the theater system is the sub woofer. Unfortunately, that’s typically the first thing to go with sound systems, but it is the component that adds layers and depth to the sound. It will be the part of the traditional set up of a home theater system that relays low-pitched frequencies. (The bass or sub-bass.) Generally, these sounds aren’t viewed as “necessary” and though you can usually get away without a speaker set aside especially for it, it does give a richer sound. You can never use a subwoofer on its own, because it will only produce those lower pitched sounds. For home theater use, it will project deep sounded explosions or an animal growls, for example, but not much else – including dialogue.
Single speaker. If you’re not setting up a surround sound in your home, you may not want anything besides one, ultra-high quality speaker. You’ll need to find one that’s up to the task, but they do exist; you can actually find a single speaker to give you a better quality of sound without skimping too much. It may never be the rich sound of a traditional home theater set up but for a smaller home theater (or a living room or bedroom), one speaker will definitely let you hear all the sounds within the movie or song.
WiFi or Bluetooth. As far as wireless goes, that generally refers to wireless internet and wireless power. The wireless power is an easy, one possible solution: battery powered. For wireless internet, there are two methods of connecting: WiFi and Bluetooth. WiFi may be more or less reliable depending on your internet connection and your Bluetooth’s. Typically, in your home WiFi will be a bit more reliable, but the Bluetooth will allow you to play audio directly from your phone. While this is an easy way to make sure you’re syncing with your favorite playlists and picking up your audio book in the right place, for a home theater system, your movies will usually be streamed from an online platform and using your Bluetooth for that may deplete your month’s data fast. Keep in mind that when it comes to your wireless source, they may not be infinite.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a wireless home theater system and how does it work?
A wireless home theater system is an audio set up for your entertainment center to make sure your television shows, movies, games, and more are projecting the best possible sound in your home. You’ll be able to convert your ordinary living room into a movie theater sound with the right home theater system and opting for wireless versions means you’ll have fewer wires to trip over and the set up will be easier. (Though we would be remiss not to mention the fact that the wires are no longer a hassle, but the set up of getting your speakers to connect will be a bit more of a concern. You won’t have the physical annoyances but may have a bit more programming time invested when all is said and done.) When you’re choosing the right home theater system, you’ll get to choose between a sound bar, single speaker system, and a more traditional “surround sound” with multiple speakers spread throughout the room with a subwoofer to give you a more thorough sound. Your television and the majority of your radio or music playing devices simply won’t have the kind of detail to wound that a home theater system does and as such, the additional speakers can help give you a better experience.
Can you get wireless surround sound?
Yes, you can get a wireless surround sound; however, the name may be a bit more deceiving than you think. Wireless will typically refer to the speakers that are across the room, but not the main unit (that’s often a sound bar of sort; it will lie horizontally rather than the typical vertical of the other speakers in the set). This is so that you don’t have to worry about wire placement, tripping over wires and drilling them into walls or ceilings to get the best surround sound. The main unit will still be wired to your television and plugged into the walls, for the most part though. You can get a truly wireless unit that has all the speakers, including the main unit, to connect wirelessly, but you’ll be losing reliability, consistency, and often paying a lot more – both in the initial investment and in battery power if you opt for wireless power as well. (Though, honestly, the battery power is much more rare to find due to the inconvenience so that may not be a concern.) Wireless surround sound is absolutely possible, but bear in mind from the get-go that you’ll probably still be working with some wires for the best quality.
Are wireless speakers as good as wired?
When they’re working, yes, wireless speakers can be as good as wired. The quality of the sound will be just as rich, you’ll have just as much range in pitch and tone; provided you buy an equally high quality speaker system. You can get fooled by this, too, so don’t discount it. The wireless feature will automatically increase the price a bit and when you’re comparing wired versus wireless, comparing the price tags will be like apples to oranges. You’ll have to check the specs and reviews to make sure you’re getting the speakers that have a similar quality to wired ones. The key is to remember wireless speakers are as good as wired when they’re working. While they’re not necessarily unreliable, they aren’t as reliable as wired, to be sure. Their effectiveness is only as good as their connection and if your internet source dips in strength, the wireless speakers can disconnect. And for the speakers that are powered wirelessly as well, then you can expect the batteries to eventually die and as they do, the connection will be lost more often, too.
In some cases, though, wireless speakers are even better than the wired. They’re less difficult to set up, and that means you may be able to set up multiple sources for your speakers. That is, you can use a Bluetooth or wireless connection to sync up your television, phone, or audio device to project the sound through your home.
How far can wireless speakers reach?
If you’re trying to get the best range for your speakers, WiFi will be far superior to the Bluetooth. Bluetooth range is usually 30 feet or so, while the WiFi will reach as far as your WiFi signal does; typically over 100 feet – in open air, that is. In a house with obstacles, they will have a bit smaller range – maybe as little as 50-75 feet. It will still far exceed the Bluetooth, but may not be quite as impressive as advertised. For the WiFi, though, you can even get range boosters that will make your speakers work even further from the source.
Other Wireless Home Theater Systems We Reviewed
Best Overall Wireless Home Theater System
For the best in home theater systems, look no further than the Rockville HTS56 1000w 5.1 Channel Home Theater System.
$184.95
Buy on Amazon
We looked at 35 other wireless home theater systems. Even though they didn’t make our 5 best wireless home theater systems list, they’re the best of the rest and each is still a great option for your home. The information you’ll need to compare each one is included with the listing.