Properly installing a traditional wired surround sound system can be a major home-improvement project and often requires hiring a professional contractor. As an installer the top reason clients oppose a surround sound system is the labor cost, complexity, and the mess from cutting drywall. Every surround sound system I’ve installed included in-wall speakers requiring me to cut large holes in their family room. They don’t think the value is there like a kitchen renovation. Wireless surround sound systems are a much easier sell and install for me. A wireless system can be as simple as a soundbar placed on a TV stand and wireless subwoofer usually located in a front corner of the room.
Wireless surround sound systems can deliver immersive audio without the need for tearing up carpets or the headache of in-wall cabling. Immersive soundscapes are now achievable in family rooms. The barrier to entry goes from hiring an installer to plugging in some speakers and downloading an app. There are some caveats to consider before jumping into the wireless arena. Wireless isn’t as stable as hard-wired systems and you may experience some drop-offs. Another burden is latency. Your network should be tidy and up-to-date to minimize wireless frustration. Below are wireless surround sound systems I recommend. When selecting wireless audio, I look for innovative companies that focus on audio. The market has tons of plastic soundbars that are only a little better than a TV’s sound. The systems I selected either emphasize a pleasing aspect to the sound or provide a significant sonic improvement to a typical soundbar.
First System
Audio
JBL Bar 2.1 Deep Bass MK2: $380
- Soundbar and wireless subwoofer – no rear speakers
- 200-watt JBL Bass – punchy
- Bluetooth music streaming from your smartphone
- Handheld remote control included
- JBL Surround Sound Technology delivers a virtual surround sound effect
- Additional optical digital input
Strengths: Typical exciting JBL sound, bass is big sounding and punchy, wireless subwoofer, huge upgrade from the TV’s sound, provides an overall good experience
Weaknesses: No surround sound, it’s a soundbar so don’t expect high fidelity
Television
Vizio Mini LED Quantum 4K TV (VQM65C-1004): $398
- Mini LED backlight
- Quantum color
- 120fps in 1080P gaming
- Vizeo voice control
Strengths: Best under $500 television, great color and decent brightness, inexpensive, great off-axis viewing
Weaknesses: Processing is poor, too reflective, buggy voice control and smart interface
Combined retail price: $778
NYC Apartment System
Audio
WiiM Bar 3.1.2 Home Theater Bundle: $928
- Sleek design soundbar
- Bluetooth audio streaming
- Eight built-in speakers
- 2.1” color touchscreen with album art
- Alexa voice remote and handheld remote control
- AI Roomfit sound processing
- Part of a Wi-fi wireless multi-room system
- Optional wireless surround speakers
- Powerful 8-inch subwoofer
- Subwoofer connects wirelessly to soundbar and requires electric
Strengths modern sleek design perfect for city apartment, excellent sound quality from a soundbar, innovative company with great engineering and support, soundbar with a color touch screen, 250-watt class D subwoofer with tight room-filling low bass
Weaknesses No surround speakers included, surprisingly good sonics from a soundbar but won’t meet the demands of an audiophile
Television
LG C6 55-inch OLED evo AI Smart 4K TV: $1,200
- 4K resolution (3840 x 2160 pixels)
- Self-illuminating OLED display
- 120Hz refresh rate
- Motion-sensing Magic remote with built-in microphone for voice control
- Gaming champion 4K 165Hz support
- Premium build quality and sleek design
- Faster processor than last-year’s version
Strengths: My go-to TV for OLED technology and never disappoints, exciting picture, bright and vibrant colors, excellent for gaming with 165Hz support, world-class inky blacks, great remote
Weaknesses: Still pricey but worth it (prior year’s model can be found for less money), screen is more reflective than I’d hoped for
Combined retail price: $2,128
Budget System
Audio
Sony BRAVIA Theater System 6: $650
- Powerful all-in-one cinematic surround sound
- Powered 5.1 channel Dolby Atmos sound bar system
- Includes soundbar, 7-inch wired subwoofer, two wireless rear speakers w/amp
- 10 total speakers
- Bluetooth 5.3 for music streaming from your smartphone
- Works with any TV and especially compatible with Sony Bravia TVs to take advantage of Voice Zoom 3TM
- Use Bravia Connect App to easily control Bravia theater from your smartphone
Strengths: Very reliable modern speaker system with an immersive surround experience. The 7-inch subwoofer adds plenty of strong floor-shaking bass with good control in a small or medium room.
Weaknesses: The system provides an overall great home theater experience for small to medium size rooms. This system is designed to be easy to use and reliable. Users shouldn’t expect earth shaking bass or audiophile-level sonics.
Television
Sony BRAVIA 5 65XR50 65-Inch Mini LED TV: $1,500
- Mini LED backlight technology
- 4K resolution (3840 x 2160 pixels)
- Video processing technology: XR processor
- Native refresh rate 120Hz
- HDR Google TV
- Easy integration with BRAVIA soundbars
- 4 HDMI inputs (1 eARC)
- Easily stream content with Google TV interface
- IMAX enhanced mode
- Wi-Fi 6
- Also available in 55-inch for $1,400
Strengths: Current Sony BRAVIA TVs are pound-for-pound one of the best performing TVs on the market. This model is easy to set up and configure and integrates especially well with BRAVIA soundbar systems. Picture is colorful and accurate with excellent contrast.
Weaknesses: Decent gaming features but others are better. Great value for the asking price but 65-inch TVs can be had much cheaper.
Combined retail price: $2,150
First House System
Audio
Sonos Premium Immersive Set with Arc Ultra: $2,311
- Available color options: black matte or white matte
- Includes Sonos ARC Ultra with Dolby Atmos, Sub 4, and two Sonos Era 100s
- Wirelessly stream music from services like Spotify, Tidal, and more
- Easily add other Sonos players for whole-home audio
- Supports Apple Airplay 2
- Built-in Wi-Fi and voice control
- 14 built-in speakers each powered with a class D amplifier
- Built-in Bluetooth for streaming directly from your smartphone
- Dual force-cancelling woofers for deep, rich bass and no cabinet rattles
- Soft-dome tweeter for warm non-fatiguing sonics
- App setup and control
- 14 driver array soundbar
- Wireless rear speakers and subwoofer (only need electric)
- Trueplay tuning: dynamically tunes the speaker to your room acoustics from the Sonos S2 app
Strengths: Reliable network connection and simple to setup and use. Excellent sonics and immersive surround sound. Ideal for any size room. Both rear speakers wirelessly connect to the soundbar, only need to plug them into an outlet. Subwoofer is the MVP of this system with deep and tight bass providing true cinema experience. Excellent for home theater and very good for music. An overall excellent system very strongly recommended.
Weaknesses: The sub is essential to get the most performance from this system. Users should not expect audiophile-level sonics, it’s a soundbar. I can’t think of any other flaws in this Sonos system.
Television
LG C6 65-inch OLED evo AI Smart 4K TV: $1,800
- 4K resolution (3840 x 2160 pixels)
- Self-illuminating OLED display
- 120Hz refresh rate
- Motion-sensing Magic remote with built-in microphone for voice control
- Gaming champion 4K 165Hz support
- Premium build quality and sleek design
- Faster processor than last-year’s version
Strengths: My go-to TV for OLED technology and never disappoints, exciting picture, bright and vibrant colors, excellent for gaming with 165Hz support, world-class inky blacks, great remote
Weaknesses: Still pricey but worth it (prior year’s model can be found for less money), screen is more reflective than I’d hoped for, thin design better handles with two people
Combined retail price: $4,111
Man-Cave System
Audio
Nakamichi DRAGON Dolby Atmos Surround Sound System with Dual 12″ Subwoofers: $3,799
- 29 drivers and 15 digital amplifiers
- Four 3-inch dual-angled up-firing height speakers
- 58-inch stainless steel soundbar
- Seven high fidelity AMT tweeters
- Dual wireless 12-inch subwoofers with passive radiators
- Two omni-motion reference surround speakers
- Bluetooth or IR handheld remote control
Strengths: Full-scale immersive sound experience, large dedicated surround speakers, no compromise engineering, very large immersive soundstage, excellent height effects, simple setup, excellent build quality, punchy controlled bass, not your average plastic soundbar
Weaknesses: Expensive, heavy, and large, no auto calibration or room EQ, can get harsh at very loud volumes
Television
Hisense U7SG UHD 4K HDR Smart Google TV: $1,700
- Native 165Hz refresh rate
- Matte anti-reflective coating
- Mini LED
- Local dimming
- Alexa voice control
- Chromecast
- Hi-view AI engine pro
- Four HDMI 2.1 inputs
- Up to 3000 nits peak brightness
Strengths: Excellent brightness, bright and vibrant colors with very good contrast, deep blacks, accurate with SDR and HDR, excellent gaming support with native 165Hz refresh rate, matte coated screen helps reduce reflections, solid stand, huge
Weaknesses: picture degrades when viewing off-axis
Combined retail price: $5,499
Final Thoughts
Wireless systems significantly reduce the barriers in adding a home theater experience in your room or home. They don’t require expensive contractors or heavy AV receivers to achieve immersive surround sound.
One soundbar I included, the WiiM Bar, is very visually appealing and includes a color touchscreen. Soundbars have evolved quickly and not just an afterthought anymore. The Nakamichi DRAGON doesn’t sound like a soundbar and will leave guests in envy.
Along with the televisions I matched with each wireless system, you can have yourself a fantastic home theater experience in your family room.
Our recommendations reflect our personal experience with the equipment reviewed and should be considered alongside your own listening preferences and room acoustics. We encourage readers to audition audio equipment whenever possible. Great sound is personal, and the best component is the one that brings you closer to your music.
