Here are our top picks for the best wireless home theater system that deliver superb 5.1 surround sound performance and can sync wirelessly without the need for excessive speaker wiring.
These home theater systems are designed to deliver cinema-like sound quality in your living room and are relatively easy to setup without massive wiring that a traditional 5.1 home theater system setup requires – they also support wireless streaming over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connections.
Most of the wireless most theater systems on this list have rear speakers are able to sync wirelessly to the central unit to avoid running wires through your entire room, although they may require a separate power source or wired directly to the wireless subwoofer.
#1 Best Overall: VIZIO SB3851 5.1 Wireless Home Theater System
Connectivity: The subwoofer connects wirelessly to the soundbar. The rear speakers are wired directly to the wireless subwoofer at the back of the room, eliminating the need to run wiring across your room for a clean setup.
What we liked: 100 dB of surround sound, great sound effects
View full specs: VIZIO SB3851 Wireless Home Theater System
The VIZIO SB3851 wireless home theater system delivers a full 5.1 surround sound and comes with built-in Bluetooth functionality which allows you to stream music and sound directly from wireless music sources. It is a complete 5.1 channel surround sound system that includes a 38” sound bar with left, right and center channels, as well as two rear satellite speakers to get the surround sound effect. The powered subwoofer has a wireless connection to the soundbar while the satellite speakers are wired to the subwoofer. The surround sound speakers are capable of producing an incredible 100 dB of room filling crystal clear sound with less than 1% total overall distortion.
We also liked the fact that the VIZIO comes with premium Dolby Digital and DTS Digital Surround decoding which provides high quality sound audio processing for the best performance. The satellite speakers are also small enough for you to mount them on the walls using a wall bracket. On the whole, the VIZIO SB3851 is a really good wireless home theater system for 5.1 surround sound and Bluetooth music streaming and we highly recommend them.
The sound bar on the VIZIO is paired to the wireless subwoofer which reduces the amount of wiring that you need to use to set up the system – they combine to bring crystal clear booming sound to your home environment. The wireless subwoofer is connected to the rear satellite speakers which you can position around you to create rear sounding channels for an immersive listening experience.
It also connects easily to your TV receiver and the sound bar works very well with the left, center and right channels pre-built inside the sound bar. The setup on the VIZIO is extremely intuitive and easy – connecting the VIZIO to the TV and placing the sound bar and subwoofer took a couple of minutes with the wireless pairing.
The sound performance of the VIZIO is very good and provides great sound for watching TV with the sound bar placed right on the front. The sound feels clear with impactful bass that goes really deep; the subwoofer feels extremely powerful and will easily fill up a large room when deep low-end frequency response. The sound bar is able to produce very detailed stereo sound – you can actually hear details in the music that you might not have heard before, such as background conversations and the sound of debris flying all over after an explosion.
Listening to music on the VIZIO was also quite a good experience and vocal performances sounded really crisp and clear, with very good music separation that distinguishes between subtle notes in the music. The subwoofer provides exceptionally good bass and can really make your entire room shake with an immersive low-end sonic boom. If you are looking for the best home theater system to watch TV and movies, the VIZIO is a really good choice.
The entire system comes with detailed instructions on how to set up the surround sound speakers and pair the subwoofer to the sound bar. Because the sound bar and the subwoofer connect wirelessly to a TV or Bluetooth source, the only wires that are required are for the satellite speakers. It also comes with a very convenient remote control which you can use to configure the volume controls and adjust the bass and treble outputs.
The speakers have a very sleek and modern looking aesthetic appeal and blends in easily into your TV area. The sound bar and the rear speakers are of very compact size and the rear speakers can be easily mounted on a wall. The speakers also come with optical, coax and RCA cables which are included with the home theater system for easy setup.
The Verdict? The VIZIO SB3851s wireless home theater system delivers very good 5.1 surround sound for your TV and supports wireless streaming via Bluetooth. They are extremely easy and convenient to set up, and come with practically everything that you need to get the surround sound speakers running. We would also recommend getting a receiver to connect these surround speakers to your TV or wireless music source. The sound performance of the VIZIO system is top-notch, with crisp vocals, deep stunning bass and detailed sound that flow naturally from the sound bar to the rear speakers.
The sound bar looks very sleek and modern and easy to setup, and pairs wirelessly to the subwoofer – do note that the rear speakers need to be wired to the wireless subwoofer. It also comes with a nice remote control where you can adjust the bass and treble settings at a touch of a button. It is a cost-effective wireless home theater system that is really easy to handle and install and is definitely worth the investment.
#2 Best Sound Quality: Enclave Audio CineHome HD 5.1 Wireless Home Theater System
Connectivity: The Enclave Smart Center connects to your TV with a single cable and streams music to the wireless subwoofer, wireless rear speakers and wireless front speakers, eliminating the need for speaker cables. Do note that each speaker should still be plugged into a power source to work.
What we liked: 5.1 HD surround sound
View full specs: Enclave Wireless Home Theater System
The Enclave Audio CineHome HD 5.1 wireless home theater system is designed for high quality audio performance and eliminates the need for an audio receiver or speaker cables. It is a completely wireless setup with the Enclave center speaker serving as the central hub for wireless transmission – although the surround sound speakers will still need to be connected to a power terminal. The speakers are custom designed and tuned for 360 degree 24 bit HD wireless audio sound; each speaker is built with two full-range drivers on opposite sides for enhanced surround sound performance.
It is also compatible with Dolby Digital and DTS and delivers cinema-like sound even from stereo signals. The system comes with 3 HDMI inputs to connect to your cable box, DVD Blu-ray player, and also features 3.5mm analog, optical inputs and Bluetooth streaming functionality. If you are in the market for a fully wireless home theater system, the Enclave Audio CineHome HD 5.1 system is really your best bet.
The sound performance of the Enclave wireless home theater system is nothing short of phenomenal. It produces very good 5.1 HD surround sound that permeates through the entire room. The sound coming from the surround speakers feels detailed and well defined, with crisp highs, very good midrange and strong bass performance. The surround sound speakers are each equipped with dual full-range drivers that deliver really spacious and crisp sound performance. Watching movies with the CineHome system feels like sitting in a real life cinema, with deep sound effects and bass response that hits hard and feels impactful.
We also tested this system with a couple of soundtracks via Bluetooth streaming – electronic dance music sounded really punchy and hits hard, while orchestra music had plenty of soundstage and decent musical separation in the 5.1 system. The speakers really do a good job in reproducing subtle details which you might not have noticed in the recording before; the end result is that you get really good sound quality that feels natural, organic and uncolored. Overall, it’s the perfect system to have if you want a very good surround sound system without having to connect wiring around your home or living room.
Setting up the Enclave CineHome is relatively simple and straightforward. You only need to place the speakers in the appropriate position, plug in the AC power adapter and load up the Enclave smart center to get started. The Enclave center speaker connects to the TV with a single cable and is compatible with HDMI and SPDIF optical sources. The subwoofer connects to the center system wirelessly, and syncs together with the wireless rear and front speakers. It also comes with a nice remote control which you can use to control the volume and basic functionality of the system.
The Enclave Audio system delivers 24 bit uncompressed audio wirelessly which enhances the overall sound performance. We liked the fact that the system also comes with the Enclave Audio app which you can use with Android/iOS devices to stream music from your device or local network, or update the Enclave Audio firmware. The Wifi and Bluetooth transmission works as expected without any dips in sound quality or performance. The system generally supports HDCP 1.4 and it will pass 3D video sources without any issues. The only downside to this system is that it does not support HDCP 2.2 signals and you will need a workaround if you want to stream 4K video from your TV.
The entire package comes with the two front wireless speakers, two rear wireless speakers, a wireless subwoofer, and the center channel speaker. The manufacturers also provide a remote control, power adapters, HDMI cables and user manual for easy reference. Overall, this is a 5.1 surround sound system that is really easy to setup and syncs together wirelessly without the need for speaker cabling which is the main advantage that you get with this setup.
The Verdict? The Enclave Audio CineHome HD 5.1 wireless home theater system delivers very good sound quality and is easy to setup without the need for massive cabling around the room. The entire system is designed to be wireless – you get wireless front speakers, wireless rear speakers, wireless subwoofer and a center channel speaker that connects directly to your TV. In terms of audio performance, it’s hard to go wrong with this system. Watching movies with the CineHome felt as though we were sitting in a real life cinema with deep sound effects and crisp dialogue from the center channel speaker.
Music performances from instrumental music and orchestra music sounded very consistent and detailed with a good level of soundstage. You really feel that you are immersed in the sound while listening to music with this setup; the bass response hits hard and feels impactful. The only downside to this system is that it does not support HDCP 2.2 which may be an issue if you want to stream ultra-high quality video through this system, otherwise you will have to use a workaround. Apart from this, it is a really good wireless home theater system that you can find and we highly recommend them.
#3 Best Value: Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1 Wireless Home Theater System
Connectivity: The subwoofer connects wirelessly to the soundbar. The rear speakers are wired directly to the wireless subwoofer at the back of the room, eliminating the need to run wiring across your room for a clean setup.
What we liked: Full-range 7.1 surround sound
View full specs: Nakamichi Wireless Home Theater System
The Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1 is a really good wireless home theater system that consists of a surround soundbar, wireless subwoofer and rear speakers that connect to the wireless subwoofer. The rear speakers connect directly to the wireless subwoofer which avoids the need to run speaker wiring across your room to the rear speakers; the subwoofer will need to be connected to a power terminal to operate. The 45.5” sound bar comes with left, right, center and two proprietary side firing speakers to deliver a massive surround sound range (i.e., a 5.1 sound bar), and syncs with the wireless subwoofer and 2 rear speakers to provide a fully immersive surround sound performance.
The entire system can produce 400 watts of rich filling sound, and is powered by 11 tuned speaker drivers that can deliver up to 104dB of crystal clear sound. The system also features an 8” wireless subwoofer that can produce bass response as low as 35 Hz. If you want a wireless home theater system that can produce very wide, natural surround sound that adapts to your living room, the Nakamichi system is the one worth checking out.
The sound bar that comes with this system uses side firing front speakers to produce surround sound effects over a wide range. The sound bar produces 200 watts of pure power, while the subwoofer produces 150 watts and the rear speakers 50 watts. The sound quality that you get with this system is really mind-blowing – we were surprised at the sound quality that you get with this system and the sound bar. Vocal performances sounded very clear and consistent – you get rich and clear tonal consistency at all volumes. Watching movies with this setup was a really enjoyable experience, with detailed sound effects and subtle notes coming from all directions. The setup produces a good deal of volume and at 50% volume it can literally make your entire living room vibrate to its core.
The bass response from the 8” subwoofer does its magic and produces a deep low end thump that you will not forget for a long time. The soundstage that you get with this setup is very refined and you can actually hear the detailed musical separation clearly – it gives you a good spatial sense of where the music is coming from. The side firing speakers on the sound bar produce extended highs and nice sound effects that extend to both sides of the room, giving a full cinematic sound experience.
The Nakamichi system is powered by 5 DSP chipsets which reproduce natural and organic sound performance without any coloration. It is also compatible with Dolby Audio and DTS Digital Surround reference audio. You can control the soundbar and TV with a single remote control with HDMI CEC compatibility; it gives you the option to customize your rear, center and subwoofer volume levels.
The system comes with two HDMI 4k pass through inputs, one HDMI audio return channel, and supports optical, coaxial and analog inputs. It is also Bluetooth compatible and you can stream music to the system directly from your mobile device or through the Spotify app. Do note that the latest 7.1 Pro DTS X 2017 version supports HDCP 2.2 advanced connectivity for newer high resolution TVs and HDR advanced connectivity, with Bluetooth aptX capability, although it is slightly more expensive than the original 7.1 Pro 2016 version.
The entire package includes the left and right rear speaker cables of 26.2 feet each, a 4 feet HDMI cable, a 4 feet optical cable and a wall mounting kit. The sound bar also decodes DTS, DTS HD and Dolby multi-channels for high quality music performance. While this system does not provide a true 7.1 experience because the surround speakers are too close in placement to the left and right channel speakers on the soundbar, they do provide extremely detailed surround sound and is much better than your average 5.1 home theater setup.
The Verdict? The Nakamichi Shockwafe wireless home theater system delivers extremely good surround sound performance and is relatively easy to setup. The wireless subwoofer connects directly to the 5.1 sound bar and the rear speakers connect directly to the subwoofer; this avoids running cables through your room to the center speaker system. While it is not entirely wireless as the Enclave Audio speakers, the sound quality that you get with this system is top notch and it is highly value for money.
Watching movies with this setup was an incredible experience, with very detailed sound effects, crisp dialogue and nice music. The bass response that you get from the subwoofer is detailed and punchy that reverberates through the entire room. You can really crank up the volume on this speaker system and not expect to hear any distortion.
The sound bar has plenty of soundstage and detailed musical separation – you can hear musical details coming from the sides of the room. While it is not a true 7.1 setup per se, the sound bar does sound much better than your average 5.1 configuration setups. It is a wireless home theater system that also supports HDMI with 4k pass through and TV HDMI (ARC) connections which is a definite added plus.
#4 Best High End: Bose 300 Wireless Home Theater System
Connectivity: The subwoofer and rear speakers connect wirelessly to the soundbar but will need to be connected to a power source. This eliminates the need to run speaker cables across your room.
What we liked: HDMI with 4k pass-through
View full specs: Bose SoundTouch 300 Wireless Home Theater System
The Bose 300 wireless home theater system bundle comes with a Bose SoundTouch 300 soundbar, the Bose Acoustimass 300 wireless bass module and a pair of Bose 300 wireless surround speakers. It is the perfect setup to have if you want to set up a truly wireless home theater system in your home apartment or living room without running any wiring through your living room. The entire system is Bluetooth compatible with NFC pairing and Wi-Fi music streaming.
It also comes with HDMI connectivity with 4K pass-through, and comes with a SoundTouch app which allows you to control your music on the go. The subwoofer and rear speakers connect wirelessly to the soundbar which needs to be connected to a music source or receiver from the TV. Overall, the Bose 300 system is a really versatile wireless home theater system bundle that delivers superb sound performance and we highly recommend them.
The sound performance of the Bose 300 home theater system is one level above the competition. The Bose SoundTouch 300 soundbar is really sleek and produces exceptional sound that feels rich and has plenty of impact. The sound-bar is able to produce really good surround sound and you can feel the sound effects from the left or right channel speakers permeating through the entire room. The only downside with the soundbar is that it only has one HDMI input and ooutput, which may be a little inconvenient if you want to connect multiple devices at one time such as a DVD player or gaming console.
The bass response that we got from the Acoustimass 300 wireless subwoofer was incredibly deep and punchy; it feels the entire room with a low end that really makes the walls vibrate. Watching movies with the subwoofer was a truly cinematic experience and you get deep bass response that feels almost akin to a real life cinema. The surround sound satellite speakers work decently to produce good surround sound around your living room at the rear. It’s a really good 5.1 wireless home theater system that delivers superb sound performance and connects seamlessly without any hassle.
The entire system comes with an nice remote control that you can use to adjust the volume and music settings – the soundbar acts as the centralized control center for the subwoofer and wireless surround sound speakers. The soundbar comes with custom drivers and sound distribution technology that projects sound superbly through the room and makes it feel as though you are listening multiple speakers at a time. The Acoustimass 300 subwoofer connects wirelessly to the soundbar and provides incredibly deep bass performance; you can place the subwoofer anywhere in the room and preferably near a corner to maximize the bass output.
The bundle also comes with the Bose 300 wireless surround speakers; it also comes with two wireless receivers to establish a wireless connection to the soundbar. Do note that the satellite speakers will also require their own separate power source at the back of the room. The only thing that could be improved was the fact that the surround speakers did not come with wall bracket mounts as these were needed to be purchased separately. Apart from this, the wireless setup and connectivity was excellent and we did not experience any dips in sound quality or any lags while watching movies.
The Verdict? The Bose 300 Wireless home theater system is a really impressive sound system that delivers a true wireless 5.1 surround sound performance in your home or apartment living room. The subwoofer and satellite speakers connect wirelessly to the soundbar which acts as the central control channel for the setup. The sound performance that we got from the Bose 300 system was incredible, with incredibly detailed dialogue from the soundbar, crisp highs, detailed sound effects from the satellites, and deep rumbling bass that permeates through the entire room.
The bass effects that you get with the system goes incredibly low and makes it feel as though you are sitting in a real life cinema while listening to music. Apart from the superb sound quality, the speakers feel very premium and durable; the soundbar has a really sleek and minimalist design about it that blends into modern home décor.
The only downside to the system is that it does not come with wall mounting brackets for the satellite speakers which need to be purchased separately. Apart from this, the Bose 300 wireless home theater system is a really good high-end system that delivers superb sound performance and we highly recommend them.
#5 Best Wireless Combination: Sonos 5.1 Wireless Home Theater System
Connectivity: The subwoofer and rear speakers connect wirelessly to the soundbar but will need to be connected to a power source. This eliminates the need to run speaker cables across your room.
What we liked: Fully wireless sound system
View full specs: Sonos 5.1 Wireless Home Theater System
The Sonos 5.1 wireless home theater system is a fully integrated wireless sound system that includes a Sonos Soundbar, wireless subwoofer, and two wireless surround sound rear speakers. The sound bar comes with nine built-in speaker drivers with six mid-range drivers and three tweeters – it produces very crisp sound with crystal clear dialogue, deep bass response and permeating surround sound. It is the perfect setup to have with HD television and movie streaming.
The subwoofer connects wirelessly to the soundbar and adds really deep bass response for you to hear details in the music which you might not have experienced before. The two Play 1 speakers connect wirelessly as rear surround speakers for you to hear ambient details and sound effects while watching movies. The entire 5.1 sound system provides a really good home theater listening experience and is relatively simple to set up. If you are looking for one of the best wireless home theater system that will deliver quality sound performance with full wireless connectivity, the Sonos 5.1 system might be your best bet.
The sound performance of the Sonos 5.1 system is nothing short of incredible. We were surprised at how crisp, well-defined and articulate the dialogue from the Playbar sounded. Watching movies with the Playbar sounded like a true cinematic experience with transparent vocals, nice treble and detailed high frequencies without any harshness. The Playbar uses its none amplified speaker drivers to project a much wider soundstage so that the sound comes across as spacious and well defined; you can pick up details in the soundtrack that appear to come from the left and right edges of the Playbar while the dialogue is locked in place at the center.
The bass response that you get with the Sonos subwoofer is earth-shatteringly deep and is powerful enough to make your entire room vibrate. Sound effects from movies sounded incredibly punchy, tight and rich. The sound system will really put you on the edge of your seat while watching movies with cinema-like sound. The two Play 1 speakers connect wirelessly to the Playbar and provide vivid sound performance with crisp details from the rear direction. We also liked the fact that you can use the EQ controls on the Sonos app to boost the bass, treble or music settings on the go. It is truly an integrated wireless home theater system that delivers sound performance on par with cinema-level setups.
The Sonos 5.1 system is perfect for 5.1 Dolby Digital surround and supports high-quality movie encoding. The entire speaker system connects via Wi-fi connection in your home to the soundbar which acts as the central coordinator; as long as you have good Wi-fi connection in your home you can enjoy a full wireless 5.1 home theater system setup without the need for additional wiring. The Playbar does decode surround-encoded 2 channel PCM and Dolby Digital sound which gives a really good surround sound experience, and is also compatible with 5.1 music sources.
When combined with the two Play 1 rear speaker and the subwoofer, you get really powerful surround sound effects that permeate through the entire room with smooth dynamic range. To fully configure the system you will need to install the Sonos app on your android or iPhone device and establish the Sonos network in your home environment by adding the speakers available on the wireless connection. The Playbar automatically syncs wirelessly with other Sonos speakers so you can listen to the TV or movies in your home without any lag or streaming issues.
The Playbar comes with a simple two-cord setup design – you only need to connect it to a power source and to the TV. You can control the music settings via the included remote or through the Sonos app from your mobile device. The Playbar comes with enhanced speech functionality and allows you to turn on night sound to enhance quieter sounds and reduce the volume of louder sounds for you to hear details in the music that you might not have picked up before.
The Sonos subwoofer connects wirelessly to the Playbar and features two force-cancelling speaker drivers which produce deep bass impact with no cabinet vibrations or resonance. The Play 1 speakers act as rear speakers and produce really good sound effects from the back. They are wall mountable and connect wirelessly to the system via Wi-Fi connection.
The Verdict? The Sonos 5.1 wireless home theater system is an incredibly powerful system that delivers top-notch sound performance with minimal wiring and cabling. The entire system is wireless and connects to the Playbar via Wi-Fi connection and the Sonos app – you only need a power source for these speakers to set up an effectively wireless 5.1 sound system. The sound performance that you get from these speakers is incredibly crisp, well-defined and has plenty of bass to go around. The bass performance from the subwoofer is simply incredible and can produce earth-shattering sound that permeates through your entire room.
The sound bar comes with 9 drivers and has a really wide soundstage with detailed musical separation for you to appreciate where each individual note is coming from. Listening to instrumental music with this setup feels as though you are sitting in a real life concert hall; you can pick up where the music from each instrument is coming from with great accuracy.
The rear speakers also produce very crisp sound performance and help enhance the overall sound performance of the entire setup. On the whole, the Sonos wireless home theater system is well and truly one of the best systems you can find and are definitely worth the investment if you want a truely wireless home theater experience in your home.
#6 Detachable Rear Speakers: JBL Bar 5.1 Wireless Home Theater System
Connectivity: The subwoofer and detachable battery powered wireless surround sound speakers connect wirelessly to the soundbar. This provides a very clean setup and avoids the need for speaker cables.
What we liked: HDMI input with 4k pass-through
View full specs: JBL Bar 5.1 Wireless Home Theater System
The JBL Bar 5.1 is a wireless home theater system that delivers 510 watts of superb sound performance and is exceptionally value for money. The JBL Bar 5.1 transforms from a soundbar into a 5.1 home theater system for surround sound and HD movie music streaming. The soundbar features two detachable battery powered wireless speakers that provide a good 10 hours of continuous music playtime – it features three HDMI inputs to connect to 4K devices for high quality sound performance and HD TV.
The sound bar is compatible with Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II and DTS to make your movies and music sound really crisp with detailed cinematic effects. It also comes with a 10” 250mm wireless subwoofer which produces deep low end punchy bass response without the need for complex wiring – you can place the subwoofer virtually anywhere in your room although it will need to be connected to a power source.
The JBL Bar 5.1 allows you to connect all your 4K devices and transform your home entertainment into an ultra HD experience with rich and filling sound. It’s a truly integrated wireless home theater system that you should definitely consider picking up especially if you want battery powered rears that do not require additional power cables to run them.
The sound performance from the JBL Bar 5.1 is really impressive – it has plenty of bass impact with crisp dialogue and crystal clear sound. The highs and midrange is really punchy and powerfully reproduced; the lows are present and incredibly punchy – they deliver bass impact and power that you would expect from a high-end speaker setup.
The soundbar itself is very slim and has a low profile design and is very easy to setup. It comes with a unique feature where you can pull off both surround speakers and use them as rear surround sound for a full 5.1 home theater system. The rear speakers produce very well defined sound effects that make watching movies come to life. We particularly liked the 10” wireless subwoofer that comes with this setup and it delivers really tight and punchy bass performance that can make your windows shake.
The bass performance makes watching movies on this system a very enjoyable experience; it really feels as though you are sitting in a real life cinema while listening to the JBL Bar 5.1 pump out crystal clear sound. The soundbar also has a relatively wide soundstage and projects the sound pretty well so you get a sense of where the sounds are coming from with good accuracy. You also have the option of switching between sound from your TV or stream music directly from your phone or tablet which is convenient.
The JBL 5.1 wireless home theater system is extremely simple to setup. You simply need to plug in the soundbar to your HDMI on the TV and HDMI out on the sound bar and set your TV output accordingly. The subwoofer paired automatically to the soundbar and the TV remote works straight out of the box. The HDMI inputs are compatible with 4K devices and it also gives you the option of switching between your TV or Bluetooth connections to stream music. It comes with two detachable battery powered wireless surround speakers that provide a good 10 hours of playtime; you can use them as rear speakers to achieve a full 5.1 wireless setup without any wiring which is great.
Where this sound system really shines is the bass performance it produces – the 10” subwoofer is capable of pumping out deep and immersive bass that will permeate through your entire room. The bass hits hard and makes watching movies feel like a real cinematic experience with deep sound effects and clear vocal dialogue performances. The sound system also features night mode which allows you to watch movies at night at low volumes without waking up everyone in the house. You still get pretty good surround sound even when night mode is enabled which is pretty good.
The Verdict? The JBL 5.1 wireless home theater system is a powerful system that delivers incredible cinematic performance and bass response. The sound system is compatible with 4K devices and can easily transform your living room into a 5.1 home theater with ultra HD sound performance. The entire system produces a total of 510 watts and includes a 10” wireless subwoofer that delivers really crisp and punchy bass response. The bass impact that you get from the subwoofer is simply superb and makes watching movies a true cinematic sound experience.
The soundbar is also compatible with Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II and DTS. We liked the fact that the soundbar features two detachable battery-powered wireless surround speakers which you can use as rear speakers without the need for any wiring – the speakers can provide up to 10 hours of continuous music playtime on the go which is really good. The sound performance that we got from the JBL 5.1 is really good with crisp highs, detailed midrange and stunning bass response. It’s a fully integrated 5.1 wireless home theater system that delivers incredible sound and we highly recommend them.
#7 Easy Setup: Denon HEOS Home Cinema Wireless Home Theater System
Connectivity: Subwoofer connects wirelessly to the soundbar for a simple and easy setup.
What we liked: DTS decoding, Dolby Digital Plus, DSP technology
View full specs: Denon HEOS Wireless Home Theater System
The Denon HEOS Home Cinema is a really good wireless home theater system that is very easy to setup and delivers excellent surround sound. The entire system comes with a soundbar and wireless subwoofer that produce full range high-fidelity audio performance for TV and movies. The soundbar features bi-amplified mid-woofers and tweeters with advanced DSP technology to produce crisp sound performance together with the wireless subwoofer.
The wireless subwoofer is equipped with dual 5.25 inch drivers which deliver really deep and punchy bass response. It also features Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS decoding to deliver an immersive cinematic sound experience. You can also stream music directly from your mobile device through Spotify and Pandora to the soundbar.
It is also compatible with the HEOS app which allows you to control music in every room from your mobile device on the sound system. If you are looking for a no-frills wireless home theater system, the Denon HEOS Home Cinema is definitely something you should check out.
The sound performance of the Denon HEOS home cinema exceeded our expectations from what you can expect from a soundbar and wireless subwoofer. Straight out of the box, you can tell that the soundbar and wireless subwoofer are matched and voice tuned for consistency and seamless sound performance. The sound system produces plenty of treble, crisp highs and detailed dialogue from the center channel speakers with enhanced bass response from the subwoofer.
The bass from the subwoofer is really strong and hits hard; it almost feels as though you are sitting in a real life cinema with detailed bass effects and a nice low-end rumble. Do note that you should place the subwoofer in a corner to make it sound better. The sound from the soundbar felt crisp and clean and it has a really wide soundstage that disperses sound out into the room. You really get a good feel of where the individual notes and sound effects are coming from with the soundbar.
It is a really good system that reproduces the movie soundtracks exactly as how the music producers intended it to sound. You also get a good deal of customization options through the HEOS app. The fact that the soundbar supports Dolby Digital Plus and DTS sound decoding is definitely an added plus to deliver detailed surround sound effects through the system.
The Denon HEOS soundbar and wireless subwoofer are relatively easy to set up. The HEOS soundbar requires you to hook an included 1/8” cable between your device and the auxiliary 1/8” mini input at the back of the soundbar. It connects wirelessly to the subwoofer which you should place close to the corner of the room. Once you plug in the HEOS soundbar, you will need to download the HEOS app and connect to your network for setup.
Once setup is complete, the HEOS will now be on your home’s Wi-Fi connection and you can unplug the mini cable. It operates as a HEOS zone for music listening and comes with advanced DSP processing for an immersive digital surround sound. We also liked the fact that it gives you the option to stream music from cloud services such as Pandora and Spotify. It produces full range sound from your TV or Blu-ray player and cable tuner. The wireless subwoofer that comes with the setup has dual 5.25” drivers that deliver deep punchy bass response with low distortion due to the DSP audio tuning. On the whole, the Denon HEOS is a really comprehensive home theater system that is simplistic and easy to setup.
The Verdict? The Denon HEOS soundbar and wireless subwoofer combination is ideal for those who want excellent sound quality in a straightforward package. It is a really good wireless home theater system that delivers quality sound performance and is compatible with Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS decoding for high quality sound performance. Watching movies on this system felt like a truly surround cinematic experience, with crisp and clear dialogue, very clear sound effects and impactful bass that feels tight and punchy.
The soundbar features bi-amplified woofers and tweeters that work together with the wireless subwoofer to deliver a really wide soundstage and area of dispersion. You can really crank up the volume on this wireless home theater system and not hear any distortion from the sound quality. It also produces full range sound from your TV or Blu-ray player and operates as a HEOS zone for music listening. Overall, The Denon HEOS Home Cinema delivers crisp and very refined sound performance and is definitely a wireless home theater system worth checking out.
#8 Most Versatile: VIZIO SB4451-C0 SmartCast 5.1 Wireless Home Theater System
Connectivity: The subwoofer connects wirelessly to the soundbar. The rear speakers are wired directly to the wireless subwoofer at the back of the room, eliminating the need to run wiring across your room for a clean setup.
What we liked: Multiple inputs, 5.1 surround sound (103 dB)
View full specs: VIZIO SB4451 Wireless Home Theater System
The VIZIO SB4451-C0 is a wireless home theater system that delivers superb sound performance with a versatile setup. It is a 5.1 system that comes with a 44” sound bar, wireless subwoofer and rear surround sound speakers that are wired directly to the wireless subwoofer at the back of the room. The surround sound speakers are wall mountable although they would require separate wall mounting brackets. The sound bar supports analog, digital, optical, USB, HDMI, Wi-Fi and Ethernet inputs and can connect to a wide variety of devices via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth streaming. It also comes with a remote control which you can use to adjust the sound settings according to your preferences.
The entire sound system delivers an immersive 5.1 home theater experience with sound levels up to 103 dB. It also comes with the Vizio SmartCast app which you can use on your mobile device to control the sound bar system and stream music wirelessly. It also has Google Cast built-in functionality which you can use to cast your favorite tunes from audio apps. Overall, it is a really versatile 5.1 wireless home theater system that delivers really good sound performance and is definitely a sound system you should consider.
The sound quality of the VIZIO wireless home theater system is really crisp and well defined. The system pairs nicely with 4K television setups and delivers nice surround sound. The soundbar produces very clean, crisp and detailed dialogue while watching movies and nice far left and right channel sound effects that spread out through the room. It delivers a really robust soundstage that lets you appreciate the finer details in the music without any harshness or unnatural sound enhancements. The subwoofer produces really deep and powerful bass down to 40 Hz; it can really make the windows on your home shake at high volumes.
Watching movies with this setup was a really enjoyable cinematic experience, with crisp vocals and detailed sound effects; you really feel as though you are part of a live action movie scene with the VIZIO speakers. The rear speakers connect directly to the subwoofer and reproduce nice full-range sound with less than 1% total harmonic distortion. The result is that you get clean, detailed sound performance that feels rich and impactful. Compared to many other wireless home theater systems on the market, this system really delivers good clarity and midrange sound performance that can go as loud as 103 dB with very little distortion.
The VIZIO SB4451-C0 pairs easily to the subwoofer – you only need to switch on both the subwoofer and soundbar and they will automatically pair up. The rear speakers need to be wired to the wireless subwoofer; although there is still wiring involved, this is done entirely at the back of your room and avoids the need to run wiring through your room for a traditional 5.1 setup. Getting the system to work with the 4K TV via the HDMI ARC port is relatively easy and straightforward – once connected you simply need to select HDMI output from your TV screen.
We liked the fact that the VIZIO sound system has a really nice and sleek build quality and durable construction. It is also able to stream music directly from your mobile device to the system via Bluetooth without any issues. You can also use the VIZIO SmartCast app on your mobile device and use it as a remote control and stream music from multiple platforms with the Google Cast built in. It also gives you the option to connect multiple VIZIO Smartcast sound bars or speakers together for multi-room setups.
The VIZIO SB4451-C0 is a really versatile wireless home theater system that delivers superb 5.1 sound performance. It comes with the SmartCast 44” sound bar system which delivers full-range sound and nice surround sound effects for up to 103 dB. The wireless subwoofer that comes with this system delivers tight, refined and punchy bass response that goes down to 40 Hz which is pretty good. The surround sound speakers connect directly to the subwoofer and produce nice surround sound effects that accompany the soundbar.
The system produces really good soundstage and immersive sound that makes it feel as though you are sitting in a live action scene in real life. The musical separation that you get with the soundbar is really nice and you get a pretty good sense of where the sound effects are coming from with the speaker system. It also connects easily to your TV system via the HDMI ARC terminals and is relatively easy to setup and pair with your mobile device. Overall, the VIZIO SB4451-C0 is a really versatile wireless home theater system that delivers good value for money and we highly recommend them.
#9 4K Video Compatibility: Klipsch RSB-8 Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer
Connectivity: Subwoofer connects wirelessly to the soundbar for a simple and easy setup.
What we liked: 4k video pass through, great surround sound
View full specs: Klipsch RSB-8 Wireless Home Theater System
The Klipsch RSB-8 and wireless subwoofer combination is a really good wireless home theater system consisting of the RSB-8 sound bar and wireless subwoofer. The soundbar is equipped with Klipsch’s exclusive horn-loaded technology for clear powerful sound performance and a wireless down firing subwoofer for deep bass response. The system supports one HDMI 2.0 input with HDCP 2.2 compatibility for 4K video pass through – it also includes an optical digital and analog input for non HDMI sources.
It also comes with a true 2-way bi-amplified soundbar with two ¾” horn loaded dome tweeters and two 2-3/4” woofers for clear vocal reproduction and dynamic sound. The wireless subwoofer is equipped with 2.4 GHz technology which automatically connects the sound bar and subwoofer together. It also comes with its own remote control for you to adjust the sound settings according to your preferences. Overall, it is a really simplistic setup that delivers nice full range sound and is a wireless home theater system that is definitely worth a closer look.
The sound quality that we experienced from the Klipsch RSB-8 is top-notch and one level above the other soundbars we have tested. When combined with the included wireless subwoofer, this system produces really crisp, punchy and detailed surround sound that feels solid and very premium. Watching movies with the RSB-8 setup felt as though we were sitting in a real life theater – even without the rear surround sound speakers, the sound from the soundbar felt very dynamic and spacious, with plenty of detailed musical separation and nice sound effects. You can visualize the 3D sound effects while watching movies.
Vocal performances sounded really crisp and spacious; you really feel that you are sitting in a real life concert hall while listening to the RSB-8 system. You can also crank up the volume on the soundbar and it will play crystal clear music that remains free of any distortion. The down firing subwoofer produces impactful bass response that you can actually feel on your chest – it produces a low-end thump that really vibrates your entire room without muddying into the midrange frequencies. It really delivers cinematic bass performance that makes you feel as though you are sitting in a real life cinema.
Overall, the sound quality on the Klipsch RSB-8 and wireless subwoofer is top-notch and we have nothing more to add apart from the fact that it is a really good high-end wireless home theater system that you should consider.
Setting up the Klipsch RSB-8 is a relatively simple and straightforward process. You can mount the sound bar under your TV with no issues and it also comes with built-in Dolby digital decoder which allows you to experience full home theater sound. It is wireless multi-room ready and you can listen to internet radio and digital music by downloading the Klipsch Stream app and connecting the RSB-8 to the Wi-Fi network.
You can also control the volume and sound settings on the RSB-8 with the included remote control. The wireless subwoofer was easy to set up and automatically pairs with the soundbar once turned on with the 2.4 GHz pairing technology. The Klipsch soundbar is compatible with Bluetooth streaming directly from mobile devices or computers, and also includes virtual surround mode for an optimized 3D sound effect to enhance your music and movies.
It also comes with a unique dialogue enhancement mode which increases vocal clarity and crisp dialogue from the center speakers for movies. We liked the fact that the RSB-8 also comes with detachable feet and keyhole mounts which allow you to set the sound bar in front of the TV or mount it on the wall.
The Verdict? The Klipsch RSB-8 and wireless subwoofer combination is a really good wireless home theater system that delivers sound quality on par with high-end sound systems. The RSB-8 soundbar is capable of producing very good surround sound with crisp highs, detailed midrange and a good deal of bass response. It has a wide degree of soundstage and can disperse sound through your room really well; you get a sense of where the sound is coming from through the far left and right channel speakers. The system also comes with a wireless subwoofer that automatically pairs and connects to the soundbar and produces deep stunning bass performance.
The system has built in Dolby Digital decoding for HD surround sound. It is relatively easy to set up and will connect to your TV setup through its multiple input channels. The RSB-8 also comes with its own remote control for you to control the sound and music settings. While this setup is not a true 5.1 setup per se, it delivers really good frontal surround sound that feels like listening to a cinema system in real time. It’s a wireless home theater system that is compatible with 4K video and comes highly recommended.
#10 Best Design: VIZIO 5.1 Wireless Home Theater System
Connectivity: The subwoofer connects wirelessly to the soundbar. The rear speakers are wired directly to the wireless subwoofer at the back of the room, eliminating the need to run wiring across your room for a clean setup.
What we liked: Massive 102 dB sound output, multiple connectivity options
View full specs: VIZIO 5.1 Wireless Home Theater System
The VIZIO 5.1 is a really sleek wireless home theater system that delivers superb sound performance with a full 5.1 sound system setup. It comes with 42” soundbar and a wireless subwoofer with two rear satellite speakers to deliver cinema-quality surround sound in your living room. The subwoofer connects wirelessly to the soundbar while the rear speakers are wired directly to the wireless subwoofer at the back of the room, eliminating the need to run wiring through your room to the rear speakers.
It is compatible with a range of digital and analog inputs and can connect seamlessly to almost any HDTV. The manufacturers also provide RCA cables for satellite speakers, a display remote, RCA to 3.5mm audio cable, digital coaxial cable and optical cables, including wall mounts to setup the rear speakers. The entire system can pump out a massive 102dB of room filling sound with less than 1% total harmonic distortion.
To top it off, the VIZIO system comes with built-in Bluetooth which allows you to stream your favorite music directly from your smartphone device. It is also compatible with Dolby Digital for HD surround sound performance. It’s a really cost-effective wireless home theater system to have and has a pretty sleek and nice design that blends in with most modern home décor.
The sound performance of the VIZIO 5.1 wireless home theater system was really good. It produces full 5.1 surround sound when connected to a true 5.1 output source – be sure to set the settings to Dolby Digital with DTS processing to get optimal sound performance. You can use the remote control to switch between optical cable input for true 5.1 surround, or auxiliary cable for faux 5.1 surround in case your signal is not outputting 5.1 sound.
The sound performance from the soundbar was really crisp and clear, with very nice vocal performances and clean sound emanating from the sides. The rear speakers do the job of producing pretty good surround sound effects that add to the overall home theater experience. Watching movies with the VIZIO sound system was a really enjoyable experience, with pretty good detailed surround sound and crisp sound effects that permeate through the entire room.
The bass from the subwoofer goes deep and low and can literally shake your entire home at high volume levels. The bass adds a low-end kick to the overall sound performance and hits hard; you can literally feel the bass pumping on your chest. We also enjoyed listening to instrumental music through Bluetooth streaming – the speakers deliver wide soundstage and you get a pretty accurate sense of where the instruments are coming from with the level of sound dispersion.
Setting up the VIZIO 5.1 system was a relatively straightforward process. You simply need to connect the soundbar to your TV output and connect the wireless subwoofer to the soundbar. The rear speakers are wired to the wireless subwoofer and will play music streamed through the soundbar.
We would recommend visiting the VIZIO website and downloading the latest firmware for this system to eliminate certain dropout issues when changing channels with this setup. We really liked the fact that the manufacturers provide a range of digital and analog inputs with cabling included to connect the VIZIO system to any HDTV setup.
It also comes with easily installable wall mount brackets to mount the rear speakers on the wall. The setup is Bluetooth compatible and you can stream music wirelessly directly from your smartphone or mobile device to the wireless home theater system. The wireless subwoofer can be placed anywhere in the room but do bear in mind it should be connected to a separate power source and remain in the line of sight from the soundbar. The system supports Dolby Digital and DTS signal processing for HD sound performance.
The Verdict? The VIZIO 5.1 wireless home theater system is a really good 5.1 sound system that comes with a three-channel 42” soundbar, rear speakers and a wireless subwoofer. It produces really good 5.1 surround sound and is the perfect setup for home theater or surround sound streaming. Do note that to get 5.1 sound processing you will need to ensure that your music source supports true 5.1 output. We liked the fact that the speakers are relatively easy to install and also come with rear mountable brackets to mount the speakers in the room easily.
This wireless home theater system also comes with a variety of cables for you to connect the sound system to HDTV. The sound performance of the VIZIO speakers is really crisp, with very nice highs, detailed midrange and deep bass response. The bass from the wireless subwoofer hits hard and adds an extra layer of impact while watching movies or streaming music.
We also did not experience any lag or dips in sound performance with the wireless subwoofer or rear speakers while connected to the soundbar. It has a really nice and sleek design that blends in with modern home décor, and is definitely a wireless home theater system that you should check out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these 5.1 speakers completely wireless?
The home theater systems that we selected have wireless connectivity on varying degrees. Most wireless home theater systems require the front soundbar to be connected to the TV via HDMI ARC or optical inputs, and connected wirelessly to the subwoofer which is in turn wired to the rear speakers. The key advantage of this setup is that you don’t need to run wiring from the soundbar to the rear speakers as they are connected to the subwoofer at the back of the room. The downside of this setup is that your rear speakers still require wiring to the wireless subwoofer.
We feature certain wireless home theater systems that are completely wireless and do not require any speaker wiring between the soundbar, subwoofer or rear speakers. That being said, do note that this kind of setup will still require you to connect the wireless rear speakers to a power source in order to drive these speakers. Therefore, you room will require power source in the front for the soundbar and a power source for the rear speakers and subwoofer. With the exception of the JBL Bar 5.1 home theater system which has battery powered surround sound rear speakers, you will require a separate power connection to the rear speakers for most wireless home theater setups.
In some cases, the wireless home theater system connections to each speaker via Wi-Fi connection and you will need to ensure that your living room has Wi-Fi connectivity in order for the speakers to work properly.
To find out what kind of wireless connection the home theater system supports, be sure to read our “connectivity” note to see how the speakers are connected to each other in a wireless setup, and check whether Wi-Fi is required to support the wireless connectivity between the speakers.
Do I need a receiver for wireless home theater systems?
Whether a receiver is required depends on whether you intend to play audio directly from your TV or through a DVD player or Blu-ray player. For most home theater systems, connecting your TV HDMI ARG output to the HDMI input on the soundbar is sufficient for a wireless system. That being said, if you intend to use Blu-ray or DVD players you will need to ensure that these outputs are compatible with the input connectivity on the soundbar.
In most instances, the soundbar comes with integrated amplification and will not require a separate amplifier or receiver to power them. We would recommend thoroughly checking the wireless home theater system setup requirements to determine if a receiver is required.
Where should I place the wireless subwoofer?
You can place the wireless subwoofer virtually anywhere in the room because bass is omni-directional, although you should place it closer to a corner of the room to enhance the bass response. In some cases where the rear speakers are connected to the wireless subwoofer, the obvious choice would be to place the wireless subwoofer at the back of the room for easy connectivity and avoid running wiring through your entire room. We would also recommend checking out if the rear speakers are wall mountable and if separate wall brackets are required for installation.
For the best connectivity, we would recommend placing the wireless subwoofer in the line of sight from the soundbar to facilitate a smooth wireless connection without any interference or lag in video streaming.
Do these wireless home theater systems support Bluetooth streaming?
In most cases, wireless home theater systems will also support Bluetooth pairing unless otherwise stated – do note that some wireless systems stream music over the Wi-Fi connection and you might need to use a separate app on your smartphone to stream music. In our experience, the integrated app allows you to stream music directly from cloud based services such as Pandora and Spotify without any issues but this will require that your room support a connection over Wi-Fi.