Table of Content
- Rockville RPA60BT 1000w Home Theater Bluetooth Receiver+ ( In-Ceiling Speakers
- Karaoke features let you sing along
- Panasonic SA-BT228 = BT230 5.1Ch 1000W BD/DVD Home Theater System Player (only)
- Panasonic SA-BT730 5.1Ch 1000W BD/DVD Home Theater System Player (only)
- Samsung DVD Bluray 5.1Ch 1000W HDMI Home Theater Receiver HT-D5300 - TESTED
With the Sony
He also holds certifications with ISF, RTI, HAA, Elan, and Universal Remote, and other automated home systems are also available. Our research team searches out the best of everything so that you can confidently pick the perfect products and services for your needs. The Bose Lifestyle 525 Series II offers top-notch performance and convenience for those willing to pay the price. Even on sale, this home theater system is typically around $2,000 but it uses high-quality components and technology to ensure the best sound performance for your home theater.
Rockville RPA60BT 1000w Home Theater Bluetooth Receiver+ ( In-Ceiling Speakers
As soundbar performance continues to improve, does anyone need to invest in an AV receiver and speakers to get great sound? I have been reviewing audio gear professionally since 1990, having worked as an editor or writer for SoundStage, Sound & Vision, Home Theater Review, Home Theater Magazine, and numerous other publications. In that time, I’ve conducted and published more brand-concealed tests of audio devices than any other journalist in the world, and I am an acknowledged expert in audio measurement. I also used to work as a consultant in soundbar design and tuning for numerous companies (mostly OEM/ODM companies that supply devices for well-known brands), and I’ve evaluated and measured more than 135 soundbars in final or prototype form. Home theater systems use about 2.5 times the electricity to watch movies or play games compared to a standard TV with a cable connection.

In our tests, it produced a big, spacious, dynamic sound that we liked with movies—but its high end was a little harsh, and it didn’t sound as good with music. You can add optional wireless surrounds for about $300, but the result is more complicated to set up and use than many soundbars. For its price, the 2.0-channel Monoprice SB-300 offers lots of great features and a generous selection of inputs, and it fits well with most movies and music, but it made rattling noises when we cranked up the sound on action movies. The MagniFi Mini AX has just one HDMI eARC port to connect directly to your TV, with no dedicated HDMI inputs for connecting source devices. So if you have multiple sources (such as a Blu-ray player and a gaming system or two) that you want to connect directly to the soundbar, you might want to opt for a soundbar with more inputs. But most people will probably connect all of their sources to the TV and just run a single HDMI cable from the TV to the soundbar’s eARC port.
Karaoke features let you sing along
It measures 41.2 inches long (6.8 inches shorter than the original), and the soundbar and rear surround speakers are wrapped in charcoal-shaded fabric. The subwoofer is one of the shortest we’ve tested—just 9.5 inches high—so it should be able to tuck under many end tables. The M-Series Elevate doesn’t have holes for wall-mounting, but it can be wall-mounted using soundbar wall-mount brackets. Almost all of them support some method of wireless audio streaming over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. This feature allows you to stream music from mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, and computers.

Since 1989, he has served as an editor or writer on audio-focused websites and magazines such as Home Theater, Sound & Vision, SoundStage, and JazzTimes. The unusual trapezoidal shape of the Vizio M21d-H8 one-piece soundbar caught our attention, but it sounded rather spacey and disembodied, and it produced barely any bass. LG said the plastic inner casing and fabric grille of the S95QR are made from 100% recycled materials, and that the packaging is also recyclable. The company has a web page devoted to its efforts to make its soundbars more eco-friendly. Although the MagniFi Mini AX is unusually compact and fits on just about any shelf or TV stand, it doesn’t have holes for wall mounting—though it can be positioned on the wall using soundbar wall-mount brackets. You can stream audio wirelessly from a phone, tablet, or computer using Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay 2 , or Google Chromecast .
Panasonic SA-BT228 = BT230 5.1Ch 1000W BD/DVD Home Theater System Player (only)
Music Center app. The Philips B8905 is an Atmos-enabled soundbar that incorporates the DTS Play-Fi multiroom sound technology, which we’ve always found difficult or impossible to set up. After resetting the B8905 and reloading the app multiple times without ever getting Play-Fi working, we gave up. Vizio would not comment on whether its devices and packaging are recyclable or made from recycled materials. However, Vizio offers a nationwide take-back recycling program for its devices, sits on the e-Stewards Leadership Council, and has participated in the EPA Sustainable Materials Management Challenge since 2016. Consumers can find out where to drop off or send devices for recycling at the company’s environmental page.

Separate components usually provide better performance, but they also take up more space and require additional cables, and their operation is more complicated. A good soundbar strikes a balance between performance and convenience, delivering improved sound quality in a package that’s easier to set up and use. A soundbar can provide quality audio in a smaller space, but more speakers may be needed to create a surround-sound effect in a larger theater room.
With soundbars that offered special sound modes, I generally employed the mode intended for the type of content I was listening to—movies or music, for instance—but I also experimented with all of the other modes available. If the soundbars had an “auto” or “AI” mode, I relied mostly on that one but tried the others as well. For soundbars with HDMI inputs that support 4K HDR video pass-through, I tested whether this function worked properly with an HDR-capable TV. The Samsung HT-H4500 is an exceptionally affordable way to add a home theater system to your home. Although this system features 5.1 channels, 500 watts of power, video upconversion, and built-in apps, it’s only suited to a smaller room, as it lacks the power to adequately serve a large space. The HT-H4500 also lacks built-in WiFi, and needs to be hardwired to the router to use features such as the built-in apps for streaming online content.
For many people, going to the movies these days involves a walk from the kitchen to the couch, rather than a trip to a commercial cinema. The BDV-N7200W has a dedicated receiver that plays Blu-ray discs and supports 3D content, as well as being able to stream audio and video and upconvert low-resolution content to HD. Overall, the Sony BDV-N7200W performs well, with very good picture and audio quality, as well as fast load times and convenience. When equipped with a suitable HDTV, this home theater system is a great choice for overall use, with excellent performance and numerous features. Another way the HT-S3700 stands out is its Zone 2 preamp output which allows for expanding into a multi-room setup.
The DTS format creates dynamic surround sound, bringing movies and music to life. The S95QR includes wireless, Atmos-enabled surround speakers that plug into an AC wall outlet. The S95QR has two HDMI inputs, along with an HDMI eARC port; the only other input is an optical digital input.

Firmware on the M-Series Elevate can be updated using downloaded firmware installed through a USB stick. The SR-C30A’s remote has dedicated buttons for every function and doesn’t require you to navigate a menu system. Despite being simple, small, and affordable, the MagniFi Mini AX outperforms many larger, more complicated competitors. The Polk MagniFi Mini AX is our top pick, the Vizio M-Series Elevate is our runner-up, the Yamaha SR-C30A is our budget pick, and the LG S95QR is our upgrade pick. Choose a room and location that lets you easily block out ambient light and minimize sound transfer. It should also have enough room to comfortably seat the number of people you may want to join you for movie viewing.
Sound & Visual Bliss specializes in custom designed home theaters, whole house audio, and smart home systems serving mainly Manhattan and the Brooklyn community. Their main focus is on designing and planning with the client's lifestyle, home plan, and movie/music preferences in mind. The company doesn’t sell equipment; instead they implement a procurement shopping cart service to allow its clients to order any product required for the job directly through vendors while identifying new saving opportunities. The company works closely with with architects, interior designers, and builders on residential and commercial projects. Important features we looked for are quality components to ensure good audio and video quality, as well as any features such as video upconversion. Connectivity is generally less important on these budget-friendly systems, with manufacturers striving to make setting the devices up as simple as possible over allowing for too much customization.
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