Best Surround Sound System Under 500
What do you consider is the most vital part of a home theatre other than the visuals? It’s the sound! Is your home theatre lacking the decisive audio factor?
We know what you need; you need the best surround sound system under 500$; what is it, you ask? Let us tell you all about it.
- What is a surround system?
- What do you need to set up a surround sound system?
- What should your surround sound system have?
- Top 10 Best Surround Sound System Under 500$ in 2020
- 1. Logitech Z906 5.1 Surround Sound Speaker System
- 2. JBL Bar 5.1 Channel Soundbar with True Wireless Surround Speakers
- 3. Sony HT-S350 Soundbar Home Theater Surround Sound Speaker System
- 4. Polk Audio T Series 5 Channel Home Theater Bundle
- 5. VIZIO SB4051-D5 Bar 5.1 Surround Sound System
- 6. Onkyo HT-S3910 Home Theater Surround Sound System
- 7. Pyle Outdoor Wall-Mount Patio Surround Sound Stereo Speakers
- 8. ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 Bookshelf Speakers
- 9. Bose Surround Sound Speakers Black
- 10. Bose SoundLink Revolve Speaker with 360 Wireless Surround Sound
What is a surround system?
You indeed have visited a movie theatre. Have you heard how the sound is all around you, but it’s not echoing? That is known as surround sound in simple words.
A surround sound ages back to the olden times when real life theatre was the real deal. It is used to give a real-life feel and effect on the visuals.
What do you need to set up a surround sound system?
You are here reading this information because you need to get a surround system of your own, right? You might have thought about what would you need to set up a comprehensive surround system?
You need a complete set up, and an adequate surround sound system. The things you would need would include,
- A home theatre receiver.
- A subtle sound processor.
- An amplifier (multi-channel)
- A soundbar.
But to get the full experience of the highest sound quality, you would need a high in quality sound system.
What should your surround sound system have?
What should you keep in mind when buying a surround system? Don’t break a sweat, and we would tell you all regarding it.
How much space do you need?
The initial thing you need to keep in consideration is the kind of space that you have. If you are working with a larger room, then you would need more speakers. If you have a smaller room, then compact speakers with powerful sound output would do the job.
What size speaker do you require?
Surround sound speakers might sound like they are bulky and heavy, but that is not it. For a surround sound, you need high sound quality speakers, and they are synced and organized.
The size can depend on your preference; you just need to make sure they have impeccable sound output.
How many speakers would you need?
Four a surround sound quality, you would need more than one or two speakers because you need the sound effect from all around. But that doesn’t mean you have to buy regular speakers, just in more quantity.
You would need a complete set of various speakers to achieve the most pleasing surrounding sound outcome. You would be needing,
- A middle speaker or a central channel, a middle speaker type of reciter, mostly just sits beneath the TV.
- Then you need a pair of speakers that would be kept to the left and far right of the TV or projector screen.,
- You would need a pair more, or two surround sound speakers. These pieces would go behind you, making you the center of the sound.
- If you want the sound to be amplified and more realistic, you would need woofers or subwoofers.
We are confident that you are very interested In buying your own sound system for your home cinema.
But before that, you have to make sure that you have completed your homework because let’s be real here, buying the best surround sound system under 500$ is not a cheap investment. We would recommend you look into your options before jumping to any decision.
Top 10 Best Surround Sound System Under 500$ in 2020
Last update on 2023-05-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
1. Logitech Z906 5.1 Surround Sound Speaker System
If you are an avid PC user, you might have heard about Logitech; they are the best for manufacturing speakers for desktops.
We must say, they have not disappointed their loyal customers with this bundle for home cinemas.
The build and the parts included.
Hold on; this might take a while due to the number of elements in this bundle. This product bundle is the whole package, it includes,
- Five great satellite speakers.
- A subwoofer.
- Speaker connection joint.
- The wire and the cable.
- Console for easy control.
- Remote control
- The batteries.
- The user manual.
We can say that this product is ideal because it has everything that you would need to set the sound system right away. Now, let’s focus on the body.
The bundle is visually appealing; the slightly slanted body speakers, the large woofer, and the console are blank in color. With a slightly matte finish, they are a perfect fit with any surrounding.
Now, getting to the quality of the build, we would say that it is quite robust. The material used is the finest among many. Not to forget, there are ports given behind everybody, making sure that the piece stands comfortable to operate.
What about sound quality?
The most common issue that plenty of speaker owners faced was the center speaker not working accurately because the woofers of sub speakers were dominant. But not with this product as we can say that the center speaker is the bundle’s life.
The speakers, all of the product on-point sound quality, doing justice to their firm’s name.
The sound output is remarkable, but only if you have a room that is moderately sized. Don’t expect this piece to fill a vast space up with sound.
Let’s talk about the ease of use.
This is something that would attract any beginner, which means that if you are someone who knows little or nothing about home cinema sound, you don’t have to worry because this piece is very comfortable when it comes to using.
It has a set on the console controls to control; there are lights to indicate the sound modes such as stereo mode. Not to forget, the remote control, which would help you attain the ultimate cinema experience because you would be able to control the voice sitting down in your comfort.
If you are looking for a more expensive surround sound system. Check our other blog posts.
2. JBL Bar 5.1 Channel Soundbar with True Wireless Surround Speakers
Ask yourself, is it essential to have different elements or a bundle of speakers to get that surround sound effect? Well, we don’t think so. This product right here will be the judge of that. The two pieces set is enough to power up a fine-sized room. JBL 5.1 channel soundbar is also one of the best surround sound system under 500 with wireless speakers.
Body- Why only two pieces, and what Is their purpose?
The two pieces are enough to make your room echo with sound; there are two parts, the long soundbar, and the large subwoofer.
The soundbar is a long thin piece. When turned on, the soundbar and the subwoofer would pair up automatically. This whole set up is perfect for someone who doesn’t like too much clutter around the place.
The soundbar is perfect; if you don’t like to place your speaker on the floor, you can put it up anywhere you want to, on the tabletop, or maybe high up on the shelve.
The main soundbar is the real star here; it has numerous outputs to attach cables, there are points for power and outputs for USB too.
But wait, there is more to the design; on each side of the soundbar, there are two small detachable speakers, both are wireless and battery-powered.
Talking more about these speakers, you would be amazed to know that these small but power-packed pieces can live up to 10 hours.
What about sound quality?
Considering the design, there is quite a fuss about this device’s sound quality, but not to worry as its excellent when it comes to the sound’s output.
Apart from the overall sound quality, you would be thrilled to know that the surround sound is pretty excellent. You could hear every little detailed voice without any disruption.
Not to forget about the balance in sound, which is something several loyal customers are a fan of.
Is it easy to use? Can beginners use it?
As the design is a little unique, people were mostly concerned about the ease of use, well, don’t you worry because this piece is quite reasonable when it comes to usage.
You see, it comes with remote control, not just that; there are power points on the soundbar, which makes managing the sound and bass easier.
3. Sony HT-S350 Soundbar Home Theater Surround Sound Speaker System
If you are looking for something just like the previous product, with a subwoofer and a soundbar, then sony might have something in store for you. Let’s dig in to know more about this piece.
The body
There is nothing too distracting or distinguishing about the design, its simple in matte black.
There are two pieces to the bundle, a soundbar, and a subwoofer. You can find the inputs from where you can connect the HDMI and power cable behind the soundbars. No, folks, no USB magic here.
There is also no wifi connectivity, its perfect for people who do not have much aggressive or advanced usage. Although, you do get a smart Bluetooth connection option.
What about sound quality?
Well, we must say that the sound output is pretty satisfying. There are several different modes, the cinema mode, the stereo mode and seven more, etc.
All the sound modes have different types of sound output. The sound balancing is pretty moderate; it’s not something to go for if you tend to go high with the sound.
However, not to forget that this piece can work with pretty high notes; you have the bass boosting feature too.
With a 320W power, it would be foolish to say that the sound is not clear and high in quality. The product also has a sound enhancement and amplifying feature, making sure you get the kind of quality you want.
The Bluetooth feature is also quite precise and accurate when it comes to sound quality.
Which people should get it?
People who know little about surround speakers or who live in small apartments should get this speaker. This is because the sound is enough to cover a moderate space.
The speakers are also easy to set up and operate, making it a perfect piece for beginners.
Apart from this, people who are tight on a budget, such as a college student, should get this piece if they are looking for a surround effect because it is quite pocket-friendly.
Why is this piece outstanding?
Apart from the budget and the sound quality, this product stands out of the crowd when it comes to the comprehensive sound technology that it has.
Also, the different modes on this product make it easier to go through various options regarding the quality of the sound output.
4. Polk Audio T Series 5 Channel Home Theater Bundle
This product by Polk audio is the perfect representation of going big or go home. It is big and bulky, perfect for someone who has a home theatre in the making. Polk Audio T Series is surely the best surround sound system under 500.
The body or the parts
The first thing that caught my eye about this product was that it’s a whole bundle of the speaker you would need for your home cinema.
The pieces do look robust and beautiful. The grainy black finish is what you need to blend the elements in with your surroundings.
If you want something that looks strong, looks gloomy, and smart and is also complementing with the other pieces in your home cinema, then this might be the best pick for you.
What parts are added?
There are four pieces in this bundle,
- There are two tower speakers.
- One central channel speaker and,
- A bookshelf speaker.
The best part about this bundle is that it has every speaker you need to achieve that precise surround sound.
Not to forget- the sound quality.
When there are elements to any bundle, the first thing any human mind would assume is that the quality might be a little dodgy.
But that is not the case with this product; the sound quality is remarkable, big and bulky, you can be sure that you would be getting an amplified and boosted soundtrack.
The sound is synced perfectly, creating a balanced and room consuming sound. Why does it have such a balanced sound? Well, that is because of the sound balancing technology.
Let’s talk about connectivity.
Something that can be ignored about the bundle is that they are excellent when pairing up with several types of AV receivers, woofers, and subwoofer.
The easy to connect nature makes the piece easy to operate with.
Are they the ones for you?
If you get past the fact that they are only available in one finish, these might be the most refined pieces you will get. This is because they are affordable, high in body and sound quality, and also quite reasonable.
Not to forget that these pieces are comfortable to set up, long-lasting, and easy to maintain.
5. VIZIO SB4051-D5 Bar 5.1 Surround Sound System
Are you tired of surround sound system bundles that look dull and shabby? There is no offense here, the bundles are a pretty good deal, but they are not suitable for someone who wants some style. Don’t worry because this product would fulfill your fashion needs.
The body
The structure is one reason why I love this whole set, the design, it’s remarkable.
Suppose you are someone who loves to live in a bit of a luxury, and you like to have sleek and beautiful things along with your space. In that case, this surrounds sound system set will fit in perfectly in your cinema and with your personality.
What’s so intriguing about it, you ask? Well, first off, the color, the matte black sleek color. Then comes the elegant and round end shape.
It won’t be wrong if I say that the piece looks straight out of the art. The whole body is made up of top-notch metal with plastic endings to break or get damaged.
Coming to the soundbar.
Coming to the parts that come along with this piece, there are three main surround sound speakers, the central speaker, the soundbar, and not to forget, the woofers.
The soundbar is designed very smartly; you can control and take care of your sound entirely from the soundbar. It consists of,
- Buttons used to turn the system on and off.
- The selection of any input.
- There are different selections for blue tooth pairing.
- You can also turn your volume up or down from the soundbar.
One of the best parts when it comes to the body is the indicator lights; they tell you which setting is working right now on your system.
What does the build have?
Apart from the comfortable to use buttons and the indicator lights, there are different USB input ports, HDMI ports, and other ports for cables.
You would be amazed to know that a port is dedicated to ethernet entirely, which means you can operate the thing through inside the internet.
What makes this piece stand out?
The body and the design, of course. Before you come to the sound, you would notice the size of the subwoofers; they are so small that you could fit them right between anything around your threatened room, it would feel as if you have built-in wall speakers, isn’t that amazing?
Sound quality and ease of use
The sound quality is impeccable; the sound output has no disruptions; I love how the sound is balanced and synced.
Not to forget, the strength of the sound, it’s so high and loud that your whole place would vibrate along with the beats.
This piece is also best surround sound system under 500 for beginners, as it’s easy to set up and use.
6. Onkyo HT-S3910 Home Theater Surround Sound System
Compatibility and coordination are what drives a person to a home theatre set. You get the whole group, and all of the elements are compatible with each other. This Onkyo HT-S3910 fantastic set that we have reviewed below is just the right bundle you need if you are also looking for a whole surround sound system under 500.
The elements and their structure
When we talk about the entire set body, I must say that it’s pretty sturdy and classy looking. There are supporters beneath the woofer and receiver, which lifts it from the ground.
Overall, the set had a classic black matte finish; the additional speakers are more in numbers (4), which means you can place them around to give you the complete feel of a theatre.
The sound
I have just one word for the sound output when it comes to this set, and that is” outstanding.” It won’t be false if I say that it has the best surround sound system under 500 among the other bundles available.
This is because they have a studio resolution sound quality that gives you the feel of a real home cinema. The sound output is smooth and loud, perfect for any gathering.
Not to forget the AMP power feature, which will make you feel like you are in a rave concert with the intensity of the excellent outcome.
You can even plug in your USB to enjoy your playlist.
Why does it get a critic’s attention- is it easy to use?
Is the piece mind-blowing? It has many unique features such as the all in one HDMI cable; your HDMI cable will do all the job for you!
The speaker works with Qualcomm aptX audio; it also gives you the upper hand when it comes to connectivity. Your blue tooth would work on it. Any wireless device would fit correctly on it; what more is needed?
I love the product because it is easy to use; all the ports, buttons, and connectivity inputs are labeled.
7. Pyle Outdoor Wall-Mount Patio Surround Sound Stereo Speakers
Enough about having a movie theatre inside; what if you have a set up outside? Then what kind of speaker would you go for? If you don’t have any options, then don’t break a sweat because this product is the one.
What do we know about the design?
You see, this piece is made purely for outdoor use, but you can use it inside too. When an article is manufactured for the out dorr rouge, you can be particular about the quality.
This white head-turning speaker can be placed on any higher surface, such as a wall or any corner in the wall.
The body and everything included in the body is absolutely rainproof, including the speaker mesh. This makes sure that no rain or water enters your speaker ever no matter how bad the wheater is.
The piece is also stain-proof; this makes sure that no water enters the body at all so that the wiring inside can stay safe and sound.
The composition and the body are robust, and the binding is gold plated. The overall look is exquisite and subtle, outdoor, or indoor; the piece would absolutely look stunning.
What about sound quality? Is it up to the mark?
When a speaker has so much to offer, one can get a little mysterious about the sound quality, but you won’t have to worry about buying this piece.
Being designed as an outdoor speaker, you know its loud and proud but being loud isn’t the only thing the sound has.
The best part about the sound is the clarity in it. It has a tuner, the high notes are crisp, and the low notes are subtle and beautiful. It’s perfect for any kind of music.
The speaker is strong enough on its own when it comes to sound, that’s why you need no amplifier, which is perfect if you want to save money.
The ease of use- connectivity.
You must be wondering how you would connect this device to your visual device to play the sound. This piece is all about Bluetooth connectivity.
You can operate this speaker by any electronic device that has a Bluetooth connection in it.
The pieces are easy to set up, they are lightweight and portable, and they are quite reasonable when it comes o price, considering the kind of features in it.
8. ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 Bookshelf Speakers
ELAC, this manufacturer has been around 2015, after producing various products that were erm, not that successful. This groundbreaking product came into view; this is the more advanced and developed piece out of all. Wanna know more about it? Then let’s dig in.
The build
I will be relatively straightforward here. If you are looking for something aesthetically pleasing and beautiful, this piece might not be it for you.
It has a straightforward matte black build, and the finish looks wooden and grainy. It has a one-tone black color. They look like standard speakers, nothing too distractive or fancy.
Is the sound better than before?
The sound, no doubt, is much better than the earlier pieces. The speaker doesn’t look that amusing, but you can be confident that the sound quality is an aspect that you can count on.
The speakers are very heavy duty; they are robust when it comes to quality. When it comes to the sound, it’s loud and clear. There are no disruptions at all, no matter how high you go.
Also, the sound is very balanced and tuned. As they are large speakers, you can tell that they have a loud sound with a tremendous impact. They are great, even if you have a large space.
There is a whole buffet of varieties for the different sounds you can work with, you could play different types of sound levels on it, and it would present the best out of them.
What’s new in this model?
As we mentioned earlier, this model is the advanced version of the models manufactured before, so what’s new in these models? How is this one different?
1. The speaker and the ports are both situated in the front now, which means that you have the upper hand when it comes to placing the speaker close to the wall.
2. The sound tweeter is now fully developed [ped and manufactured with more components; this makes it give off a more detailed and subtle sound.
3. The woofer is now more detailed and advanced. Don’t underestimate the details on a woofer as it is vital when it comes to sound alteration.
9. Bose Surround Sound Speakers Black
Are you looking for a simple pair of decent speakers that can fill up an average room with decent sound? Well, then we have the right product for you. These speakers by BOSE are the ones you need for your next party.
Let’s talk about the structure
It’s not essential to go big every time; some people like to remain a little intact. Well, why would anyone want others to focus on just their speakers? If you are one of them, then these boys are the right pick for you.
There is nothing too catchy about this surround sound speaker as that’s the real deal; they are compact, the speaker space is grainy due to the mesh, and the rest of the speaker is plain matte black.
But don’t go on their size; their body can do much more. First of all, they are robust when it comes to quality, you can fit them up on any pole or high space, and they would work correctly.
Never forget the sound
Talking about speakers, we don’t think the body matters that much. The real deal is the sound.
Not to worry about the sound too, when you have this piece in hand. It has a loud and robust surround sound. They are designed precisely to focus on that surround sound effect, so you can be sure that your room is filled with high-quality voices.
Why should you go for them?
Well, there are a dozen reasons that we can state, they are the perfect fit. Suppose you are someone looking to add more speakers to your soundbar. In that case, they are compact but powerful and loud, they are easy to use and manage, the lightweight makes them portable and easy to store.
What more can we ask from a speaker, right?
People mostly buy them with other versions of BOSE speakers.
10. Bose SoundLink Revolve Speaker with 360 Wireless Surround Sound
So, you don’t have a home theatre, or maybe it’s not that large, but you still want a speaker that would give you that complete surrounded 360 feel? Then this surround sound speaker by Bose Soundlink revolves the most acceptable piece for you.
What does it offer?
Let’s talk about its body first,
The speaker is long and round; the body is robust, made out of the finest aluminum, the sound output is through all around the piece, which gives it its special 360 effects.
Not to forget, the body is healthy, which makes it waterproof and also dustproof, making it perfect for beaches and pool parties.
What about the output quality?
When the speaker is compact and this small, the first thing you would think is how healthy the output is and the quality of the sound.
Not to worry about the sound that this beauty exerts as its loud, gives you the 360 surround effect, and smooth without any speaker’s disruption.
How would you power it?
Want to know something more impressive about the speaker? It’s cordless, and this is a trait that most speakers do not emit. Being a speaker with a cord seems depressing and grey because let’s are right here; managing and assembling cables is very annoying.
Being cordless also gives you the upper hand in portability; you could keep it and store it anywhere you want.
Being cordless means that the piece is powered from a battery. Now, you don’t have to worry a bit here about the battery’s quality because its lithium oined.
But what about battery life? Hold your horses because you might never have heard of something having such fantastic timing. The battery can live up to 12 hours with a complete charge and accessive use.
Then what about connectivity?
You see, you must have thought that when there are no cords, then how would you connect it to your screen? Well, the piece has fantastic Bluetooth connectivity.
You can even pair up your google assistant or Alexa with your speaker; want to attend calls while working through Bluetooth? This piece has your back.
What makes it stand out?
Something that is much appreciated about the device is how it would look aesthetically pleasing around your house.
You would be able to use it with any device or app; it would offer a beautiful sound output with fast and long-lasting charging.
On the other hand, I am not sure about how much dust this speaker would be able to bear.
Final Verdict.
Buying the right best surround sound system under 500 can be chaotic, but not anymore, because this read above would help you select between the most acceptable possibilities available.
Thanks for reading our top 9 best surround sound system under 500 reviews. If you have any questions let us know in the comment section below
