The 7 Best Wireless Surround-Sound Systems for Amazing Home Audio

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Become immersed in high-quality sound during a favorite movie, song, or video game with a new wireless surround-sound system.

A fully wireless surround-sound system can replace the directional sound of a television or stereo with multiple interconnected Bluetooth speakers that fill the entire room with evenly balanced, high-quality audio from all directions. Surround-sound capabilities amplify a TV’s sound using an omnidirectional speaker layout. A completely wireless surround-sound system can immerse the listener in the environment, giving a cinematic feel that lets them truly enjoy the complete audio and visual experience.

We extensively tested the following wireless home-theater systems to judge them based on their features, sound quality, ease of setup and operation, and value for the cost. Read on for our test results as well as some key considerations to keep in mind when shopping for the best wireless surround-sound systems.

1. BEST OVERALL: Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2 SSE Soundbar
2. RUNNER-UP: JBL Bar 9.1 True Wireless Surround With Dolby Atmos
3. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Vizio M51ax-J6 M-Series 5.1 Home Theater Soundbar
4. BEST FOR ODD-SHAPED ROOMS: Sony HT-A9 High-Performance Home Theater System
5. BEST WISA-CERTIFIED: Enclave Audio CineHome Pro THX-Certified CineHub
6. BEST SMART-HOME SYSTEM: Sonos Immersive Set With Arc
7. BEST COMPACT SYSTEM: Polk Audio React Surround System

Before Buying a Wireless Surround-Sound System

Wireless surround-sound systems are not for everyone, so before getting into the factors to look for when buying, we want to mention a couple of things to keep in mind.

First, wireless surround-sound systems are not cheap, so prospective buyers need to have a budget in mind. Second, although wireless systems have much fewer wires overall than wired surround-sound systems have, they aren’t completely wire-free. Depending on the wireless entertainment system chosen, it may need to be plugged into a power outlet or connected to a subwoofer. So keep this in mind when thinking of the layout of the room and the proximity of available power.

How We Tested the Best Wireless Surround-Sound Systems

To evaluate the best wireless surround-sound systems, we thoroughly tested each of them with real-world listening and viewing. We judged the systems on their procedures for setting up the physical speakers and the internal settings such as Wi-Fi connections and app control. We assessed their ease of operation, audio quality and power, consistency at extreme volume levels, performance with different audio formats such as Dolby Atmos spatial audio, and any other features of the individual systems.

The most common media used for testing included a wide variety of music playlists from Tidal and Spotify; live sporting events such as the NHL Stanley Cup Final; and movies and shows with complex and fast-paced soundtracks, including Batman: The Resurrection of Ra’s al Ghul and The Matrix Resurrections on HBO Max; Vikings: Valhalla and Peaky Blinders on Netflix; and Obi-Wan Kenobi on Disney+. The Tidal playlists and most of the movies and shows were available in Dolby Atmos for the wireless systems that support that format, and for consistency, at least some of the same music and videos were played on every system.

We also spoke to David Davis, owner of Davis Audio & Video, a home theater company in Chicago, Illinois. He says besides keeping optimal sound quality and the acoustics of the installation space in mind, it’s key to find out how the wireless system works: via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or if it’s proprietary. “If it is Wi-Fi, do you have a good enough Wi-Fi to handle the traffic, or are you using a cheap router/Wi-Fi that could struggle with sending the data to each speaker, which will degrade the experience?” He says that a proprietary system will likely require an additional piece of equipment that could add to the price. “Bluetooth should work, but like other Bluetooth devices, connection issues could get frustrating,” he explains. The most stable of the three, according to Davis, is the proprietary system.

Our Top Picks

Before recommending the best wireless surround-sound systems, we tested all of them extensively with a diverse variety of media, including big-budget action and animated movies and TV shows, high-end console games, and music from the 1960s to the 2020s. Much of the source media was encoded for surround sound, and some of it was stereo audio to test the up-conversion ability of the wireless surround-sound speakers.

All the systems tested were chosen for their high marks in performance, features, and value, but they vary significantly in size, audio-output power, features, and price. Each option can appeal to very specific preferences, so users should check out the results to determine which wireless entertainment system is best for them.

Best Overall

Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2 SSE Soundbar

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Product Specs

• Type: 9.2.4 channels; Bluetooth 4.1 with aptX wireless
• Maximum output power: 1000W/110 dB
• Speakers included: Soundbar, 4 satellite speakers, 2 subwoofers

Pros

• Comes with built-in SSE technology; provides great surround sound qualities
• Many inputs: HDMI ARC, HDMI x 3, optical, coaxial, minijack analog audio
• Features a backlit remote control with many options; great for custom sound setups

Cons

• May be overkill in terms of audio power and footprint
• No Wi-Fi connectivity included for features such as AirPlay, Chromecast, etc.

For impressively realistic surround sound and a very loud, low-rumbling home-theater experience, the Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2.4-Channel Soundbar System delivers the goods for those who have the space. While placing all the speakers took some time, the system connected easily to a TV’s High-Definition Multimedia Interface Audio Return Channel (HDMI ARC) input and sounded fantastic, thanks to Nakamichi’s excellent Spatial Surround Elevation (SSE) technology, which does a great job of creating a large 3D soundstage full of audible motion.

A backlit remote control chooses the soundbar’s many audio sources; controls volume for the subwoofers, surround speakers, and the overall system; and selects sound modes such as Movie, Game, and Clear Voice, which adjusts the audio mix to make dialogue prominent. Even without Clear Voice, dialogue always sounded clear to us even at loud volumes. And this system goes louder than any other in this guide. At its highest, the volume is not healthy for long-term exposure, but users get a powerful home-theater experience, with gut-shaking bass coming from both sides. Even at much lower volumes, the system creates very effective immersive sound and has the ideal number of speakers for music, movies, and shows mixed for Dolby Atmos.

The Nakamichi’s immersive surround sound is especially awesome for video games, where directional sound makes all the difference as the user’s character moves around. It was the most realistic system for gaming in this guide. Its Bluetooth aptX also sends uncompressed audio over Bluetooth from compatible devices. However, when we watched Netflix at a certain volume level and then switched to Bluetooth, the volume was suddenly much louder, enough to hurt our ears. But if that big sound and power are what the user craves, Nakamichi also has an upgraded Shockwafe Ultra 9.2.4-Channel eARC/SSE Max that extends the low-frequency range, has a louder output, and upgrades the speakers and surround-sound processing for a few hundred more dollars.

Get the Nakamichi wireless surround-sound system at Amazon, Best Buy, or B&H.

Runner-Up

JBL Bar 9.1 True Wireless Surround With Dolby Atmos

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Product Specs

• Type: 9.1 channels; Bluetooth and Wi-Fi wireless
• Maximum output power: 820W/103 dB
• Speakers included: Soundbar with 2 detachable surround speakers, subwoofer with a 10-inch bass driver

Pros

• Speakers are magnetic and detachable, allowing for ample sound distribution
• Speakers have a 10-hour battery life; impressive compared to other models
• Compatible with Chromecast, AirPlay, Google Assistant voice control; great for smart homes
• HDMI and HDMI ARC ports included; works with a variety of other hardware

Cons

• Batteries for the surround speakers are not replaceable; will slowly deteriorate
• Surround speakers do not function while recharging; not great for extended uses

The JBL Bar 9.1 system makes it about as easy as possible to enjoy Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and other major surround-sound formats. Setup just requires connecting the soundbar to a TV and plugging in alternating current (AC) power to both the soundbar and the large subwoofer. The units sync up automatically. The soundbar has two magnetically attached surround speakers with rechargeable batteries. Place them to the rear right and left of the viewing area, turn them on, and they sync to the soundbar automatically. Then do the audio calibration from the remote control. The surround speakers work for about 10 hours on battery power. When their power gets low, a message scrolls across the soundbar display. While charging from the soundbar, the surround speakers don’t function, but the soundbar does.

Everything else about the Bar 9.1 system is smooth sailing. Its soundbar and surround speakers have up-firing drivers for true spatial audio sound when playing Dolby Atmos material. The subwoofer goes down to only 34Hz (the deepest subwoofers reach 20Hz or even lower) but still feels powerful and guttural. Audio is very detailed, and the surround-sound field portrays complex environments well. The remote control helps users dial in the sound with separate levels for the subwoofer and rear speakers.

It was a joy to listen to Apple music on the JBL Bar 9.1 over either Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. To stream via Wi-Fi, the system uses the Google Home app (Google Play Android/iOS) for Chromecast or the Apple Control Center to AirPlay (iOS). It was easy to add the JBL system to Google Home, and when Chromecasting Dolby Atmos from Tidal, the Bar 9.1 can play music in the Atmos format as advertised, which is much rarer than it should be. Although the overall Bar 9.1 sound seemed more muted compared to the crystal-clear transparency of the Sony HT-A9 system, it’s overall an excellent surround-sound option with convenient, truly wireless operation.

Get the JBL wireless surround-sound system at Amazon or JBL.

Best Bang for the Buck

Vizio M51ax-J6 M-Series 5.1 Home Theater Soundbar

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Product Specs

• Type: 5.1 channels; Bluetooth 5.0 wireless
• Maximum output power: 205W
• Speakers Included: Soundbar, 2 satellite speakers, subwoofer with 5-inch driver

Pros

• For such a compact system, this set is louder than expected
• Provides a spacious surround soundstage for this affordable price level
• Informative display built into the remote control; shows input, volume, sound effects, and more

Cons

• Limited frequency range down to only 50 Hz, with no Wi-Fi connectivity for AirPlay, Chromecast, etc.
• Dolby Atmos reproduction is through virtual processing instead of up-firing speakers

Although it’s not the be-all and end-all of wireless surround-sound systems, the Vizio M51ax-J6 defies expectations for its low price of less than $350. It’s easy to set up by connecting power cords to the soundbar and subwoofer, the HDMI ARC cable to a TV, and audio cables from the subwoofer to the two surround speakers. The remote control has a handy one-line display that shows info such as the input source, volume level, active sound-effects modes, and other settings. Voice control is optional for users who have their voice-assistant hardware, such as a Google Home speaker.

This system is compact yet delivers a louder and boomier sound from the speakers and a 5-inch subwoofer than we expected. The 3D soundstage is also quite spacious for this price point, especially for games. Movies and TV shows from streaming apps also sounded great, and Dolby Atmos is supported, although only as virtual processing rather than from up-firing speakers. At its loudest volume, the audio level was barely tolerable to the ears, and the audio mix stayed consistent to keep the dialogue clear.

For listening to music, the soundbar has an analog minijack input, a USB port for listening to WAV music from a drive, and Bluetooth for wireless connectivity. The Bluetooth connection was very responsive and stable, and it sounded very good from streaming apps such as Spotify and Tidal. All the other surround-sound sources from either a PS5 console on the HDMI input or streaming apps from a smart TV performed quite well.

Get the Vizio wireless surround-sound system at Amazon or Best Buy.

Best for Odd- Shaped Rooms

Sony HT-A9 High-Performance Home Theater System

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Product Specs

• Type: 7.1 channels; Bluetooth and Wi-Fi wireless
• Maximum output power: 504W
• Speakers included: 4 multidriver speaker units and a base hub

Pros

• This versatile sound system produces beautiful sound from nearly any source
• Able to support a wide variety of options, such as Dolby Atmos, Sony 360 Reality Audio/360 Spatial Sound
• Works with Chromecast, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Amazon Alexa, etc.
• Supports 8K TVs and 4K TVs with 120Hz frame rates; suitable for most home setups

Cons

• Quite a high price point for not including a subwoofer
• Wouldn’t play Dolby Atmos playlists from Tidal in Atmos format

For rooms of any shape, the simple yet elegant Sony HT-A9 adapts to the environment and delivers a big, spacious surround sound from a small physical footprint. Each of the four speaker units contains an up-firing driver—perfect for 3D immersive audio formats such as Dolby Atmos—a tweeter, and a woofer, so the system as a whole can reproduce full-spectrum audio, including bass down to about 47Hz. However, for users who want serious bass rumble, either the Sony SA-SW3 or SA-SW5 subwoofers can be purchased separately. Each speaker unit needs AC power but then syncs wirelessly and automatically to the base unit that connects over HDMI to a TV. For users who have one of several models of Sony Bravia TVs, its built-in speakers can act as the center channel to the overall Sony HT-A9 audio system.

We tested the Sony HT-A9 without a Sony Bravia TV, and it still sounded like one of the most enveloping and pristine wireless surround-sound systems in this entire group. The system exhibits terrific surround-sound reproduction for games, shows, movies, and music, with consistent clarity at loud volumes. Its peak volume should be enough to fill up even large living rooms with immersive sound, and the remote control can adjust the bass level.

For music, both the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections worked well and reliably. To stream over Wi-Fi, install the Sony Music Center app on a mobile device, from where the user can launch Spotify, Tidal, and other music apps to Chromecast or AirPlay them to the HT-A9 over Wi-Fi. Using Chromecast instead of Bluetooth lets users take advantage of the Sony 360 Reality Audio music on services such as Amazon Music or via a Tidal HiFi Plus subscription. We tested Sony 360 Reality Audio music playlists from Tidal, and the results sounded amazing. Unfortunately, the Sony system would not play the Dolby Atmos format from Tidal over Chromecast. However, it does use Sony’s Digital Sound Enhancement Engine to upscale compressed audio such as MP3 to higher fidelity in real-time, which was some consolation.

Get the Sony wireless surround-sound system at Best Buy or Sony.

Best WISA-Certified

Enclave Audio CineHome Pro THX-Certified CineHub