Get Your Home Theater System Ready For The Super Bowl
January 23, 2022
With the Super Bowl just a few short weeks away you may be looking to upgrade your home theater game. I’ve covered home audio in the past HERE but that was more regarding in-ceiling and in-wall solutions, not specifically surround sound. Debbie and I do plan to incorporate some of our in-ceiling speakers into our entertainment audio but I’ll be address dedicated surround here to impress your family and friends on Super Bowl Sunday and beyond.
One of the very first things to consider when buying a home theater system is how many channels you want. You’ll see numbers like 2.1, 5.1 or 7.2. These denote how many channels and, usually, how many individual speakers the system uses.
The first number is the number of standard audio channels, while the second is the number of subwoofers. Imagine a simple stereo setup with an A/V receiver connected to two bookshelf speakers. This would be a 2.0-channel system. There are two normal speakers and no subwoofer, hence the 0 in the second part of the number.
A simple home theater system may be 5.1-channels. This denotes five standard speakers and one subwoofer. More specifically, you have a single center channel speaker, left and right stereo speakers, then left and right rear surround speakers, with a subwoofer for extra bass.
Dolby Atmos and DTS:X add a new dimension to the audio — they bring variable height to sound with upward-firing speakers. These get their own number added to the end. A 5.1.4-channel system would be exactly as described above, but with an extra four speakers facing the ceiling.
Generally, the more channels in a system, the more speakers it has, and the more complicated it can be to set up. This isn’t always the case, however. Soundbar systems usually have a central soundbar with satellite speakers and a subwoofer. Our game room home theater at our San Antonio home was a standard 5.1 system and was a little work due to running cable through the ceiling and walls. We’ve moved to soundbar solutions since due to simplicity and that the technology to match a surround experience has greatly improved.
If you opt for a speaker-based system, one thing to keep in mind is whether it includes an amplifier or receiver. Many speaker systems leave it up to you to choose your own A/V receiver, so keep this in mind when budgeting for your home theater system.
Finally, all those speakers mean wires all over your home theater — unless you opt for a wireless system. These are generally easier to set up, but they will cost more as a result.
Possibly the best overall home theater system currently available is the VIZIO Elevate Sound Bar for a combination of ease of setup and use plus great sound. It brings 5.1.4 channels of Dolby Atmos-ready sound in a simple package.
Setup is fairly simple. You have a base soundbar unit, two satellite speakers, and a subwoofer. While the satellite speakers require wires, you get a wireless subwoofer, which makes setting this system up an easy process.
While it seems like there are only a few speakers in this system, Vizio has actually equipped the Elevate soundbar with 18 individual speakers of its own. This helps give the system a depth and width beyond what you’d expect out of a soundbar system.
Among these are four upward-firing speakers for Atmos and DTS:X. A pair of adaptive height speakers automatically rotate to add more depth to the sound of your TV shows, movies and music.
The Elevate soundbar also has other features, including a remote with a backlit display, making it easier to use when you’ve got the lights dimmed. Chromecast built-in lets the soundbar double as a speaker for music, podcasts and other audio as well.
Pros
- Dolby Atmos and DTS:X ready
- Easy setup requires just a few wires
- Self-rotating speakers are more than just a gimmick
Cons
- Satellite speakers require wired connection
- Cost (but currently on sale on Amazon)
If you’re looking to impress on Super Bowl Sunday without gutting your budget for chips and salsa, you should consider the Logitech Z906 5.1 Surround Sound. This isn’t a sound bar like the system above but it has the simplicity of one. You get everything you need all in one package but still have a complete 5.1-channel setup.
This THX-certified home theater system doesn’t feature Dolby Atmos or DTS:X, as there are no upward-firing speakers. But it does feature DTS and Dolby Digital.
Unlike many “home theater in a box” solutions, the Logitech Z906 actually features one speaker per channel. That means you’re getting stereo, left and right, and left and right surround channels as well as a subwoofer.
The subwoofer is substantial, considering the price. You get an 8” driver powered by a 165-watt amplifier in the subwoofer, enough to add significant bass to explosions, thundering engines or anything else that makes your movies more exciting.
Another interesting aspect the Z906 is something Logitech calls “3D Stereo.” This takes older movies and TV shows or any other stereo audio content and expands it to encompass the room via the surround channels. This is an interesting audio upgrade that not every home theater system can do.
The Logitech Z906 doesn’t include HDMI, but it does feature inputs for up to six devices split between composite analog, digital coaxial and digital optical ports. It packs a complete 5.1-channel home theater system into a single box, with only a few minor compromises for the price.
Pros
- Actual speaker-per-channel 5.1 setup
- Multiple connectivity options
- 3D Stereo option makes stereo into surround sound
Cons
- No HDMI connectivity
If a completely wireless system is what you looking for because you live in an apartment, can’t get wire into your walls or just prefer the simplicity, then the JBL Bar 5.1 is the system for you.
If you tend toward the minimal and can’t stand the idea of wires running all over your living room, the JBL Bar 5.1 is precisely what you’ve been looking for. This is as wireless as home theater systems can get.
This is a 5.1-channel system, but you only have four speakers. You get the main soundbar, a subwoofer, and two satellite speakers. These are where things get a little different from your average soundbar setup.
Many satellite speakers are partially wireless, meaning they don’t have cables carrying sound from the receiver, but do need to be plugged into a power source. The satellite speakers in this system are fully wireless. They have internal batteries so you don’t need to plug them into power. If you’re read any of my previous posts, you know I’m not a fan of batteries but this could be the perfect solution for some cases.
The wireless satellite speakers last up to 10 hours on a single charge. When it’s time to charge them, just attach them to the built-in charging points on the main soundbar. All you need to plug into the wall are the soundbar itself and the subwoofer, which boasts a 10-inch driver.
Regarding connectivity, the JBL Bar 5.1 features three HDMI inputs and one HDMI ARC output, letting it sit between your Blu-ray player or streaming devices and your TV. To keep things simple, the JBL Bar 5.1 works with many TV remotes, but it also includes its own.
One final unique feature is JBL Soundshift, which lets you switch between playing your TV audio on the soundbar and playing audio from your phone.
Pros
- Fully wireless satellite speakers make setup easy
- Doubles as a wireless speaker for music
- Integrates with your TV remote
Cons
- Having to charge satellite speakers
If you’re doing a new build like us or can simply get wire into your ceiling and walls, the Klipsch Synergy Black Label F-300 7.1 system might be the perfect solution for you. Especially if you’re looking for immersive, robust surround sound. But premium audio comes with a premium price so be prepared.
Unlike many other systems, this is less of an all-in-one system than it is a collection of great speakers. The highlights are the two F-300 floor standing speakers, which together with the C-200 center channel speaker will provide the vast majority of the sound you hear.
Complementing these are four B-200 bookshelf speakers, which serve as your surround and rear surround speakers. Finally, you get the Sub-120 subwoofer for room-shaking bass.
The speakers use Klipsch’s Tractrix horn technology, which the company says creates a uniform dispersion pattern. What does this mean to you? Basically, you can put the speakers nearly anywhere, and they’ll still sound great.
One of the positives of buying the speakers together is that they match each other. In a black finish with copper-colored drivers, these speakers will look great, regardless of where you put them.
Klipsch includes power cables for any speakers that need them, though no speaker wires are included. Speaking of which, to use these, you’ll need a 7.1-channel A/V receiver, like the Onkyo TX-NR5100.
Pros
- Includes floor standing stereo speakers
- Black and copper aesthetic looks great in any room
- High-efficiency subwoofer makes for powerful bass
Cons
- Requires a separate A/V receiver
If you already have an A/V receiver but want to upgrade your speakers, the Polk Audio 5.1 Channel Home Theater System with Powered Subwoofer is a perfect option.
Like the Klipsch system above, this is a speaker bundle rather than a full home theater package. The centerpiece is a pair of T50 Tower Speakers. To round it out, you get the T30 Center Channel speaker, a pair of T15 bookshelf speakers, and the PSW10 subwoofer.
These Polk speakers use the company’s proprietary Dynamic Balance technology, which minimizes distortion and gives wider dispersion. This leads to wider, more accurate sound.
All the speakers are black, with black tweeters and cones. This lets them fit in almost anywhere, meaning you don’t have to worry about whether they match your decor.
This is a 5.1-channel speaker, so you’ll need an A/V receiver like the Denon AVR-S540BT. That said, if you already have a receiver with a higher channel count, you can always add another pair of bookshelf speakers to upgrade to a 7.1-channel setup.
Pros
- Tower-style stereo speakers are great for music
- Dynamic Balance technology makes for clear, wide sound
- Black-on-black finish looks good everywhere
Cons
- Requires a separate A/V receiver
As you can see there are a lot of home theater options depending on preferences around budget, complexity and audio options. This time last year I posted an article about big screen TVs for the big game. But it doesn’t just end with slapping a flat panel on the wall and breaking out the hot wings. There are a number of other considerations to take into account when building out your home theater — infrastructure (audio, video and electrical wiring), size of the space, mount location of the TV, placement of furniture, etc. It doesn’t generally require a lot of cost or special talents to set up the perfect home theater but planning is key to a successful installation.
But don’t overthink it either. As your home is a very personal space, individual preference also comes into play. I’d rather see people build out an imperfect space they feel comfortable with than a sterile, ‘by the numbers’ room that they don’t enjoy. So, take these recommendations and guidelines as options when designing your home theater and surround sound system.
What does your home theater look like? What would you change about it? What pointers would you give people looking to build out their first home theater? Debbie and I would love to hear about your entertainment space and how you use it. Leave us comments or send DMS and emails. As always, if you have other questions about home theater, surround sound systems or smart home please let us know. Until next week …
In full disclosure, I’m not an affiliate marketer with links to any online retailer on my website. When people read what I’ve written about a particular product and then click on those links and buy something from the retailer, I earn nothing from the retailer. The links are strictly a convenience for my readers.
