Do you want that true home theater surround sound experience right in your home?
Get yourself one of the 5.1 soundbar systems!
The 5.1 soundbar category is the topic of this article. In the first part of the article, we bring you some of the important features and characteristics that most 5.1 soundbars have. In the second part of the article, you can read our reviews on our top five picks!
Things To Know About 5.1 Soundbars
What Is A 5.1 Soundbar?
A 5.1 soundbar is a soundbar that is equipped with five speakers. They are usually on the front left, front right, front center, surround left, surround right, plus you get a subwoofer. Most of the time front channels are built-in to the soundbar, while the surround speakers are separate components.
Is A 5.1 Soundbar Worth It?
The 5.1 home theatre soundbars are quite complex, but also deliver the riches and the clearest audio. Since they come with so many speakers, both built-in and separate you will get that true surround sound experience. It is definitely worth the money if you are looking for the most high-quality sound, but if you are just looking for a good quality sound 2.1, 3.1.4.1 soundbars are just fine as well.
How Much Does A 5.1 Soundbar Cost?
The soundbar 5.1 models are usually more expensive than soundbars with fewer channels. Also, if you buy them from some of the most popular brands out there you might pay more, just for the brand’s name. However more we think you should pay more than 500 dollars for a good quality 5.1 soundbar and that everything above that is overpriced.
5 Best 5.1 Soundbar Reviews
Best 5.1 Soundbar With Wireless Rear Speakers
VIZIO SB4051-D5 Smartcast 5.1 Sound Bar System
Impressive Audio Clarity
The first 5.1 soundbar we are going to mention is by Vizio. It is their SB4051-D5 Smartcast 5.1 Sound Bar system that comes equipped with rear surround sound speakers and a wireless subwoofer. With it, you can heat every single detail in the most amazing clarity. The sound it produces can go up to 101dB with almost no distortion. The subwoofer included with this Vizio Smartcast 5.1 soundbar delivers you 35 Hz deep roof-shaking bass.
Experience VIZIO SmartCast
One of the benefits of this Vizio Smartcast 5.1 soundbar is that it comes with the free app you can download on your phone. Then you can use that Vizio SmartCast app as the remote control for operating this soundbar. It gives you less clutter in your home because you won’t have to have additional remote control.
Cast From Your Phone
This Vizio 5.1 soundbar comes with the Google Cast built-into it. It is the same technology that is behind Chromecast that allows you to stream your favorite content from your phone to your TV. That way you have access, to many different podcasts, songs, etc.
Simple Design
Not only does this soundbar offer high-caliber audio, but it also has a very elegant style. It is 40 inches long and has a very slim and compact design. The wireless subwoofer is also very slim and easily fits beside or even beneath your furniture.
- Vizio SmartCast app
- very elegant style
- rear surround sound speakers and a wireless subwoofer
- Google Cast built-into it
Best 5.1 Surround Sound Bar
Samsung HW-Q60R Harman Kardon 5.1 Soundbar
Home Theater Entertainment Experience
The next 5.1 channel soundbar we are going to mention in this article is by Samsung. It is their HW-Q60R Harman Kardon 5.1 Soundbar which is a soundbar that brings you a home theater entertainment experience. It also comes equipped with a wireless subwoofer that will add that rich and powerful bass to the sound. The center channel is made for the sole purpose of delivering clear dialogue.
Compatible With QLED
This Samsung soundbar 5.1 is made to seamlessly work with any of the Samsung QLED TVs. There is a Plug-and-Play connectivity which can be wired or wireless, depending on the Tv model you have. An additional benefit is that you get only one remote control for those two devices when they are connected.
Adaptive Sound And Game Mode
Due to the Adaptive Sound technology, this Samsung 5.1 soundbar can analyze the content and deliver the most optimized sound by adjusting all of the settings on it. You can also turn on the Game Mode Pro when you want to play video games. With this mode, you will get much better sound effects and more dramatic soundtrack music.
Bluetooth Connectivity And 4k Pass-Through
This Samsung 5.1 channel soundbar comes with Bluetooth that offers easy wireless connection to other compatible devices. Thanks to the built-in 4K pass-through you can connect 4K video sources such as game consoles. Another benefit is the fact that it works with HDR 10 sources as well.
- built-in 4K pass-through
- Compatible with Samsung QLED TVs
- Bluetooth technology included
- Game Mode Pro
Best 5.1 Soundbar With Wireless Subwoofer
Blackweb 5.1-Channel Soundbar System
Very Versatile Soundbar
Another one of the 5.1 channel soundbars we would like to mention in this article is by the brand Blackweb. This soundbar will fill your home with powerful audio sound, no matter if you are watching TV, playing video games or simply streaming your favorite music playlist. It uses advanced technology to provide you with a very clear sound you will enjoy. There is a wireless subwoofer that gives you even better sound quality.
Design And Size
This Blackweb 37 5.1 channel soundbar is 37 inches long but has a very compact size that can fit with your electronic setup. It has the overall dimensions of 40 x 10 x 18 inches and weighs 17.15 pounds. It comes in black color, which matches the rest of your hardware.
Set Up And Connections
The set up of this soundbar is quite easy and it will take you only a couple of minutes. It features wireless Bluetooth technology and it is compatible with the MP3 players and other audio devices. If you don’t want to use Bluetooth for connection, there are also line-in jacks at the back of this soundbar. The remote control is also included in the package, for easy operation.
- compatible with the MP3 players
- very compact size
- wireless subwoofer
- Bluetooth for wireless connection
- weighs 17.15 pounds
Best 5.1 Home Theater Soundbar Set
Bose 5.1 Home Theater Set
Sophisticated Design And Exceptional Sound
The next review in this article is on the 5.1 home theater set by Bose. This set comes with the soundbar, subwoofer and surrounds speakers. It is a combination of sophisticated design and exceptional sound. It is a very powerful system that is ideal for streaming music, watching movies or anything else on TV.
Voice Control Feature
With this Bose 5.1 soundbar, you also get the built-in microphone array with eight microphones in total. It works with the voice assistants, like Alexa and the Google Assistant. That way you can easily operate it just through the sound of your voice. If you decide to use Alexa, keep in mind that it speaks only English and Spanish. Aside from voice control, you can use the Bose music app or the universal remote control for this soundbar.
Compatibility And Connectivity
This Bose 5.1 soundbar comes with Wifi, Bluetooth, and Apple Airplay 2 compatibility which allows you to wirelessly stream from different devices. You can also play music from Wifi music services such as Spotify, Audible, etc. if you already have a subscription to them.
Other Characteristics
With this Bose 5.1 soundbar, you will get two main audio formats supported. They are the Dolby Digital and the DTS. The set up of this soundbar is also quite easy and simple. You can either leave it on the Tv stand or mount it to the wall. There is an option to add even more surround speakers for a fuller surround sound experience.
- works with the voice assistants
- sophisticated design
- Dolby Digital and the DTS
Best 5.1 Soundbar With Google Assistant
LG SL10YG 5.1.2 Channel High Res Audio Sound Bar
Most Powerful Soundbar
Another one of the 5.1 soundbar models we would like to review for you in this article is the SL10YG 5.1.2 Channel High Res Audio Soundbar. It comes with a total power output of 570 Watts which makes it one of the most powerful soundbars in this category. It offers the high-resolution audio of 24bit/192kHz which will fill every corner of your room.
Powerful, Moving Audio
This LG 5.1 soundbar you will get the Dolby Atmos sound technology that creates audio that seems to flow all around you. There is also the DTS:X technology which creates a very multi-dimensional audio experience. For this specific soundbar, LG has partnered with Meridian Technology which is the pioneers of the high-resolution audio to give you the advanced signal processing and refined hardware design. The result is a sound filed that has a greater height, width, and depth.
Google Assistant Built-In
One of the features of this LG 5.1 soundbar worth mentioning is the built-in Google Assistant. It allows you to give the command and operate this soundbar with no hands, just by using your voice. Keep in mind the service is limited to certain languages.
Bluetooth And 4K Pass-Through
The Bluetooth 4.2 technology allows this soundbar to connect to LG TV or any other device that also has Bluetooth. You can do that through the LG Sound Sync. With the 4K pass-through built-into it, you can connect 4 K sources such as Blu Ray player or streaming device.
- Bluetooth 4.2 technology
- the total power output of 570 Watts
- DTS:X technology
- Dolby Atmos sound technology
- built-in Google Assistant
Conclusion: What Is The Best 5.1 Soundbar?
The LG SL10YG 5.1.2 Channel Audio Soundbar and the Samsung HW-Q60R Harman Kardon 5.1 Soundbar are the best two 5.1 soundbars out of all the models we reviewed here. The Lg model uses the DTS:X and Dolby Atmos sound technology to produce that high-quality sound. It also has the built-in Google Assistant for the easier, hands-free operation. The Samsung model comes with the wireless subwoofer and is compatible with most QLED Samsung TVs. It also has built-in 4k pass through and uses the Bluetooth for wireless connectivity.
If you would like to hear more suggestions on the best Bluetooth soundbar models, check out the article we made for you, on the link. We made an article all about the best Dolby atmos soundbars, read it to find out what is the best model on the market. All of the top-rated soundbars, divided into different categories are reviewed in the article below.