Have you been wanting to buy a powerful soundbar that offers you sound from different directions?
One of these 7.1 channel soundbars is for you!
In this article find out all of the pros of getting a soundbar with so many channels. Also, we picked five of our favorite models and made a more detailed review of them. We hope that this article will give you all of the information you need to make a smart purchase of a 7.1 sound bar system!
Things To Know About Best 7.1 Soundbars
Characteristics Of A 7.1 Surround Sound System
If you want to get that extra rich, detailed and powerful surround sound, you simply must get one of the 7.1 channel soundbar models. They offer 8 different audio channels which means you will get at least 8 speakers if not more. Not all of the speakers will fire the sound in the same direction which will make you feel as though the sound is coming from all around you. In other words, you will get that true cinema-like experience.
Dolby Atmos Technology
Many of the soundbar 7.1 models include the Dolby Atoms technology. With this feature, you get a more realistic sound environment, with more clear details. If your 7.1 soundbar doesn’t come with this technology, don’t worry if you want you can still add it to your soundbar.
5.1 Vs 7.1 Surround Sound System
The 5.1 surround sound system differs from the 7.1 surround systems because they use 6 channels and can have up to 6 speakers that produce the surround sound. With the 7.1 surround sound systems, you will get eight channels. Those two extra channels of sound will give you a slightly better audio quality which is why we recommend the 7.1 channel surround bars.
5 Best 7.1 Soundbars Reviews
Best 7.1 Dolby Atmos Soundbar
Samsung HW-Q90R 510W 7.1.4-Channel Soundbar System
Immersive movie theater sound
The Samsung HW-Q90R 510W Soundbar System is the first 7.1 channel soundbar we want to review for you. It comes with many great features and we believe it is a great investment even though it has a high price tag. With it, you will get to experience the immersive sound thanks to the Dolby Atmos and DTS:X technologies. With these technologies, you will feel like you are a part of the scene. You will also get the Adaptive Sound feature which will analyze the content and deliver you optimized audio with clear voices.
7.1.4 Channel Sound
This Samsung 7.1 soundbar comes with 17 built-in speakers and allows you to get the multidimensional cinematic audio and a true movie-theater experience. These speakers will fire the sound upward, while two of them will fire from the side. You will get the feeling like the sound is coming from all directions around you. The overall power output with this soundbar is 510 Watts.
Included In The Box
In the box, you will get a couple of accessories included as well. They are the remote control that comes with the battery, a soundbar wall mount kit and the 90-day warranty. You can also purchase the rear speakers separately and get an even better surround sound.
Connectivity ways
With this best 7.1 soundbar, you will get the built-in Wifi which allows you to stream music from other devices using your home Wifi network. You will also get the Bluetooth feature which allows you to quickly connect to other devices that also have Bluetooth features. There is also a wireless subwoofer included for that extra bass. You will get 2 HDMI and one optical input to connect to your TV.
- built-in Wifi
- 2 HDMI and one optical input
- Dolby Atmos and DTS:X technologies included
- the power output of 500W
- Bluetooth feature
Best 800w 7.1 Sound Bar System
Sony HT-ST5000 7.1.2ch Sound Bar
High-Resolution Audio
The next best 7.1 soundbar we want to mention in this article is the Sony HT-ST5000 7.1.2 channel soundbar. This one offers you a rich and detailed audio quality through the advanced speakers and tweeters. It uses the Dolby Atmos technology so you will get that 3D movie theater-like sound experience. It also combines the Digital Signal Processing and S-Force PRO Front Surround technologies for a more natural surround sound. The additional subwoofer and tweeter work together inside of a single speaker unit and deliver precisely aligned audio across different frequencies.
Chromecast Built-In
Thanks to the built-in Chromecast with this soundbar you will be able to listen to music, podcasts, and radio from different audio apps. Some of them are Google Play Music, Spotify, Itunes, etc. You will be able to connect your smartphone, tablet or even laptop with just a tap of a button.
Google Home Compatibility
Another benefit is that you will be able to connect with your Google Home control network and use the voice commands to operate this soundbar. You can also get additional rear speakers and place them in different rooms to get that multi-room to surround sound throughout your home.
Design And Inputs
It also has a very stylish design that blends with many different home decor. It has a very sleek and elegant low profile which won’t take up too much of the space. On this soundbar, you will find three HDMI inputs, one HDMI ARC output, and a USB input. There are also digital optical and analog connections so you can connect many different external devices.
In The Box
Along with this Sony 7.1 soundbar, you will also get the remote control with batteries included, an HDMI cable, two of the Deco Gear 6FT HDMI Cables, 6ft optical Toslink 5.0mm OD audio cable and a 6 x 6-inch microfiber cleaning cloth.
- Dolby Atmos technology
- 800 Watts of total power output
- built-in Chromecast
- stylish design
Best 7.1 Sound Bar System With Subwoofer And Rear Speakers
Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1Ch Sound Bar
Movie Theater Experience
Another one of the best 7.1 soundbar models we are mentioning in today’s article is the Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro soundbar model. This is one of the top-rated, yet discreet soundbars you will find on the market. It offers the true movie theater sound experience right in your home. It comes with the 5 individually sealed speaker chambers, tweeters, and 5 DSP chipsets.
Powerful Sound
With this soundbar, you get a total of 400 Watts of power output. It can produce up to 104dB of crystal-clear sound. There are also rear speakers and an 8’’ wireless subwoofer included for that ground shaking bass that can be as low as 35 Hz.
Unparalleled Design
One of the specialties of this soundbar is that it has an unparalleled design. It is 45-inches wide and only 3 inches tall. Therefore, it will not disturb your TV picture if you place it under your Tv. The powerful surround sound it offers compliments the large HDTVs very nicely.
Connectivity Options
There are a few connectivity options included which are the HDMI with 4K pass-thru input, two of the HDMI ARC inputs, analog audio input, an optical input, as well a the USB input. You also get the Bluetooth feature for the wireless connection.
- 5 individually sealed speaker chambers
- 5 DSP chipsets included
- total of 400 Watts of power output
- 104dB of crystal-clear sound
Best 7.1 Surround Sound Bar
Sony HTST9 7.1 Sound Bar
Incredibly Powerful Home Theater Experience
Now we are going to review another one of the Sony 7.1 soundbar models. This time it is the HTST9 7.1 Sound Bar model which will give you that superb sound bar experience with the immersive surround sound that comes from 10 speakers powered by 7 discrete digital amplifiers. There is also a front-firing subwoofer with passive radiator deliver which will give you that rich low bass experience.
Built For Superb Sound
With this soundbar, you will get seven specially tuned speakers that will deliver that clear sound with almost no distortion. The three super tweeters will generate a wide soundstage which is perfect for Hi-Resolution listening. Another great benefit is that you can easily get compatible speakers and place them into different rooms. That way the amating sound will expand throughout your house.
Easy Connect
There are three different HDMI inputs included with this soundbar. That way you can connect the HD devices such as your cable box, Blu-ray player and gaming console. You will also get to connect your TV through one of these HDMI inputs.
Easy Setup
An additional benefit to this soundbar is that it can be set up in a few different ways. You can mount it to the wall due to the key-holes, without any additional equipment. You can also just place it on top of your TV stand or put it on a tabletop. After that, all you have to do is plug it into a power source and you can use it.
Wireless Listening
This soundbar also uses the new Sony audio technology called LDAC. With it, you will get t use a high-quality wireless Bluetooth audio streaming. There is a 3x the data transmission capability which means there is an enhanced wireless listening experience for all your music.
- 10 speakers powered by 7 digital amplifiers
- new Sony audio LDAC technology
- three different HDMI inputs
Best 7.1.2-Channel Soundbar
Yamaha YSP-5600BL 7.1.2-Channel Soundbar
True Surround Sound From One Unit
The last soundbar 7.1 on our list is the Yamaha YSP-5600BL model. This one will take your Tv sound to a whole new dimension. It comes with the 46 speaker drivers and it uses the Yamaha exclusive Digital Sound Projector technology to give you that Dolby Atmos and DTS:X* multi-dimensional listening experiences.
Height Channels
With this soundbar, you get six array speakers on each end of the unit with the total number of 12. You will get that maximum sound beam effect as they are mounted on an angled baffle with the sound beam vertical control. As a result, you get the realistic sound field reproduction with the true height. You will have a feeling that your speakers are mounted on the ceiling.
MusicCast Feature
Another feature you will get with this soundbar 7.1 from Yamaha is the MusicCast. With it, you will be able to bring music to every room in your home wirelessly through a simple app. All you have to do is stat the MusicCast Sound Bar and then add the AV receiver in your main entertainment room. YOu can also add the MusicCast Wireless Speakers or Hi-Fi components in other rooms of your home, also wirelessly. For the wireless connection using the built-in Bluetooth feature.
- six array speakers on each end
- 46 speaker drivers
- Digital Sound Projector technology
- realistic sound field reproduction
Conclusion: What Is The Best 7.1 Channel Soundbar?
It was a hard decision to choose just one of these soundbars as the best one. That is why we narrowed it down to two of our absolute favorites. They are the Sony HT-ST5000 7.1.2ch soundbar and the Samsung HW-Q90R 510W 7.1.4-Channel Soundbar System. The first one comes with 800 watts of total power output and the additional subwoofer and tweeter built-into the single speaker unit. It uses the Dolby Atmos technology for that immersive surround sound experience. The Samsung model comes with the Dolby Atmos and DTS:X technologies included and has the overall power input of 500 Watts. Overall it includes 17 built-in speakers that fire the sound in different dimensions.
In case you would like to read more about the top-rated sound bars check out the article we wrote all on that topic. All of the best Dolby Atmos soundbar models are mentioned in another one of our articles you can find on the link. For the best 5.1 soundbars check out this article!