Best Surround Sound System 2024: Top choices for home theatres

If it’s convenience you’re after from a wireless soundbar system then one of the best current options is Samsung’s HW-Q990C.

Much like its predecessor in the Q990B, there is a main soundbar, subwoofer and two rear speakers, but the latter have been outfitted with upwards and side-firing speakers to fill in all the information behind the seating position. What this set-up does is create a huge soundstage that our reviewer found to be outstandingly cohesive and balanced. With the rear and height channels eager to get involved with the sounds coming from the front, the speakers all contribute to a well formed and immersive soundscape.

The scale of Dolby Atmos and DTS:X tracks is huge, while the Samsung’s subwoofer performance is able to hit hard and deep but is also nimble. In terms of volume, this is soundbar system that can reach high levels of volume without producing distortion.

A weakness we noted with previous Samsung soundbr systems is that they’re not as great with music, especially when it comes to integrating the bass. We did find the Q990C does sound more musical with music sources, though you have to be careful where the subwoofer is positioned for the best integration. With stereo channel audio the bass can sound a little muddy, but switching to the soundbar’s Adaptive mode can help widen and clear up the sound.

Samsung TV owners get the benefit of Q-Symphony support, which combines the soundbar’s speakers with that of the TV to create a bigger soundstage, with sounds positioned as they should be on the screen. Alexa voice recognition is supported too, though gamers may be disappointed by the lack of 4K 120Hz support, especially as soundbar systems from LG such as the LG S95QR and S80QR can pass through these signals, albeit without HDR.

Reviewer: John Archer
Full Review: Samsung HW-Q990C

Samsung doesn’t have it all to itself in the soundbar system market, with its fellow Korean rival LG also offering some options, such as its current flagship, the S95QR.

It original was released in 2022, but has received big software updates over the course of 2023 that have transformed its performance. Like the S80QR it has three upfiring drivers on the main bar, the out wide are for firing audio up towards the ceiling with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X content, while the middle driver seeks to raise the height of dialogue so that it matches its placement on screen. As the centre channel, it alos helps with dialogue clarity too.

The rear speakers also feature front-firing drivers as well as upfiring speakers to help create a bigger soundstage.

In terms of performance, it delivers more flat-out power than the Samsung Q990C is capable of, with deeper bass than its precedessor, and a wide soundstage that fills all four corners of a room. It’s the type of performance that makes you forget that there are any physical speakers in the room.

It’s also better at handling music than the SP11RA, our reviewer felt that it achieved a more authentic and respectful balance between an original stereo mix’s elements.

In terms of features the S95QR can passthrough Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG through its HDMI input, and it can also passthrough 4K/120Hz for gaming consoles, a feature that’s not often supported, if at all, with soundbars. Wowcast support also allows for the soundbar to maintain a wireless connection with a compatible LG TV, so you can do away with wired connections.

Reviewer: John Archer
Full Review: LG S95QR

The Sonos Arc is one of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars we’ve tested, and when paired with rear speakers and a subwoofer it creates an impressive surround system that does come at a premium price. 

On its own the Arc is a 5.0.2 system, with the Sonos Sub and rear speakers transforming it into a 7.1.2 channel set-up.  S2 compatible Sonos speakers are required for the rear channels, so the One SL, Era 100 or Five speakers are an option along with the Ikea Symfonisk Bookshelf speakers, while any generation of Sub can be partnered with the main Arc bar. You can now add the Sonos Era 300 to the system to have rear Dolby Atmos speakers to produce a complete hemisphere of Dolby Atmos sound. 

The audio performance is one we found impressive when all hooked up, with Trueplay helping to align and balance the speakers for optimal sound within the room. The rear speakers help to fill in the gaps behind the seating position, providing a subtle assist that engaged us more than the front-heavy performance of the Arc. The integration of the rear speakers is well handled, blending in well to create an expansive hemisphere of sound.

The addition of the Sub provides an impressive low end than you got with the Arc, helping to alleviate the Arc’s issue with transitioning between the bottom end of the frequency range to the mid-range. As the Sub is left to do the heavy lifting, the Arc can focus on the midrange, which we felt helped aid smoother transitions between bass and midrange.

Depending on the size of the room, a Sonos Sub may feel too powerful, and the cost of it adds to the overall outlay. There is the Sonos Sub mini, which is cheaper but Sonos doesn’t recommend pairing with with the Arc soundbar, saying it’s a better option to be used with the Sonos Beam or Ray models if you’re listening in a smaller room.

Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full Review: Sonos Arc Surround Sound Package