Best Dolby Atmos Surround Sound Systems Reviews

Dolby Atmos technology is gaining momentum, and more and more content is being released with this sound range, so many people want to be able to use it in their homes. The market is not lagging and offers options for all tastes and budgets, from inexpensive and compact to expensive and multifunctional. So, my selection consists of five contenders with different features, capabilities, and costs so that you can choose the best Dolby Atmos home theater system based on your needs and capabilities. But first, we’ll quickly examine the basic types of such systems.

Our pick

Samsung HW-Q990B

Best Dolby Atmos soundbar

The SAMSUNG HW-Q990B is an 11.1.4ch soundbar with rear speakers featuring wireless Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Q Symphony, SpaceFit Sound+, Adaptive Sound, and Game Pro mode. Read the full review.

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What are the different types of wireless surround sound systems?

So, I want to offer you three types of Atmos surround sound systems for your consideration. They all have their advantages and disadvantages compared to the others. But they all have one goal in common – to bring Dolby Atmos technology sound to your home theater, taking into account your needs, capabilities, and finances.

Soundbars

The soundbar is, first and foremost, about saving space and spending money. And, of course, such a device with Dolby Atmos support will sound better in comparison with a typical soundbar, providing the illusion of three-dimensional sound and upper channels. This effect is achieved through advanced sound processing and specially designed speakers. However, it is worth remembering that only using a complete speaker configuration (from 5.1.2) with an AV receiver or amplifier will allow you to take full advantage of this technology.

Surround sound speaker systems with a receiver

Such a system requires a lot of space and time to set up (and to find optimally compatible components). And it is also the most expensive compared to other options. But in the end, you will be fully rewarded for your efforts. You’ll get a full-fledged sound picture identical to a movie theater’s effect. Having a receiver will also allow you to connect multiple devices and customize the content as you see fit.

Home theater speaker kits

A set of speakers designed to provide Dolby Atmos is, in all respects, somewhere between a soundbar and a full-fledged system with a receiver. You won’t have to pick up the components separately and won’t have to tune your system for a long time to get the desired results. In addition, these systems can often expand over time. This option is suitable for those with an AV receiver, multichannel amplifier, or receiver but with a simple (inexpensive) set of speakers. This speaker set will be their replacement or supplement to the Atmos technology use.

Best Dolby Atmos home theater system reviews

Soundbars with Atmos

Samsung HW-Q990B – best dolby atmos soundbar

Opening my chart is the amazing wireless 11.1.4 Dolby Atmos surround sound system, Samsung HW-Q990B 2022, consisting of a soundbar, wireless subwoofer, and two rear speakers. And in total, you get 22 built-in speakers with 656W of power.

This model offers some advanced connectivity options. For example, 2 HDMI input ports (CEC) and 1 eARC-enabled output port support 4K Video Pass and HDR 10+ format. With Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, you can use content from iPhone (iOS 11.4 and later), streaming audio (AirPlay 2, Spotify, Tidal), and Alexa voice assistant. Yes, the Samsung HW-Q990B is an ultra-modern device for today, and it’s unfortunately only compatible with next-generation hardware. So not all TVs and game consoles you’ll be able to connect; keep that in mind.

But what I really like is its sound capabilities. In addition to Atmos, it also supports DTS:X, including variations. And the HW-Q990B automatically and even considers the noise in the room to enhance dialogue clarity (Active Voice Amplifier, AVA). But the Q-Symphony is impressive. The sound in the overall picture is very balanced and crisp, with ample bass. And it filled the room perfectly. What appeared to be a difficulty was the connection. That is, not the setup itself, nothing complicated. But I had to switch the whole system on and off several times with the TV set so that after the next switch-on, the soundbar created the pairing, and everything worked as it should.

Vizio M512a-H6 – budget

When considering budget options, we always think we lose something, make significant compromises, etc. But in the case of the 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos soundbar Vizio M512a-H6 2021, I would not rush to such conclusions.

So, this is a set, standardly consisting of a bar, a sub (6″), and two rear satellites (11 built-in speakers in total). The soundbar has separate woofers, tweeters, and dedicated up-firing speakers (each speaker has separate woofers and tweeters) that provide Atmos sound an order of magnitude better than the digital ones I’ve heard. The soundbar isn’t small, but it’s low-profile and easily fits right under the TV.

And even in the area of connections, it’s pretty good. All in all, the Vizio M512a-H6 has HDMI (eARC) input and output, an optical input, an analog 3.5mm stereo mini-jack, USB (WAV), a voice assistant input, and Bluetooth. Admittedly, less than the Samsung HW-Q990B, and there’s no Wi-Fi. But I think these are minor compromises.

Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and DTS Virtual:X codecs are available to you in a 5.1.2 configuration, and as I said, this baby’s sound is above reproach for its category. I really liked the performance of the HDMI eARC, in conjunction with the cable included. Excellent signal transfer at a high level, not to be compared to the simpler options. I only noticed a delay of about 5 seconds when you watch content with surround sound. But by adjusting the delay in the settings, I fixed the problem. Also, Bluetooth is a little slow. It made me wait a couple of seconds after turning it on, though I think that’s not that critical.

Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2 SSE MAX – for large rooms

The Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2 SSE MAX option is suitable for larger rooms, as it offers a 9.2.4 configuration with 1300W of power. This is much more than the Samsung HW-Q990B, although Nakamichi is inferior to the latter in configuration and the number of built-in speakers (18). But the dual subwoofer naturally provides more detail in the bass. I actually heard a lot more in movies with this system than when I watched them with others. The completely incomprehensible display menu puts me in a bit of a pickle. I can’t see a damn thing unless I’m around, and even when I’m around, it’s unclear what the soundbar means with its cryptic symbols. And it doesn’t show up on the TV screen. But the system was incredibly easy to install!

It is similar to the Vizio M512a-H6 in connectivity. However, it exceeds the number of HDMI inputs, offering us 3 inputs and 1 output (eARC), so it is compatible with Dolby Vision and 4K HDR, game consoles, and other sources. And the Bluetooth Version 5.0 with aptX HD just amazed me with how it works; it really is another level of pairing. All the devices I connected paired instantly and showed seamless streaming, including various streaming services.

When connecting during watching movies, like the Samsung, I noticed a delay in the audio track, but even for a longer time (about 8-9 seconds). It looks like a long signal return. Anyway, I switched the HDMI ports, and the problem went away. But the soundstage itself is over the top. For example, I watched my favorite movie, “Independence Day,” and was amazed by the clarity and crispness of the soundtrack. And I have already mentioned the bass. Powerful and spacious, just perfect for a wireless system.

Atmos home theater system with a receiver

Sony STR-DH790 with SONY 8 Speaker System Bundle

In this category, my winner was a 7.2-channel receiver, allowing you to watch 4K/60Hz video, HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision formats, and a set of high-quality speakers with Sony STR-DH790 with Sony 8 Speaker System Bundle. And although only one sub comes with the kit, you can connect a second one if you want.

All the system components are perfectly matched, and I didn’t need any effort to install them. But despite the pluses, I faced the challenge of matching it to the TV. It takes time because the receiver has its own settings, and if they don’t match your TV, you won’t see or hear anything. And the manual, unfortunately, does not provide step-by-step instructions for such a case.

The STR-DH790 receiver is simple but produces 145W (6 Ohms, 1 kHz, THD 0.9%, 1 ch) with a frequency range of 53 Hz-50 kHz, which is fully comparable to the speakers. They, in turn, are equipped with Wide Dispersion Super Tweeter technology. I’ve heard a lot of systems, and this one just impresses me with its clarity and nuance. The 9.84″ subwoofer also balances the bass very well, and with the second sub, the lower register just turned my small room into an arena of sound. This system sounds much more balanced than the wireless ones, no matter how good they are.

Home theater speakers kit

Klipsch 5.1 Home Theater Pack

The Klipsch 5.1.2 Home Theater Pack consists of two R-625FA Dolby Atmos floorstanding speakers, an R-120SW 12″ 400W Powered Subwoofer, an R-52C two-way center channel, and a pair of R-41M shelf speakers. All of these components have long been known to users familiar with the brand’s products and their benefits.

So, all Klipsch speakers have hybrid 90×90 Tractrix Horn, Linear Travel Suspension (LTS) titanium tweeters, and Spun Copper ceramic woofers (6.5″ main channel and 5.25″ high channel), which is the company’s chip. The floor speakers with an atypical design are worth mentioning. The thing is that they have Dolby Atmos boosters built into them. They are built into the top of the speakers. In operation, the Klipsch is stable and loud, delivers sound crystal clear, ringing, and fills the entire space, distributing effects in a way that makes you want to dodge or huddle in your chair as objects fly at you from the screen.

But I’m not going to be different, and once again, I will say that solid speaker stands to have hideous screw fasteners that require extra care on your part because they just burst. So I don’t use stands during testing (the speakers are massive and have great anti-resonance).

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