The Best Bookshelf Speakers For 2025 (Top 10 Picks)

Whether you’re trying to create the best surround sound setup for a theater room, setup a stereo, or watch shows in the living room, the right bookshelf speakers can make a massive difference.

So today, we’ll be covering the best bookshelf speakers for 2025 in my opinion.

This will be a list of the top 10 you’ll want to consider for the year.

Obviously there’s way more than that out there worth your time, but these are just some of the ones that I feel would do great in a hifi setting.

However since there might be some out there with questions, I also wrote a guide below that goes over what a bookshelf speaker actually is and what to look for in a quality one.

Let’s get to it!

The Best For a Very Small Room (8×10 feet) – Polk Monitor XT15

The Best For a Small Room (10×12 feet) – Dayton Audio B452

The Best For a Medium Room (14×16 feet) – Klipsch R-51M

The Best For a Medium-Large Room (16×20 feet) – KEF Q150

The Best For a Large Room (22×25 feet) – SVS Ultra Evolution

The Best For a Very Large (22x 28 feet) – JBL Studio 630

The Best Looking – Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-600M II

The Best Powered/Active – Edifier R1280T

The Best Nearfield – Yamaha HS-5

The Best High-End Model – ELAC Uni-fi Reference 3 Way

Decision Guide (What A Bookshelf Speaker Is & How To Choose The Right One)

The Best For a Very Small Room (8×10 feet) – Polk  Monitor XT15 (Pair)

Offering a lot in the way of audio quality, the Polk Monitor XT15 bookshelf speakers perform great in a smaller room without being overpowering.

They have a bass reflex design, which basically means their cabinet has a port to minimize distortion & provide a much clearer sound even at higher volumes.

There’s a 5.25 inch dynamically balanced woofer, and a 1 inch aluminum dome tweeter for exceptional high and low sounds.

They’re compact too at 6.5 x 7.18 x 10.6 inches & 9 pounds — allowing them to especially excel in a smaller space.

The Monitor XT15s can also be wall mounted if you wanted to set things up that way, and includes 5 way binding posts for a plethora of connection options.

This allows them to work great as front or surround speakers.

Plus there’s a removable grille that gives the speaker an either bold or subdued look.

Pros

• Great overall output that doesn’t noticeably distort at higher volumes
• 5.25 inch woofer provides a rich fulfilling sound
• 1 inch tweeter provides clear highs
• Can be wall mounted
• 5 way binding posts allow multiple connection options

Cons

• Low sensitivity at 86db

At the end of the day, this one is certainly a great choice.

Check Polk Monitor XT15 Speakers Availability (Pair)

The Best For a Small Room (10×12 feet) – Dayton Audio B452 (Pair)

The Dayton Audio B452s are quality speakers that are right at home in smaller sized rooms.

What’s cool about this pick is the fact they’re wall mountable — increasing the places they can go.

This is done via the keyhole wall hanging bracket on the back.

On the audio side of things, there’s a 4 ½ polypropylene woofer on the front that gives it a really full and rich sound.

Polypropylene is an interesting material because it acts as both a plastic and a fibrous material.

This duality allows it to be much more versatile in acoustical applications so it’s nice to see that here. https://hometheaterhifi.com/q-a/speaker-cone-material-best-performance/

There also happens to be 5/8 inch tweeter that’s great at reproducing those higher ranged frequencies that adds to immersion.

Dayton also prides itself in the quality of this speaker with its solid wood design.

I’ve talked about the benefits of an all wood cabinet many a time, but the takeaway here is that it gives you a warm sound that makes listening that much more enjoyable.

Plus the all black vinyl finish gives it a professional look.

They have a 60-watt peak, and weigh about 8 pounds.

They’re also 6 Ohms, and have a frequency rating of 85-20,000Hz allowing you to cross your subwoofer at the 80-90 Hz range.

That’s the ideal range for a sub to be set at since that’s the point where bass becomes more dispersed and omnipresent.

Overall, it’s a quality speaker with good sound.

Pros

• 4 ½ woofer provides a smooth and satisfying sound
• Tweeter for intricate details
• Wood cabinet for a warmer sound
• Looks great
• Wall mountable

Cons

• Not the greatest for larger sized rooms
• 5/8 inch tweeter is a little on the smaller side
• 6 Ohms means you’ll have to be certain you pair this with a receiver that can handle that
• Lower sensitivity at 84 means it’ll be a little harder to get this thing to go loud

But besides all that, don’t get the impression that this is a bad speaker, quite the contrary.

Like I said before, for smaller to maybe medium(ish) sized rooms, this’ll be one that works great.

Check Dayton Audio B452 Speakers Availability (Pair)

The Best For a Medium Room (14×16 feet) – Klipsch R-51M (Pair)

Klipsch is another reputable brand in the audio industry that prides itself in everything they do.

This is made evident by the high quality of products that they continuously put out.

In the case of the Klipsch R-51M, this absolutely holds true.

But why exactly?

Well the big thing about this one that makes it so different from other speakers is it uses something called a Tractrix linear travel suspension horn loaded tweeter.

To make it simple, traditional tweeters can only go to a certain size before they become too heavy and unwieldy for the speaker’s cabinet.

But with a horn variant, the diaphragm itself is recessed with a larger flared casing around it.

What that does is amplify any audio that then gets output.

Basically think of what happens when you use a megaphone, your voice is able to go louder because of that flared design.

Same kind of idea here.

It’s a pretty interesting concept that does work well ultimately. http://www.klipsch.com/blog/how-do-horn-loaded-speakers-work

The real benefit here is that this allows it to be extremely accurate, letting you hear every single little detail.

The R-51M comes with a copper injection molded graphite (IMG) woofer that while looks amazing of course, manages to pump out some serious sound.

What’s particularly interesting as well is the port in the back.

This port is tuned to the enclosure itself and acts as way to minimize unwanted noise; meaning you get less distortion and a clearer sound.

A 5-way binding post in the back is included luckily, which means that you can use any connection type with it.

In terms of looks, the copper driver is a striking difference from the brushed, all black outer and makes for a good looking presentation for sure.

In terms of measurements it comes in at 8.5 x 7 x 13.3 inches and weighs about 11 pounds.

Pros

• Aesthetically pleasing
• 1 inch horn loaded tweeter for more accurate sound
• 5.25 inch copper drivers offer respectable output
• Port in the back minimizes unwanted noise

Cons

• Not wall mountable

Overall in terms of quality, this is an excellent speaker.

Check Klipsch R-51M Bookshelf Speakers Availability (Pair)

The Best For a Medium-Large Room (16×20 feet) – KEF Q150 (Pair)

This KEF Q150 is right at home in the medium to large room range.

What’s unique about this one is its Uni-Q driver array which basically arranges the tweeter in front of the midrange driver in a concentric pattern.

This allows for increased clarity and accuracy over what’s normally possible since the sound comes from a single point rather than 2 different points.

The 1 inch tweeter & 5.25 inch woofer also handles a wide frequency range from 51 Hz to 28 kHz.

As a result, your movies and shows will really come to life with all of the additional detail available.

There’s also a port in the back that helps to reduce chuffing (that’s when unwanted noise muddies the original sound)

The cabinet itself is a beautiful MDF wood grain that really feels premium to the touch.

You should also be aware beforehand that they aren’t the smallest things in the world though at 11.9 inches high and 11 inches deep, hence their medium to large room rating.

They’re also heavy at 25 pounds.

Thus you’ll definitely want the space for them.

Pros

• Fantastic sound
• Concentric driver is capable of getting loud
• Looks Great
• 5-way binding post offers a variety of ways to connect wire

Cons

• Not the smallest thing in the world at almost a foot tall.
• On the heavier side at 12.3 pounds each.

For a medium or average sized room, these things will excel. I’d highly recommend them in general.

Check KEF Q150 Speakers Availability (Pair)

The Best For a Large Room (22×25 feet) – SVS Ultra Evolution (Pair)

Now we’re getting into to the big boys capable of some serious power.

For those with larger rooms, the SVS Ultra Evolution is going to be a solid pick to go with.

So the first thing that’s awesome about this speaker its large 6.5 inch mid-range driver.

To give you an idea of how driver size affects audio, this an awesome article on that. https://hometheaterhifi.com/q-a/speaker-enclosure-size-effect-on-audio-quality/

But this is an awesome thing for you because what you get is not only more power, but more effortless power at that.

What’s particularly great about these speaker’s drivers is they’re made of a glass fiber composite that’s stiff, so at higher volumes, there’s less flex for a better quality sound.

What you’ll immediately notice is how rich the sound is with things like voices and sound effects.

But upon closer inspection, you’ll also notice how many intricate details it can reproduce as well thanks to its diamond carbon coated 1 inch tweeter that’s able to go up to 40kHz.

To put it into perspective of just how powerful these speakers are though, normally I’d recommend getting a speaker that can at least go down to the 80 Hz range.

Well this one can go down to 40hz too!

If you don’t realize what that means for you, that means that you can actually use these without a subwoofer since they go so low in output.

They’re also capable of outputting up to 150 watts.

These speakers are also unique looking with an angled cabinet that’s time aligned — meaning the drivers are aligned so the sound from both arrive at your ears simultaneously.

This allows them to sound not only more accurate, but more cohesive too.

The grille is also curved, and is magnetic & removable so you can leave it on or off.

Pros

• Rich sound with 6.5 inch drivers
• Can reproduce higher range sounds thanks to their 1 inch diamond coated tweeters
• Wide frequency range from 40hz to 40kHz
• Time aligned cabinet for better acoustical Imaging

Cons

• Rather heavy at 18.8 pounds each
• Very big at 11.25 x 8.66 x 14.88 inches so you will certainly need to set up the space beforehand

Still if you have a large room, these would be the ones to get.

They’re able to produce a very full and clear sound that makes them extremely hard to resist.

Check SVS Ultra Evolution Speakers Availability (Pair)

The Best For a Very Large (22x 28 feet) – JBL Studio 630 (Single Speaker)

This is going to be one for those of you with the largest of rooms.

JBL is another really great brand in the audio industry where their equipment continuously speaks volumes about their attention to quality overall.

The Studio 630 has a 6.5 inch woofer capable of going as low as 45 Hz.

That means it’s entirely possible to use them without a subwoofer all together.

But it’s not just the lows that contribute to its incredible output.

There’s a 1-inch high frequency compression tweeter here as well that’s capable of producing some extremely clear sound effects.

When you head over to the spec sheet, it makes sense why since it can play up to 40 kHz.

To give you an idea of just how good that is, most speakers tend to only go up to about 25k kHz, so that’s way above the norm.

It uses what they call HDI (High Definition Imaging) to produce a sound-stage that almost seems surreal at times.

It also has a peak wattage of about 300, so it can go plenty loud if you needed it to.

It also measures 11.02 x 9.05 x 14.65 inches and weighs 19.84 pounds.

Pros

• Superb overall sound quality
• 300 watts peak output for larger rooms
• Capable of some serious output with the ability to go down 45 Hz
• Can be used as a stereo system without a subwoofer
• 1-inch tweeter combined with signature HDI technology allows you to hear an incredible range of details
• Looks great

Cons

• Low sensitivity of 85db means you’ll need a somewhat powerful receiver
• Not wall mountable

Besides those 2 things, the Studio 630 is certainly an amazing speaker.

Check JBL Studio 630 Bookshelf Availability (Single Speaker)

The Best Looking – Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-600M II (Pair)

So I don’t normally place an emphasis on how good a speaker looks, but in this case I had to.

The Klipsch RP-600M is one of, if not some of the best looking ones I’ve personally come across.

Whether you choose them in piano black, ebony, or walnut, they look gorgeous regardless.

Luckily it’s not all looks with this one either as they’re a serious performer.

There’s a 6.5-inch copper woofer that sounds as good as it looks.

6.5 inches is pretty big for a bookshelf speaker driver, so this lets it reach frequencies that smaller drivers typically don’t reach.

How low you might wonder?

Try 45 Hz.

That’s good enough to not need a subwoofer all together which is really impressive.

Klipsch’s signature linear travel suspension tweeter also makes an appearance.

This offers improved clarity and immersion by directing the sound directly at the listener.

But on top of that, their signature tractrix horn is included as well.

This further disperses the sound resulting in a much wider sound-stage overall.

There’s also a removable grill as well though to be honest with you, I personally think it looks better without one (but that’s just me)

Pros

• Incredible sound
• Can go down to 44 Hz thanks to its large 6.5-inch woofer
• 1 inch tweeter allows it to reproduce a wide range of detail
• Tractrix horn adds to the purity of the sound
• Beautiful outer cabinet regardless of the color

Cons

• Pretty heavy at 18.1 pounds each
• 15.75 inches tall and 13 inches deep so they’re pretty big

Other than how impressively big they are, these would be right at home in larger rooms.

Yes, they’re beautiful, but what they’re capable of is just as amazing.

Check Klipsch RP-600M II Bookshelf Speakers Availability (Pair)

The Best Powered/Active – Edifier R1280T (Pair)

If you’re more so looking for active speakers, then the Edifier R1280Ts are great in that regard.

That’s because their versatility in not only their sound quality, but in connectivity options allows it be used in a wide variety of settings.

With 2 3.5mm RCA & AUX outputs, they can be connected to a TV, phone, PC, etc. as long as they support it.

With a 4 inch woofer, and 13mm silk dome tweeter, you’re able to get clear sound whether they’re used up close or as a set of stereo speakers.

Plus the EQ knobs on the side and wireless volume remote allows you to further dial in your sound.

They also look solid made from an MDF wood that gives them a classy look in my opinion.

Pros

• Great sound quality
• Can be used with devices that support AUX & RCA
• Treble, bass, & volume knobs on side to adjust sound
• Work great as desktop or stereo speakers
• They look good

Cons

• .5 inch tweeter might not provide the most intricate details at highest frequency levels at high volumes

Check Edifier R1280T Availability (Pair)

The Best Nearfield – Yamaha HS-5 W 5-Inch Powered Studio Monitor (Pair)

For nearfield or up close listening, I think the Yamaha HS-5 bookshelf speakers are a good fit.

The reason being is their predecessors already set precedence for being exceptional speakers for music, production, or stereo sound.

The HS-5s certainly continue this trend with incredibly accurate and pristine sound that allows you to hear plenty of detail.

This is made possible with their 5 inch woofers and 1 inch tweeter that work in tandem to deliver a pleasing sound quality.

Their flat frequency response and 70 watt output makes them especially good for professional listening or mixing.

Plus with XLR & TRS inputs, you can use the cables you want for pure audio fidelity.

Pros

• Accurate and pure sound makes them great for nearfield listening
• Flat frequency response for professional listening
• Powerful output at 70 watts
• XLR & TRS inputs
• Manageable size at 6.7 x 11.2 x 8.7 inches

Cons

• Doesn’t work with typical speaker wire
• No passivity

Check Yamaha HS-5 Availability (Pair)

The Best High-End Model – ELAC Uni-fi Reference 3 Way (Pair)

The ELAC UReference 3 way would have to be the best higher end models in my opinion.

To say that it looks nice in person would be an understatement.

But to state that it sounds great would be even more so.

So what makes it great?

Well one thing that could attribute to that would be the way it’s built all together.

It happens to implement what’s called a 3-way design in the audio world.

To simplify what that means, just think of it as a fancy way of saying it has a separate driver for the bass, treble, and mid-range.

By doing it this way, what you are then able to do essentially is reproduce more detail all around. http://www.proaudioland.com/news/2-way-versus-3-way-speaker-systems/

There’s a 6.5-inch inch aluminum woofer that is able to do an exceptional job handling bass.

By using aluminum, they are able to go lower without the trouble of additional unwanted resonance.

Plus a stiffened front baffle further reduces these resonances for clearer sound.

A 1 inch soft dome tweeter is placed inside a 4 inch mid-range driver. This is called a concentric design.

Another benefit of this design is an improved sound-stage for off axis listening.

Obviously not everyone sits directly in front of their speakers, so the fact that ELAC was able to take this into account as well is truly awesome.

That means a better listening experience for everybody.

The dual flared slot port on the back also allows the Uni-fi to output lower cleaner bass.

There’s even a 5-way binding post that makes the promise of providing clearer connections between the connector and the terminal.

Pros

• High end sound provides a premium sound quality
• Gorgeous cabinet
• 140 watt peak gives them the capability to get loud
• Unique tweeter inside the mid-range design allows for more articulation and better off axis listening.
• 3-way build provides for much more accuracy
• 5-way binding posts for a plethora of connection options

Cons

• Heavy at 26 pounds each
• Large at nearly 14.13 inches tall and nearly 13.15 inches deep
• Low sensitivity at 85db

Still, if you’re in the market for a higher end option, this is a solid choice.

Check ELAC Uni-fi Reference 3 Way Availability (Pair)

What Exactly Is A Bookshelf Speaker?

Well to put it simply, a bookshelf speaker is a speaker that’s designed to rest on a desk or shelf rather than the floor.

They’re often used in home theaters and stereo setups.

But that’s not their only difference from the other types out there.

For example, a larger floorstanding speaker typically isn’t placed on anything since they’re designed to stand from the floor.

Whereas a computer speaker typically only has one driver for all the frequencies.

This is different from non home based speakers such as in a car where their drivers are concentric in design.

The differences between car and home speakers highlight how specific design considerations impact a speaker’s performance in different environments.

But with a bookshelf variant, there’s usually a tweeter for the higher frequencies (treble), and a woofer for the mid-range frequencies (known as a 2 way design)

In 3 way designs, speakers also have a bass driver.

The drivers are separated like this because it allows for more accuracy, and better sound quality overall.

There may even be a port that filters out unwanted noise (often called a bass reflex design).

Some can even be wall mounted or placed on stands.

It’s this level of versatility in their placement that allows them to be incorporated in a wide variety of audio setups.

The History Behind Their Start

Now believe it or not, home theater didn’t start out with these though since it started out with the larger floor-standing models.

Unsurprisingly, they weren’t the most home friendly due to their sheer size and weight.

It wasn’t until the early 1960’s when a man by the name of Edgar Villchur realized this could be improved and created a speaker that while small, retained a lot of the full range sound the bigger one had. https://www.stereophile.com/interviews/105villchur/index.html

As you could probably imagine, this was not an easy thing to do.

Basically what he did was create an enclosure that was nearly airtight.

What this did was pressurize the inside, creating additional force against the driver allowing for a lot of output in a small space.

Today there’s many different variations on that formula, but this was the original idea that started it all.

Their Placement Matters

Before we get into how to choose one, keep in mind that their placement is nearly just as important as room acoustics can greatly affect their soundstage.

For example, it’s generally not recommended to stack bookshelf speakers on top of each other, as this can negatively impact the audio quality.

If you’re curious about why, you can check out this article on stacking bookshelf speakers.

Nor do you want to use 2 of them as a center channel as it’s better to pair them with one.

You also don’t want to place them too close to the wall, but the right distance depends on whether they’re sealed or ported designs, and the location of those ports.

Their placement can even affect their perceived bass output too, so taking the time to adjust them is important.

They also vary in size, but often balance performance and size to accommodate their placement in setups where larger tower speakers might not fit.

Plus their wide range of options from the budget friendly to the high end makes them an appealing option for a broad audience.

All of these factors make them a popular choice for surround sound in living rooms, as part of desktop setups, and as standalone stereo systems.

So, with all of these designs that exist, what do you look for in a good bookshelf speaker?

Consider The Price Relative To What You Need

So the first thing that’s obviously important to keep in mind in your search is the price.

But what’s particularly important to consider is the price relative to what you actually need since there’s a wide variety of bookshelf speakers at different levels in price.

Although price tiers could technically be broken down into budget friendly, mid-range, and high-end, the issue is that’s subjective since each person’s budget is different.

I’ve also noticed from over the years that price isn’t always indicative of quality or lack of since things like branding and unique manufacturing processes play a part.

So what I would do is first set a hard budget, then consider the things you’re specifically looking for in a speaker within that budget you set.

That way you have a mental note beforehand of the ideal speaker you’d want.

Try To Look For A Speaker Cabinet Made Of MDF or HDF Wood

The next thing that’s helpful for a quality hifi experience is getting is getting a speaker whose cabinet is made of MDF or HDF wood.

MDF stands for medium density fibreboard, and is created by essentially compressing wood fibers and resin into a solid object.

This is different from some speakers that are now vintage or retro as they often used some form of plywood, particleboard, or some other material.

While it depends on the construction quality, sometimes these materials would allow a lot of extra vibration that could affect the sound.

The usage of MDF wood in modern speakers is generally beneficial because it dramatically decreases the amount of unwanted noise that can occur normally.

For those who don’t know, whenever you get a sound that travels through something, it causes that object to vibrate.

This vibration can cause additional noise.

That’s especially problematic if you’re a manufacturer attempting to create a speaker that sounds as good as possible.

Fortunately, MDF helps to minimize that issue.

This reduction in resonances from MDF’s density gives the speaker more clarity overall.

You can read more about it here if curious.

HDF meanwhile stands for high density fibreboard and is similar to MDF except it’s a higher density.

This gives the speaker even more rigidity to reduce noise, but the effort in manufacturing it can come at a premium.

Keep In Mind The Ohm And Watt Rating

The next thing you’ll want to do is be aware of both the wattage and Ohm rating for the speaker you’re considering.

Wattage is simply a measure of how much power it may consume to produce audio.

Ohms is a measure of the resistance an audio component has to produce an output.

While there’s no set in stone wattage number you should be aiming for, make sure the receiver it’s paired with supports it’s Ohm rating at that wattage.

For example, you might see a receiver that states that it supports 80 watts per channel at 8 Ohms.

What that means is that for each speaker, it can give it up to 80 watts of power at that ohm level.

But what happens if you use that same receiver with a speaker that’s rated at say 4 Ohms?

Well at normal volumes you may be fine, but what will end up happening at even slightly higher volumes is something called clipping.

Clipping is where sonic fidelity is reduced, and distortion starts to occur because the receiver is too under powered for the speaker, or vice versa.

Besides a worse quality sound, there’s a good chance it could break both of them all together.

It’s a common reason why speakers stop working from what I’ve noticed.

So you should be sure that whatever receiver you use supports that speaker’s Ohm rating.

You may even see ones that state it supports multiple Ohms ratings, and that’s even better because it’s less that you’ll have to worry about.

Pretty simple so far right?

Whether You Want A Passive Or Active Speaker

Another thing to consider when deciding on a good bookshelf speaker is whether you want a passive or active one.

What’s the difference?

Active Speakers

An active speaker, often referred to as powered, has what’s known as an amplifier internally.

This is basically a device that’s designed to amplify the sound produced by the speakers from the original audio source.

This type of speaker doesn’t need external sources of power like a receiver to function since its self powered.

Many bluetooth speakers are actively powered, with some even being wireless.

Though as a side note, many traditional speakers can technically be made wireless too.

Passive Speakers

On the other hand a passive speaker is one that does require an external power source or receiver to function.

They’re also the one you’re most likely to run into since they’re a lot more common.

How To Choose Which Of Those Is Right For You

The advantage of an active speaker is that you won’t need to pair a receiver with them, but the disadvantage is that they aren’t upgradable; meaning if it isn’t capable of going loud enough for a particular room then you’re out of luck.

Also if the amplifier inside dies, then the speaker itself becomes unusable.

A passive variant doesn’t have this issue.

The advantage of a passive speaker is that if it isn’t loud enough, you can always pair it with a different amplifier or receiver so it can go louder, making it much more versatile.

The disadvantage of course, is that you’d need receiver for them to work.

I personally prefer passive speakers with home theater specifically because of that versatility, but it really is dependent on what you plan to use them for.

If you’re planning to use them for gaming or listening to music on a desktop for example, then active ones might work better because of their ease of use

For watching movies on the couch, passive ones may be better since they can be paired with powerful external amplifiers to drive them.

Even then, that’s just speaking generally since every speaker is different.

Get A Speaker With A Higher Sensitivity

You’ll also want to keep in mind your new potential speaker’s sensitivity rating.

Think of the sensitivity as a measurement of how easy it is to get to a certain volume.

You’ll typically see it referenced in decibels.

The higher this number, the louder it’ll get with less power.

This is important because if you get a speaker with a really low sensitivity with an underpowered receiver, you’ll end up clipping the sound just to get it to a reasonable listening level.

The opposite is true too.

If you get one that’s too high, you’ll end up blowing the internals.

I’ve personally found a good sensitivity rating to be between 83-96db. I feel like that’s the sweet spot to choose between.

Look For One With A Wide Frequency Response

Oh yeah, and one quick bonus thing before we wrap up — while nowhere near as important as with subwoofers, the frequency response is also something you’ll want to at least be aware of.

This is the total sound range it’s capable of producing.

Now while there’s no real set range to look for, ideally you’d want the widest one possible.

But here’s a specific tip; look for a speaker that can at least go down to 80 Hz.

Why?

Well if you’re using a subwoofer, this is the cutoff point where the sub takes over and isn’t localize-able (meaning you can’t tell where it’s coming from)

It’s also a common point to set your crossover (the internal circuitry that controls high and low frequency frequencies)

By getting a speaker that can go at least that low, you’ll be able to set your sub at 80hz to then take on the lower frequencies from there.

I’ve noticed that speakers with bigger drivers often have the widest frequency ranges and highest volumes.

But that’s not to say that clarity is solely dictated by driver size, but it is a factor in its performance.

Like a speaker with an 8 inch woofer and large tweeter is more likely to be able to handle a wide sound range generally speaking.

Final Thoughts

Whew! Hopefully all of that helps in regards on how to actually choose the right bookshelf speaker.

So the ones on this list adhere to the things we talked about, while being fantastic choices overall.

I realize that there’s a lot of options out there, but from my experience thus far, these will be solid ones to check out.

Also just in case you have any trouble with your new stuff, I did an article covering a lot of the typical issues that you may potentially run into; along with some tips on how to fix them. https://easyhometheater.net/common-home-theater-problems

If you need help with actually setting them up, then I also did a post on that talking about the actual set up process. https://easyhometheater.net/how-to-set-up-a-home-theater 

Hopefully all of that helps.

Until next time, make it easy, keep it simple!

The Best TVs For 2025

Keeping in mind best is subjective, these are some of the TVs that in my opinion, provide the best picture quality & features in 2025.

To make it simple, the picks are listed below, and a helpful decision guide is listed underneath that.

Afterwards for better picture quality, here’s a few ways you can optimize your TV settings.

A new TV can be a great way to enhance your home theater system, and make for an awesome gift idea, so here’s some of the ones I think are great.

The Top 4k TV At 43 inches- Samsung 43 Inch Class 4K Crystal UHD DU8000 Series

The Top 4k TV At 50 inches – Samsung 50 Inch Class QLED 4K Q80D Series

The Top 4k TV At 55 inches – LG 55 Inch Class OLED Evo C4 Series

The Top 4k TV At 65 inches – Samsung 65-Inch Class OLED 4K S95D Series

The Top 4k TV At 75 inches – Sony 75 Inch Mini LED QLED 4K Ultra HD TV Bravia 9

Another Top 4K TV At 75 – Inches – Samsung 75-Inch Class OLED 4K S95D Series

The Top TV At 85 inches – Samsung 85-Inch Class QLED 4K QN90D Series

Decision Guide

The Top 4k TV At 43 inches- Samsung 43 Inch Class 4K Crystal UHD DU8000 Series

Check Samsung 43 Inch Class 4K Crystal UHD DU8000 Series Availability

One of the best things is it uses what Samsung calls their Dynamic Crystal Color which allows for over a billion colors.

That not only allows for colors to pop with your content, but it can also give a more realistic picture quality too.

It also supports 4K resolution.

This means an image 4 times clearer than 1080p.

Support for 4k use to be nonexistent, however as of 2025, there’s finally tons of content that makes the format worthwhile.

In addition it’s also still a smart TV as well with full integration with Alexa built in to the display. That means you can change channels, open apps, search for movies, play music, and so on all by using your voice.

Another feature that you might appreciate is the offering of HDR.

HDR makes the image pop with the ability to display dark and light elements at the same time, giving out a much more realistic look.

It also uses Samsung’s Tizen operating system that gives you even more control over your TV.

The TV itself is a slim design so it’ll fit in even small spaces.

There’s also their Motion Xcelerator technology which allows for a 120 Hz refresh rate.

That means when there’s a fast action scene happening, you’ll be able to better make out the details.

There’s 3 HDMI 2.1 ports with one of them supporting eARC for passthrough of higher resolution audio from a receiver or soundbar.

Pros

• Expanded color for an incredible picture
• Slim design & can be wall mounted
• 4K resolution
• HDR support
• 120 refresh rate
• 3 HDMI 2.1 ports

Cons

• No local dimming
• No Dolby Vision support

This is a quality offering from Samsung, and is a solid choice for a for a smaller to average sized room.

Check Samsung 43 Inch Class 4K Crystal UHD DU8000 Series Availability

The Top 4k TV At 50 inches – Samsung 50 Inch Class QLED 4K Q80D Series

Check Samsung 50 Inch Class QLED 4K Q80D Series Availability

At the 50 inch size, the Samsung Q80D Smart TV is honestly one of the best 4k TVs you can get in my opinion.

The first reason is due to what Samsung calls Quantum dots, or QLED for short.

Long story short, this tech allows for an expanded color palette with over a billion colors.

Obviously the ability to provide more colors on screen is going to give a better image, but having over a billion more gives the picture more vibrancy and accuracy.

But that’s not all because it has full array local dimming.

This means it can control the picture more accurately by utilizing various zones of LEDs.

The Q80D is also good for movies as its HDR allows it to show more information in the dark and light portions of the screen.

Even better is the fact that it includes something called 4K AI upscaling.

Through AI, it can upscale high definition content into 4K resolution, giving it a crisper look.

There’s also one remote included as well.

This is basically a complimentary universal remote but with a twist; it can also control your connected devices.

So lets say you connect a Roku with your TV.

What you can do from there is control the Roku, TV, and whatever else with a single remote.

It also has an Air Slim design which basically means the TV has a slim design that allows it to sit flush with the wall.

Wi-Fi connectivity is also included, so it can stream and connect to the internet over any WIFI network.

There’s also 4 HDMI 2.1 slots so you’ll be able connect a decent amount of devices.

And there’s even support for the smart assistant Alexa natively built into the display.

A 120 Hz refresh rate also ensures fast moving scenes with lots of action on screen won’t be an issue to display.

Pros

• Ability to display over a billion colors
• Great black levels
• Full array local dimming
• HDR capability
• 4K support & AI upscaler
• Smart universal remote
• Alexa Built in to the display

Cons

• No Dolby Vision support

This is a really good set with features to provide an awesome picture quality.

Check Samsung 50 Inch Class QLED 4K Q80D Series Availability

The Top 4k TV At 55 inches – LG 55 Inch Class OLED Evo C4 Series

Check LG 55 Inch Class OLED Evo C4 Series Availability

This is one that, just by the feature set, you can tell means business.

But why would you want one?

Well one of the best parts about this TV is that it’s an OLED.

OLED basically allows for pixels at their darkest to turn off while still keeping other pixels lit up.

This difference between light and dark gives the picture quality a really dynamic look.

It’s hard to describe, but if you’ve never seen OLED in person then you’re in for a treat.

It’s also 4k which means content it can provide awesome clarity for content watched on it.

But it’s not just the support for this higher resolution that makes it initially jaw dropping.

When it’s coupled with a technology like HDR, that’s when things really begin to get interesting.

HDR of course allows a larger range of the picture to be shown, though what’s interesting is the inclusion of Dolby Vision.

In short, Dolby Vision is a type of HDR that can optimize things on a scene by scene basis for the best image that display is capable of.

This gives it more dynamism and accuracy.

But what’s also cool is the addition of expanded color as well.

Why is this important?

Well when colors are displayed on a typical non HDR display, you’ll get what’s called banding.

That’s when there’s a clear separation of one shade to the next within the same color.

But with the combination of high dynamic range & a wider color palate, you get shades that are much more nuanced better gradation.

This results in some of the smoothest and incredible looking images.

It’s pretty hard to describe how it looks without seeing it for yourself in person.

It also has 4 HDMI 2.1 ports and a 144 Hz refresh rate making it a great TV for gamers.

Dolby Vision, G-sync, Freesync, VRR, and even HGiG is included as well.

There’s even support for WiSA with support for up to 5.1 channel surround sound.

Pros

• Ability to display over a billion colors
• Incredible picture quality
• 4K resolution
• OLED display provides deep inky black levels
• 4 HDMI 2.1 slots
• High 144hz Refresh Rate
• Smart TV

Cons

• No HDR10+
• No ATSC 3.0 tuner

This is a TV with an incredible image fidelity in my opinion.

Check LG 55 Inch Class OLED Evo C4 Series Availability

The Top 4k TV At 65 inches – Samsung 65-Inch Class OLED 4K S95D Series

Check Samsung 65-Inch Class OLED 4K S95D Series Availability

So here’s where we start getting into the larger displays.

The Samsung S95D 65-inch OLED is, in a word, awesome; that’s just the best way to put it.

The first big feature that you’ll really appreciate is that it’s an OLED display.

These types of TVs are known for their inky black levels which gives content that increased level of dynamism.

It’s hard to describe what that looks like, but when you see an OLED screen in person, it’s easy to see why they’re so loved.

Plus its ability to reproduce over a billion colors helps in things looking more realistic too.

To put that into perspective, the standard TV without a wide color volume can usually only produce a few million colors.

So what this expanded color volume means for you is not just a more colorful image, but one that’s more nuanced and natural too.

The next thing you get here is a 4k capable set.

I’ve sung the praises of 4k many a time, and for good reason. It’s incredibly clear, what with being 4 times clearer than HD and all.

At this size it becomes easier to see that difference.

Plus with the 4K AI upscaler, even lower resolution content can look better.

HDR is also offered here.

That stands for high dynamic range, and what it does is allow for more detail in the light and dark portions of a scene.

There’s a 144 Hz refresh rate meaning it’s easier to see details in fast moving scenes & gaming.

Something interesting that also makes an appearance is what Samsung calls Object Tracking Sound+.

Basically there’s 4 sets of built in speakers placed on the top, sides, and bottom that adjust the sound to follow the action on screen.

There’s also 2 rear woofers built in, providing for a much more engaging experience overall.

As for what that equates to as far as picture quality is concerned, a mindblowing presentation is what’d probably best sum it up.

Pros

• Ability to display over a billion colors
• OLED display gives incredible black level
• Quantum HDR gives a more vibrant image
• 144 Hz Refresh rate
• 4 HDMI 2.1 Ports
• Included universal smart remote
• Object tracking sound from built in speakers

Cons

•  No Dolby Vision

Long story short, it looks incredible.

Check Samsung 65-Inch Class OLED 4K S95D Series Availability

The Top TV In The 70- Inch Range – Sony 75 Inch Mini LED QLED 4K Ultra HD TV Bravia 9

Check Sony 75 Inch Mini LED Bravia 9 Availability

A 75 inch TV is impressive, there’s no doubt about that.

A 75 inch, 4k, HDR TV is even more so.

It’s something that you truly appreciate when you see it in person.

So with that said, the 75 inch Sony Bravia 9 is an incredible TV.

One thing that allows its screen to be more accurate is Mini LED design.

By using groups of smaller LEDs for groups of pixels, it can achieve great brightness while also maintaining deep black levels.

This level of accuracy is also helped by the fact that it includes calibrated picture modes right out of the box.

That way, besides manually adjusting it, you can choose the one that suits your content best.

It’s also capable of displaying billions of colors since it uses QLED technology and Sony’s XR Triluminous Pro technology.

Its HDR capabilities are also impressive, with it getting plenty bright.

It even has modes that allows it to adjust the HDR on the PS5 when playing games on it.

There’s even support for visual formats like Dolby Vision & IMAX Enhanced, making it an amazing TV.

Pros

• Mini LED design allows for great picture accuracy
• Great clarity with 4K resolution
• Pre calibrated modes allow for accurate visual choice with content
• Capable of displaying billions of colors
• HDR capabilities are impressive
• Deep black levels
• 120Hz makes it great for gaming
• Support for Dolby Vision & IMAX Enhanced

Cons

• No HDR10+

With its vast capabilities, it’s an incredible TV at this larger size.

Check Sony 75 Inch Mini LED Bravia 9 Availability

Another Top TV In the 70-inch range – Samsung 75-Inch Class OLED 4K S95D Series

Check Samsung 75-Inch Class OLED 4K S95D Series Availability

Another awesome TV in the 70 Inch range is the 75 inch version of the S95D.

A lot of the same benefits of the aforementioned 65 inch variant of the S95D series applies here as well.

That means of course the OLED technology that provides deep black levels so that scenes look breathtaking and immersive.

Black levels are important because the darker they are, the better and more realistic everything will look to put it simply.

Quantum HDR provides for a more dynamic looking image, and the anti glare screen helps for off side viewing.

There’s even a universal smart remote included that’s able to control anything that’s connected to it.

Pros

• Impressive picture quality
• Quantum HDR makes the image pop
• Great black levels
• Built in speakers with Object tracking sound for better audio
• Smart TV
• 4 HDMI 2.1 Ports
• Included universal smart remote

Cons

• No Dolby Vision

Long story short this is a great TV with extremely few shortcomings. Definitely gets a thumbs up.

Check Samsung 75-Inch Class OLED 4K S95D Series Availability

The Top TV At 85 inches – Samsung 85-Inch Class QLED 4K QN90D Series

Check Samsung 85-Inch Class QLED 4K QN90D Series Availability

This 85-inch goliath truly is a magnificent sight to behold.

I like to call it the beast just because of its commanding presence.

It has all the same features its smaller siblings have like 4k, QLED, HDR, & Object Tracking Sound, so you will be taken aback by it when you see that but at this scale.

It’s beautiful.

Pros

• Huge beautiful screen
• Sharp 4k resolution
• Bright HDR at 
• Can display over a billion colors
• Smart universal remote
• 144Hz refresh rate
• Footprint is thin

Cons

• Packaging is heavy at about 110 pounds
• No Dolby Vision

If you have the space for a big screen like this, then it’s pretty awesome in my opinion.

Check Samsung 85-Inch Class QLED 4K QN90D Series Availability

Decision Guide

Buying A New TV Has Gotten More Complicated

For the average consumer today that doesn’t keep up with the latest in tech, buying a TV can be pretty complicated admittedly — especially if they want to create a theater experience at home.

There’s a few reasons for why, but the main one boils down to the frequent introductions of newer formats.

In my opinion, it’s almost felt like a game of one-upmanship over these last few years where one industry maker will introduce something to outdo the other.

On one hand, it’s awesome because we get to experience all this new technology.

But at the same time, the introduction of these new technologies have made it harder to keep up in a way.

Luckily for now, a lot of the bigger changes have come to pass so these are a few features you’ll come across.

Ultra HD/4K Which May Become Standard Eventually

The first feature you’ll run into, certainly so in 2025, is 4k.

What is that?

Think of it as the next step up from high definition.

It’s a visual format with a resolution that has 4 times the pixels of HD.

However you’ll often see it referred to as Ultra HD, which has a pixel resolution of 3840x2160p.

4K itself has a resolution of 4096x2160p, which is a resolution more commonly used for cinemas and editing digital photography.

It being so close in size means they’re often used interchangeably, even if it’s not technically the full pixel count

At first, there was severely limited content for it which made it not really worth the investment.

However as more and more industries began to see the potential in it, increased support for it caused it to gain real traction.

Now there is a real backing behind it, and a big portion of the newer TV’s today support it.

So if you see Ultra HD on the packaging, that’s what it means.

I personally feel it’s poised to replace HD as the new standard all together in the coming years due to its boost in clarity

From Hulu, to Netflix, to even 4k gaming consoles like the Xbox Series X & PS5, support for 4K has certainly grown.

https://easyhometheater.net/what-is-a-4k-television

There’s also 8K, which is still not too common, may also be something you’ll encounter which is basically a format with a resolution even higher than 4K.

As of right now, I’d say 8K is in the position 4K was when it was first available commercially since there isn’t as much content.

Though that may change eventually, I personally feel like the visual difference 8K offers is more perceptible at bigger screen sizes.

Whether you notice the difference is going to depend on your seating distance, the size of the TV, etc, but it may be something to consider.

https://easyhometheater.net/8k-tv-is-coming

It’s also important to keep in mind that optimizing the TV’s picture settings is important too since the incorrect settings can be one of the things that leads to a blurry looking image.

Things like sharpness, color temperature, and even the motion interpolation settings also play a part in how things look on screen in different ways.

HDR Is Important

The next thing you may run into is HDR.

HDR (high dynamic range) could be seen as an even bigger advancement than 4k since it’s something that’s easy to notice when done right.

So what is it?

Well basically high dynamic range is able to display all parts of a light and dark image on screen at the same time.

When an image is shown on a typical television, information is lost in the darkest and lightest portions of the screen.

This is due to older formatting constraints.

Through hdr, there can be a more realistic & vibrant looking picture similar to how the human eye actually sees it.

It can also offer much more dynamic colors.

Now here’s the thing though, there’s actually different types of HDR.

For example there’s Dolbyvision, IMAX Enhanced, HDR10, HDR10+, etc and they’re all supported differently when it comes to content.

There’s an important thing to keep it mind though, and that’s nits.

Nits is the measurement of how bright the display can get, and you want this number to be as high as possible since that’ll mean the display can get that much brighter, thus giving you better HDR.

Ideally, you’d want a nit level of 1000 nits, and anything higher than that is just icing on the cake.

There’s of course more to it but that’s the basic gist of it.

When looking for a TV though, you’ll definitely want one that supports this format as the difference it actually makes when done right can’t be understated.

I actually did an article on this as well if you’re curious on more about it.

https://easyhometheater.net/what-is-an-hdr-television

An Expanded Color Gamut Helps

The next big thing you’ll likely run into is something called expanded color gamut.

That one is exactly like it sounds.

If you see something like UHD color, or it states it has rec2020 support, then you’ll be certain that it sports this feature.

What’s it mean though?

Well whereas average sets with a standard color range have the capability to display millions of colors for a given image, displays with an expanded color gamut can actually display over a billion.

This is going to result in an image not only more realistic, but much more vivid overall.

https://easyhometheater.net/what-is-a-wide-color-gamut-tv

HDMI 2.1 Is Important For High Refresh Rate & Resolution

Another thing you may want to look for is a TV that supports HDMI 2.1.

Now i won’t get into detail since it can be pretty complex, but basically HDMI 2.1 brings with it a host of new features such as support for higher refresh rates and support for 8K.

This means a potentially smoother and clearer looking overall image quality in content.

And with more devices with support for this new format such as the Xbox Series X and Playstation 5, a TV that supports HDMI 2.1 would need needed to take full advantage of them.

https://www.techradar.com/news/new-faster-hdmi-21-cables-are-on-the-way-heres-what-you-need-to-know

Local Dimming

Something else you’ll sometimes see is local dimming.

Local dimming is a way to increase the contrast ratio dramatically (the greatest difference between a light and dark element on screen)

This gives a much more pleasing looking picture overall.

The bigger the difference between the lightest and darkest elements, the more preferable.

You’ll typically see this difference measured using a number, separated by a colon, and then the number 1.

The higher that first number in comparison to the number 1, the better.

There’s different types as well including back-lit local dimming and edge lit local dimming.

Basically if you’re looking for an LED TV and it uses a backlight, then one with local dimming and a higher number of local dimming zones (groups of LEDs that control brightness in a scene) is definitely preferable.

This can allow that display to be more accurate with what’s on screen.

QLED TVs

QLED, which stands for quantum dot light emitting diode, were TVs first introduced by Samsung that offered a much expanded color volume, and brighter display.

They’ve since iterated on this tech and have introduced something called NeoQLED which uses smaller LEDs and can be controlled more accurately because of their size.

https://easyhometheater.net/what-is-samsung-qled-technology

There’s also companies now with their own version of QLED too, and the main draw of these types of TVs is their often vibrant image capabilities.

OLED TVs

Another type of TV you’ll likely encounter is OLED.

While I won’t get into the pros and cons of OLED since that would be an entirely different discussion on of itself, what’s important to know is that OLED is renowned for its incredible picture quality due to its ability to provide extremely deep black levels.

That’s because rather than using a backlight, it uses a special sheet in the screen that when electricity flows through it, allows the pixels to turn on and off individually.

So if black levels are something that you’re focused on, then OLED is a solid choice.

Here’s more on that if curious.

https://easyhometheater.net/oled-tv-technology-explained

Mini LED TVs

A newer type of TV that’s shown up more and more recently is a mini led TV.

These are TVs that, rather than using a large backlight, use smaller groups of LEDs for groups of pixels.

This design not only helps the TV with being more accurate with its light levels, but also helps it’s image not be as affected by blooming.

If you’ve noticed blooming on your current display, then these may be worth considering.

Micro LED TVs

Yet another variant of television you may come across are Micro LED TVs.

What’s cool about these TVs is they use individual LEDs for each pixel, and can turn each off entirely similar to an OLED.

This allows them to reach high levels of brightness while also retaining great black levels.

These aren’t as common yet since they’re complex to create, but some do exist at larger sizes.

Here’s more on that tech and how it may compare to an OLED.

https://easyhometheater.net/micro-led-vs-oled

Final Thoughts

But besides other little advancements such as improved smart home integration & improved OLEDs, and of course budget, these will be the majority of things that factor in to choosing the right TV.

For the current year and into next year though, I feel that these are some of the best ones currently available.

But that’s it for now.

Until next time, take care.

The Best Outdoor Bluetooth Speakers For 2023

Today we’ll be covering in my opinion, the best outdoor Bluetooth speakers for 2023. This will be a list of what I feel are some of best ones with a decision guide under that.

1.) Innovative Technology Premium 5-Watt Bluetooth Outdoor Rock Speakers

2.) Ultimate Ears BOOM 2

3.) JBL Flip 5

4.) Sonos Move

5.) Fugoo Go

6.) JBL Charge 3 JBLCHARGE3BLKAM Waterproof Portable

7.) OontZ Angle 3

8.) Altec Lansing Mini LifeJacket Jolt

9.) JBL GO 2 Portable

10.) AOMAIS GO

Decision Guide

Innovative Technology Premium 5-Watt Bluetooth Outdoor Rock Speakers

First up is a truly interesting one, if not a bit different. They’re speakers shaped like rocks. Bet you haven’t seen that before! Truthfully, I haven’t before this point either, but hey…However as far as performance goes, they’re actually exceptional.

But what do they have to offer? Well an important feature that I’m glad to see here is Bluetooth technology. By now I’m sure you know what Bluetooth is, but it’s always nice when it’s included. Pairing is simple at least. Just turn it on on your phone, press the button, and voila.

What I find interesting is that they work up to a distance of up to 33 feet.That’s pretty good, especially when you’ll likely have your phone close to them anyway. The next addition that’s really awesome is that they’re waterproof!

With their rugged exterior, they’d likely be right at home poolside, so an accidental knock into water won’t be a devastating event either way.

That alone is worth it. With a 5200 mAh battery, battery life is pretty good too at 10 hours of playback before needing a recharge. That should easily get you through a mini deck party, or get together.

Pros

• Unique aesthetic design
• Water proof
• Bluetooth capability
• Great Sound

Cons

• A few reviewers have remarked about syncing issues.
• 5 Watts, so might not be for the person that needs extremely loud music.

Overall, I personally like these and think that for the average deck or backyard, these are awesome.

Innovative Technology Premium 5-Watt

Ultimate Ears BOOM 2

Just by its title, you already have an idea of what’s it’s going for. The Boom 2 is an interesting one to say the least, for a number of reasons.

The first peculiar thing that you’ll notice besides the shape, is that there’s perforations all around the speaker. The reason for that is simple, 360 degree sound.

Not too many can make that claim so it’s great to see that here. That means no more trying to sit somewhere specific to gets the best sound; everyone gets to experience that. The next thing that makes it completely worth it is it’s shockproof.

I don’t know if you’ve ever dropped a speaker, I have, but it’s not a good thing. But the fact that if you don’t have to worry about damaging this thing, should you happen to drop it while transporting it is invaluable.

Believe it or not, it’s also water resistant to boot meaning if you have a pool party, you won’t have to worry about a little splash ruining it. What’s particularly interesting to note here is that you can take phone calls too.

So let’s say you were playing music from your phone via Bluetooth, and you were getting a call. Well instead of taking it the normal way, you could use the Boom 2 to do so. Believe it or not, that’s not all.

What’s even better is that you can connect a second one to the original, and play them as a makeshift stereo system. With a 100 foot limit, you’ll be free to walk around while it’s playing too. Battery life is stellar with a 15 hour life and tops up with a micro USB cable.

Pros

• Big sound in a small package
• 360 degree sound
• Shockproof so no worries about dropping it
• Weather proof
• Bluetooth
• Can be synced with a second one to play in stereo
• 15 hour battery life

Cons

• Can on rare occasions have connection issues.

Honestly not too many negative things to say here.

Ultimate Ears BOOM 2

JBL Flip 5 Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker

The JBL Flip 5 deserves a mention as well because of how good it is. Besides offering bookshelf speakers that tend to be quality, some might not be aware that they have a good standing in the portable speaker realm as well.

It’s pill shape is ergonomic, so that means it’s easy to transport as well.

Sociability is also a big theme here, as its Party Boost feature allows you to connect 2 speakers playing the same song for an even louder output

It has a 3000mAh battery which equates to about 12 hours of on time. That certainly isn’t bad considering you likely wouldn’t be playing it for longer than that in one sitting.

It even has an Ipx7 waterproof rating.

What does that mean?

Well that means you could literally go swimming with it since it can be technically dunked in water (would not recommend that at all though)

Here’s the real kicker with this speaker and why I said this is one for the socialites. You can connect the Flip with up to 100 other connect+ speakers at the same time, all playing the same thing. 100.. that’s incredible!

So as you could probably imagine, things could get loud pretty quick. But as far as the audio goes, that’s spectacular as well. They have a pretty substantial amount of bass and clarity which is unusual for a portable speaker this size meaning there’s no doubt you’ll love it.

There’s even support for voice assistants which is awesome.

Pros

• Easy to carry around
• Good battery life
• Powerful sound
• Waterproof
• Can connect to other JBL speakers for even more output.
• Support for Voice Assistants

Cons

• Really nothing I could think of

I had trouble finding bad things to say about this one.

JBL Flip 5 Waterproof Portable

Sonos Move

This next speaker, the Sonos Move, is amazing due to its very clear sound quality.

The good news is that it profile as a whole isn’t unwieldy either at 5 x 6.3 x 9.4 inches, so you won’t feel limited as far as placing it is concerned. Not only that but it’s portable too meaning you’ll be able to bring it wherever you go.

What’s really interesting here is that when paired with another one, you could have them playing different songs at the same time or even the same song.

This definitely provides a lot of flexibility, especially if you have that one friend who doesn’t exactly agree with your music choices.

It’s compatible with all your standard streaming services as well such as Pandora and Spotify, so you won’t have to worry about having nothing to play. There’s also wall mounts included here as well, so you could even put it up somewhere if you wanted to.

Plus it’s even weather and shock resistant so no worries about durability either!

Pros

• Fantastic sound quality
• Can be paired with a second Sonos to amp up the fun
• 10 hours of battery life
• Shock & weather resistant

Cons

• None I could think of

This is yet another one you’ll probably want to take a look at. No doubt that it’ll serve you well.

Sonos Move

Fugoo Go

The Fugoo Go (that’s a fun name) is definitely for those who happen to be a little rough with their belongings. It’s main claim to fame is that it’s 100 percent waterproof and can survive underwater (Up to 3 feet for 30 minutes to be exact) How does that work if it’s an electronics device?

Well it’s IP67 certified, so that basically means there’s a special coating that protects the internals. A lot of phones today include this as well by the way, so it’s awesome to see it here.

If you want to read more about the technical side of it though, you can here.

https://www.okw.co.uk/en/technical_data/IP-ratings.htm

The Fugoo also shockproof up to 6 feet. Not that I would ever recommend dropping your things to begin with, but at least you have the peace of mind knowing you won’t have to worry since accidents happen.

The battery is rechargeable via USB, and can be used for 10 hours straight before needing a recharge.

That’s more than enough to get you through even your most intense jam sessions. It’s portable as well so you can use it wherever you please; inside, outside, by the pool, in the snow…. Snow?

Yep, forgot to mention that it’s also snow proof, so you’re really getting something that’s really built to last. Like many similar speakers, you can also pair it with a second one to play in stereo.

It also has the ability to project the sound in all directions when placed on its back and can reach up to 92 db when placed on its side.

Bluetooth 4.2 also ensures you’ll get a solid connection with up to 100 feet when used outdoors.

It truly is a quality device through and through.

Pros

• Waterproof, shock proof, and even snow proof
• 10 hour battery life
• Ability to project sound in all directions when laid flat
• Sounds great

Cons

• The outer material is fibrous so if you wasted something on it, it wouldn’t hurt it but it could stain it

I personally like this one as it just looks nice and works well.

Fugoo Go

JBL Charge 3 JBLCHARGE3BLKAM Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker

The JBL charge 3 is another one that might be of particular interest to you. It’s able to connect up to 3 smartphones at once, so everyone could take turns playing their favorite tunes.

Battery life is certainly something to mention, as it has an estimated 20 hours of playback time. That’s huge! When you really think about it, that’s almost an entire day so no reason to complain about that.

IPX7 waterproofing is provided, so you won’t have to be afraid of any unfortunate mishaps.

Taking calls is also a breeze. With one button press, the music is stopped so you can then accept the call through its speakerphone ability. Not only that, but they’ll sound good to thanks to the charge’s superb sound quality.

If you want even more output, you can sync it to other JBL devices as well. It even comes in an assortment of colors to boot!

Pros

• Bluetooth
• Long battery life at 20 hours
• Waterproof
• Only 3 pounds
• Speakerphone ability

Cons

• None

Overall, the JBL Charge 3 is awesome and I’d highly recommend it.

JBL Charge 3 JBLCHARGE3BLKAM Waterproof Portable

OontZ Angle 3

The first thing you’ll probably notice about this one in particular is just how it’s shaped. There’s a reason for it though. This ergonomic design allows it to be placed on its side where typical rounded speakers would probably roll. Plus it just looks cool.

But the Oontz angle 3 is unique for a number of reasons besides its unusual shape. A very important feature to note is its inclusion of 2 acoustic drivers.

A lot of portable speakers include 1 larger driver, but by having 2 smaller ones, this can allow it be a lot more accurate.

It doesn’t stop there as it also includes a passive bass radiator design for further improvement. What does that mean for you exactly? Well what it essentially boils down to is a more accurate bass response, and a lot more of it at that.

So you get a lot more bass while being more accurate at the same time. That’s definitely a win win.

Here’s a really short, but informative article on bass radiators if you’re curious about the technical side.

http://www.centerpointaudio.com/passiveradiators.aspx

The Oontz is also water resistant, so any minor splashing done around it won’t hurt it one bit. Also happens to be dustproof, so trips to the beach with it are more than okay. Luckily it’s also extremely light at 9 ounces you could really bring this with you anywhere.

There’s also a sizable battery on-board providing a whopping 14 hours of battery life at 2/3 of the volume! That’s incredible because the higher the volume you play a powered speaker at, the more energy it’ll consume.

So the fact that it can play at nearly max volume for 14 hours certainly says a lot. You can also connect it to your smartphone via Bluetooth or an auxiliary cord, so you’re given ample options.

Pros

• Water resistant
• Unique triangular design
• Long 14 hour battery life
• Adequate bass
• Really small at 5.3 x 2.8 x 2.6

Cons

• Not shock resistant

It’s really hard to dislike the Oontz Angle 3 given what it’s providing here.

OontZ Angle 3

Altec Lansing LifeJacket Jolt

Altec Lansing is another reputable company that is known for their quality electronics; more specifically their audio offerings. The H20 speaker definitely lives up to the name.

Immediately, you’ll notice something rather peculiar about this one. Besides the shape, what’s unusual is that fact that it’s floatable.

Yup, you read that correctly. You could actually float it in the pool (hence the name)

This is a speaker that almost seems to be immune to everything given its IP67 rating. It’s waterproof, shockproof, sand proof, dustproof, the list just goes on.

There’s no doubt that this is built for the people who can be unintentionally clumsy…(raises hand) What’s even better is that there’s an incredible 16 hour battery life that ensures that the party will live on.

It’s only 2.8 pounds, so it’s really easy to carry around. Bluetooth capability means there’s no need for external cords; though you can still connect one if you wanted.

The range of the bluetooth is also impressive at 100 feet so you don’t have to be close to enjoy it.

The built in voice assistant support also ensures you can use this as a smart speaker as well with support for both Apple and Android.

There’s even a built in smartphone charger!

Pros

• Proofed to pretty much anything you can throw at it
• Fantastic audio quality
• A variety of different colors
• Incredible 30 hours of battery life
• Built in smartphone charger
• Can be paired with a second one

Cons

• Bass could be deeper

If having a speaker that’s just all around durable sounds good, then it’s hard to wrong with this one.

Altec Lansing LifeJacket Jolt

JBL Portable Go 2

The JBL Portable Go 2 is, like the name would suggest, a very portable and manageable speaker that puts out some serious sound despite its smaller stature. It’s of course a bluetooth speaker, so it’ll perfectly sync with your phone when you want to play music.

Another really cool feature is that it’s IPX7 certified to 3.3 feet for 30 minutes, so any accidental drops into the pool won’t matter. It also features built in noise cancelling which is an unexpected but welcome feature.

Couple this with the fact that it can also accept phone calls when paired with your phone and what you get is a very well rounded device.

Of course the sound is stellar too, with bass that actually seems as if it’s coming from something much bigger and high notes sounding very realistic. Plus it gets pretty loud.

In terms of appearance, it’s slightly rectangular with a mesh grill with the JBL logo laid on top of it and an led light on top of it signaling that it’s on. It’s a simple design, but it’s still very attractive.

What’s cool about this one as well is the fact that it can play music with a wired connection as well via the included auxiliary port so even if you don’t have bluetooth available, you won’t be without your music.

In terms of size it’s very small, measuring 1.3 by 3.4 by 2.8 inches and 9 ounces so it definitely lives up to its name. You also have a ton of options since it comes in 18 different colors so there’s something here for everybody. I would highly recommend this one to be honest.

Pros

• Stellar sound
• Built in noise cancelling allows phone calls to be crystal clear
• IPX7 certified meaning it’s waterproof to 3.3 feet
• Small size allows it to be incredibly portable
• Can play music wirelessly as well as wired

Cons

• While definitely acceptable, battery life could be a little better

JBL Portable Go 2

Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

What if you wanted something that could last a really long time without compromising on things like durability or even water resistance? Well this one would be an excellent choice to go with. The reason for that has to do with what I just previously mentioned; the thing is built to last!

With an IPX7 rating, this speaker can withstand being submerged 3.3 feet for up to 30 minutes which is well beyond the resistance needed for the accidental dunk or splash. That basically means that this speaker can be used poolside and even at the beach.

So no worries at all when it comes to durability; it’s certainly built to last, making it perfect for those out there that may not always be the most careful when it comes to electronics.

But not only is it durable, but it’s able to play for an extremely long time with 32 hours of playback.

Personally, for a battery of that size, I’d say that’s pretty good.

In terms of sound, not only does this thing get loud, there’s also an appreciable level of bass present. With 40 watts of power (two 15 watt drivers and two 5 watt tweeters) there’s an awesome mix of clarity and low end that really is suprising.

Even though it’s not the smallest speaker in the world at 14.92 x 7.99 x 4.84 inches and 4.64 pounds, you’d still think the sound was coming from something much bigger which surely says a lot about its ability.

What’s more is that if you wanted to, you could actually pair this speaker with a second one for stereo sound with twice the power. That could certainly be helpful for get togethers where there’s a lot of open space and it’s hard to hear the music.

Plus it even supports Bluetooth 5.0 so you get a much stronger connectivity and range too.

All in all, it’s a solid speaker that sounds great, looks cool, and performs excellently.

Pros

• Water resistant up to 3.3 feet at 30 minutes (IPX7 rated)
• Large battery provides up to 32 hours of playback
• Dual 15 watt drivers and dual 5 watt tweeters provides a rich sound with plenty of bass
• Can be paired with a second one for twice the output
• Has a handle for carrying
• Bluetooth 5.0 for enhanced range and connectivity

Cons

• On the larger side at 14.92 x 7.99 x 4.84 inches and 4.64 pounds

Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

Decision Guide

So first off, what exactly makes a speaker better suited for outdoor use anyway?

Well to understand that, we have to first understand inside focused speakers. With a speaker who’s primary use is for inside settings, the sound from that speaker interacts with whatever happens to be in the room. This reflection results in what you hear, and is why it can be so different depending on the area.

However when that same one is hypothetically placed outside, it’s a completely different ball game.

With almost no objects to really reflect off of, lower frequency sounds (or bass) has a lot more trouble traveling longer distances, meaning it takes a lot more power just to make it audible. As a result of that, a speaker would need to be focused on better performance outside, rather than inside.

Due to that difference, these types of speakers tend to have a much higher emphasis on treble; and since treble has a much easier time traveling, it doesn’t need to get as loud for you to hear it. Of course a lot of audibility also depends on additional factors like driver size, materials, etc but you get the general idea.

Here’s an article on the hows, and whys if you’re wondering about the science behind it by the way.

http://www.explainthatstuff.com/sound.html

Keeping all of this mind, here are a few things to take into consideration when looking for the appropriate bluetooth speaker that fits you best.

Water Resistance/Water Proof

Something rather important that you may want to consider in your search, is the capability of some sort of water resistance/ proofing; especially if you plan on ever going to the beach/pool. There’s nothing worse than getting water inside a speaker, (I would know) and having it completely crap out on you. So I’d highly advise taking this into consideration as well.

Now believe it or not, there are different degrees to which a speaker can handle water. This is known as an Ingress Protection Rating or International Protection Rating (IP for short)  This scale goes from 0-9 with with 0 giving little to no protection, and 9 giving the most. It also usually consists of 2 numbers.

The second number revolves around protection against water, and the first revolves around protection from things like dirt and debris. That number goes from 0-6. You can read more about that here if curious. https://www.averyweigh-tronix.com/News/news-and-case-studies-by-product/indicators-news-and-case-studies/what-is-the-ip-rating-system/

Ideally, try to get one that at least has water resistance to 3 feet so that way an accidental drop into a pool or spill won’t spell disaster for your device.

NFC Capability

NFC pairing (Near Field Communication) is yet another thing you may want to consider as well. This basically allows the speaker to connect with whatever Bluetooth device is nearby instantaneously, which allows you to not only save time, but effort as well.

So after the first time it’s connected, it’ll always remember that device and connect automatically until you unpair it yourself.

Pretty convenient right?

Battery Life

Battery life is always an important metric to go by, and in general, you’ll typically want to go with the speaker that has the highest battery life. Battery life is measured in milli amp hours (abbreviated to mAh) and the higher the mAh, the more use you’re going to be able to get out of it.

But something you’ll also want to keep in mind is that the bigger the battery, the bigger the speaker has to be to hold it as well. The ones on this list all have at the very least 8 hours of continuous use but they’re still compact so there’s no worries there.

Durability

Durability is also a key thing you’ll want to consider as well. If you’re an outdoorsy person that plans on taking their speaker with them, then you’ll likely want to consider a more rugged option. Typically these include things like water, sand, and even snow proofing (no really!)

There are even speakers out there that claim to be completely drop proof; meaning it’s pretty near impossible to break. The only downsides are that they may be on the heavier side, and they may not be everyone’s cup of tea in the looks department.

It’s really what you plan on using it for that’ll decide on the one you want to go with.

Bluetooth 5

So of course it goes without saying that most now a days at least have some form of bluetooth, but did you know that the version it supports actually matters too?

While there are multiple versions, and Bluetooth 5.2 is technically the newest, what you’ll find if it does support some iteration of the 5th version is simply Bluetooth 5 or 5.0.

It brings with it a host of improvements over its predecessor including much stronger connectivity even between walls and support for a theoretical distance of up to 800 feet.

So certainly if you can, one that supports the latest version is definitely the most preferable.

When/Why Should You Use A Bluetooth Speaker?

There’s also a few other common questions that some may have like why get a Bluetooth speaker? — or better yet, when’s the best time to use one?

Well if you’re basically having a small get together or outing like a cookout; or even if you’re just poolside, you’ll probably want to get one.

Or you could be simply relaxing outside by yourself and want to enjoy good sound quality, which would make it a good idea in that case too.

Basically any social ccasion outside where there’s a smaller group of people would be appropriate honestly.

While you could always use your phone, chances are the sound quality won’t be great, and it probably won’t be loud enough.

These types of speakers tend to work great for these types of events because they’re portable, have virtually no set up, and they’re usually compatible with a smartphone; meaning anybody can share their favorite playlists in a snap.

Plus some even manage to have decent levels of bass, which can really amp things up.

So the ones talked about on this list really centered around most of these things. They weren’t listed in any specific order though because everyone has different needs and I personally think they’re all pretty awesome.

But with all that being said though, that about does it for this one.

I really hope you enjoyed this article on the best outdoor Bluetooth speakers and at least found it somewhat helpful. For 2023, these will be the top choices you’ll want to decide between in my opinion.

It’s hard to go wrong with any of the ones mentioned here since they’re all a solid choice to go with.

If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to ask because I’m here for you.

Until next time, make it easy, keep it simple.

The Best Home Theater Systems For 2025

When it comes to choosing or implementing a home theater, it can seem like there’s almost infinite options out there.

Whether you choose to create one, or prefer a premade one, there’s all kinds of ways you can enjoy a more immersive movie experience at home.

So with that in mind, these are in my opinion, some of the best home theater systems for 2025.

These can be convenient for those that want good sound, but don’t necessarily want to decide on each individual part.

The picks are located below with a decision guide below that.

Yamaha Audio YHT-4950U 5.1 Channel

Logitech Z623 2.1 Channel

Acoustic Audio LED Bluetooth 2.1-Channel

Monoprice Premium 5.1 Channel

Klipsch Black Reference 5.1 Channel

VIZIO Soundbar 5.1 SE

Decision Guide (Preference On Premade, What To Look For In One)

Yamaha Audio YHT-4950U 5.1 Channel

For a smaller to average size room, the Yamaha Audio YHT-4950U is a great choice for quality 5.1 channel sound.

One awesome feature is its bluetooth capability for connecting devices to it.

Though a lot of modern devices no longer use an headphone jack, it being able to play music without the worry of being tethered by an auxiliary cord is still helpful.

I’m pretty sure there’s those of you out there who know first hand how inconvenient that can sometimes be, so it’s awesome to see that here.

Another really cool thing to note about this is it supports 4k resolution.

Some older receivers may be incapable of higher resolution 4k playback, leaving you relegated to using an optical cable.

However that’s not the case here since it has support for it via HDMI connection.

What’s really helpful is the support for Yamaha’s speaker calibration YPAO.

Without making it too complicated, this is basically an automatic way to calibrate the speakers by using the included microphone to optimize for the room.

This can help the sound quality even further.

The sound quality is clear and immersive with the subwoofer being able to go down to an frequency of 28Hz.

This great combination of clarity and bass provides an awesome dimension to content.

There’s even support for Dolby True HD and DTS-HD.

For those unaware of what those are, they’re two formats which support lossless audio.

That equates to things sounding the way the director intended which is impressive.

The 5 HDMI ports on the back are also helpful for connecting multiple devices like a game console or Blu-ray player.

The speakers themselves are relatively small making them easier to place.

The subwoofer is bigger though at 11 x 11 x 13 inches so it’ll require some space for it.

This is an ideal system for small/medium rooms, so if you’re looking for output in gigantic spaces, that’s something you may want to keep in mind.

Pros

• Great for small/medium rooms
• Awesome quality sound
• Subwoofer provides good bass
• YPAO automatic speaker calibration via the mic
• Support for 4k resolution
• 5 HDMI ports

Cons

• Speaker shiny exterior could pick up fingerprints
• Heavy at 51.8 pounds

Overall though, this is a fantastic 5.1 system and is definitely worth your time.

Check Yamaha Audio YHT-4950U Availability

Logitech Z623 2.1 Channel

The Logitech Z623 is a 2.1 system that’s built on the premise of quality.

With a 400 Watt peak, you can tell it means business.

A really cool fact about this one in particular is that it’s THX certified.

THX certification is one of the hardest media accreditations to get, so the fact that it has it speaks volumes about its performance.

The speakers are capable of great output in terms of power with a 400 watt peak.

The included subwoofer also has a frequency of 35hz for deep bass in content.

It’s an active system with controls for the volume bass and bass located on the right speaker.

Set up is also a very straightforward process since both of the speakers connect into the subwoofer.

Pros

• 400 watts peak
• Great sound quality
• THX certified
• Subwoofer gives a nice bass output
• Works for a variety of content
• Adjustable bass

Cons

• Lacks Bluetooth
• No HDMI or optical input
• No included RCA cables

In short, it’s a great 2.1 channel system that’s worth a closer look.

Check Logitech Z623 Availability

Acoustic Audio LED Bluetooth 2.1-Channel Home Theater

The Acoustic Audio 2.1, like the name suggests, is a smaller sized system.

With it being 2.1 rather than the more common 5.1, its focus is on smaller listening areas.

But don’t let it’s size fool you, as big things can and do come in small packages. Why might you be interested in this one? Well for starters Bluetooth is alive and well here. Being able to effortlessly stream music from your phone to a dedicated system is invaluable, and it’s really awesome that it’s offered.

That means a lot less fiddling with wires on your end. Another thing to note is it’s appearance. It comes in a slick glossy black, and really adds to that premium feel. It also lights up which looks really cool.

The Sound quality is solid

Pros

• Attractive design
• 350 watts peak power
• Great for  places like college dorms and small rooms
• Bluetooth abilities, meaning all your favorite music can be used.
• Surprisingly powerful given it’s small stature.
• The audio quality is very good.

Cons

• Treble can be slightly recessed

In short, this is a solid 2.1 channel system to consider.

Check Acoustic Audio LED Bluetooth 2.1-Channel Availability

Monoprice 10565 Premium 5.1 Channel Home Theater System with Subwoofer

The Monoprice 10565 is a 5.1 system with a big focus on quality. With 100 watts per channel, you’ll definitely have more than enough output in the average listening area. The subwoofer is an 8 inch down firing model.What this means for you is a lot more boom for your room.

It also has 4 rubber feet on the bottom. This is great for minimizing the amount of unwanted sound that might travel through things like walls and floors; meaning you can go louder without annoying your neighbors!

Hooking it up is simple, with all you needing to do is connect external speaker wire. This is one you definitely love. You can also wall mount so you won’t have to worry about a lack of options.

Pros

• A lot of power with 100 watts per channel.
• Sound quality is something you don’t need to worry about.
• Wall mounting is also an option.

Cons

• You’ll need external speaker wire and pin connectors.
• Doesn’t come with a receiver

Overall it’s a solid home theater system.

Check Monoprice Premium 5.1 Channel Availability

Klipsch Black Reference 5.1 Channel

This is a system that exudes quality. This setup gives you all the surround sound that you need to add that extra layer of depth to your content. The interesting thing here is that it includes Klipsch’s unique trademark horn technology.

To make it simple, most traditional speakers include something called a silk dome tweeter. This is the part that’s responsible for the treble and higher end sounds. A horn tweeter however is able to reproduce higher level of accuracy compared to the other types.

The result is a more realistic presentation. What that means for you is that movies and games come to life like never before. You’ll be amazed with it honestly.

They come with wall mounting brackets so you can put them up on a wall, or on a shelf; the choice is yours. Even better is the fact they also come with floor stand mounts meaning they can be placed on a stand. As far as audio overall goes, you won’t be disappointed as this is a really high fidelity system.

Pros

• Like I’ve said, the audio here is top notch so you’ll really appreciate it.
• Multiple mounting options gives you a myriad of choices.
• Horn tweeter offers a much more realistic presentation with media.

Cons

• It doesn’t come with a receiver.
• No wire and connectors

If you don’t mind the exclusion of a receiver, this is an excellent choice as well.

Check Klipsch Black Reference Theater Pack 5.1 Availability

VIZIO 5.1 Soundbar SE

This is a system that’s a little different because rather than being the typical 5.1 surround setup, the left, right, and center are in the sound bar.

This saves space while still providing immersion with the inclusion of 2 external surround speakers.

What’s awesome about this one is it can go as high as 96 DB.

But all the output in the world means nothing if the sound isn’t great.

Luckily, that’s not an issue here with its great clarity and detail making it fun to listen to.

Another aspect of this system is the subwoofer, as it has a frequency response of 50 Hz for solid bass.

There’s even HDMI support for connecting to the TV.

Plus with a peak output of 180 watts, it’s a powerful system.

Pros

• Great clarity from soundbar
• 2 surround speakers are detailed in audio output
• Bluetooth capability
• HDMI eArc support
• Comes with all of the wires.
• Looks good

Cons

• No optical output
• Separate remote

Ultimately this is just a solid performer all around.

Check VIZIO 5.1 Soundbar SE Availability

Decision Guide

My first system was actually a home theater in a box, (HTIB for short) and was an awesome forray into home audio.

It was from there that I realized just how many options there were to achieving great sound.

So here’s some things to consider in your search for the right system.

The Preference Of A Premade Or Created Theater System

First you’re going to want to consider the type of system you’re actually going after.

Do you want a premade home theater system, or do you want to make your own?

With a premade system, everything you need in the way of speakers is often already inside of the box, so all you’ll need to do essentially is plug it up.

The benefit with this setup is that it’s a lot faster and easier to do.

Plus there’s lots of great ones out there, though there may be less than stellar quality ones too.

On the other hand with making your own, obviously the benefit lies in being able to customize it.

Basically you’re deciding what speakers, what subwoofer, and what receiver you personally want.

This can yield some awesome results with some really great sound.

The downside with this though, is that a lot of speakers can end up not sounding so great with one another.

You would really have to do your research beforehand.

Not only that, but you’re also responsible for making sure that they’re compatible, so that could be a lot more work than someone might have time for.

(Though if you’re only interested in creating your own from scratch, I did an article on how to do that)

https://easyhometheater.net/create-your-ideal-home-theater

Deciding On The Type Of Premade System

Once you decide on that, you’ll then want to figure out if you’re after a sound bar, a 2.1, 5.1, or even 7.1 system.

A soundbar is basically just that, a long strip of speakers in one casing.

This can be beneficial for the people who don’t have the most space in the world.

I talk about that more here if curious.

https://easyhometheater.net/the-best-sound-bars

On the flip side, you can lose that surround sound aspect, since its audio would technically be coming from one single location.

That said, some do come with things like Atmos and external surround speakers so it depends.

In the more typical setup, (the numbered systems up above) separate speakers are used.

So for example when you see 5.1, that just means there’s 5 separate speakers.

The 1 stands for the included subwoofer.

The more speakers you add, the greater the chances of that compelling surround sound effect.

But it then takes up more space too so you’d really have to be aware of what’s ideal for your room.

This seating calculator I made can help with getting a general idea of placement of the front left & right speakers if curious.

Whether It’ll Work With Your TV

Another thing to consider is whether the system you’re looking at will support your TV.

More specifically, if your TV is 4k capable, and you plan to watch 4k content, you’ll want to make sure the system supports 4k passthrough for that.

Or if you’ll be using other devices with it, that both the TV and the system has ARC support so the system can be used with those devices via HDMI.

If it doesn’t, you’ll need to use an optical cable to get sound instead.

Whether The System Allows Additional Speakers Later On

Somewhat related to that previous point in terms of compatibility, one factor in your search could be whether the system is upgradable in the future.

Some systems support adding external speakers so this can be something to consider too.

Wattage/Power

The power of the system is also important because that’s a main factor in determining how loud it’ll be.

However it’s difficult to recommend a single starting point since it depends on the size of your room.

The larger the room, the typically bigger and more powerful a system needed to reach sufficient output.

While a smaller system in a smaller room will have an easier time in that regard.

Final Thoughts

With all of the options out there, I know that choosing can be a little difficult.

However for the current year, I feel like these are all solid choices with great performance for you to decide between if you prefer premade options.

There’s really no one way to do things, but I feel like that’s part of what makes it so great.

But hopefully this should all help to make things a little easier.

Until next time, make it easy, keep it simple.

Polk Audio CSI A6 Review

(Note: Given the age of the speaker mentioned in this review, availability of said speaker may have changed.

Summing up the review, I found the A6 had amazing clarity and with that said, the Polk Reserve Series R400 center channel speaker is a step up from that speaker in my opinion — with all of the positive things about the CSI A6 holding true with this one)

Check Polk Reserve Series R400 Availability

If there’s one thing in life I think we can all universally agree on, it’s that movies are awesome.

There’s nothing like the thrill of watching an amazing motion picture that just grabs your attention from the start to finish.

Even better is when you can enjoy that exact feeling in the comfort of your own home via surround sound. But before being able to fully enjoy your new home cinema, it makes sense to actually pick out the best parts that specifically work for you right?

So within that process, one of the most important components that you’ll desire is a really exceptional center channel speaker.

Why?

Well think about it. Was there ever a time where you were watching a movie and the dialogue wasn’t audible, so you had to turn it up?

However when you did, it was like the sound effects were loud, but the voices was still hard to hear?

That’s because of your center.

You see, the center channel’s responsibility is to reproduce about 80 percent of the dialogue in whatever it is that you’re watching. 80 percent, that’s huge!

So when you skimp on getting a good one because of whatever reason, you’d be missing out big time.

Keeping this in mind, I had decided to do some research on getting a new one because I was noticing this exact same issue.

So of course, I looked to the web knowing I needed to make some changes. That’s when I ended up finding one that an unusual amount of people were praising.

It was a no brainer from there.

What speaker was it? What was the result? Most importantly, how did it actually sound?

Let’s answer all of those questions and more in this Polk Audio CSI A6 review.

Appearance

Specs

Setup

Sound

Likes

Dislikes

Overall thoughts

Unboxing

So for those of you that read my review on the Polk RTI A3s, you would know that within in it, I stated that I bought them along with a few other things. One of those purchases was actually the CSI A6.

You would also know then how much of a pain it was to get the boxes inside the house..

Anyway in terms of the packaging itself, it was very similar to the box of my other speakers. It was a rather plain cardboard box with a picture of the center speaker on the front.

I don’t mind the minimalist design aesthetic honestly. As long as attention to detail goes into the audio, then I can’t complain.

The size though is what’s not so typical. Just like the other container, this one was pretty big.

Inside the actual box was nothing too exciting. You had your usual pamphlets detailing warranties and stuff like that.

Of course there was also the standard introductory guide, but other than that nothing really too special in that regard.

I’ve had other times where there’s like 10 papers inside just on the one product. So at least that’s not the case here.

The speaker itself was wrapped in some type of plastic foam, surrounded by even more on both sides to protect it against damage; which I really appreciated.

Attempting to pull it out was when I learned one very important thing, it’s heavy! In fact, it weighs a little less than 30 pounds, so you really have to be careful whenever you’re moving it.

Appearance

My first reaction when I finally got it out the package, and sat it down was WOW! That was for 2 reasons; its size, and its appearance.

Let’s start with the looks first. The one that I bought was in a cherry wood color.

I have to tell you, this thing is gorgeous in person.

The finish of the wood is smooth and glossy, so it really adds to that premium look. Now I will be honest that because of the gloss, it can attract some level of fingerprints.

But I don’t think this will normally be an issue if you’re not going to be moving it often.

The grill it comes with is really nice too because while it feels solid, it’s still pretty flexible. So if you ever plan on removing it, rest assured that you won’t break it.

The logo on the bottom of it is a nice little touch too. It’s subtle, but it does look good.

Here’s one thing you should know about the Polk upfront, should you be interested in it; the size. Besides being 30 pounds, in terms of footprint, this is not a small speaker by any stretch of the imagination.

To give you an idea, it comes in at an impressive 24 inches across, and 14 inches deep. This means that trying to place it in a cabinet isn’t going to work here. This thing demands adequate space.

Overall though, it’s beautiful in person, much more so than I was expecting.

Specs

So what exactly are you getting when you pick up one of these bad boys? For one it comes with 2 6.5 inch mid-range drivers. That’s pretty big admittedly. What that means for you is a much more powerful sound.

It has a 1 inch silk dome tweeter for the treble, which is pretty standard. For me personally, I prefer a silk dome tweeter other over types because they just sound a lot less harsh to the ears. Butthat’s subjective obviously.

It comes in an MDF wood which is awesome. For those unaware, MDF stands for medium density fiberboard. Why would this matter?

Well long story short when sound travels through something, it vibrates that object. This can introduce additional unwanted noise.

With this type of wood however, this side effect is minimized. You can read about that here if curious.

http://www.d-toolsblog.com/newsletter/mdf-ideal-speaker-enclosures-baffles/

Another cool feature included is the implementation of dual air ports (which Polk calls power port technology)

Again without making things too complicated, these are good for minimizing a common issue with speakers called chuffing. Just think of chuffing as a lot of unwanted noise.

By having 2 of these, it feels like Polk is adamant about maintaining audio quality and eliminating that, which is really cool. It does feature the ability to be wall mounted by the way if you chose to go that route.

Another really cool feature is the ability to be inverted as well.

Basically what that means is, if you were unable to place it on a table and had to set it under your TV, you can turn it upside down so that the sound is then projected upwards towards the listening area.

I really wish this was a feature that was standard because it gives people so many more options in terms of placement.

There’s a kickstand included as well for additional leverage, and a 5 way binding post to boot, meaning any connector will work.

Full measurements peg it at 24 inches wide, 14 inches deep, and 7.8 inches tall. In terms of sound specs, it’s rated at 200 watts, so the capability for some serious output is certainly there.

The frequency response states that it’s 55hz-26khz. I found that initially interesting because 55 is fairly low, which would mean it could technically reproduce some parts of the low end. It’s also an 8 ohm speaker rated at a 90 dB sensitivity.

This also happens to have what is known as Klippel Motor Optimization, as well as a Cascade Tapered Crossover. That might sound confusing, but all it basically entails is making sure that when you change the volume with it, it does so in a more controlled manner.

Their patented ARC (Acoustic Resonance Control) technology included here as well helps to further reduce any cabinet vibrations, so that all you get in the end is a good, clean sound.

Setup

Setup was nothing too difficult. I used banana plug connectors to connect it with my receiver. I will say though that the coverings on top of the posts were a little hard to get off so I had to use a paperclip.

Still, once off, all I had to do was connect the wire to the plug, and then the plug to the back of the center. I placed it on a spare table so it was situated just under the TV. I then calibrated it using an auto calibration mic.

From there, all that was left was to see if it was hopefully any good!

Sound

First up, music!

Now here’s the thing, testing a center speaker alone with music can be a little unorthodox, but I personally feel that if it can do great with music, then it’ll do fantastic with movies.

Turns out I wasn’t wrong.

I unplugged everything except the CSI A6, and to shake it up, started with some jazz. Man did this thing sound good.

I think what took me by surprise was how pronounced the sound was. It was authoritative but subdued at the same time.

You could hear every little pluck of the bass guitar, and the trumpets legit sounded like they were right there in my living room.

I was impressed that just one speaker alone was doing all of this. You could also make out all the little instruments and effects in the background too.

I could immediately tell that the sound was more on the warmer side, so for a genre like this it really shined. Next I was curious how hip hop would sound.

This was the biggest shocker I think.

After a few tracks, I really noticed something that I was not anticipating.

The A6 was outputting a respectable amount of bass!

Like let’s think about that sentence for a minute. A center speaker, pumping out bass like a subwoofer….

I genuinely didn’t know what to say at first. That was the first time I experienced something like that.

Now this is definitely due to the expansive enclosure it has; meaning that size is going to come with some pretty serious benefits.

Mind you, it’s not going to go down to infrasonic levels or anything like that, but in a normal setting it can bump!

With every passing note of the beat, it produced a tangible and satisfying kick that you couldn’t just help but to nod your head along to. I was super impressed by this point.

However there was one genre I had a burning curiosity to try it with, and that was some good old hard rock!

Let me just tell you, it did not disappoint.

My hypothesis at first was that because of the warmer sound, rock was going to sound a little iffy.

This couldn’t be any further from the truth. To say it surprised me was an understatement. With each track that I threw at it, every sound was recreated beautifully.

Strums and riffs came through with a mean but realistic twang, and arpeggios echoed into the distance with subtle gradation.

This thing meant business.

Voices even came through clear as day.

So with the obvious fact out of the way that music was fantastic on it, it was time for the main purpose I bought it for, movies! The movie that instantly sprung to mind was Alien Covenant.

Why that movie though?

Well without spoiling anything, there are a lot of scenes in it that toggle between being really loud and super quiet, and my previous center speaker had some serious issues with the dialogue.

My thought was that this should be perfect for it, given what it could do.

You know what? I was right. Too right in fact, because it scared the crap out of me in more than one instance lol.

But dialogue was crystal clear without the need for me turning it up even further. That was what I could really appreciate.

In other movies, it was pretty much the same story. If you’re coming from the audio from a TV to one of these, the difference will undoubtedly be massive.

You’re truly in for a treat with this one.

Pros

• Dialogue is crystal clear yet full, making movies sound absolutely incredible
• It’s capable of a respectable low end even without a subwoofer
• Surprisingly sounds better the louder it goes
• Zero distortion at high volumes
• The real wood finish looks gorgeous in person
• It works great for music

Cons

• Picks up fingerprints rather easily, so if you move it around often it may need the occasional wipe down
• It’s heavy at around 30 pounds
• It’s very large, so putting this in a small room might be difficult

Overall Thoughts

Overall, besides those minor quibbles, there’s really not much to dislike about this speaker honestly.

I mean the clarity offered is truly impeccable, the wood finish looks amazing, and it’s versatile enough to handle both movies and music with ease (plus can we just reiterate on the fact that this thing has bass?!)

It’s all you could ask for in a center speaker really. It gets 2 HUGE thumbs up from me. It really is that good.

If you have the space for it, then this is a solid choice to go with.

It’s honestly impressive.

But that’s all I got for now. I hope you enjoyed the Polk CSI A6 review.

If you did then share it, and leave a comment down below because I always love hearing from you guys. 😉 Until next time, make it easy, keep it simple.

Can I Use Car Speakers For Home Audio?

Here’s an interesting question that came to me a while back… (more…)

OLED TV Technology Explained

It’s interesting how fast technology can advance, especially when it comes to TVs.

I mean think about it, how many television changes do you remember from just the last few years?

First we had the revolutionary change from standard definition to high definition; relatively recent at that.

Everyone thought that this was the pinnacle of display technology, and that there was no way anything was going to top this.

But you know what happened?

That very thing.

Just a few years later, 4K formats were introduced with the capability of offering visual clarity 4 times that of HD.

This was mind-blowing because it was improving upon something that already looked incredible.

Then came HDR, then expanded color palettes, etc.

Industries from there kept advancing, with one big innovation after another.

But one of the more interesting creations is none other than OLED!

So like the title implies, this will be an article on OLED TV technology explained, and why I think there’s major visual benefits when it comes to this technology.

What exactly is OLED?

OLED stands for Organic Light Emitting Diode, and functions differently than the LCD (liquid Crystal Display) TV’s that exist today.

The biggest change compared to LCD, LED, or QLED TVs, is an OLED TV doesn’t use a backlight or bulbs.

What it does instead to produce a picture, is pass an electrical current through a special type of chemical which then shines light itself.

This allows for a few advantages; one of which is its ability of having an infinite contrast ratio.

Just as a refresher, a contrast ratio is the difference between the lightest and darkest elements on the screen.

The bigger the difference (or contrast) between light and dark elements that screen can create, the better the picture quality.

So by having one that’s technically infinite, it’s able to provide great visual benefit with content.

Before we cover those though, I wanted to give a more detailed, but still general idea of how it works since it may help give more context on why an OLED TV can do what it does.

Plus it can get pretty complicated all things considered.

How An OLED TV Works

So within every OLED pixel, there exists a thin film that’s made of carbon.

This film is divided into 2 different sections called the emissive layer, and the conductive layer.

The reason it’s split this way is because it allows a lot more efficiency when an electrical current flows through.

Whether each layer is situated on top or the bottom depends on how the OLED was made since either way can be viable.

On the top and bottom of those layers are a different type of electrode called an anode, and a cathode.

The anode is a conductor that has a positive charge, and sits in the conductive layer.

The cathode is negative, and sits in the emissive layer.

You might think that by being emissive, that layer would be the one giving off electrons but it’s actually the one that accepts them.

So, how does this produce a picture?

Well it starts when an electrical current flows from the cathode to the anode.

When electrons from the cathode are sent to the emissive layer, the simultaneous lack of electrons in the conductive layer causes holes.

These holes, which are sent by the anode to the conductive layer, then travel to the emissive layer.

These electrons recombine with these holes, and results in an access of energy given off in the process.

This extra energy is then given off as light.

Whatever material is in the emissive layer will pretty much dictate the color of light shown.

Multiply that by a few million pixels and voila, you have a beautiful picture.

Now believe it or not, that’s the simple explanation, but it’s really the crux of what’s important to understand.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OLED

There’s also two different types of OLED called PMOLED (Passive Matrix OLED) and AMOLED (Active Matrix OLED).

PMOLED works by turning on different rows of pixels at varying times.

AMOLED works by turning on and off individual pixels.

The latter is what’s often preferred by TV manufacturers because it allows for a better looking presentation at that larger scale.

From all of this, what one could extrapolate is there’s probably some advantages to an OLED screen.

I mean something that drastically different probably has to have some kind of merit, right?

You certainly wouldn’t be wrong in that assertion.

Here’s what you need to know in case you’re interested one of these displays.

The Advantages With An OLED TV

1. Infinite Contrast Ratio

With more common traditional television sets, a backlight within illuminates all of the pixels at once.

Though it depends on the display and its settings, this can sometimes introduce light blooming.

While some techniques like local dimming may help reduce blooming in some capacity, the pixels are still mostly active at once (unless it’s a Micro LED TV)

Now with OLED, each individual pixel is turned on & off only when needed.

This essentially makes the difference between the lightest and darkest elements on screen infinite, meaning that contrast ratio is infinite.

What this ultimately means for you is a picture quality that’s incredible.

Having seen them in person, they’re fantastic in my opinion.

2. More Accurate Colors

Another rather interesting thing about OLED TVs is that they include an extra pixel completely.

Rather than the standard RGB (red, green, blue) layout, it includes an additional white pixel.

This difference allows for a picture to not only be more accurate, but lets it show even more colors all together.

This would result in an image that’s impressively more dynamic than what was previously possible.

3. Better Viewing Angles

Ever sit off to the side of your TV in the living room and notice how different it looks?

Well better viewing angles are a huge benefit from this tech, without content looking washed out when not sat in front of it.

4. Energy Efficient

So yet another plus about being able to toggle pixels at will is just that, they can turn off completely.

This means that the pixels not being used end up using less electricity, and thus, end up saving you power. Energy efficiency is a really attractive prospect, and that’s exactly what you’re getting here.

5. Fast Response Times For Gaming

A really cool benefit to OLED TVs is because of their fast pixel switching, their response times to inputs are really fast — giving them nearly zero input lag. This can be great for gaming where being able to react quickly is important.

Disadvantages Of OLED

While there are some really awesome things to love, there are potential downsides to be aware of as well.

1. The Blue Pixel Issue

An issue that OLEDS have, has to do with their blue pixel.

That material used tends to degrade a lot quicker than the ones used in the green, red, and white pixels.

This could mean a shorter lifespan overall.

Fortunately, improvements have been made in this regard and isn’t nearly as much of an issue.

Still this would be good to keep in mind.

2. The Possibility Of Burn In

Burn can occur when a image that’s stationary is left on the screen for an extended period of time, resulting in a ghosted version of that image on screen even after the content is changed.

Unlike the issue of a stuck pixel where it can potentially be fixed, burn in involves degradation of the pixel itself which is permanent.

This has to do with the way OLED TVs work since they use organic materials that light up from electricity instead of bulbs like an LED TV.

That means it’s not something that affects LED TVs, although those can still experience issues with their bulbs too from heavy usage and/or the brightest settings.

Luckily the possibility of burn in has been greatly reduced nowadays due to advances in the technology, durability, and materials of these TVs.

Though it’s not recommended to leave static things on screen for long periods of time for better longevity, (for any TV really) that potential issue has gotten much better.

3. Peak Brightness In HDR May Not Be As Bright

This one is a bit more nuanced since it’s another thing that like burn in, has been improved upon in recent times making it not really as much of an issue.

There used to be a larger discrepancy between peak HDR brightness when comparing an OLED with a led based TV, but recent ones can get very bright.

In fact, recent OLED TVs, similar to LED TVs, often achieve a peak brightness of well over 1000 nits in HDR which is where HDR content is mastered.

Though because technology is always advancing, a potential caveat is their maximum peak brightness may not be as bright as some newer LED TVs that can hit peak brightness of 4000 nits.

However I personally don’t find that to be an issue since 1000 nits in HDR is plenty bright, and some like the LG G4 can get much brighter than 1000 nits in HDR content.

4. OLED TVs Can Be Somewhat Hard To Manufacture

The entire process to produce one of these displays takes a while and can be somewhat complex. With that, pricing can be an element to consider compared LED TVs of a similar size.

Which One Would I Recommend In 2025?

There are some really incredible looking OLED TVs lately, making any one single recommendation difficult.

However 2 OLED televisions I think are great for 2025 are the previously mentioned LG G4, and the Samsung S95D due to their awesome HDR capabilities, wide color gamuts, and clear picture quality.

Check Availability Of LG G4

Check Availability Of Samsung S95D

The Bottom Line

The bottom line is that OLED is an incredibly innovative piece of technology that improves upon the visual experience.

While things like price have initially marred widespread adoption, industries continue to progress in ways that may eventually make that a reality.

With the display tech offering infinitely deeper blacks, and more vivid colors, it’s hard not to be excited for something like this.

Especially when considering that there’s likely to be future iterations of this tech eventually released in some capacity.

While not certain, I could see some form of it becoming the new standard in just a few years.

But I guess we’ll have to wait and see what happens.

Until next time, make it easy, keep it simple.

Home Theater Headphones Are A Good Idea

Here’s a scenario that might seem all too familiar. Picture this, you’re in your room watching an awesome movie on your brand-new sound system, and it sounds amazing.

You’ve got all your favorite snacks, you’re in your favorite lounging gear, and everything just seems kosher. But unbeknownst to you, it’s not.

What you don’t realize in the midst of your personal cinema time is that you have the volume incredibly loud. It doesn’t feel like it because it’s normal to you, but it might be.

Before you know it, your neighbor/parent/significant other starts nagging to you about cutting it down; or off even.

Yeah that’s never a fun situation, especially when you just want to enjoy your stuff. But luckily for your, there’s a workaround for those late nights and times where your speakers can’t be used; cue headphones!

See most people would associate headphones with listening to music or even gaming normally. But with a little thinking outside of the box, guess what else they could be used for?

Yup you guessed it, home theater!

A good pair of home theater headphones are an invaluable addition for a few reasons.

You can still watch all your favorite content straight from your television without the repercussions of having it too loud.

Even better, there exists noise cancelling variants where the only thing you’ll hear is your show, while others wouldn’t hear a peep.

Of course you might want crank your system up from time to time, (I know I do) but there might be instances where you can’t.

For those, you’ll definitely want a good set that provides a quality sound.

At least that way, there’s a happy medium.

How Do Headphones Work?

Ever wonder how headphones work?

So within each side of the headphone, is a small driver very similar to the one present in a traditional speaker.

Wrapped around that is a small metal wiring called the voice coil. Two wires are then connected to this coil. There’s an adjacent magnet present that the driver also connects too, and the coil is wrapped around.

Now here’s the cool part.

When electricity is introduced, (plugging them in/powering them on) the metal wiring produces its own magnetic field.

From there, the magnet is repelled from this field, and it causes the driver or diaphragm to move depending on how much electricity it’s getting (volume).

This movement is what creates sound.

Of course that’s a brief overview since it gets a lot more complex and can vary even depending on the type of headphone, but that gives you a general idea of how they work.

Here’s a more in depth look if curious.

https://headphonereview.com/guides/how-do-headphones-work

So the real question then becomes, how do you pick the most appropriate ones?

How To Pick The Right Headphones

Picking the right pair of headphones for your media consumption can be a little daunting. I know it was at least for me. Therefore, in order to choose the right ones, here’s a few tips that might help you with your search.

One really important thing to look for is the frequency response. Frequency response is just a measure of how high and low an audio component can go. The bigger this range is, the better.

The upper part of this range is measured in something called kilohertz (kHz) and the lower part and number on the left is measured in hertz.

Kilo stands for 1000, and kilohertz basically means 1000 hertz.

Hertz (Hz) is simply a measure of electrical frequency, and the amount of vibrations of that frequency per second.

With that, what you would ideally want is the left number in the frequency response to be as low as possible.

You’d want the number on the right of it to be as high as possible. This will honestly give you the broadest range of sound.

A good number to shoot for would be 15Hz on the left and 10Khz on the right as I’ve found this to be best sonically in terms of dynamic range and immersion. 20 on the left, and 20 on the right is more common but okay too.

What this is going to allow you to do is get the smoothest bass and the most crisp highs without any compromises. That’s if they show the spec sheet though, which In many cases they don’t.

What do you do then?

Well the next thing you’ll want to look for in headphones is the driver size.

They are measured in millimeters or mm. A bigger size is obviously going to mean a much bigger sound. The only thing though is that the size of the headphones themselves would also increase as well.

I’ve personally found the best middle ground in regard to that issue is 40mm. At that size, the headphones aren’t overly massive and unwieldy, but you still get that same level of oomph you might miss otherwise.

I genuinely feel like 40mm is certainly the best for movie watching because the sound isn’t boomy or bloated, but tight and controlled; at least from what I’ve noticed.

Another huge factor you’ll want to take in to consideration is choosing the right type.

Would you prefer headphones that go on your ears, or over them? Either one is fine for movies honestly. Over the ear headphones do tend to block out more sound though, but they’re usually larger.

They also prevent a lot of sound leakage I’ve noticed. On ear have more punch and can go louder, but the soundstage isn’t as wide. It’s really going to boil down to what you find more important.

From there, you’ll want to decide if noise cancellation is a priority.

I will tell you that with noise cancellation, they’ll probably need to be charged from time to time, so keep that in mind. If possible, I would opt for it, but that’s just me. Other than that, I’d truthfully look at the reviews beforehand too.

What better way to gauge how a headphone might be than hear from some of the people that already have it (besides owning it obviously.)

I mean a bad pair isn’t going to be reviewed highly, so the it’s a pretty safe metric to go by.

There’s also earbuds as an option too which can provide an additional level of portability and convenience.

Then there’s Bluetooth support which I’d say is extremely important because that’ll allow you to forgo wires entirely, allowing you to move around more freely.

The type of Bluetooth isn’t important though if you’re not going to be walking all around the house with them, but if you are and think you’ll be farther away than 33 feet from the outputting device, (the limit of Bluetooth 4.0) then you’ll you’ll likely want one with Bluetooth 5

Now let’s say you chose to go the wired route though, how exactly would you get the sound from your TV to your headphones, if that’s possible? Good question.

Using Wired Headphones

You would think that with the wired option, it’d be annoying trying listen to content since you wouldn’t be able to sit down with being tethered and all. However, there is an interesting way to do it.

If you happen to have a Roku Ultra, you may have noticed there’s an mp3 jack on the remote. Interesting right?

Well actually, what you can do is connect your headphones to the remote, and you’ll hear whatever’s happening on screen. That way you could sit anywhere in the room, while technically still using wired headphones.

There’s even a pair of JBL headphones right in the box.

How cool is that?

Also if you prefer wired connections, you also have the option of connecting your headphones directly to your receiver via the headphone jack if it supports it.

Using Wireless Home Theater Headphones

But let’s also say you don’t have the Roku, and you want to listen to your TV completely wirelessly. Luckily, you have a few options. If you have a pair of wireless headphones already, check to see if your TV has Bluetooth capability.

If it does, all you would have to do is go into the TV menu to pair them, and you’ll be good to go. A lot of modern televisions have it. If it doesn’t though, you can still give your TV the ability via an external device.

The Avantree Transmitter allows that very thing. It connects to your receiver via an HDMI and RCA cable. You would then press the button on it to pair it.

That’s it really. Pretty straightforward.

Now that you understand what to look for, what are a few that I’d personally recommend?

3 Recommendations For Headphones In A Home Theater

There’s a lot of truly fantastic headphones out there, and choosing the right one can depend on what you personally prioritize.

So here’s 3 of the best headphones that besides their more general applications like music, I think would do well with home theater usage due to their dynamic capabilities.

Sennheiser HD 450BT

Right off the bat, these aren’t the smallest headphones in the world. They aren’t huge, but they aren’t tiny either. The sound however is ginormous.

They have an incredibly wide sound stage, which makes everything so much more immersive. The lows hit hard, and the highs are delicate, with both coming together for a really balanced & pleasing sound.

They’re really great headphones in my opinion.

Check Availability Of Sennheiser HD 450BT

Sony WH-1000MX4

If you’re someone who prefers noise cancellation with great clarity, then these work well.

The sound is still extremely clear, and have great kick when it comes to the bass. Speaking of which, the bass itself hits heavy but remains tight, and when there’s a bass drop in a movie, it’s really almost like you feel it.

These even have what’s called Edge AI, which basically allows them to upscale compressed digital music while you’re listening to it which is incredible.

Definitely a fun pair of headphones in my opinion.

Check Availability Of Sony WH-1000MX4

Beats Solo 3

I decided to give the Solo 2 headphones a try originally because I heard some pretty good things about them.

Long story short; they were actually really good!

Then when I got the solo 3s, they were even better.

The bass is full yet not overbearing while still retaining those higher end details.

Besides music, that’s why I felt they’d do great in a home theater setting because of that wide capability range.

Also reviewed these if you wanna know more in depth about them.

Check Availability Of Beats Solo 3

https://easyhometheater.net/beats-solo-3-wireless-headphones-review

Final Thoughts

I hope that with all this, you can see why home theater headphones would certainly a worthy addition to your movie watching.

There’s a lot of really good options out there, so hopefully with this you have an idea of how to choose the one that best suits your needs.

But let me know if there’s anything I’ve left out, or even anything else you’ve found that might be helpful.

Take care, and until next time, make it easy, keep it simple.

The Best Gaming Consoles For Your Theater Room Setup

Wait…home theater..and…video games..what?

Yep that’s correct.

You see, many may not take into account the fact that a decent portion of the home theater sphere does actually include the topic of video games believe it or not.

I mean think about it, let’s say you finally set up that entertainment room or man cave you’ve been clamoring for and manage to get everything set up just the way you want.

Sure you’ll test it with some movies, maybe even watch a few shows.

But chances are you’ll eventually be at least slightly curious how video games look and sound on it at some point or another; even if you aren’t massively into them.

Not to mention the fact that there’s people who build entire game rooms with surround sound.

But now more than ever exists an impressive amount of variety offered when it comes to gaming.

That’s both a good and a bad thing since on one hand, it gives you a lot of options.

Though on the other it can make it tough to pick.

So today I wanted to cover just a few of the best gaming consoles I think would work well in a dedicated theater room or media room setup.

Since I’m a huge gamer as well, I’ll give some of the nuances for each home entertainment console talked about, and why someone might be happy with a specific one.

Also keep in mind that since a lot of these consoles support a lot of the advanced display technologies we often see in the home theater realm, you’ll want to make sure the TV is also capable.

Here’s a few I think are good.

https://easyhometheater.net/the-best-tvs

The PlayStation 5 Slim

First up, the PlayStation 5 slim.

I remember playing the first iteration back in the year 2000 and being floored how amazing it was.

The original PlayStation 5 (obviously being the 5^th version) released on November 12, 2020 is a culmination of sorts on what Sony has learned over the years.

In November 2023 came the slim version that was smaller and became the standard base model.

So just as a quick overview, there’s 2 versions of the PS5 slim; the physical and the digital version.

The physical variant features a 4k Blu-ray player, so it’ll let you play 4K Blu-rays standard ones, and even your favorite DVDs.

While the digital opts for handling everything digitally without that player.

Both have the same entertainment marketplace called the PlayStation store.

This store features thousands of movies and games. Some are free but most are not.

The console supports up to 8K, 4K, HDR, and even something called remote play.

Remote play is pretty cool because you can stream your gameplay to friends so they can watch.

The controller is called the dualsense and has what’s called haptic feedback which is basically a vibration within it that reacts differently to what’s happening on screen.

While that’s a quick synopsis, what would make the PS5 a solid fit for an entertainment room setup?

Well there’s a lot of reasons in my opinion.

Reason #1 First Party Games!

Holy moley guacamole are there a lot of good games on it, especially first party.

Think of a first party game as one that’s unique to that brand and isn’t available on any other console.

From Horizon Zero Dawn to Ratchet And Clank, it’s clear to see how good its personal lineup is.

With so many games, there’s a number of different genres to choose from as well.

I noticed that there tends to be a lot of Action RPGs on it (role playing games)

If that’s a genre that interests you, then you’d definitely be right at home.

Games on it look absolutely beautiful too because of how many visual features it supports, and the improved speed from the SSD makes a difference when it comes to loading them from my experience.

So it’d be great as part of a home system due to how great the games can look and play on a 4k screen.

Reason #2 PlayStation VR

For a theater room, VR can be a fun addition and the PSVR2 is an exceptional headset to do so.

If you haven’t tried virtual reality, then I don’t know how else to put it other than you’re in the game.

No like seriously, when you put this thing on, you’re inside the game world. Have you ever seen Tron or Sword Art Online? I feel like It’s that level of immersive.

I wish I could describe how amazing it is over text, but you’d need to try it yourself to understand. It really feels like the future. There’s also a growing list of other content on it as well.

YouTube even supports VR too.

Even with non VR games, you can still use the headset to play them too.

Best way to describe how that is, is that it’s like your sitting in a movie theater in front of a giant screen.

While there’s a number of virtual reality headsets on PC, as of right now, the PS5 is the only home console with a VR device currently.

Reason #3 Shareplay

If you’re a really social gamer, then this ones for you. If you have a game on PS5 that you’re playing online, then your can invite a friend to your game to either play with you or control it for a brief period of time.

What’s special about that is the other person doesn’t even need to own the game to play along, it just requires both to have Playstation plus service to use.

I think this is really cool because if you were telling your friend how great a game was, not only could you show them, but you could let them remotely play it themselves for a short time so they understand.

Reason #4 Backwards Compatibility

Being that this is the 5’th PlayStation, it only makes sense that there’s a large catalogue of games existing from previous generations.

Sony was aware of that and so allowed the PS4 to be backwards compatible with them; with a few limitations of course.

While it can support most of the past games from the PS4 generation, for older gens like the PS3, that number is limited, and is only offered online via a service called PlayStation Now.

There’s certainly a larger amount that’s supported than there use to be, but just be aware that it isn’t all of them.

I would also go with the PlayStation if you’re someone who values socializing since a large part of the experience is playing and interacting with other players online.

Reason #5 The DualSense Controller Itself Adds To In Game Immersion

The PlayStation 5’s dualsense controller is really unique in that it can often simulate effects of things that are happening in game.

Like for example with a game like astrobot, when walking on metal surfaces, I felt like it did a convincing job of matching what was actually happening on screen.

Or if it’s raining in a game, you might feel each individual raindrop due to the haptic feedback.

Then there’s also the controller’s haptic triggers that have varying resistance when pressed which also is dependent on the action on screen.

I really feel like the dualsense as a whole adds a lot of immersion to the experience because of how tactile and involved it makes things feel.

From the home theater enthusiast perspective, the dualsense coupled with a great surround sound system really creates that feeling of being involved in the gameplay in a unique way.

A Quick Note: Keep The Console In A Ventilated Area With Sufficient Space

I will say that like most electronics, you’ll want to place the PS5 in a well ventilated part of your theater room with open space so it functions properly.

This is also important due to it’s size, with the physical version of the slim being 7 pounds, 14.1 inches tall, 3.8 inches in width, and 8.5 in depth.

The digital is slightly smaller at 5.7 pounds and a width of 3.1 inches with other measurements remaining the same.

But regardless, if considering the PS5 for a theater room, ensure that it’ll be placed in an area where there’s lots of open room

The good thing is it can be placed horizontally or horizontally for more variability in how it’s placed.

As a whole though, as someone who owns both a PS5 and surround system, it’s an amazing complement to a theater room in my opinion.

Check PlayStation 5 Slim Availability

The PlayStation 5 Pro

Back in 2016, I remember being excited for the PS4 Pro which came out 3 years after the base PS4, and noticed it visually benefited my games massively.

That was when I got my first 4K TV, and just seeing some games running higher than 1080p was so impressive to me.

So following a similar tradition, the PS5 Pro, released in November 2024, is what you can think of as a supercharged PlayStation 5.

It’s a mid generation upgrade where the internals have been ramped up to support a bigger range of features.

While it’s still technically still a PS5 and can play the same games, it has a few really big draws over its base counterpart — especially from a home theater standpoint.

Reason #1 4K & 8K HDR Gaming Support

Simply put, 4k is a resolution that’s 4 times that of 1080P otherwise known as full HD.

8K resolution is 4 times the resolution in pixels from even that when considered horizontally and vertically.

That bump in resolution provides a huge visual difference where games look crystal clear — especially if paired with a quality screen that supports HDR.

Although the PS5 can also do this, the Pro is capable of doing so at a higher degree of fidelity.

However this takes a lot of power to do, and so that brings me to my next reason you may want one.

Reason #2 More Powerful Meaning Games Can Also Run Better

Another reason you might be interested in this one is if you care about how your games actually run too.

With so much power, the pro is not only capable of pumping out some truly impressive looking games, but running them at higher frame rates too.

When I say impressive looking, I mean some of its games have graphics where it’s almost hard to distinguish from real life.

Things can really look that good on it, though it depends on if the game has a Pro mode and the degree to which the developer put the effort in.

For example the racing game Gran Turismo on the PS5 Pro has a mode that runs at 8K 60fps.

Even if you didn’t have an 8K TV, there’s other modes where it’s running at 4K 120fps, or 4K 60fps with raytracing.

Adding to that, there’s a proprietary AI upscaler called PSSR that can allow lower resolution games to run at higher resolutions.

That’s not even to mention that it also supports all of the latest Dolby Digital Formats including Atmos.

So if you have a good sound system in your theater room, wow are you in for a treat.

One thing to keep in mind though is that it doesn’t play 4k Blu-rays natively, so you’d need an additional disc drive attachment if you prioritized physical media.

Also remember that it needs sufficient space just like the base console so it functions properly.

But for a media room as part of an entertainment center with sufficient space, it really is an awesome console.

Check PlayStation 5 Pro Availability

The Xbox Series S

The Xbox Series S, released on November 10, 2020 has some compelling differences should you decide you want to get into the Xbox ecosystem.

Reason #1 Xbox Gamepass

One of the most compelling things about the Xbox Series consoles besides the games themselves, is their support of a service called Xbox Gamepass.

Xbox Gamepass is a monthly service that provides access to hundreds of rotating games from first and third party developers.

Their ultimate version even has cross platform support for PC, cloud gaming, and access to their first party titles on day 1 which is pretty incredible.

As subscriber currently, there’s so many to choose from across so many genres that it’s hard to not find something worth playing.

What’s also cool as a somewhat related note is the fact Xbox Gamepass has an app that’s even available on some Samsung & LG TVs now.

That means with a controller and that TV, you could still access those same games.

So if you have a newer TV in your current media room, that service could be there too.

Reason #2 The Games

Microsoft’s Xbox Series consoles also have a spectacular assortment of games as well.

From Forza to Starfield, let’s just say it’d be really hard to be bored due to how many games they have across various genres.

The games offered here at top notch in my opinion, and look beautiful on a competent display.

Backwards compatibility with a large portion of the games from prior Xbox console generations enhances that, with features a visual enthusiast would appreciate like auto hdr, frame rate boost, & resolution boost to older supported games.

Reason #3 4K Digital Movies Support

While the Series S supports up to 1440p depending on the game, and although it doesn’t have a disc drive so it can’t play physical 4K movies, it can still play and stream 4K movies & shows digitally.

There’s also 4K support in media apps like YouTube so things still look crisp.

Reason #4 HDR Support

Besides being able to display 4k digital content, it also can display HDR content as well.

HDR again stands for High Dynamic Range.

Think of it as an exponentially increased contrast ratio that mimics how the human eye see things.

It allows you to see more details in those light & dark areas, and whether it’s games or movies, it can make a pretty big difference if done right.

It’s something you would need to see in person to appreciate, but as long as you have a TV that’s properly capable, you can take advantage of this new technology.

Reason #5 It’s Small

The Series S is also really small compared to other consoles, at 10.83 x 5.94 x 2.56 inches and 4.25 pounds.

So if your theater room doesn’t have a lot of room, the Series S can work well in that aspect.

As a whole, the Xbox Series S is a spectacular gaming console with features like 4k digital media capabilities & HDR making it an attractive option from a home theater perspective.

As far as the social aspect goes, that’s present here as well with a booming online multiplayer network.

Overall, there’s plenty to keep you entertained.

Check Xbox Series S Availability

The Xbox Series X

The Xbox Series X, given it’s in the same console line as the Series S, has a lot of the same positives talked about previously like great first party games, backwards compatibility for many older Xbox titles, and access to Xbox Gamepass.

There’s even visual benefits for many older games with features like auto hdr, frame rate boost, and resolution boost helping them look better.

It even allows you to have dynamic backgrounds on your dashboard that move which I think is really cool.

However the is Series X is also a big step up in terms of power and gaming capabilities.

Here’s a few ways the console differentiates itself & why it’s a worthy inclusion in a home theater setup.

Reason #1 Physical 4k Blu-Ray Player

Being the next step up, it makes sense that it would sport this feature.

Though it supports 4K digital media like its smaller sibling, the Series X also has 4K Blu-ray player meaning it can play your physical UHD discs too.

This can be great if your theater room has a large physical collection or if you just prefer it since there’s reasons for both types of formats.

Reason #2 8K Resolution Media Playback Capable

Where it further differentiates itself though is its support for 8K resolution playback in media.

While there’s not much 8K native content currently, that feature could be useful later if you’re building a more future resistant media room.

Reason #3 Dolby Vision Media & Gaming

What I personally really like about the Xbox Series X, especially looking at it from the home theater lens, is that it supports Dolby Vision both in media & gaming.

Dolby Vision is an advanced type of HDR that basically allows for an increased level of vibrancy and colors, and can really benefit the image when implemented correctly (depends on that game or movie)

So the fact that it supports this not only in movies, but in some games as well really lends itself well to being used in a media room.

Reason #4 The Power Allows Games To Look & Run Great

I’ve mentioned how incredibly strong it is right?

Though it depends on the game, the Xbox Series X is capable of up to 4K resolution and up to 120fps in gaming.

Not to mention all the other bells and whistles like HDR10, VRR, and Atmos support.

This means that if you’re concerned with in game graphics or audio, it’ll look, run, & sound great with a solid display and surround system/soundbar.

While the Series X supports the same games that the S does, it does so at a much higher fidelity.

From the clarity of games, to how smooth they look, it feels like a step up.

If you’re one for eye candy and a smoother gaming experience overall, it’s an awesome option.

Reason #5 It Can Be Placed Horizontally Or Vertically For More Placement Choice

Believe it or not, the console isn’t terribly large either at 9.8 pounds and 12.2 x 6.3 x 6.3 inches.

This is due to much more efficient internals.

You would think something this powerful would be lumbering, but fortunately it’s not.

What’s also great is it can be positioned horizontally or vertically in your entertainment room for more placement choice.

To put it bluntly, it’s a beast.

Check Xbox Series X Availability

The Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo switch certainly is unique in that it’s technically both a home and portable console. When at home, the console rests on a dock, and the sides of the switch come off.

These are called Joy Cons. When you decide to go out, you can attach the joy cons to the console and use it like you would say a handheld 3DS.

So what are some compelling reasons for integrating this one into a theater room?

Well..

Reason #1 The Games

In my opinion Nintendo has always had incredible games, and the Switch really continues that streak.

They started off the generation in 2017 by releasing the console, and the groundbreaking game The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

The game was so good that not only was it one of the highest scoring games in history, but everyone collectively lost their minds over it (me included)

Then with the holiday season approaching, they decided to go with a 1, 2 punch and release Super Mario Odyssey, one that scored just as high.

I’m not one to buy into the hype; in fact I’m usually a huge critic.

But oh my..  Zelda and Mario, I can comfortably say, are 2 of some the best games I’ve ever played.

I wish I could convey to you the joy in actually playing them, but it’s something that’s simply experienced.

But it’s not just those; the switch has a plethora of really great games that could fit well into an entertainment room or even family room due to their often colorful art styles that looks great on a TV.

Reason #2 Convenience

Being able to take the console with you anywhere you go, and use headphones with it is awesome enough.

But being able to prop it up via the kickstand on the back, slide the joycons off, then play 2 players with someone else on it seems like such a novel idea that I wish it existed sooner.

It makes a portable console a social event which is so cool.

So there’s versatility given you can take it with you, then place it back on the dock in the entertainment room when you’re back home.

Check Nintendo Switch Availability

The Nintendo Switch 2

The Nintendo Switch 2, which releases June 5th 2025 makes an even stronger case for use in a theater room in my opinion. Not only does it have the benefit of great games and portable convenience like it’s predecessor.

But now since it’s much stronger, it has a lot of the more home theater based features too like 4K support and HDR which is awesome.

My Personal Favorite

So here’s what you’re really curious about…(probably not but I digress)

Which console do I personally like the best?

Plot twist…..all of them.

What??

Yep.

I wish I could pick a favorite, but each console brings with it something so unique that I couldn’t honestly choose.

Plus being the gamer that I am, I’ve always had at least one from each of the big 3 (Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo) since they had exclusive games that I knew I had to play.

It’s not even just that they have fantastic games either; but it’s the sheer amount of fantastic games offered from each system.

You really would be hard pressed to go wrong with any of them though.

And forget about it when it comes to playing them on your speakers.

You think it’s intense playing it on the television, but you hook it up to a good surround system and say goodbye to anything you planned to get done that day.

They’re such an entertaining addition to a home theater.

So to answer the original question, realistically, it’s really going to boil down to what features you specifically prefer.

Other than that, they’re great systems.

But that’s about wraps it up for this one.

Until next time make it easy, keep it simple!

Common Settings For An Audio Video Receiver (Guide)

So with all of my tinkering, and through unfortunate trial and error (lots of that one), here’s something you may appreciate, an audio/video receiver guide on common settings!

I feel like the receiver is one of those components in a home theater that doesn’t necessarily get the respect it deserves.

Now I’m not going so far as to say that it’s completely overlooked, but compared to something like a subwoofer, you wouldn’t be blamed for initially thinking it’s not too exciting.

But what If I told you it was?

There’s more to it than meets the eye. What If I told you there might be an entire host of really cool settings in your receiver that you may not even know existed?

See the thing is, sometimes the manuals that come with these devices can be less user friendly which ends up doing the exact opposite of the thing they were trying to do in the first place; which is help you!

So this won’t be a completely exhaustive list since there’s a lot of different receivers with different configurations & settings — it’ll be more of a general overview of some common settings that are often included.

These won’t be in any particular order by the way, but anyway, without further ado, let’s jump right into it.

1). DSP Modes

See here’s an interesting that some may not be aware of when they get a shiny new receiver; the fact that they can use their remote to alter the sound output with different presets.

Nearly every receiver out there comes equipped with their own version of what called a DSP mode. DSP stands for Digital Signal Processing.

Basically the way it works is it takes the sound from the source coming in to the receiver, and then manipulates it using algorithms, that depending on whatever mode it’s on.

Of course, that’s a vastly oversimplified explanation of what it is, but if you want to know more about the in depth dynamics of it, you can read about it here.

http://www.radio-electronics.com/info/rf-technology-design/digital-signal-processing/dsp-basics-tutorial.php.

DSPs are awesome though because they can take sound from a speaker that just sounds okay, to something that sounds amazing. However here’s the thing you should know, every receiver has a different set of these modes. Not all of them have the same names or effects.

That means it’d be impossible for me to tell you exact ones the ones to try since every receiver is going to have a different type. They can even be different from within the same manufacturer. But I can tell you the mode I’ve always leaned towards on all my receivers; cinema or movie mode.

Movie presets tend to just sound better from the other ones, at least from my experience. No idea why, but that’s what I’ve found. Ultimately, you’ll have to play around with them yourself and make that call because there’s a ton of unique ones on each receiver.

That and everyone perceives sound differently. They can range from sci-fi to drama; the list goes on. But trust me, they’re certainly a lot of fun to mess around with. A DSP mode can also fix a problem that I had covered in the other article about why a speaker may sound hollow, even when it’s supposedly a quality one.

https://easyhometheater.net/home-theater-problems#hollow

A DSP Mode can certainly help in this instance because it gives you a relative amount of control on how your sound…well sounds!. If it’s lacking in treble, or the mid range sounds recessed, you now have the ability to somewhat remedy that.

The interesting thing I’ve found over the years though is that every speaker reacts differently to them. What I mean by that is that some modes may have a different degree of effect on one speaker compared to another.

What sounds good on one of them, may sound completely different on another.

2). Adaptive DRC

This is a really cool one too. Within your receiver is something called Adaptive DRC.

DRC stands for dynamic range control, and acts as a way of limiting the dynamism. So why would this setting be worth mentioning? Well let’s say it’s nighttime and you want to watch a show but you don’t want to necessarily turn up the volume.

What this does is make the highs and lows the same level so there aren’t giant spikes in volume that might scare the crap out of you. This is really helpful when you want to watch things at a moderate level, but you don’t need movie theater levels of intensity.

3). Individual Speaker Level

This is one of those settings that lets you customize things even more. With the speaker level setting, you can adjust the individual volume level for each speaker to your liking.

Even though most modern receivers come with some sort of calibration mic to do things automatically, you can still tweak even more if you wanted to so it’s a nice touch.

4). Input Rename

Just like the name suggests, the input rename allows you rename each input to whatever device it happens to be under. So instead of being called HDMI 2, you could change it to Blu-ray or something like that.

This is useful because when you start getting up there with the number of things you connect, you’re going to want an easy way to remember all of it. This allows you to do just that.

5). Stereo Mode

This is the mode that you should use when you have just 2 speakers and want to listen to music. Of course you may add a subwoofer, but this mode limits sound to only 2 channels. This means it technically could allow your speakers to go higher than normal in volume since there’s less speakers drawing power. Stereo has a focus on audio acuity, so this is what you should use if you’re only using 2.

*Bonus Setting* Straight or Pure Mode

This mode is particularly interesting because it turns off any DSP settings, equalizations, etc. Think of it as an even purer stereo mode. This means that all you are getting is sound from your 2 speakers; this even excludes the subwoofer from being used.

Now why would someone want to use one like that? Well if you are an audio purist and you have a really high quality file of music that you want to play, this would be that mode to use.

You wouldn’t want any external equalizations affecting the sound in any way, so it allows you to get the purest output possible.

Bonus Setting 2 – Auto Calibration Via Mic

So one thing that’s really important in my opinion and that I think helps audio quality a lot is auto calibration via microphone that a lot of modern receivers come with.

For example if your center speaker seems too loud, or your surround speakers seem low in volume, this automatic calibration can often help to improve this.

Like with Denon receivers, they use some form of Audyssey calibration, with Onkyo they use AccuEQ, Yamaha uses YPAO, and so on.

Though the names of the calibration often varies depending on the brand, the general premise is similar; connect the microphone to the receiver, get it into the position & height level it recommends, then start the calibration.

But this process can often make a big difference, and help things sound more cohesive.

A Quick Note

I thought it was also worth mentioning that the physical placement of your receiver itself is also important.

Keep it in a place that’s room temperature and open with sufficient air flow so it can properly function.

Final Thoughts

There’s probably more settings out there given just how many types of AV receivers that exist, but hopefully with this guide, you have a better idea of what settings work for your home theater.

Let me know of any other cool ones you’ve found in the comments below as it may help someone else with a similar one.

But that’s all for now.

Until next time, make it easy, keep it simple!