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Grant Clauser is an editor who has written about audio, video, and smart-home technology for more than 20 years. Multi-Room Wireless Speaker System
We’ve updated this list with our latest picks.
If you just brought home a new TV, you’ve probably noticed that it sounds nowhere near as good as it looks. Whether you’re putting a TV in the living room or assembling a dedicated home theater, our AV reviews team has spent thousands of hours testing and listening to the best-sounding speakers, receivers, and soundbars to make your listening experience the best it can be.
TV speakers universally sound terrible. Upgrade your audio with a soundbar, powered stereo speakers, or headphones if you don’t have room for surround sound.
Soundbars combine multiple speakers into one body that can sit in front of your TV or hang on the wall underneath it.
Despite being simple, small, and affordable, the MagniFi Mini AX outperforms many larger, more complicated competitors.
Despite being simple, small, and affordable, the MagniFi Mini AX outperforms many larger, more complicated competitors.
The immersive-sounding Vizio Elevate SE is compatible with the Dolby Atmos and DTS:X formats and comes with separate surround speakers.
The immersive-sounding Vizio Elevate SE is compatible with the Dolby Atmos and DTS:X formats and comes with separate surround speakers.
The TCL S55H produces a room-filling sound for movies and music, and it sounds much better than most inexpensive soundbars.
The TCL S55H produces a room-filling sound for movies and music, and it sounds much better than most inexpensive soundbars.
This system offers a powerful subwoofer, separate rear speakers, four upward-firing Atmos speakers, and lots of inputs and audio streaming options. But it’s pricey.
This system offers a powerful subwoofer, separate rear speakers, four upward-firing Atmos speakers, and lots of inputs and audio streaming options. But it’s pricey.
If you don’t want to disturb the person sitting next to you or sleeping in the same room, TV headphones are for you.
The NS-HAWHP2 over-ear headphones are comfortable, with no audio lag and solid sound. The transmitter doubles as a charging base, but the system supports only a single pair of headphones.
The NS-HAWHP2 over-ear headphones are comfortable, with no audio lag and solid sound. The transmitter doubles as a charging base, but the system supports only a single pair of headphones.
The Avantree Quartet bundle is easy to set up and includes a transmitter and four sets of headphones, with the ability to add many more.
The Avantree Quartet bundle is easy to set up and includes a transmitter and four sets of headphones, with the ability to add many more.
Although not as sleek and convenient as a soundbar, a good powered bookshelf speaker pair can elevate both your TV watching and music listening.
These affordable, compact speakers sound great and include an HDMI port for TV use. But they don’t sound quite as neutral as our favorite passive speakers.
These affordable, compact speakers sound great and include an HDMI port for TV use. But they don’t sound quite as neutral as our favorite passive speakers.
These powered speakers are costly, but they sound natural, look great, and have an HDMI-ARC port to connect to a TV.
These powered speakers are costly, but they sound natural, look great, and have an HDMI-ARC port to connect to a TV.
Even a single tabletop speaker can sound better than the puny speakers in your TV. Connect one of these speakers to the TV wirelessly via Bluetooth (but beware of audio lag) or through the analog audio jack.
Klipsch’s compact The One Plus has a lot of power for its size and produces a clear, room-filling sound. The only thing missing is a play/pause button.
Klipsch’s compact The One Plus has a lot of power for its size and produces a clear, room-filling sound. The only thing missing is a play/pause button.
The Högtalare has a big, full sound and a minimalist but stylish design—though its shape may look out of place next to a TV.
The Högtalare has a big, full sound and a minimalist but stylish design—though its shape may look out of place next to a TV.
This speaker offers more bass and higher max volume for the ultimate action-movie experience, and it can connect to almost anything.
This speaker offers more bass and higher max volume for the ultimate action-movie experience, and it can connect to almost anything.
The B03 wirelessly transmits your TV’s audio signal to a Bluetooth speaker. This one is easy to use and offers the lowest latency of any transmitter we’ve tested.
The B03 wirelessly transmits your TV’s audio signal to a Bluetooth speaker. This one is easy to use and offers the lowest latency of any transmitter we’ve tested.
The most immersive audio experience from your movies and TV shows comes from a surround-sound speaker system.
An AV receiver is the glue that holds together a surround-sound setup. Not only does it power the speakers and connect to your TV, but it also handles input switching for everything from gaming consoles to turntables, all through one device.
The AVR-X1800H is a great-sounding, easy-to-use, 7.1-channel receiver that has enough features to satisfy movie fans and gamers alike.
The AVR-X1800H is a great-sounding, easy-to-use, 7.1-channel receiver that has enough features to satisfy movie fans and gamers alike.
The Denon AVR-X3800H is a great pick for the home-cinema enthusiast thanks to its better room correction, variety of amplified channels, and host of advanced features—but it represents a big step up in price.
The Denon AVR-X3800H is a great pick for the home-cinema enthusiast thanks to its better room correction, variety of amplified channels, and host of advanced features—but it represents a big step up in price.
The Denon AVR-S570BT is simple to set up and use, and it’s a solid choice if you just want to put together a good 5.1-channel speaker system.
The Denon AVR-S570BT is simple to set up and use, and it’s a solid choice if you just want to put together a good 5.1-channel speaker system.
When paired with a great AV receiver, passive speakers and a subwoofer can turn a room into a home theater.
Polk’s ES15 bookshelf speakers sound great, look cool, and are surprisingly affordable. You can pair them with the smaller ES10 surround and ES30 center speaker.
Polk’s ES15 bookshelf speakers sound great, look cool, and are surprisingly affordable. You can pair them with the smaller ES10 surround and ES30 center speaker.
This passive speaker offers plenty of bass, spaciousness, and clarity. Plus you can add the matching BRC1 center and BR02 surround speakers.
This passive speaker offers plenty of bass, spaciousness, and clarity. Plus you can add the matching BRC1 center and BR02 surround speakers.
This affordable passive speaker set has a full, satisfying sound, and the accompanying MB42X-C center speaker sounds surprisingly good for the price.
This affordable passive speaker set has a full, satisfying sound, and the accompanying MB42X-C center speaker sounds surprisingly good for the price.
Bring your home audio system to the next level with a good subwoofer. These picks deliver excellent performance without breaking the bank.
This 10-inch subwoofer offers an ideal blend of bass power and finesse in a compact package, but you can buy it only directly from the manufacturer.
This 10-inch subwoofer offers an ideal blend of bass power and finesse in a compact package, but you can buy it only directly from the manufacturer.
This model delivers the best performance we’ve heard or measured from a subwoofer at this price, but its design leaves a lot to be desired.
This model delivers the best performance we’ve heard or measured from a subwoofer at this price, but its design leaves a lot to be desired.
The VTF-2 MK5 is large and powerful, and it offers more tuning options to tailor the sound to your taste and room.
The VTF-2 MK5 is large and powerful, and it offers more tuning options to tailor the sound to your taste and room.
If you need high performance but don’t have space for a big subwoofer, the SB-1000 is a great choice.
If you need high performance but don’t have space for a big subwoofer, the SB-1000 is a great choice.
Wearable Spy Video Camera Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time).