Before going further to review the best 7.1 surround sound system for home use, we should first explain what a 7.1 audio setup means and why you go for it.
You probably want to enjoy your movies, streams, and playbacks listening to premium audio reproduction; hence, you’re looking for a 7.1 surround sound system. We have reviewed the best 5.1 satellite speakers before do check it out
We’ve got a couple of it here and they are quite affordable yet designed with cutting-edge audio engineering and techs.
These speakers are recommended by our expert team of audiophiles; plus, they are durable units you will use for a long time.
Table of Contents
- 1 What is a 7.1 surround sound system?
- 2 Who needs a 7.1 surround sound system?
- 3 The best 7.1 surround sound systems to buy
- 3.1 1. Onkyo SKS-HT870 Home Theater Speaker
- 3.2 2. Nakamichi Shockwave Pro 7 home theater system
- 3.3 3. Polk Audio Signature 7.1 System
- 3.4 4. Acoustic In-Wall/Ceiling Home Theater 7.2 Surround Speaker
- 3.5 5. Theater Solutions TST87 In-Wall/Ceiling Speakers
- 3.6 6. Pyle PT798SBA 7.1 Channel Home Theater System
- 3.7 7. Onkyo THX-Certified 7.1-Channel Surround Sound Speaker
- 3.8 8. Sony 7.2 Channel 3D 4K A/V Surround Sound
- 4 Summary
What is a 7.1 surround sound system?
A 7.1 surround sound system comprises an eight-channel surround audio system. This means that in a 7.1 audio setup, 7 speakers are involved and a subwoofer.
This surround system is common with home theater configurations and you’ll obviously enjoy a clean, detailed sound from a 7.1 home theater system.
Also, there are 5.1 surround systems, as well as 4.1, 3.1, and 2.1 home theater systems. Similarly, there is a 9.1 surround sound setup; it all depends on what you want.
What’s included in a 7.1 surround sound setup?
There is a subwoofer, center channel speaker, left and right channel speakers, left and right rear surround speakers, left and right front speakers.
A 7.1 home theater system delivers a cinematic sound experience so you can enjoy your movies, games, and playbacks with great audio quality.
Furthermore, some 7.1 systems come with a soundbar that is stocked with many drivers geared to emulate surround speakers’ performance.
Different brands design their 7.1 home theater systems uniquely to differ from what their competitors have to offer; nevertheless, a good 7.1 sound system is expected to deliver immersive, high-quality sound with deeper bass output through the subwoofer.
Who needs a 7.1 surround sound system?
You don’t really need a 7.1 audio setup if you’re living in a small house and do not have enough space to properly place all the speakers; maybe a 5.1 setup or even 3.1 will just be perfect for such persons.
On the other hand, if you have a huge budget to set up premium audio in your home then you can go straight and buy a 7.1 home theater system.
More interestingly, 7.1 surround sound is achieved with Dolby TrueHD/DTS-HD Master audio.
The Sony PS3 can output a whopping up 7.1 LPCM through HDMI for both Blu-ray movies and games; this lossless audio can only play seamlessly through a 7.1 sound system.
Furthermore, Blu-ray Discs and premium DVDs now offer lossless DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD in eight channels.
Again, such a lossless, high-quality sound needs a 7.1 audio system to play through, seamlessly.
In fact, if you want to enjoy a home cinematic experience, you need the best 7.1 surround sound system in your home.
The best 7.1 surround sound systems to buy
1. Onkyo SKS-HT870 Home Theater Speaker
The design looks very attractive with its polished finish.
Onkyo has specially designed this impressive home theater system to blend with any home interior design.
Plus, you won’t have issues placing the surround speakers around the room because they are quite portable and feature space-saving designs.
As a 7.1 audio system; this Onkyo product comes with all the required speakers and a subwoofer.
Just the way we love this sound system, we believe you’ll also love it; well, not until you learn about its specs and features.
Also, this 7.1 home theater sound system retails at a considerable price and delivers maximally.
Features of Onkyo SKS-HT870 Home Theater Speaker
There are quite a couple of great features that would attract you to this speaker system.
It is built with the company’s best audio techs, as well as features a few industry-leading techs, which it utilizes to deliver high-quality sound for your various needs.
Firstly, you’ll obviously see the twin tower floor-standing (tallboy) front speakers, which are there for cleaner visual and aural impact.
These tallboy speakers are rated 130W. Also, you’ll get dual-drive 2-way front speakers, as well as dual-drive 2-way center, surround speakers.
All the speakers have individually rated 130W power. However, the subwoofer steps up to utilize 230W. The subwoofer features a 10-inch cone driver.
Performance
Well, it’s not all about having good technologies; the major concern should be, are the drivers and features working as expected?
The Onkyo SKS-HT870 system generally delivers amazing sound quality and the subwoofer specifically delivers immense bass to go with the reproduced sound.
The tweeters available on the speakers are very good at high volumes; however, they still reproduce clean sounds on mids and lows.
Connectivity
This is not a wireless home theater system; thus, you will leverage the inclusive speaker wires to connect this system and get it to start working.
But not to worry, connecting the wires that come with this system isn’t a biggie; the color codes are intuitive and you will easily understand where each speaker wire is meant to be inserted.
You may need to buy more speaker wires to complete this system’s setup depending on how and where you to plan to install the surround speakers.
Tech specs
| Total weight | 78 pounds |
| Rated power | 130W (speakers), 230W (subwoofer) |
| Connectivity type | Wired connection |
| Warranty | Limited 2 years from the manufacturer |
2. Nakamichi Shockwave Pro 7 home theater system
This premium sound system comes with a soundbar and an 8-inch driver subwoofer.
It is a massive and impressive 7.1.4 home theater system for every home; plus, there are also small speakers that come along with the soundbar.
You won’t have any issues setting up this powerful sound system and it saves some space since it doesn’t come with so many speakers.
The Nakamichi Shockwave Pro is a state-of-the-art home theater system built with what you’ll call the best-in-class audio drivers and techs.
You’ll also get a remote control to use and operate this sound system.
Features of Nakamichi Shockwave Pro Home Theater System
As a 7.1 sound system, the subwoofer supports SSE Dolby Atmos, and when paired with the dual 2-way surround speakers, it provides a 7.1.4 audio environment for the best premium home entertainment.
The speaker drivers on the soundbar unit are advanced and perform better than the soundbar on the brand’s 2016 model of this same home theater system.
Also, the dual 2-way rear speakers for surround are sturdily designed and quite portable that you will easily find a good space to install them.
These surround speakers come with refined tweeters that deliver high frequencies with stunning clarity.
Plus, they feature a full-range driver to emulate and deliver cleaner sound effects with great precision.
Interestingly, this home theater features quite a several ports to connect your devices. You can also stream from app and playback sounds from this sound system.
Performance
The performance of this system is quite impressive and awing. While the soundbar is delivering premium sound with signature front surround effects tweeters, the subwoofer produces deeper bass to go along with this sound and in just minutes you’re locked with a cinematic room-filling sound.
You will enjoy spacious and dynamic surround sound oozing from the dual rear surround speakers. This 7.1.4 sound system performs very well and it is great for home entertainment.
Connectivity
You will have to connect the rear surround speakers to the sub using the provided RCA wires. Similarly, you will connect this system altogether using RCA speaker wires.
Enjoy advanced connectivity with Dolby Vision, 4K UHD pass-thru and High Dynamic Range (HDR).
Interestingly, you can add up to 6 devices to this home theater system through its several connectivity ports; HDMI ARC, HDMI, Optical and Coaxial inputs.
A 52-key backlit remote is also available inside the box for seamless wireless control of sources, changing modes and more.
Tech specs
| Total weight | 46 pounds |
| Rated power | 90W (speakers), 180W (subwoofer) |
| Connectivity type | Wired connection |
| Warranty | Limited from manufacturer |
3. Polk Audio Signature 7.1 System
When you buy this home theater system, it comes with a powered receiver unit.
This 7.1 home theater system promises to deliver the best-in-class performance using state-of-the-art audio engineering technologies.
It is a sturdy home theater sound system supporting wireless connection via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technologies.
The wattage utilized by this sound system is enough to generate the cinematic room-filling sound an audiophile loves.
More so, Polk Audio has specially designed this model to feature output ports that let you connect your multiple devices at a go.
Thanks to the sleek aesthetics, this home theater system will blend perfectly with your home décor.
Features of Polk Audio Signature 7.1 sound system
The Polk Audio Signature 7.1 home theater flaunts a stylish design that’s quite attractive and compelling.
It comes with the following components; dual tower speaker speakers, 1 center speaker, up to four bookshelf speaker for surround, 1 Polk DSW PRO 550 wireless Subwoofer, and one Denon AVR-X1300W AV Receiver.
Thus, you’re getting a complete 7.1 audio setup and wouldn’t need any third-party audio system to completely set up your home sound system.
More so, this home theater receives and plays back sounds from various digital sources up to 4K quality.
You can connect your portable devices via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. This system goes on to support Dolby Atmos, DTS: X, HDCP2.2, HDR, AudysseyMultEQ XT, 6/1 HDMI In/Out.
Simply, this is one of the best HiFi home theater systems you can buy.
Performance
Massive drivers were concealed in these speakers’ cabinets; altogether, this Polk Audio sound system delivers rich, clean, full-range sound for your needs, thanks to the patented dynamic balance designed acoustic Array.
Good sound is what you will enjoy with these speakers; plus, enjoying cinematic sound at home is possible with this system.
Connectivity
Interestingly, this 7.1 sound system supports a wireless connection and you can actually stream directly to the system.
Also, the Polk Audio Signature 7.1 home theater supports HDMI input and output, as well as other connectivity options.
It is a versatile system and the receiver is well advanced; designed with the latest technologies for the finest performance.
Tech specs
| Total weight | 46 pounds |
| Rated power | 13000 |
| Connectivity type | Wired and wireless |
| Warranty | Limited from manufacturer |
4. Acoustic In-Wall/Ceiling Home Theater 7.2 Surround Speaker
The Acoustic Audio HD728 is quite different from the other ones on this list; it is designed to be installed inside the walls and ceiling; this is unlike the other 7.1 systems reviewed on this post that needs to be placed at strategic corners in the room.
However, to get the best of these in-wall speakers, you also need to install them strategically in the room.
The benefit of using an in-wall sound system is that you won’t have to worry about where to keep/stand your speakers, thereby allowing more space in the room.
More so, this 7.1 sound system is available at a cheaper price, yet delivering great sound quality with stunning clarity and immenseness.
Features of Acoustic Audio HD728
Actually, this is a 7.2 sound system; it comes with 9 components, which include 4rectangular in-wall/ceiling speakers, 2 round in-wall/ceiling speakers, 1dual 6.5-inch center channel, and 2 10-inch passive in-wall subwoofers.
These entire components add up to complete a 7.2 audio setup for immense home entertainment.
The Acoustic Audio HD728 has its speakers designed with butyl rubber surrounds, pivoting titanium tweeters, and they flaunt rectangular shapes.
You won’t find it stressful to install these speakers into your walls or ceilings; plus, the design is friendly and would fit into any home.
Performance
Talking about the performance of these in-wall and in-ceiling speakers, they perform really good and considering the price of this system, the performance is applaudable.
The speakers included in this 7.2 sound system come in different sizes; you can pick from the options the best configuration that would fit your home.
Definitely, you are going to enjoy great sound and bass from these speakers; they’ll be banging from your walls and ceiling, delivering room-filling sound and wall-shaking bass. The passive speakers utilize 20 – 300 watts.
Connectivity
Read the user manual to see the best ways to install these speakers in your home.
Tech specs
| Total weight | 62 pounds |
| Rated power | 3000W |
| Connectivity type | Wired |
| Warranty | Limited from manufacturer |
5. Theater Solutions TST87 In-Wall/Ceiling Speakers
This is another in-wall 7.2 sound system that proves to be very good in what it does.
The Theater Solutions TST87 home theater system features 9 speakers that are sturdily designed and geared for the best performance.
There’s a handy user manual that comes with detailed instructions on how to set up and install this 7.2 sound system in your room.
Since the speakers are designed to fit into the wall, you’ll have enough free space in your room yet enjoy an immense sound when watching movies, playing back songs, or playing video games.
This sound system is very well affordable and it delivers the high level of sound an audiophile would love.
Features of Theater Solutions TST87
The 9 speaker sets include 4 rectangular 8-inch wall speakers, 2 oval 8-inch ceiling speakers, 1 wall center speaker, and 2 wall passive sub speakers. Also, the wattage utilized by each speaker is about 250W.
Other features of the speakers of this system are pivoting silk-titanium dome tweeters, flexible crossovers, PEI dome tweeters.
Furthermore, the wall center speaker features an extended throw black woven fiber bulletproof cone.
Plus, the passive subwoofer has 10-inch rubber surround drivers and you may need to use separate amps for the 2 subs for better performance.
Performance
This 7.2 speaker set is designed for in-wall and in-ceiling home entertainment. They work pretty well as surround speakers and provide a similar experience as you would get from a typical 7.1 home theater sound system.
The tweeters do a good job in providing cleaner sounds and the subs also deliver decent-level bass to accompany the clean sounds from the speakers.
Generally, the performance of this home audio system is impressive and great for the price it is being sold at.
Connectivity
Getting these speakers to work may be a bit technical; starting from the in-wall in-ceiling installations to the wiring.
However, it does come with a detailed user manual that guides you through the somewhat rigorous process.
Well, it doesn’t support any form of wireless connection and you must connect it to an amplifier before it can function.
Tech specs
| Total weight | 62 pounds |
| Rated power | 10-150W for each speaker |
| Connectivity type | Wired |
| Warranty | Limited from manufacturer |
6. Pyle PT798SBA 7.1 Channel Home Theater System
One of the things that would get you attracted to this powerful sound system is because it supports Bluetooth connection; this implies that you can directly pair up your portable devices and enjoy music playback with stunning audio quality.
Also, it comes along with remote control and the speakers look portable. This sound system won’t take up much space in your room, yet it will deliver immense, clean sound so that you can enjoy your movies, songs, and video games.
The space-saving design of this sound system makes it one of our top choices, and the price? It’s pretty affordable.
Features of Pyle PT798SBA 7.1 Channel Home Theater System
This sound system comes with a receiver unit that has a 10-inch long-throw active subwoofer built into it.
Also, there are satellite center speakers that are included in this speaker set to complete a 7.1 home audio setup. There’s a remote control that helps to control the modes, volumes, and other aspects of this sound system.
Furthermore, the Pyle PT798SBA 7.1 sound system supports Bluetooth 2.0 technology, which makes it possible that you can stream your favorite digital content to this sound system.
More interestingly, this sound system features input/output ports that allow you to directly connect your mobile devices and enjoy high-quality sound from your playback.
Simply put, this is a versatile home theater system that is specially designed for all homeowners.
Performance
The satellite speakers reproduce cleaner utilizing 84 watts and a set of efficient tweeters.
Do you want to experience cinematic sound? This system comes with a down-firing subwoofer that is built into the receiver.
The subwoofer pumps out 500watts peak power to create a cinematic experience for unmatched home entertainment.
Also, the receiver is intuitive to operate and looks to be designed with the company’s best audio techs.
Apparently, you can customize the bass, treble, EQ levels, and other aspects to give yourself a truly personalized listening experience.
Connectivity
The Bluetooth support is great; it makes streaming easier and users can connect their portable/mobile devices seamlessly.
However, the Bluetooth connection range is not far; you have to keep the connected device a bit close (not up to 20ft away) from the receiver.
Use the wireless remote to access more control features.
Tech specs
| Total weight | 35 pounds |
| Rated power | 500W total power |
| Connectivity type | Wired and wireless |
| Warranty | Limited from manufacturer |
7. Onkyo THX-Certified 7.1-Channel Surround Sound Speaker
This 7.1 home theater system from Onkyo among the best ones in the market; it comes with up to 6 sturdy speakers, a receiver, and also a subwoofer.
More so, this sound system has built-in Chromecast support, as well as support wireless connectivity via Bluetooth. It is a vast sound system sold at a considerable price and you shouldn’t miss out on buying this.
Well, the color is just black; however, it is well-polished and we are sure that this sound system will blend with any home interior design.
More so, this 7.1 surround sound system is coming from a popular brand – Onkyo; plus, quite a lot of other users have good things to say about this model.
Features of Onkyo HT-S9800THX
Interestingly, this is a THX-certified 7.1 home theater sound system and it comes with all the components required to set up a 7.1 home audio system; featuring 4 bookshelf speakers, two front speakers, a subwoofer, and a versatile receiver.
More so, this sound system can connect to your devices including smartphones and computers seamlessly using Bluetooth or the inbuilt Chromecast function.
Furthermore, the Onkyo HT-S9800THX comes along with remote control, HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision, BT.2020, 4K/60 Hz, H, as well as Spotify, AirPlay, and Wi-Fi.
Honestly, this is a typical 7.1 surround sound system that any homeowner would love to buy.
Designed with so many audio techs and industry-leading features, which include FireConnect, this sound system supports multi-room audio with FireConnect-compatible speakers.
Finally, it has a mobile app that lets you unlock some features of the system, too.
Performance
You’ll enjoy a cinema-level sound with this 7.1 home theater system. The speakers and subwoofer perform greatly at different volumes.
Also, you can send amplified sound from this system to other speakers in another room using the Powered Zone 2 speaker outputs, and you can control the sound with Onkyo Controller.
These speakers come with Onkyo HT-S9800THX meet with THX standard; in fact, all components of this 7.1 sound system meet with this standard.
You will enjoy distortion-free sound as you enjoy in a commercial cinema house/theater.
4K HDR sounds will go through the speakers connected to this system so that you will enjoy premium home entertainment.
Connectivity
Tanks to the various connectivity technologies supported by this system, you won’t find it difficult to stream from various sources; the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support work very well.
Also, it supports AirPlay and Spotify; thus, if you own an iOS device, you can pair it up and stream directly from your mobile to this audio system.
However, you need speaker wires to connect the speakers together to the receiver.
A user manual is made available to guide first-timers on how to set up their new home theater system.
Tech specs
| Total weight | 130 pounds |
| Rated power | 210 W/Ch |
| Connectivity type | Wired and wireless |
| Warranty | Limited from manufacturer |
8. Sony 7.2 Channel 3D 4K A/V Surround Sound
Whenever we see the name Sony, we assume the product is top-notch, and our assumption hasn’t failed us in a while.
Well, this Sony home theater system is a massive one; you need big space to install its entire components.
It looks premium and durable, including all the components needed to complete a 7.1 surround sound system for immense cinematic home entertainment.
That said, if you have a small space in your room, this is not the best 7.1 home theater system to buy.
Interestingly, the price for this sound system is not much, and it comes with its own receiver unit.
Features of Sony STRDN1080 home theater system
What you will get includes a Sony 7.2 Dolby Atmos Wi-Fi supports AV home theater receiver, a pair of Sony SSCS3 stereo floor-standing speakers, a 10-Inch active subwoofer, a 3-way 3-driver bookshelf speaker, and a Sony SSCS8 2-way 3-driver center channel speaker.
All the speakers/component has a polished black finish. With the best technologies used for the receiver unit, it also supports 4K pass-through with lossless output.
The receiver also supports wireless connectivity; plus, you can connect multiple devices at a go using the available input channels/ports.
Performance
We already know the Sony 3-way 3-driver bookshelf speaker to perform very well; now, pairing it with a couple of other great speakers delivers what you will call the best-in-class audio quality.
The subwoofer? It does a great job of providing depth for your audio needs. Thanks to the HDR signal pass-through, audiophiles will enjoy incredible image contrast and brightness.
Plus, this system supports a 4K pass-through, which it utilizes to transmit lossless premium audio to provide listeners with an immersive cinematic experience.
Also, the Sony STRDN1080 supports DTS: X to deliver multi-dimensional surround sound in real-time.
Connectivity
This 7.2 sound system supports a variety of connectivity options to offer more flexibility and comfort in regards to how you play your audio from different sources.
The receiver supports Wi-Fi technology and you can clearly see the 3.5mm input port and a couple of other at the front panel. Read the user manual for more guidance.
Tech specs
| Total weight | 144.2 pounds |
| Rated power | 1500 Watts |
| Connectivity type | Wired and wireless |
| Warranty | Limited from manufacturer |
Summary
These are our best 7.1 surround systems and they are pretty affordable. More interestingly, these surround sound systems are specially designed for impressive home entertainment and they offer high-quality sound.
Our experts carefully handpicked these systems; thus, we assure you that they are durable and fit for many homes.
Finally, before choosing a 7.1 surround sound system for your home; we advise that you consider the space in your room; if you don’t have much space, you can still consider going for the best 5.1 surround sound system.