Things to consider
To really immerse yourself in the action and drama of entertainment you want room-filling sound. Home cinema systems are great for large rooms or open plan living. With speakers dotted around the room you can create true surround sound – look out for systems with wireless speakers and sub.
A sound bar with virtual surround sound can offer a cinema-like experience for smaller spaces – keep an eye out for Dolby Atmos or DTS Virtual:X for brilliant sound that envelopes you. They don’t take up much space either, especially if you opt for an all-in-one or compact sound bar, and sit discreetly below your TV or be wall mounted.
For an all-in-one solution where you don’t have to worry about extra speakers or a sub, consider a soundstage. It has a flat and compact design for sitting under your TV, but still delivers rich, detailed virtual surround sound.
With a multi-room system you can have the same song playing on different speakers, or control each speaker individually, all from just one app. It’s a great way to fill your home with music – you can group together speakers by room, so you can have music playing in the living room perfectly in sync with what’s playing in the kitchen.
Whether you’re looking to setup a multi-room system or thinking about expanding your setup in the future, it’s important that all your speakers work together. Generally, multi-room speakers only work with other speakers from the same range. If you’re looking for a more open system, consider speakers with Chromecast built-in as they work with other Chromecast speakers from different brands.
For fuss-free wireless streaming from your smartphone or tablet, opt for a system with Bluetooth. Simply pair and start streaming from your usual music apps, including the likes of Spotify and Deezer.
With a wireless range of up to 10 m, it’s perfect for enjoying playlists and podcasts at home. Plus, with simple setup, it’s easy for the whole family to use.
Pairing your smartphone with your home cinema system, sound bar, or soundstage is even easier with NFC (near-field communication). Just like using a contactless card, simply touch your NFC-enabled smartphone to the relevant spot on the speaker to quickly pair and start streaming.
For some extra bass that brings movies to life and gives your music depth, consider a system with a wireless subwoofer. The sub has a wireless connection to your sound bar – so they’ll be perfectly in sync without the need for trailing cables. This gives you the freedom to place the subwoofer where it suits you in the room – all you need is a power socket.