Enjoy Your Music, Movies and Web Series Content Like a Connoisseur: Best Home Theatre Systems in India to Ramp Up Your Audio Visual Experience (2023)

The pleasure of watching a movie on a home theatre is unbeatable. Though it may not compare to watching in a regular theatre, it is so much better than watching movies on regular TVs.

Broadly speaking a home theatre system is a collection of multiple audio-visual components which are seamlessly connected to each other to provide a theatre-grade viewing and sound experience. Typically a home theatre system comprises of (a) large-screen television (or projector and screen) (b) a multimedia player and streaming receiver and (c) the speakers system for producing the audio output.

In this BP Guide we will talk about the various home theatre audio systems which when integrated with your television panels, media players and streaming devices will upgrade your entertainment experience to an awesome movie theatre experience right in the comfort of your own home.

A home theatre audio system is classified as “x.y.z” in numbers. Wherein “x” denotes the number of speakers, “y” denotes the number of sub-woofers and “z” denotes the number of Dolby Atmos speakers. So one of the oldest forms of audio equipment – a stereo system is a 2.0 system because it has only 2 speakers – left speaker and right speaker. A 3.1 system will have a left speaker, a right speaker, a central speaker (3 speakers in all) and a sub-woofer. Likewise, a 5.1.2 channel system will have 5 main speakers (left, right, centre, left-rear and right-rear), 1 sub-woofer and 2 Dolby Atmos speakers (normally mounted on the ceiling).

Therefore, the more channels your home theatre system has, the more immersive sound experience you will get from it.

A sub-woofer is a large driver speaker which delivers lower frequency (20 – 200 Hz) sounds in a home theatre system. This is the speaker which amplifies the bass and makes you feel the “thump” as the elephant runs across the jungle. It also enriches your listening experience when listening to bass-heavy music, rock, metal, etc. A sub-woofer is normally placed below the central speaker, however, depending on the room you are planning to set-up your home theatre system, you can experiment by placing your sub-woofer at various spots and then discovering the spot which delivers the best result. If your budget permits, you can also think of deploying 2 (or more) sub-woofers, instead of 1.

Dolby Atmos is a sound technology developed by Dolby to produce a 3D-surround sound system. So, with Dolby Atmos speakers you will actually feel the aeroplane swooping down on you from the sky because of the layer of sound it creates on the top of your head. Normally Dolby Atmos speakers are mounted on the ceiling. However, depending on the nature of your room you can again experiment by placing these speakers at different spots till the time you don’t get the sound which feels the best.

A pioneer in the Audio industry since the 1920s, Philips is a company in this list that hardly needs an introduction. Philips is trusted in India for generations starting from their iconic transistor radios and record players, they now offer some of the best audio systems which are also surprisingly affordable. A simplistic design that is robust and sturdy makes this system a great value proposition. The 2.1 channel system generates 20W (PMPO) sound output and comes with connectivity options like Bluetooth, USB and Aux. The system includes a full-function remote control and an in-built FM tuner. Priced at ₹ 4,299.00 this system provides you with all the basic essentials of having a good home theatre system. Check it out on Amazon.

This 5.1 channel home theatre system from Zebronics delivers 65W (RMS) power and comes with a powerful 4” sub-woofer driver. The wireless Bluetooth system supports connectivity via USB, Aux, SD/MMC card, 5.1 DVD audio input, and also has an in-built FM radio. The system also comes with a full-function remote. If you are on a tight budget this system might just be perfect for you. It comes with a 1-year manufacturer warranty and is priced at ₹ 4,390.00 on Amazon.

iBall which was known for manufacturing high-quality computer peripherals and accessories has now diversified into producing high-quality yet surprisingly affordable audio systems as well. iBall Tarang Classic is a 2.1 channel speaker system which delivers 40W (RMS) sound output through its 2 satellites (2 * 10W) and 1 sub-woofer (20W) drivers. The drivers are encased in wooden housings to produce a more natural sound output and to give an authentic feel to your music. Connectivity options include Bluetooth 5.0, USB, SD/MMC, Aux and FM. It also comes with bass and treble controls and a full-function remote control. Priced at ₹ 3,495.00 you can buy it from Amazon.

Sony needs no introduction and is synonymous with the highest quality of consumer electronic products worldwide. If you are interested in buying a Sony home theatre system in a tight budget then this is a wonderful option for you. This is a 4.1 channel multimedia speaker system with an 80W (RMS) sound output. It provides connectivity with Bluetooth, USB and Aux. The speakers sport a stylish black glossy finish that will enhance the décor of any room in your home. The system also comes with a wireless remote control. Priced at ₹ 9,990.00 you can check it out on Amazon.

This 5.1 channel 80W multimedia speaker system from F&D features 3” full range satellite speakers with a 5.25” driver sub-woofer. It has a digital FM tuner with PLL technology and can store up to 100 FM stations. A stylish, easy-to-read white LED display adorns the sub-woofer. Connectivity options include Bluetooth 4.0, USB, Aux and SD card. The system promises to deliver clear sound with a great bass. It comes with a full-function remote control and can be purchased from Amazon for ₹ 7,499.00.

If you are looking for a budget-friendly yet awesome cinema-at-home experience, this may be the end of the search for you. This stylish 2.1 channel home theatre system from GOVO has four 2.25” drivers integrated with a 6.5” sub-woofer delivering 200W (PMPO) and 160W (RMS) sound output. The soundbar has LED lights along the trim and sides enhancing your mood and listening experience. The system has DSP (Digital Signal Processing) for enhanced sound output and offers various connectivity options like Bluetooth 5.0, HDMI, USB, Optical and Aux. Priced at ₹ 7,599.00 you can check it out on Amazon.

boAt has sprung up as one of the biggest consumer electronics brand in India. This 2.1 channel Dolby Digital system generates 120W (RMS) of sound output which includes 60W (RMS) from the sub-woofer. It features 4 pre-set modes – New, Movies, Music and 3D to further enhance your listening experience. It offers multiple connectivity options like Bluetooth 5.0, HDMI-ARC, Optical, USB and Aux. The home theatre system comes with a 1-year manufacturer warranty and boAt offers soundbar installation at no extra charge as well. You can buy this sleek and stylish system from boAt for ₹ 9,999.00.

A phenomenal offering by iBall, this 2.1 channel multimedia speaker system is meant for those of you who love playing with fire and ice, bass and treble. Not only does the system offer an unparalleled versatility of sound choices but it also comes at a very affordable price! Experience the sound of thrill, explosion and pure acoustic bliss with iBall Thunder 2.1. The system offers high bass and deep treble with a sound output of 40W (PMPO). Connectivity options include Bluetooth, USB, SD/MMC card, Aux and FM. The RGB LED lights on the central console pep-up your mood while listening to your favourite music. Priced at ₹ 5,999.00 you can buy it from Amazon.

This 2.1 channel home theatre system from JBL features an ultra-low profile sound bar (having a height of only 6.2 cm) and a deep bass sub-woofer. The system delivers 110W of sound output from its 2 powerful full range drivers with a profound bass output from the wired sub-woofer. The system has Dolby Digital Audio embedded in it to enrich your theatre experience and it provides for Bluetooth, HDMI ARC and Optical input for complete convenience of wireless and wired connectivity. Priced at ₹ 8,999.00 you can buy it from Amazon.

This 5.1 channel surround sound system from audio leader, Philips, has a futuristic design with an elegant matte finish in black colour. It delivers a total of 120W sound output from its 5 satellite speakers of 15W each and a super-powerful sub-woofer with an 8” driver delivering 45W. The system has an LED display and provides multiple connectivity options like Bluetooth, USB, SD card and audio-in. The system comes with a 1-year manufacturer warranty, weighs 9.5 kg and can be purchased for ₹ 9,490.00 from Amazon.

Panasonic is a renowned Japanese brand known for developing high-quality consumer electronic products for decades. This 4.1 channel home theatre system from Panasonic features 4 satellite speakers, 1 sub-woofer and a remote control. The speakers are wall-mountable. The system delivers a powerful sound output of 100W (RMS) and offers connectivity via Bluetooth, USB and Aux with your laptop, smartphone, gaming console, TV, DVD player, tablets, etc. Very reasonably priced at ₹ 8,422.00 you can buy it from Amazon.

Obage is an Indian audio brand which has created a name for itself in the home audio space. This 2.1 channel home theatre system promises distortion free sound and amazing clarity at all levels. The system has a vintage wooden box finish design and a balanced sound signature wherein equal emphasis is given to bass, treble and the mid-range. The sub-woofer is 6.5” in size pumping out 60W with a total power output of 100W (RMS) across all the speakers. The system offers Bluetooth 5.0, USB, Aux, SD/MMC, FM and Optical input compatibility. It is ideal for rooms with an area of up to 175 sq. ft. Check it out on Amazon for ₹ 6,899.00.

If you love heavy bass and are on a budget then this system will not disappoint you. It is a 4.1 channel home theatre system delivering 130W (RMS) sound output. The high-point of this system is its 6.5” sub-woofer which produces thumping bass. The audio output is distortion-free and the system supports USB, FM, Bluetooth and Aux inputs. Priced at ₹ 5,790.00 you can check it out on Amazon.

This is a 2.1 channel multimedia system from Infinity (JBL) which churns out 100W (PMPO). It has 2 full-range 3.5” drivers for the satellite speakers and a massive 6.5” driver for the sub-woofer. The system has 3 pre-set equaliser settings – Movies, Music and Gaming for you to select depending upon your nature of usage. Connectivity options include Bluetooth, USB and Aux. The central sub-woofer console has a pulsating LED illumination to enhance your listening and viewing experience. Priced at ₹ 5,299.00 you can buy this system from Amazon.

This is another quality product from Obage which emphasises on producing crystal clear sound output across all frequencies rather than on maximising sound output in numbers. The 4.1 channel system generating 65W (PMPO) sound output has 4 full range drivers generating 7.5W each and a 6.5” sub-woofer pumping out 35W. To enhance the quality of sound each driver is encased in high-quality MDF wood. The system comes with bass, treble and volume controls. It offers various connectivity options like Bluetooth, USB, SD/MMC, Aux, and it also supports FM playback. The front firing drivers use bass reflex technology. Priced at ₹ 5,499.00 you can buy it from Amazon.

This 5.1 channel home theatre system from Sony includes a 3 channel soundbar, 2 wired compact rear speakers and a sub-woofer. Combined together they produce 400W (RMS) true cinematic experience surround sound with Dolby Digital. The system provides multiple connectivity options like HDMI-ARC, Optical, Aux, Bluetooth and USB. It features various pre-set sound modes like Auto, Standard, Cinema, Music, Night and Voice to refine your listening experience. Sony India offers a free demo and installation service as well. Buy it on Amazon for ₹ 17,779.00.

This slightly higher end system (as compared to F3800X) delivers 135W (RMS) through 5 satellite speakers each with 1” tweeters and 3” full range drivers and 1 sub-woofer with 8” bass driver. The satellites are wired and come with 1.5 feet cables. The system sports a stylish multi-coloured LED themes console to enhance your listening pleasure. A dedicated app can be used to control the home theatre system from your smart devices. Connectivity options include Bluetooth 4.2, USB and Aux. The highly durable matte finish not only makes the system look classy, but also keeps it fingerprint free. Priced at ₹ 12,200.00 check it out on Amazon.

Blaupunkt, a German brand, is known worldwide for its exceptional consumer audio and car audio products. The 5.1 channel Dolby Digital Audio system is German technology at its very best. It has 11 speakers – 6 drivers in the ultra-low profile soundbar, 2 each in the wireless satellite units and 1 sub-woofer. The sub-woofer features an 8” bottom firing driver coupled with a rear bass port to deliver bass of an unparalleled quality. The system delivers 360W (PMPO) surround sound to create a true home theatre experience. It offers connectivity via HDMI-ARC, Bluetooth, USB, Coaxial, Optical and Aux. Priced at ₹ 19,990.00 you can buy this mind-blowing system from Amazon.

From manufacturing cheap computer accessories to manufacturing high quality audio equipment Zebronics has come a long way. This premium offering from Zebronics is a 5.1 channel home theatre system with 525W room thumping and exceptionally clear surround sound. The Dolby Audio 5.1 surround sound system has a triple driver soundbar delivering 225W (PMPO), 2 wireless satellites delivering 75W (PMPO) each and a 6.5” sub-woofer driver delivering an astounding 150W (PMPO) of brute power. The components are wall-mountable and are accompanied with a full function remote. The system offers all connectivity options like HDMI-ARC, Bluetooth 5.0, USB, Optical and Aux. Priced at ₹ 16,999.00 you can buy it from Amazon.

If you are looking for a premium home theatre system with thumping sound output this may be one of the options you would definitely like. This 5.1 channel real surround sound system from Sony features an ultra-low profile 3 channel soundbar, wireless rear speakers, a sub-woofer and an S-Master digital amplifier. The system produces 600W (RMS) of crystal clear Digital Audio surround sound. Another high-point of this system is that it offers wireless TV connectivity if you have a Sony Bravia TV. Additionally, it offers connectivity via HDMI, Bluetooth, Optical and Analog for both wired and wireless connectivity. Priced at ₹ 26,990.00 you can buy this system from Amazon.

Denon is a 100+ year old Japanese company known for producing the highest quality of consumer audio equipment in the world. This 2.1 channel system is powered with mid-range drivers, detailed tweeters and a wireless sub-woofer. Collectively they produce 1000W (RMS) of sound output. The low profile soundbar (only 5.5 cm in height) comes with Dolby Digital and DTS technology along with a Denon proprietary Denon Dialogue Enhancer for crystal clear dialogue delivery. Connectivity options include HDMI-ARC, Bluetooth, Optical and 3.5 mm Aux. The system is completely wall-mountable and is available on Amazon for ₹ 29,700.00.

Yamaha is another Japanese brand with an extremely diverse product portfolio which is at a pinnacle in every segment it is present in. Furthermore, it has a deep association with India and needs no introduction. This is a top-of-the-line 5.1 channel home theatre system from Yamaha with Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Each channel delivers 135W (PMPO) sound output and the system has been designed for delivering exceptional sound clarity. The AV receiver ensures realistic dynamic surround sound to replicate a movie theatre experience. Connectivity options include HDMI-ARC and the system also supports full 4K Ultra HD. It also features an AM/FM tuner to complete your home audio requirement. Priced at ₹ 43,999.00 you can buy this system from Amazon.

Polk Audio was founded in 1972 and is known for its high-quality audio products particularly home and automobile speakers. This 5.1 channel home theatre system is perfect for you if you want thumping sound but are constrained for space. The ultra-compact sound bar with a 6 driver array delivers accurate and immersive 5.1 Dolby Digital sound. Coupled with a wireless sub-woofer and you get 150W (RMS) of brute power. The system provides HDMI, Optical, 3.5 mm Aux, Bluetooth, USB, Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity. Check out this elegant home theatre system on Amazon for ₹ 34,990.00.

This is a Dolby Digital surround sound system from JBL which promises an incredibly deep bass. It includes an ultra-low profile wall mountable soundbar accompanied with a wireless 6.5” sub-woofer delivering 300W (PMPO). The system offers connectivity via Bluetooth, HDMI-ARC, Optical, USB and Aux. JBL offers a 1-year manufacturer warranty and a free demo and installation service with the system. The premium finish of the system will go well with all types of home décor. Priced at ₹ 24,997.00 you can check it out on Amazon.

This is an incredible 5.1 channel Dolby Digital surround sound system specially designed and tuned for India. It comes with a 3 channel soundbar, 2 rear speakers and an 18 cm sub-woofer unit. Together they generate 1,000W (PMPO) of sound for an unprecedented and thrilling cinema experience. Multiple connectivity options include HDMI-ARC, Bluetooth, USB, Optical and Aux. You can also manage your sound settings and content through Sony’s exclusive Music Centre app. Sony also provides a free installation service for this system. It is available for ₹ 36,800.00 on Amazon.

This 5.1 channel Dolby Digital home theatre system features a slim wall-mountable soundbar with 3 drivers, 2 tall boy design floor-standing rear speakers with 6.5 cm drivers and an 18 cm sub-woofer. The system generates 600W (PMPO) of incredibly rich and deep sound for an unforgettable cinematic experience right in your home. Connectivity is offered via Bluetooth, USB, HDMI-ARC, Optical and Aux. If your smartphone is NFC enabled you can just tap it to connect. Colour-coded cables and colour coded ports (on the central console) come in the box for lightning fast set-up. Priced at ₹ 22,990.00 you can buy it from Flipkart.

This premium 5.1 channel surround sound system from Logitech is THX certified to produce theatre quality sound. Moreover, it is also DTS and Dolby Digital certified for accurate reproduction of both DTS and Dolby Digital soundtracks giving you an immersive movie watching and audio listening experience. The system delivers 1,000W peak power and comes with a 2-year hardware warranty. The system provides seamless connectivity with your computer, music player, gaming console, TV, Blu-Ray and DVD players and other audio inputs via digital optical, digital coaxial, RCA audio and 3.5 mm output. Priced at ₹ 35,995.00 you can get it from Amazon.

If you are looking for a home theatre system in the premium segment then this JBL system can definitely be an option for you. It is a 5.1 channel Dolby Digital DTS 4K Ultra HD system which comes with 2 detachable battery-powered wireless surround sound speakers and a huge 10” sub-woofer. Not surprisingly the system delivers an awesome 510W (RMS) output with incredible sound clarity. It features true 4K connectivity with 3 HDMI In/HDMI ARC Out ports along with Bluetooth, Optical and Aux connectivity options. You can control the system seamlessly with your existing TV remote. The system is available for ₹ 67,917.00 on Amazon.

If price is not a consideration and you are simply looking for the finest then there are very few systems which can come even close to this 9.1 channel home theatre system from JBL. This reddot 2020 winner system features true wireless surround sound with Dolby Atmos with a mind-blowing 820W (RMS) power output. It comes with 2 battery-powered wireless surround speakers and a 10” wireless sub-woofer. The upward firing speakers on the main console and the detachable speakers create an ultimate 3D surround sound experience like no other. Packed with numerous connectivity options you can check out this system on Amazon for ₹ 89,999.00.

Polk MagniFi 2 is a premium offering from Polk which is compatible with 5.1 Dolby Digital and DTS. The low profile soundbar (only 5.3 cm in height) has 6 full range driver array and an 8” down-firing wireless sub-woofer. Polk patented Voice Adjust technology ensures every dialogue is delivered in a crystal clear manner. Polk patented Stereo Dimensional Array (SDA) creates a unique multi-dimensional surround sound experience like no other. Churning an output of 200W (PMPO) the system is compatible with 4K and HD TVs and comes with Google Chromecast built-in. Connectivity options include HDMI-ARC, Optical, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Priced at ₹ 71,000.00, it comes with a 1-year manufacturer warranty and you can buy this system on Amazon.