Shop for surround speaker systems

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.5 stars Spectacular

  Overall score: 9.3 (4.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 28 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Energy Take Classic 5.1 is the best budget speaker system we've reviewed, earning our Editors' Choice Award with its outstanding sound quality and exquisite looks. Read review

Specs: Home theater speaker system, Wired, Active subwoofer, passive satellites, 89 dB, 100 Watt, 200 Watt, High-gloss black

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.1 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: Vizio's S4251w-B4 sports rear speakers for unparalleled home theater sonics from a sound bar, although it has some quirks. Read review

Specs: Sound bar speaker system, Wireless

• CNET Editor rating:
  5.0 stars Spectacular

  Overall score: 9.7 (5.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: The Monoprice 9774 speaker system is the best home audio value we've ever seen: gorgeous, incredible-sounding home theater speakers for just under $250. Read review

Specs: Home theater speaker system, Wired, Active, 8 Ohm, 89 dB, 200 Watt, Black

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Harman Kardon SB 16 features a premium price tag and some remote control quirks, but its excellent sound quality and exterior design make it worth the extra cash. Read review

Specs: Sound bar speaker system, Wired, Active, 25 Watt, 100 Watt

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.2 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 5.0 stars out of 2 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Sonos Playbar is cleverly designed and does great fake surround, but it's better suited to current Sonos customers than newcomers. Read review

Specs: Sound bar, Nine class-D digital amplifiers, Ethernet - Wi-Fi, Wireless, Active

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.3 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 10 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Samsung HW-C450 is an exceedingly thin sound bar home theater system that sounds surprisingly good with movies, but lacks HDMI connectivity. Read review

Specs: Sound bar speaker system, Wired, Wireless, Active

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 19 reviews

Specs: Speaker system, Wired, Active, Black

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.4 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: The Monoprice 8247 does the impossible by offering a competent 5.1 speaker system for less than $100, setting a new standard for ultrabudget speakers. Read review

Specs: Home theater speaker system, Wired, Active subwoofer, passive satellites, 85 dB, 60 Watt, Black

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 6 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Bose Acoustimass 6 Series III speaker system delivers a big sound from exceptionally small speakers, but its high price keeps it from being a good value pick. Read review

Specs: Home theater speaker system, Wired, Active subwoofer, passive satellites, 4/8 Ohm, Black

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 11 reviews

Specs: Speaker system, Wired, Active, Black

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 2 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Boston SoundWare XS 5.1 is an exceptionally compact system and sounds great for its size--although larger systems sound even better. Read review

Specs: Speaker system, Wired, Active subwoofer, passive satellites, 100 Watt, Black

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.6 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 4 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Energy Speakers RC-Micro 5.1 speaker system delivers superb sound quality from incredibly tiny speakers. Read review

Specs: Speaker system, Wired, Active subwoofer, passive satellites, 240 Watt, High-gloss black

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 29 reviews

Specs: Home theater speaker system, Wired, Active subwoofer, passive satellites, Black

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.4 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: The JBL SB 300 is a plus-size sound bar with excellent sound quality, but its unconventional style won't please everyone. Read review

Specs: Sound bar speaker system, Sound Bar, Wired, Wireless, Active, 100 Watt

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 6 reviews

Specs: Sound bar home theater system, Wired, Wireless, Active

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: The Vizio VHT215 looks sleek, sounds good, and is packed with inputs, making it one of the top budget sound bar choices. Read review

Specs: Sound bar speaker system, Wireless, Active, Black

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: Philips announced at CES 2013 the Fidelio Soundbar HTL9100, calling it the world's first sound bar with battery-powered detachable speakers that operate over Bluetooth. Read review

Specs: Sound bar speaker system

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 11 reviews

The Bottom Line: While we'd prefer more input options, the Vizio VHT510 adds rear speakers to the traditional sound bar design, resulting in outstanding sound quality at a very affordable price. Read review

Specs: Sound bar speaker system, Wired - 2.4 GHz radio frequency, Wireless, Active, 75 Watt, 25 Watt, 60 Watt, Black

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.0 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: The Energy Power Bar sounds better than most sound bars when playing music, but there are better overall sound bars available for less money. Read review

Specs: Sound bar speaker system, Wireless, Satin black

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.7 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 6 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Definitive Technology ProCinema 600 surround speakers pack a mighty wallop for their small size, but the system needs some extra care during setup to sound its best. Read review

Specs: Home theater speaker system, Wired, Active subwoofer, passive satellites, 250 Watt, Gloss black

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 7 reviews

Specs: Speaker system, Wired, Passive, 4/8 Ohm, Black

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 3 reviews

Specs: Speaker system, Wired, Active subwoofer, passive satellites, 89 dB, 50 Watt, Black

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.1 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 53 reviews

The Bottom Line: This five-piece home-theater speaker package offers shockingly good sound for a mere $199. Read review

Specs: Home theater speaker system, Home theater speaker system, Wired, Passive, Black ash

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.3 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.0 stars out of 4 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Vizio VHT210 sound bar sports an uncommonly compact design and sounds better playing music than the average in its class, but its input options are limited. Read review

Specs: Sound bar home theater system, Home theater speaker system, Wireless - 2.4 GHz radio frequency, Wired, Active

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: LG is showing off four new sound bars at CES 2013, including the NB3730A with built-in Wi-Fi and streaming-video services. Read review

Specs: Sound bar