Ad We earn commissions from purchases you make » read more

The 10 best home theater systems to buy in the UK

Picture of a home theater system

A quality home theater system replicates the viewing experience found a movie theater but from the comfort of home. There are many types of great home theater systems available, although traditionally it refers to types of audio systems that vastly improve the sound when viewing a movie. The best home theater system will help to make your home more like a movie theater.

What are home theater systems?

A home theater system refers to audio, and sometimes visual, equipment that is set up in a private home to recreate the viewing experience found at a movie theater. Essentially, it’s any equipment that can be used to improve your entertainment system at home, although it traditionally refers to a surround sound audio systems that are connected to a television set to create an even better viewing experience from home.

Home theater systems may consist of various pieces of audio equipment, such as quality speakers, a great subwoofer and a premium AV receiver, while others can feature fewer components such as a inexpensive soundbar.

Why should you buy a good home theater system?

When viewing a movie from home, there is a distinct drop in sound quality when compared to that found in the movie theater. Obviously, movie theaters have much more sophisticated sound equipment, resulting in incredible audio that can greatly enhance the viewing experience of any film. Should you appreciate movies and want to enjoy them as much as you did in the movie theater, a great home movie theater system can be a fantastic addition to your entertainment setup.

Sound is an often-overlooked aspect of a movie, and it can really decrease in quality when viewed on an inferior audio system - the best home theater systems allow you to enjoy the audio of a movie as it was originally intended.

How to choose the right home theater system in 2024?

Another picture of a home theater system

There are many factors to consider when trying to find the right home theater system, so it is important to understand what you wish to achieve from adding this to your home. For instance, where will the home theater system be set up – is it in a large living space or a smaller location such as bedroom? Different home theater systems will be better suited to certain environments, while other aspects such as your budget or feature you want will impact your decision.

Here are some things to consider when trying to choose the best home theater system:

  • Price: Much like any other entertainment system, a good home theater system is available in a range of prices, and your budget will determine what system is right for you. Price isn't always a guarantee of quality, as cheaper options will often be all-in-one home theater systems that are still very good in terms of quality. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, as many will find this more than suitable. Separate home theater systems will have more individual pieces of hardware, such as speakers and a good DVD player, and often produce better sound - so understandably, they are often costlier.
  • Audio Quality: As the main goal of a good home theater system is to recapture the sound quality of a movie theater, you will want a system with quality audio. The highest quality systems will produce a sound similar to that of a movie theater, with crisp, sharp audio that allows you to hear everything clearly. Also, the more speakers you have, the better the sound system will be, but this will be a more expensive route.
  • Usability: Setting up and operating a home theater system can be hard work, especially if you are not the greatest with technology. All-in-one systems can be easier to set up as there are fewer things to install and configure, and you should also want a system that can be easily used once installed.

What is the best kind of home theater system in the UK?

There is no shortage of options when it comes to finding the best home theater systems. Here are some of the most popular options currently available:

  • All-in-one Home Theater Systems: Arguably the simplest system to use, these are a great choice for first-time buyers looking to improve their audio system with little hassle. Every part of a home theater system is included – amplifier, speakers, cables and anything else needed to connect and operate the system. They may include a quality Blu-Ray player, while high-end options can include more speakers and subwoofers to increase the overall audio quality.
  • Separate Home Theater Systems: This option involves buying each piece of equipment separately, so you will need to buy speakers, amplifiers, cables, subwoofers and anything else individually. You then set everything together, although this requires prior knowledge to sound configuration and various other settings. While it can produce an incredible sound that is designed to specifically meet your personal needs, it can be rather difficult to setup. So it is better for enthusiasts looking to upgrade their current system.
  • Standing Home Theater Systems: A standing home theater system will have floor standing speakers that are placed on the floor in front of the television. As these speakers can be large in size, they often provide the best audio quality, the bass is especially great, but can be difficult to fit in smaller spaces.
  • Bookshelf Home Theater Systems: This system involves smaller speakers that are placed on bookshelves, making them the best choice for smaller spaces as you can spread the speakers throughout the room.

Top 10 list of home theater systems in the UK (2024)

The bestseller list compares brands and their home theater systems. Which home theater system is the best?
Best choice TOP 1
Image of ULTIMEA U2520 home theater system
ULTIMEA 5.1 Soundbar Compatible with Dolby Atmos, 3D Surround Sound…
  • ULTIMEA Customized Sound EQ software: ULTIMEA highly values individual sound preferences,…
  • Home Theater Technology Compatibility with Dolby Atmos Advanced Decoding : Whether…
  • The Highest-level Audio Transmission: HDMI provides higher bandwidth and advanced…
BUY NOW
Offer TOP 2
Image of ULTIMEA U2501 home theater system
ULTIMEA 5.1ch Sound Bar for Smart TV, Virtual Surround Sound System…
  • 10-Band Equalizer Settings: Elevate your audio experience with 6 tailored EQ modes:…
  • 121 Preset EQ Matrices: The Ultimea App caters to the ultimate audio enthusiast with…
  • Ultimea Smart App Control for Intuitive Audio Adjustments: Ultimea smart App for…
BUY NOW
TOP 3
Image of Sony HT-S40R home theater system
Sony HT-S40R 5.1ch 600W Soundbar for TV with Subwoofer and Wireless…
  • A button for every sound – choose the mode thatâ€s…
  • A slim, compact soundbar with an unobtrusive subwoofer and wireless rear speakers.…
  • The HT-S40R has an HDMI output, Bluetooth supporting wireless connection with Bravia…
BUY NOW
TOP 4
Image of ULTIMEA U3600 home theater system
ULTIMEA 4.1ch Sound Bar for Smart TV with Subwoofer, Peak Power 200W,…
  • Simplified Control - With CEC synchronization, you can control your TV and soundbar…
  • Seamless Connectivity - The soundbar has wired and wireless dual connection options,…
  • Fuller and Clearer Sound - The soundbar utilizes an upgraded DSP chip to reduce audio…
BUY NOW
TOP 5
Image of MEREDO D404M-CD home theater system
MEREDO Sound Bar for TV with Subwoofer 5.25’‘ Larger 12L…
  • Note: Both the subwoofer and the left and right soundbars require wired connections.…
  • Note: MEREDO Soundbar does not support Dolby/DTS sound.
  • Set Up Your Sound Bar in Minutes - Includes the MEREDO D40 Sound bar, ARC cable,…
BUY NOW
TOP 6
Image of ULTIMEA Poseidon D50 home theater system
ULTIMEA 5.1 Surround Sound System, Sound Bar for TV, 3D Soundbar Home…
  • Easy to Set up & Decent Design: ULTIMEA sound bars for tv support multiple wire…
  • Customized Bass and Surround Sound: You can completely control your audio environment…
  • Deep, Room-Filling Bass with Ultimate BassMAX Technology: To deliver a deep and powerful…
BUY NOW
TOP 7
Image of ULTIMEA U2100 home theater system
ULTIMEA Sound Bar for TV with Subwoofer, Deep Bass Ultra Slim Soundbar,…
  • VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY: The soundbar boasts seamless compatibility with ARC, Optical,…
  • PERSONALIZED 3 EQ MODES: Carefully curated to ignite your imagination in every scenario.…
  • PREMIUM GAMING MODE: The sleek and slim PC soundbar is tailor-made to perfectly complement…
BUY NOW
TOP 8
Image of ULTIMEA U2120 home theater system
ULTIMEA Sound Bar for TV, with Dolby Atmos, Soundbar for 3D Surround…
  • The Highest-level Audio Transmission: HDMI-eARC provides higher bandwidth and advanced…
  • Dolby Atmos Advanced Decoding: Compatible with Blu-ray, streaming (Netflix, Prime…
  • Breaking Size Limitations, Achieving Sound Revolution: As debut 2.1ch Dolby Atmos…
BUY NOW
TOP 9
Image of MAJORITY EVR-BAR-BLK UK home theater system
MAJORITY Everest | Bluetooth 5.1 Wireless Surround Sound System |…
  • ' : This package includes 1x Everest surround sound bar for tv, 1x Subwoofer,…
  • , , , : The wireless satellite speakers redefine your audio experience whether watching…
  • , , : Step into a realm of audio with advanced 3D technology. Everest 5.1 soundbar…
BUY NOW
TOP 10
Image of Fenton  home theater system
Fenton 5.0 Home Cinema Surround Sound System - Black Home Theatre…
  • Flexible Connectivity Options: Tailored to modern homes, this system supports a variety…
  • Plug and Play Convenience: Designed for simplicity, the Fenton 5.0 system features…
  • Comprehensive Surround Sound: This system includes four precision-crafted satellite…
BUY NOW
Affiliate Disclosure

We participate in the Amazon Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We consider only products that are available on Amazon while the ranking is based on factors such as customer reviews, number of sales and keyword. Last Update: 2024/11/21.