Great Home Theater Systems that Won’t Break the Bank – affordable budget systems

Samuel J Tan Entertainment, Home & Kitchen, Home Cinema, Speakers, Theater Systems 0

While in earlier times of basic entertainment, a home theater system was not a truly essential piece of kit, these days however, it is becoming a standard in most homes. The overall enhancement to the viewing experience in terms of sound quality and its surround effect makes a major contributing factor to its necessity.

From a weighted heavy bass that ensures you don’t miss out of the heavy action, to the higher tweeter speakers, to their placements within your space, a home theater system (along with a great TV Screen) allows you to lose yourself completely for a few hours in the world of make believe – whether it’s realistic and action packed or sci-fi and beautifully imaginative.

Top 10 Best Budget Home Theater Systems

Here in this post we take a look at some of the best and most amazing options of affordable Home Theater Systems that will allow you to re-create a complete cinematic experience in your own home. Note that some of these are home theater speakers only and would require a separate AV Receiver.

Speakers Only (Requires AV Receiver)

1. Klipsch Reference Theater Pack 5.1 Surround Sound System
2. JBL Cinema 510 5.1 Home Theater Speaker System with Powered Subwoofer
3. Wharfedale DX-2 5.1 Speaker System with Powered Subwoofer
4. Polk Audio TL1600 5.1 Home Theater System with Powered Subwoofer

Powered 5.1 Home Cinema Sound Systems

5. Yamaha YHT1840 AV Receiver 5.1 Home Theater Kit
6. SONY HT-S20R 5.1 Sound Bar – COMPACT
7. SONY HT-RT4 5.1 Home Cinema System
8. SONY HT-RT3 5.1 Home Cinema System

Home Theater Sound Systems with Blu-Ray Player

9. LG LOUDR LHB645N 1000W Home Theater Speaker System
10. Sony BDV-E2100 800W Home Cinema System

BONUS: Sony BDV-E4100 1000W Home Cinema System with Tall Speakers

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Speakers Only (Requires AV Receiver)

1. Klipsch Reference Theater Pack 5.1 Surround Sound System

The reference theater speaker package from Klipsch not only looks the part but sounds great too. It offers superior acoustic performance using Klipsch’s Tractrix Horn technology and aluminium tweeters in both front, center and rear speakers bundled with a downward firing wireless subwoofer.

2. JBL Cinema 510 5.1 Home Theater Speaker System with Powered Subwoofer

This compact surround sound speaker system from JBL comes with a power speaker. The JBL Cinema 510 comes with voice matched system, one center, two front and two satellite speakers. The powered subwoofer pushes 60W of power output from its 6.5-inch driver. Wall mounting brackets are included.

3. Wharfedale DX-2 5.1 Speaker System with Powered Subwoofer

Wharfedale DX-2 5.1 Surround Speaker Package

Wharfedale DX2 is available in black or white (shown above). Each of the front and satellite speakers pack a 19mm silk dome tweeter and 75 mid-range and bass driver. The center channel comes with 19mm silk dome tweeters and two 75mm mid-range and bass drivers. The powered 70W subwoofer comes with a 20cm long-throw bass driver to complete the 5.1 surround sound system. Add more satellite for a 7.1 system.

4. Polk Audio TL1600 5.1 Home Theater System with Powered Subwoofer

Polk Audio TL1600 is an ultra compact home theater sound system with a 100W powered subwoofer. Except for the subwoofer cabinet, the speakers have unique curved enclosures finished in high gloss black. These are perfect for small apartments or rooms, especially when each of the speakers comes with multiple mounting solutions. Each front or satellite speaker has a 2.5-inch mid-range (with the center channel using a pair of these) and 1/2-inch silk polymer dome tweeter built-in while the subwoofer uses an 8-inch driver. As an ultra compact setup, it can truly perform above and beyond its size and price.

Powered 5.1 Home Cinema Sound Systems

5. Yamaha YHT1840 AV Receiver 5.1 Home Theater Kit

AV receiver based home theater sound systems are expensive, especially when you pick your equipment and speakers separately. This home theater kit from Yamaha uses a high quality 5.1 HTR-2071 AV receiver and compact 5.1 NSP-Y40 speaker system with a powered subwoofer for extra bass. For its price, it offers an exceptionally good audio performance with no distortion and clear mid and high ranges. Truly a great starter kit.

6. SONY HT-S20R 5.1 Sound Bar – COMPACT

The thing that puts some people off using an AV based system is the need to find space for the AV receiver itself. AV receivers are typically quite big. The next three 5.1 home cinema system does away with a Blu-ray player, AV receiver or separate amplifier altogether. The system uses a long sound bar for the front and center channels. Together with two satellite speakers and an amplified subwoofer, they proof to be powerful surround sound system with 400W maximum output. It does not stop there, the system supports Dolby Digital, Bluetooth and USB connectivity. Connect to your TV using the HDMI, optical or analogue inputs.

7. SONY HT-RT4 5.1 Home Cinema System

Sony HT-RT4 600W 5.1 CH Soundbar System with Tall Rear Speakers

Those tall boys are for the rear channels, not the front. The Sony HT-RT4 is a powerful 600W surround sound system with tall rear speakers. Remember that both the front and center channels are already integrated into that compact sound bar. Together with the subwoofer plus DTS and Dolby Digital support they push out room filling sound for that immersive movie experience. For connectivity, you get NFC, Bluetooth, HDMI ARC, Optical Input and USB port, a simple, affordable and quick to setup sound system for any home.

8. SONY HT-RT3 5.1 Home Cinema System

You probably guessed from the model number that this is a cut-down version of the Sony HT-RT4 above. Also, because instead of tall boys for the rear channels, the Sony HT-RT3 comes with compact satellite speakers that you can place on side tables or mounted on the wall. While cheaper, it isn’t actually any less powerful with a combined maximum power output of 600W. It performs just as well as the HT-RT4 producing excellent sound quality with an even lower price tag. If you do not need rear speakers on a stand, this is one to go for.

Home Theater Sound Systems with Blu-Ray Player

9. LG LOUDR LHB645N 5.1 Home Theater Speaker System

The LHB645N 3D Blu-ray and DVD player with 5.1 surround sound system comes complete with Bluetooth and Hi-Res audio support. With a total output power of 1000W it is enough to produce a cinema experience at home. The only disadvantage is the player does not support 4K Blu-ray only upscale to Full HD. However, you can still use the sound system by connecting your favourite streamer to the HDMI port or use the optical sound input.

10. Sony BDV-E2100 800W 5.1 Home Cinema System

This Blu-ray and DVD player based home cinema system supports Full HD 3D Blu-ray playback, room-filling 5.1 channel surround sound and Bluetooth connection to stream directly from your mobile devices. For ease of pairing, it supports NFC for a quick tap-to-connect with compatible devices. With built-in WiFi, it will connect to the Internet and stream content directly from there. Lastly, the compact system is capable of a total power output of 800W for a powerful cinematic audio experience.

BONUS: Sony BDV-E4100 1000W 5.1 Home Cinema System with Tall Speakers

Improving on the BDV-E2100 is the Sony BDV-E4100 Full HD Blu-Ray Home Cinema System with Bluetooth, NFC and WiFi connectivity. It comes as no surprise that this system has a higher 1000W maximum power output. The front channels are now in the two tall boy speakers. A more powerful subwoofer is also present for that extra bass. Together they produce punchy and precise surround sound.