What Speakers Do I Need?
Soundbar or real speakers? Wired or wireless? Tell us about your room and we'll sort it all out.
What room is this for?
Different rooms call for different speaker setups.
Choosing the Right Speakers for Your Home
The first question most people have isn't about speaker brands or watts — it's "do I even need real speakers, or will a soundbar work?" The honest answer: for most people watching TV in a living room, a good soundbar is a massive upgrade from built-in TV speakers and the easiest path to better sound.
But if you want real surround sound — where helicopters fly behind you and explosions shake the room — you need dedicated speakers. A 5.1 system (five speakers + subwoofer) is the gold standard for home theater. You can go wireless for the surround speakers to avoid running cable to the back of the room, or go fully wired for the best sound quality.
For music lovers, skip surround sound entirely and invest in a great stereo pair. Two excellent speakers will always outperform five average ones for music. Add a subwoofer if you want deeper bass.
Once you know what speakers you need, check our Receiver Power Guide to make sure your amplifier can drive them properly.
Related Tools
How Powerful Should My Receiver Be?
Not sure how many watts you need? Answer a few questions and we'll tell you what to look for.
What Size TV Should I Get?
Answer a few questions about your room and we'll recommend the perfect TV size, mounting height, and setup.
Will a Projector Work in My Room?
Find out if your room is right for a projector, what size screen you can get, and where to place it.