If sound bars and portable speakers have been all the rage for the past few years, home cinema kits are not to be outdone. More complete, they offer a better sound experience to moviegoers. With so many brands on the market, buying a passive home theater kit can quickly become a headache. To help you out, we've searched for the best passive home theater kits available today.
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Our selection
"Each element of the Cabasse EOLE 4 SYSTEM 5.1 Home Theater Speaker Pack is a decorative element that will become part of your interior design.…"
"This home theater package is part of the SIB EVO range from Sib&Co. It features a futuristic design with clean lines in ABS material. It…"
"A pack composed of 5 Home Cinema speakers all in roundness and white color that will add a touch of softness to your home. Compact…"
"Treat yourself to a true-to-life acoustic experience with this home cinema package. Thanks to its innovative design, the Focal Sib Evo Dolby Atmos 5.1.2 home…"
Each element of the Cabasse EOLE 4 SYSTEM 5.1 Home Theater Speaker Pack is a decorative element that will become part of your interior design. As for its acoustic performance, it will immerse you in the action of your movies.
639 £ on BoulangerThe speakers have a restyled and discreet design with an elegant grille and 2 chronium rings. Its 10 cm driver offers a high efficiency mid-bass, with a maximum power of 70 W. The speaker can be placed on a shelf or hung on the wall with a screw. Its spherical shape spreads the sound over a wider area, and you can easily angle and reorient them to suit your needs. The compact, lightweight subwoofer with 200W amplification delivers powerful, stable sound.
This home theater package is part of the SIB EVO range from Sib&Co. It features a futuristic design with clean lines in ABS material. It seduces us by its elegance and its timeless look.
503 £ on BoulangerWhether you are listening to Hi-Fi or watching a movie, the combination of the 5 speakers with the subwoofer will offer you an incomparable acoustic quality. Every sound is faithfully reproduced, and you will hear every detail clearly. The 5-inch driver, along with the fabric dome tweeter, is housed in a spacious enclosure with a large port to allow the sound to flow freely. The cube-shaped subwoofer includes an 8-inch driver with its 200mm amplifier. The speakers can be hung on the wall and are also tiltable.
A pack composed of 5 Home Cinema speakers all in roundness and white color that will add a touch of softness to your home. Compact and discreet, it offers an uncompromising sound quality thanks to the famous Planet technology.
1 279 £ on BoulangerThe pack is composed of 5 spherical speakers with a two-way coaxial woofer of 100 mm. It offers a maximum output with an amplifier of 30 to 80 W. The active Bass Sumwoofer contains a 200 mm bass speaker directed towards the floor and driven with an amplifier up to 200 W. The combination of the speakers and subwoofer delivers outstanding sound worthy of the Elipson brand, whether you're screening a movie or playing stereo music. The subwoofer has L/R line inputs and an automatic sleep function.
Treat yourself to a true-to-life acoustic experience with this home cinema package. Thanks to its innovative design, the Focal Sib Evo Dolby Atmos 5.1.2 home cinema speaker pack broadcasts sound in 3D. Ideal for watching your movies, it is also perfect for listening to music.
704 £ on BoulangerFirst, there's the timeless design that blends in perfectly with your home and adds a touch of elegance. Then there are the directional speakers, with a 5-inch driver in the front, spreading sound seamlessly throughout the room. The 4-inch top sends sound reverberating off the ceiling, so you hear it from above as well. As a result, you'll feel totally immersed, whether you're watching your movies or listening to your music. The 2000W subwoofer provides an exceptional sound experience.
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The best passive home theater kit in 2021
The best entry-level passive home theater kit
The best high-end passive home theater kit
Your guide :
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| THE BEST | CHEAP | TOP OF THE LINE | EXCELLENT | |
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| OUR SELECTION |
Cabasse EOLE 4
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Focal SIB EVO 5.1
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Elipson Planet M 5.1
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Focal Bb Evo Dolby
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Each element of the Cabasse EOLE 4 SYSTEM 5.1 Home Theater Speaker Pack is a decorative element that will become part of your interior design. As for its acoustic performance, it will immerse you in the action of your movies.
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This home theater package is part of the SIB EVO range from Sib&Co. It features a futuristic design with clean lines in ABS material. It seduces us by its elegance and its timeless look.
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A pack composed of 5 Home Cinema speakers all in roundness and white color that will add a touch of softness to your home. Compact and discreet, it offers an uncompromising sound quality thanks to the famous Planet technology.
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Treat yourself to a true-to-life acoustic experience with this home cinema package. Thanks to its innovative design, the Focal Sib Evo Dolby Atmos 5.1.2 home cinema speaker pack broadcasts sound in 3D. Ideal for watching your movies, it is also perfect for listening to music.
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Speaker type
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satellites
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satellites
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shelf
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central
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Power rating
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Impedance
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8 ohms
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6 ohms
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8 Ohms
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6.0 Ohms
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Yield
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90 dB
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90 dB
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88 dB
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90 dB
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Specifics
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Tweeter : 29mm soft domeMedium-woofer : 10cm P2C
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5-inch drivers Fabric dome tweeter
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100mm driver, Treated paper diaphragm, 20mm tweeter, silk dome
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What everyone is looking for, apart from the design of the product, is the quality of the sound. A good home theater must have an adjustable bass that balances well with the highs and mids, a sound that is not distorted at high volume. If you don't feel any vibration during the test, the unit is not powerful enough, because it's the immersive experience that counts.
For home theaters, the subwoofer, the side speakers, and the center speaker must be connected by a wire since they must be plugged into the TV set. The other two rear speakers usually work via Bluetooth connection. It would also be ideal to have multiple ports such as HDMI, optical inputs, Ethernet port, etc. High-end speakers are even equipped with Wi-Fi connection.
This is a criterion not to be taken lightly if you want a quality home theater. There is the 2.1, not very bulky and basic, but with an average sound coverage. The 4.1 is a more advanced version, with front speakers that manage the stereo system and the voice. The rear speakers and subwoofers, on the other hand, emit the sound effects and acoustics. The 5.1 is a fairly powerful version with 5 satellites and a subwoofer. It is currently the reference in terms of home theater kit. The 7.1 is a high-end design that offers realistic sound thanks to its 2 additional speakers and is intended to be installed in spacious rooms.
Passive home theater kits are usually square or rectangular in shape. But for a few years, other variants have appeared on the market, home theaters with atypical shape or rounded ends. Given that this device will be installed in full view of everyone, it must be aesthetic and in adequacy with the decoration of the room.
The power of a home cinema also determines the sound quality. It is expressed in Watts RMS. For entry-level models, the power varies between 60 and 120 W. The most modern ones have a power ranging from 250 to 1,000 W. But there are also the top of the range whose power is around 1,200 W.
Literally, the home cinema is a device that allows you to live a sound experience similar to that of a movie theater. The most basic being composed of an amplifier, speakers and a subwoofer. The first is the bridge between the source, whether it is a television or other devices, and the sound generator, i.e. the subwoofer and the speakers. It is therefore designed to improve the sound of the source and bring power to it via the speakers.
Let's take the example of the 5.1 home cinema system which works by connecting the speakers to the amplifier. The ones with good performance will be placed facing the user, while the other speakers are placed behind the amplifier. The subwoofer will produce a bass that is absent from the speakers with a sound frequency below 80 Hz.
The home cinema is a good alternative if you want a good quality of sound, because it is not only the image that counts when you watch a movie. In other words, it brings a more realistic dimension to the image broadcasted on the TV set. But, these devices are sometimes cumbersome, because they require wired connections. You must therefore think of a completely different arrangement than what you already have in place.
The sound bar is the most practical solution to avoid wires lying around. It is also a space-saving solution for placing other furniture or decorative objects next to the TV. The other advantage is that the speakers are aligned near the amplifier. Ideal if you like good quality sound, the sound bar has the bad reputation of not reproducing the surround effect in the room, hence no immersion.
If you like more realistic and exceptional sound quality, the home cinema is for you. But if your goal is to save money while saving space in your home, a sound bar is your best bet.
1. Movies are better at home
Movie nights are an obvious benefit of owning a home theater system, plus you can enjoy movies with your loved ones in your comfort zone. Invite your friends over, get everyone comfortable, have some snacks and enjoy the fantastic home theater experience. In addition, having a home theater kit at home allows you to get a better sound, improve the image rendering and spatialize the sound.
2. Remote control
Another advantage of home theater is that you can control the remote as you wish. Public theaters won't pause the movie if you have to leave and go to the bathroom. Well at home, you have the ultimate power! You are free to pause your movie without missing a scene.
3. Convenience
With a home entertainment system setup, you can easily go to the movies, anytime. All you have to do is walk into another room, turn down the lights and start the movie. There's nothing better than watching a movie at home in your own comfort zone.
4. Save money
Watching movies at home instead of going out can save you a lot of money. With a home theater, you can get your whole family together for a movie night without spending a lot of money on tickets. It's a one-time investment and a lifetime of luxury.
5. Perfect atmosphere for your next home event
Home theaters help you create the perfect atmosphere for your home event with intense sound effects and excellent video quality. With your home theater equipped with high quality gadgets, you can have a great experience of your favorite movies and your personal events will be enjoyed.
In our opinion, the best brands of passive home theater kits in 2022 are :
It is the reference brand for sound quality. It manufactures high-end connected speakers with numerous connectors.
Being a supplier of computer hardware, Logitech is now among the pioneers for everything sound. The brand has recently been developing speakers that offer exceptional sound.
This brand makes a variety of high-quality devices. Its speakers are among the best on the market and there are some for all tastes and needs, from the simplest to connected speakers.
LG stands out for the sleek design of its devices. This can be seen in its home cinema with sound rendering worthy of the greatest movie theaters.
The brand excels in all areas of new technology and audiovisual. It offers users a variety of speakers with impeccable sound quality, especially for high-end models.
Hiding speaker wires
You can use baseboards to hide your cables along the wall. The molding option is also effective if you place the speakers high up. Ducting is also a good alternative for hiding wires. But the most practical, yet economical, option is to attach them to the back of a large piece of furniture.
Fixing speakers up high
As a
general rule, only the satellites should be placed high up. There are several options: either embed them in your wall, which requires major work, or opt for models that are easily fixed to the wall with a nail. There are also free-standing models that are less aesthetic, but very practical.
Cleaning the home theater
The
best thing to do is to clean on the surface and not open the enclosure. You can use a blower or a vacuum cleaner for inaccessible parts. There are also specific cleaning products that are effective in case of stubborn stains.
Protecting the home theater
Enclosures are relatively fragile devices, which need to be protected, especially from pets. You can protect them by installing a grill or hiding them in a piece of furniture. If your cat persists, a spray of water will definitely deter it.
Enjoying a great movie experience
You
already have the speaker, but for the room to be complete, you would need a good screen. But you can also use a video projector to accentuate the feeling. A good sofa is also a must-have for relaxing in front of your favorite movie. Of course, the room should be dark and equipped with some accessories like a mini-fridge and a small pantry.
The best passive home theater kit depends on your needs and budget. Read our buying guide to find the best products out there.
The
subwoofer should be placed right in front of the TV set since it's the key element of the home theater. The center speaker can be installed next to the screen for a more realistic sound. Surround speakers can be hung on side walls or corners. They are always placed at the back of the cabinet. Finally, the front speakers should be far from each other, but at the same height as the center speaker.
Certainly, there are
high-quality TV sets that can compete with home theater, but if you really want to enjoy a good experience, it's best to go with the home theater option. On the technical side, HDMI is not yet empowered to carry sound from the speaker to the TV and vice versa, but you can use another cord to have that quality sound return to the TV.
A
home theater kit brings together several components such as a satellite, speakers, player and subwoofer. Choosing this model saves you unnecessary clutter in your living room, since it doesn't take up much space. It is also the best in terms of sound quality, as it adapts to all audio standards.
The
speakers and the subwoofer must be connected in wired mode and the other two that are placed at the back will be connected by Bluetooth. If you have a Blu-Ray player, you must connect it using an HDMI 2.0 cable for video and another cable for sound.
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