Best home theatre systems to cheer for every wicket taken this IPL season

Not everyone is aware of this, but several TV channels — primarily those that are marked as HD channels — often broadcast cricket and other sports in 5.1 surround sound! If you haven’t experienced it before, cricket in 5.1 surround sound is — short of visiting a stadium — one of the most immersive ways to enjoy the sport.

A good surround sound system is just what you need in preparation for the upcoming IPL season, and it’s very easy to get one. Let’s look at some of the best home theatre systems across budgets.

Sony HT-S20R 400W Bluetooth home theatre

Unlike more complex 5.1 systems, Sony’s HT-S20R achieves surround sound via a soundbar, a sub, and two rear satellites. More importantly, it takes ARC input via HDMI directly and has a built-in DAC and amp for a hassle-free setup. The HT-S20R also has Bluetooth, optical and analogue inputs. The soundbar, which doubles as a centre speaker and front speakers, is very compact and does a fantastic job of emulating the L and R speakers.

Total output is 400W and you get a bunch of listening modes such as Music and Voice that enhance sound quality intelligently. This compact home theatre is available on Croma for just Rs 17,600 before discount.

Croma 400W Bluetooth Soundbar with Remote

This soundbar from Croma is a great alternative to the Sony HT-S20R. At Rs 14,999 it’s slightly cheaper, but offers similar sound quality and surround sound experience. It supports a host of inputs including Bluetooth, ARC, Aux, and USB, and supports multiple equaliser options for customising the sound signature to your taste. It’s a sleek and functional package that will look great in any living room.

Zebronics Zeb Juke Bar 7450 Pro 200W Bluetooth Soundbar

For a budget surround sound option, we’d recommend the Zeb Juke Bar 7450 Pro for Rs 7,499. As with the other home theatres in this list, this one also uses the soundbar + rear satellites design for a simplified setup. Power output is lower at 200W, but that’s still plenty for most homes. The 5.2-inch woofer provides room-filling bass.

This is a surprisingly effective and affordable package and an excellent, pocket-friendly option for upgrading your sound system this IPL season.

SAMSUNG Q-series HW-Q990D/XL Bluetooth Soundbar

If budget isn’t a constraint, you can’t go wrong with the Samsung Q series HW-Q990D/XL soundbar. This epic audio system offers a room-shaking 656 Watts of power. It also has support for full 4K60 4:4:4 passthrough, ensuring that image quality is unaffected when you pass the HDMI signal to your TV via the soundbar.

Thanks to additional directional drivers in the soundbar and even the satellites, Samsung claims that the system produces the equivalent of an 11.1.4-channel audio experience. The system literally bounces audio off the ceiling to emulate ceiling speakers. If you don’t mind spending Rs 99,990, you’re in for a treat!

Sony HT-A9M2 Bluetooth home theatre

For the ultimate aural experience, look no further than the Sony HT-A9M2. Available in an unusual 4.0.4 surround sound configuration, this home theatre rewrites the rules of surround sound to deliver an immersive audio experience like none other using a combination of real and phantom speakers. 

This is done via the system itself, where it spatially maps the room to determine the most appropriate locations for creating phantom speakers by bouncing sound. You’re literally encased in a bubble of sound. This level of sound quality doesn’t come cheap of course, and you’ll need to shell out Rs 1,99,990 for the system.

 These are some of the best home theatre speakers you can invest in. Give your ears the upgrade they deserve this IPL season and get a home theatre system today. We can guarantee you won’t regret it!