Paweł Koper
In the world of audio, there is a belief that you have to pay dearly for "real" 5.1. However, we know that most of you just want the answer to the question: "What soundbar for the TV?", while not losing the magic of spatial sound like Dolby Atmos or DTS:X. The market has recently been saturated with "little speakers" that place physical speakers behind you instead of digitally simulating sound.
Let’s take a look at the setups that fill this gap. You can treat this overview as a loose compilation of what you will find in stores today, and the order in which the soundbars are listed should be considered random.
Are rear speakers in a soundbar necessary?
If you are looking for something more than just a "louder and stronger television," then yes. Physical satellites make a colossal difference in sound reception. Here are three main reasons why it's worth choosing a set with rears:
1. True surround sound
The biggest advantage of sets with satellites is true surround sound. Many soundbars try to trick us by "bouncing" sound off walls or the ceiling to create an illusion of space. In practice, this effect depends on the shape of the room or furniture arrangement and is very, very rarely perfect. By choosing a set with satellites, we can be sure that when someone approaches a character from behind in a movie, we will hear it exactly where the director intended.
2. Aesthetics
Additionally, such systems are designed with the aesthetics of contemporary and, to be fair, increasingly smaller apartments in mind. Forget about the tangle of cables running through the entire living room. The rear speakers are typically wireless. They are sleek, compact, and discreet, which means we don’t have to clutter the living room with five large speaker columns the size of a wardrobe. The only thing you need to remember is that in some of the cheapest options, the rear speakers must be connected to each other with a very thin speaker wire.
3. Price
It won't be a surprise when we say that such setups will objectively perform worse than professional home theaters costing thousands. However, for 99% of users, the difference compared to the standard speakers built into the television will be stunning. For a fraction of the price of a good audio system, you still get solid bass, clear dialogues, and surround effects that turn an evening viewing into a cinematic experience, and for the television itself, creating such sound is simply not possible.
Best Recommended Soundbars with Satellites
This is a choice for those who want to buy a solid audio set for years, but do not intend to spend tens of thousands on a home theater. You get here the best possible value for money. These models offer great sound and true wireless satellites that just need to be plugged into power (or just need to be charged).
Samsung HW-Q990F
If you are looking for the absolute number one, the choice has remained the same for years, though with each generation, it becomes even more perfect. The Samsung HW-Q990F is undoubtedly the most popular and refined option on the mainstream market. At least that's what many editorial offices claim. There’s a reason Samsung has maintained its position as the leader in soundbar sales for over a decade – and its flagship series showcases "technological" dominance over the competition in the same budget. The Q990 model offers a powerful 11.1.4 system that, thanks to 22 built-in speakers, creates a dome of sound around the viewer (video below). It’s equipment that self-calibrates to the room, and its integration with televisions means that controlling the entire home theater system comes down to a single remote. It’s a “safe” choice because it is simply flawless in its class.
JBL Bar 1000
For fans of physical impact, the JBL Bar 1000 is a better choice. It has a powerful 10-inch subwoofer and a unique approach to the lack of wires – the rear satellites are detachable and have their own batteries. You can place them anywhere during the viewing, and then connect them back to the base. This is a set designed for concerts and action movies, where dynamics and bass play the lead role.
Polk Audio MagniFi Max AX SR
An interesting alternative to mass-market brands is Polk Audio. The MagniFi Max AX SR model is a suggestion for those who prefer natural, musical sound over digital effects. Polk has a great VoiceAdjust system that allows you to boost the volume of the dialogue without drowning out the rest of the background. It's a very reasonable choice if you often complain that you can't hear the actors' speech clearly in movies.
TCL Q85H Pro
The list of more expensive soundbars (though this one is not so expensive lately) is capped off by the TCL Q85H Pro, which is the perfect complement for owners of QD-MINI-LED TVs from this brand. It offers an enormous power of 860 W in a 7.1.4 system and a proprietary Ray-Danz technology that ensures the sound is wide and clear. This is a solid example that you can create strong, modern sound without spending a fortune.
Cheapest Recommended Soundbars with Satellites
In this category, "cheapest," the most important fact is that at a reasonable price, you are able to receive true spatial sound in DOLBY ATMOS format thanks to external satellites, rather than just its digital simulation. This solution completely changes the experience of watching movies. However, it's worth remembering one technical aspect: in budget sets, the rear speakers usually require a wired connection (between themselves or to a separate module). While they connect wirelessly to the bar, saving us from pulling cables across the entire living room, there can still be a small "tangle" along the back wall.
Samsung HW-QS750F
Samsung HW-QS750F is a proposal for those looking for smart solutions. The system operates in a 5.1.2 configuration and generates 465 W of power. The greatest enjoyment from this set will be experienced by owners of Samsung TVs thanks to the Q-Symphony feature, which combines the power of the soundbar with the speakers in the TV housing. This is the only "rotating" model available on the market. The main soundbar can be rotated by 90 degrees to make it even slimmer. However, it’s worth remembering the issue of mounting the speakers: although the satellites communicate with the soundbar wirelessly, in this model they are connected by wires, which we need to hide somewhere at the back of the room.
Hisense AX5140Q
Hisense AX5140Q is the cheapest model in this ranking, offering a completely wireless connection. Each of the rear speakers only requires plugging into power, which eliminates the need to hide signal cables on the floor. The AX5140Q features four upward-firing channels (5.1.4 system) and a powerful 600 W total power output.
LG S70TR
Although LG is not associated with sound, you can still find something reasonable from them at a low price. In the S70TR model, LG chose a unique solution: an additional up-firing center speaker. According to the manufacturer, this solution prevents dialogues from "drowning" in sound effects, and the actors' voices seem to come directly from the screen. It integrates perfectly with the webOS system in LG televisions.
Bravia Theatre System 6 (HT-S60)
The compilation of budget soundbars with satellites is closed by a classic of the genre, namely Sony with the model HT-S60. The set offers up to 1000W and a real 5.1 system, but in a traditional edition: the satellites are connected by cables to the subwoofer. Although this requires a bit of planning when laying out the wires, in return you get a powerful punch.
Top Soundbars with Satellites
Here, we focus primarily on performance, genuine reviews, and opinions without considering the price. Although their quality-to-price ratio does not always measure up against traditional home theaters, they are an excellent option for those who do not want to deal with setting up large speakers and running thick cables.
Sony Bravia Theater 9
This is a proposal for those who are looking for uncompromising sound scale for Japanese televisions. Theater 9 is a powerful soundbar that costs quite a bit on its own and is usually sold solo. However, the true power of surround sound is only revealed in a complete set – after purchasing a subwoofer (e.g., SA-SW5) and rear speakers (SA-RS5). This is equipment for those who want to build a home theater in stages, aiming for the highest level of sound that can effortlessly fill even a very large living room.
Sonos Arc Ultra
If budget is not a concern and aesthetics are just as important as sound, the Sonos Arc Ultra is unmatched. It’s a system for those who don’t want to waste time on complicated setups – it just needs to work and look good. By adding satellites from the Era series and a subwoofer, you will create a set that perfectly blends into modern interiors. This is hi-end in a "user-friendly" version, where you pay for design, ecosystem, and great spatial experiences.
As you can see, the selection is really extensive, and what we've described here is just a fraction of what can be found on the market. The best part is that true surround sound is no longer reserved only for those with unlimited budgets. Today's offerings are so broad and varied that no matter whether you have a living room the size of a hangar or a small studio apartment, you're sure to find a set that will work for you 100%. Home theater in 2026 is no longer just a tangle of wires and large speakers, but above all, convenience and sound that simply gets the job done.
