A wireless surround system puts speakers behind you without running wire across the room. These seven systems, chosen from RTINGS' lab tests, include or can add real rear speakers, from a budget 5.1.4 package to a two-subwoofer system for big rooms.
The best wireless surround sound system is the Samsung HW-Q990F (~$1,200): a bar, wireless subwoofer, and two wireless rear speakers with up-firing drivers front and back, plus room correction.
On a budget, the Hisense AX5140Q (~$400) gets you wireless rears and four height drivers. The JBL Bar 1000MK2 (~$1,200) has battery-powered surrounds for rooms with no outlets behind the couch, and a Sonos Arc Ultra system is best for music and multi-room streaming.
A wireless surround sound system sends audio to the rear speakers and subwoofer over its own wireless link, so you don't run speaker wire across the room or under the carpet. That's the whole point, and it works well: every system below pairs its speakers at the factory, so setup is mostly a matter of unboxing and plugging in.
The catch is power. Each wireless speaker and subwoofer still plugs into a wall outlet, so check that you have an outlet near each spot behind your seat. The one exception here is the JBL Bar 1000MK2, whose rear speakers run on batteries. If outlets are a problem and you'd rather hide wires in the walls, see our guide to wired vs. wireless surround speakers.
Our picks follow RTINGS' lab tests of each soundbar system, plus the makers' own specs. Every pick here includes, or can add, real rear speakers, which is what makes surround sound come from behind you instead of bouncing off your walls.
| System | Channels | Rear speakers | Subwoofer | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung HW-Q990F | 11.1.4 | Wireless, up-firing | Wireless, included | Best overall | ~$1,200 |
| Hisense AX5140Q | 5.1.4 | Wireless, up-firing | Wireless, included | Best budget | ~$400 |
| TCL Q85H | 7.1.4 | Wireless, up-firing | Wireless, included | Most channels under $500 | ~$498 |
| JBL Bar 1000MK2 | 7.1.4 | Detachable, battery | Wireless, included | No outlets behind you | ~$1,200 |
| Sonos Arc Ultra system | Up to 9.1.4 | Add 2 Era 100s | Add Sub 4 | Music, streaming, build over time | ~$1,099 bar |
| Sony BRAVIA Theater Quad | 4.0.4 | Four wireless speakers | Optional | No soundbar under the TV | ~$2,398 |
| Nakamichi Shockwafe Wireless | 11.2.6 | Two large satellites | Two, included | Large, open rooms | ~$1,677 |
The most complete wireless surround system you can buy in one box. You get the bar, a wireless subwoofer, and two wireless rear speakers, and the bar and both rears have up-firing drivers, so height effects come from in front of and behind you. RTINGS found dialogue stays clear thanks to a dedicated center channel, and effects move convincingly around the room. Automatic room correction tunes the whole system to your space, and it plays both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
Worth knowing: it's a big system with four boxes to place and power. RTINGS judged Samsung's newer HW-Q990H not enough of an upgrade to justify the higher price, so the Q990F is the one to buy. If you own a recent Samsung TV, Q-Symphony lets the TV's speakers join in.
Check price on Amazon Prices change often — verify current pricing on Amazon.RTINGS' best mid-range 5.1 soundbar system, and the cheapest way to get real wireless rear speakers with height channels. The subwoofer and both rears connect wirelessly and pair straight out of the box. RTINGS found the default sound well balanced, with clear dialogue, and the four up-firing drivers give more convincing surround and height effects than pricier bars that rely on side-firing drivers alone. You can raise the surround and height levels separately, which helps because Atmos playback is a little quiet by default.
Worth knowing: room correction only works with supported Hisense TVs, the bass doesn't dig as deep as the bigger systems, and Bluetooth is the only wireless music option (no Wi-Fi, AirPlay, or Chromecast).
Check price on Amazon Prices change often — verify current pricing on Amazon.A full 7.1.4 system for about the price of the Hisense, with a wider-sounding bar. The subwoofer and rear speakers are wireless, and the rears have their own up-firing drivers. RTINGS found overhead effects moving front to back convincingly, which makes it one of the most immersive systems at its price. It also has room correction and an HDMI input for a streaming box or console.
Worth knowing: out of the box, the center and surround channels sound a bit closed-in, and some owners find the rears too quiet until they raise the surround level. For music, wireless options are limited to Bluetooth and AirPlay 2.
Check price on Amazon Prices change often — verify current pricing on Amazon.The only system here that's truly wireless at the back of the room. Its two surround speakers detach from the ends of the bar and run on batteries, so you can set them behind the couch for a movie with no power cables at all, then clip them back on to charge. With four up-firing drivers, height effects are good, dialogue is easy to follow, and the 10-inch subwoofer has real weight in action scenes.
Worth knowing: you have to remember to dock the surrounds to keep them charged. RTINGS found it can't pass 4K at 120Hz through its HDMI input, so plug consoles into the TV and use eARC instead, and the sub can sound heavy until you turn it down a notch.
Check price on Amazon Prices change often — verify current pricing on Amazon.Sonos is the best choice if you also want great music streaming, or want to spread the cost. Start with the Arc Ultra on its own, a slim all-in-one bar with up-firing drivers that RTINGS lists as a strong alternative for anyone without room for a subwoofer. Later, add two Sonos Era 100 speakers (~$189 each) as wireless rears and a Sonos Sub 4 (~$899) for deep bass. If you want the bass from day one, Sonos's Premium Entertainment Set bundles the Arc Ultra and Sub 4 (~$1,898). Everything joins over Wi-Fi in the Sonos app, and the same speakers play music in other rooms when you're not watching TV.
Worth knowing: the full system costs far more than the Samsung, which includes rears and a sub. The bar has no HDMI input (only eARC) and doesn't support DTS:X. RTINGS found the Samsung HW-Q800F has deeper bass and more sound customization for the money, so pick Sonos for its ecosystem and music, not for value.
Arc Ultra + Sub 4 set on Amazon Check Arc Ultra price on Amazon Check Sub 4 price on Amazon Check Era 100 price on Amazon Prices change often — verify current pricing on Amazon. Want a cheaper Sonos start? The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) (~$499) works with the same rears and sub.No bar under the TV at all. You get a small control box that connects to the TV, plus four slim speakers that you place around the room, two in front and two behind you, each with its own up-firing driver. RTINGS found it creates a very wide, immersive soundstage that you can adjust by moving the speakers, and Sony's Sound Field Optimization tunes the sound to where you put them. It also passes 4K at 120Hz for consoles.
Worth knowing: there's no subwoofer in the box, so bass is lacking until you add one of Sony's optional subs, and RTINGS found it doesn't get loud enough for larger rooms. There's no dedicated center channel unless you own a Sony BRAVIA TV, which can act as the center speaker.
Check price on Amazon Prices change often — verify current pricing on Amazon.Big, open living rooms swallow sound, and this system is built for them. Two subwoofers spread the bass evenly, so there are fewer spots in the room where it disappears, and the large satellites push effects into every corner. It also has more advanced adjustments than most soundbars, including crossover and per-channel levels.
Worth knowing: there's no microphone for automatic room correction like Samsung's; instead you enter your room's dimensions. That's two subwoofers plus two satellites to place and power, so in an average-size room, the Samsung HW-Q990F is the better buy.
Check price on Amazon Prices change often — verify current pricing on Amazon.A soundbar system is simpler, smaller, and needs no speaker wire. A receiver-based surround system with wired speakers sounds bigger and more detailed for the money, lets you upgrade one piece at a time, and plays music better, but you'll need to run wire to the rear speakers. Our soundbar vs. surround sound guide covers the tradeoffs in more detail.