As I reassembled it in my new space, I started wondering: In 2025, is it still worth the time, effort, and wiring to build a home theater with surround speakers?
The Case for Real Surround Sound
TVs have gotten thinner, sleeker, and smarter—but one thing they haven’t improved is *sound quality. You simply can’t fit great speakers into a wafer-thin LCD panel. That’s why soundbars have exploded in popularity—they’re compact, plug-and-play, and simulate directional audio reasonably well.
Soundbars may simulate directional sound, but they don’t even come close to matching the immersion of discrete surround speakers.
With a full surround setup you get:
- True directionality – not simulation
- A dedicated center channel that keeps dialogue clear
- Rear speakers that provide real spatial effects
- A subwoofer(which is where the .1 comes in 5.1 and 7.1 sound), delivering bass
I started with a 5.1 channel setup and a 7.1 channel receiver, so I wanted more. But my space didn’t support the extra side channels well, so I upgrade to a 5.1.2 Atmos configuration instead.
What is 5.1.2 Atmos?
- 5 speakers (front left, center, front right, rear left, rear right
- 1 subwoofer
- 2 height/ceiling speakers for vertical sound staging
This setup enables Dolby Atmos, which brings sound from above and gives movies and games a cinematic, three-dimensional feel—especially when properly calibrated.
Still More to Do
Now that everything is in, I’ll be returning to this project in future to better calibrate the system and do some other improvements to improve the sound of the space. That includes further adjustments to the speaker placement, calibrations in software, EQ, as well as room treatments and layout adjustments to improve the acoustics in the space. As of now, I have not hung anything on the wall or even tacked down the wires to the rear speakers.
But even with the basic calibration I did, the difference between it and just the TV speaker is incredible. Dialogue is crisp, surround effects are immersive, and explosions feel like explosions.
I won’t claim to be a home theater expert, and there are much more expensive and elaborate setups, but even with this basic approach, it is a world of difference.
Final Thoughts
Is it worth upgrading beyond your TV’s built-in speakers or a basic soundbar?
Absolutely.
If your space allows for speaker placement—and you’re willing to do a bit of work to get it right—a home theater system with a full surround configuration (especially with Atmos support) will blow you away.
Movie nights are back. Now… who’s bringing popcorn?
