(Last Updated On: January 5, 2019)
Surround sound systems provide a mesmerizing and a unique experience as you can get as close to that recorded moment as possible with the current technology. We are living in the times where being an audiophile gets you to another level of audio experience. If you have money to spend you can get the highest quality sound playback systems and it will be worth it. But of course there is a limit to everything available right now in terms of audio output devices.
Surround sound systems consist of multiple components that work together to provide a sound output that works with the movement of the object. A 5.1 surround sound system consists of 5 speakers placed in certain manner to provide sound from every channel and there is a subwoofer that handles the low frequency sound. Normally a speaker arrangement consists of a front center speaker, left and right speakers along with rear left and right speakers. The multiple speakers provide the best surround sound experience for the user.
Finding the best surround sound system is not an easy task as there are multiple options available on the market that you can choose from. The vast range of options can lead to a lot of confusion for the first time buyers as they will not be able to arrive at a solid decision. If you don’t know much about the room you are going to install the surround sound system in, you will not be able to choose the perfect sound system. We recommend that before you go on to buy your first surround sound system you should do a little digging on your own and know about the optimum performance conditions, only then you will be able to make a better choice.
Surround Sound System For A Purpose
It all comes down to finding a surround sound system that is good for a specific purpose or fulfils a certain requirement which in our case is a budget limit of $500. There are a lot of surround systems on the market but when you filter all of them out which do not match our budget criteria, we are left with few options to choose from. This is where your expertise comes in handy which allows you to choose the better of the few options. So to avoid all the hassle we have shortlisted some of the best options below in this publication. Do have a look at them.
If you decide to look for a surround sound system on your own then there are few things that you should consider in order to make a smart decision. Let’s get into that first.
Budget
Budget is a very important aspect to consider when looking for a surround sound system. You can find a surround system suitable for a small room that can cost thousands of dollars and on the contrary you can find a surround sound system that can cost few hundred bucks which will be suitable for large rooms. So it depends on how wisely you choose your surround sound system keeping your requirements in mind.
Now let’s start with the surround systems we have on here for under $500.
Best Surround Sound Systems Under $500 (Comparison)
| Surround Sound System | Power Output | |
|---|---|---|
| Yamaha YHT-4930UBL Surround Sound System | 145 W | Check Price |
| Samsung HT-J5500W Surround Sound System | 1000 W | Check Price |
| Pioneer HTP-074 Surround Sound System | 250 W | Check Price |
Yamaha YHT-4930UBL Surround Sound System
The first surround sound system that we have on here is the YHT-4930UBL surround sound system produced by Yamaha. Yamaha is a reliable name when it comes to production of high quality audio equipments. The surround sound system we have in question here falls under the $500 price tag. The ratings of YHT-4930UBL sound system are high. So how it fared in our review? Let’s find out.
Starting off with the design of the YHT-4930UBL sound system and it features a beautiful black gloss finish to provide an aesthetically pleasing outlook. The speakers of this sound system are wall mount compatible and overall this surround sound system is easy to setup.
When it comes to features the YHT-4930UBL sound system has 5.1 channel audio setup which produces maximum power output of 145W. This sound system has probably all the running features you can need with your new HD or 4K TV. This sound system features 4K @ 60p UHD pass through as well as HDMI and 3D pass through.
The 6 ½” subwoofer of this sound system produces 100W of power output. The surround sound speakers of this system have 2-3/4” full range cone drivers including the center speaker. This sound system features 192KHz/24-bit DAC on all the sound channels. The YHT-4930UBL is compatible with Dolby TrueHD and Dolby DigitalPlus.
When it comes to connectivity the YHT-4930UBL sound system features Bluetooth technology for wireless connectivity. The wired connectivity is facilitated by 4 x HDMI input connectors and 1 x HDMI output connector. There is a headphone output connector on board this sound system as well.
When it comes to performance the YHT-4930UBL sound system reportedly does a good job at providing an excellent surround sound experience and that too under a limited budget. There have been no reported issues regarding this sound system’s build quality and other than the lack of Wi-Fi connectivity on this system, there are no performance related issues reported.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Wall Mount Compatible Speakers | No Wi-Fi |
| 4K Passthrough | |
| 3D Passthrough |
Conclusion
If you are looking for a good surround sound system for your TV that too under $500 then YHT-4930UBL sound system by Yamaha is a good option to consider.
Samsung HT-J5500W Surround Sound System
The next surround sound system that we have on here is the HT-J5500W produced by Samsung. Samsung is a renowned manufacturer of high quality consumer electronics. The sound system that we have on here is available for under $500. The ratings of HT-J5500W sound system are high. How it fared in our review? Let’s find out.
The HT-J5500W surround sound system is a powerful sound system and has a good quality build as you can expect from manufacturer like Samsung. This sound system is easy to install which is useful if you are doing the installation on your own.
When it comes to features the HT-J5500W sound system features 5.1 channel audio setup to deliver high quality audio experience to users. It is a powerful system and it has total maximum power output of 1000W. This sound system supports Dolby Digital, Digital Plus and True HD audio processing. The surround sound formats this sound system features is DTS Surround, DTS 96/24 and DTS-HD. There are 8 sound modes on board this sound system for user to choose from.
This sound system features video up scaling for non HD videos which can be up scaled to near HD quality using the on board technology. The crystal Amp technology on board this sound system removes sound distortion for a clearer audio output.
When it comes to connectivity, this sound system features Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technology for wireless connectivity. For wired connectivity there is 1 x digital audio input, 1 x optical input and 1 x HDMI output connector. There is an Ethernet port on board this sound system as well.
When it comes to performance the HT-J5500W surround sound system reportedly does a good job at providing mesmerising surround sound experience with it’s immense power. It is better suited for large rooms. The build quality of this sound system is good and there have been no reported issues regarding the performance.
The only issue with this sound system is the limited I/O connectors it has.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Video Up Scaling | Limited I/O Connections |
| Powerful | |
| Easy Installation |
Conclusion
If you are looking for a powerful surround sound system for large rooms and that too under $500 then HT-J5500W sound system by Samsung is a good option to consider.
Pioneer HTP-074 Surround Sound System
The last surround sound system that we have on here is the HTP-074 sound system produced by Pioneer. Pioneer is a renowned audio equipment manufacturer that has some of the best quality sound systems on the market today. The sound system that we have in question here is available for under $500. The ratings of HTP-074 sound system are high. How it fared in our review? Let’s find out.
This sound system here is easy to install and it takes very little time to do so. The build quality of this sound system is good.
When it comes to features this surround sound system also features a 5.1 channel audio setup to deliver total power output of 250W. The 5 compact speakers of HTP-074 sound system deliver combined total power output of 150W and the remaining 100W of power is delivered by the subwoofer.
This sound system features UHD and 4K @ 60p passthrough. This sound system is HDR compatible and it features Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD surround sound compatibility.
When it comes to connectivity, the HTP-074 sound system features Bluetooth technology for wireless connectivity. There is a USB input on the front panel for wired connectivity. This sound system is 3D ready.
When it comes to performance, the HTP-074 sound system reportedly does a good job at providing decent surround sound experience to the users. This sound system has a good quality build and there have been no reported issues regarding it’s performance. This sound system does a good job with the movies and other multimedia but is not a good option for gaming.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 3D Ready | Not Ideal For Gaming |
| HDR | |
| Easy Setup |
Conclusion
If you are looking for a decent surround sound system under $500 then HTP-074 sound system by Pioneer is a good option to consider.
Conclusion
The surround sound systems that we have on here for under $500 are among the best available on the market today. If they have any reported issues regarding their build quality or performance, they have been mentioned in this publication. We hope you find this publication useful. Let us know what you think of these surround sound systems in the comments below.