Do you ever watch a movie and feel like the action is happening all around you? That amazing feeling comes from a great sound system. But when you build that system, the surround back speakers often cause the most confusion. Which ones should you pick? Where do you even put them?
Choosing the right surround back speakers feels tricky because you want truly immersive sound, not just noise. Getting the wrong speakers means missing out on the best audio experience your home theater can offer. You want sound that places you right in the middle of the action, but the sheer variety of sizes and types can make your head spin.
This guide cuts through the confusion. We will clearly explain what surround back speakers do and show you exactly what features matter most for your setup. By the end, you will know how to choose the perfect pair to complete your amazing home theater.
Top Surround Back Speakers Recommendations
- EXPERIENCE AMAZING HOME THEATER SOUND WITH RICH, IMMERSIVE AUDIO – Featuring a 0.75" tweeter and a 5.25" Dynamic Balance driver, these passive bookshelf speakers deliver clear, balanced sound with deep bass, even at low volumes
- Use these wall-mountable bookshelf speakers as front, left-right, or rear for a surround sound system in your home theater setup and enjoy clear vocals and immersive sound—perfect for anyone starting their home audio journey
- Start your home theater journey with these Polk audio speakers then expand to a full 5.1 setup by adding T50 towers, T30 center channel, and subwoofer when ready
- QUICK & EASY SETUP – Just connect the speaker wire to your AV receiver, and you're ready to enjoy rich, high-quality sound—no complicated setup needed
- Over the past 50 years Polk has become one of the most trusted names in home audio speakers and entertainment. Our unwavering commitment to innovation allows you to sit back, relax, and enjoy music
- TAKE YOUR MOVIES AND MUSIC TO NEW HEIGHTS Immersive sound comes alive from all directions (including overhead ) with these Dolby Atmos enabled speakers. Add them to any monitor or tower speaker or use as surround speakers for a hemisphere of rich, detailed sound.
- 90º x 90º TRACTRIX HORN Our exclusive Tractrix horn technology delivers the power, detail and emotion of the live music experience with the cleanest, most natural sound possible.
- LINEAR TRAVEL SUSPENSION (LTS) ALUMINUM TWEETER WITH KAPTON SUSPENSION The exclusive Linear Travel Suspension (LTS) minimizes distortion for enhanced, detailed performances. Kapton is an extremely light and rigid material used in the tweeter suspension to provide high efficiency and improve resolution and detail. LTS tweeters are a hallmark of Klipsch speakers, making it a core component of some of the best speakers in the world.
- SPUN COPPER IMG WOOFER Injection Molded Graphite (IMG) woofer cones are exceptionally light while being extremely rigid – providing remarkable low frequency response, with minimal cone breakup and distortion. When paired with the Tractrix Horn-loaded LTS tweeter, it provides speaker efficiency highest in its class.
- SLEEK, CONTEMPORARY APPEARANCE Exposed fasteners and low profile magnetic grilles give the speakers a polished, modern appearance.
- 【Compact Design, Bold Performance】Despite their compact size of 4.3" in length and 6.6" in height, RIOWOIS passive bookshelf speakers can deliver a peak power of up to 30W. With a 6-ohm impedance, these bookshelf speakers are compatible with a wide range of amplifiers and can handle dynamic peaks without distortion.
- 【2.75-inch Woofer and 2-inch Tweeter】Experience clear and balanced sound with our passive bookshelf speaker, which features a 2.75-inch woofer and a 2-inch tweeter. The independent tweeter and woofer work together to deliver more accurate and complete sound than a single full-range driver.
- 【3D Wood Grain Appearance】The natural beauty of wood grain adds a touch of elegance and warmth to the bookshelf speakers, making them visually appealing and blending well with various room decor styles. This particular wood grain is not only beautiful but also gives the user wonderful tactile feedback. Gliding across the delicately textured surface provides a tactile sensation that is pleasing and inviting.
- 【Wide Range of Applications】The package contains all the accessories needed for wall mounting. With the hooks and shockproof tab on the back of the bookshelf speakers, you can easily hang the speakers in every corner of your room and suited as a satellite speaker for your home surround sound system.
- 【Worry-free Purchase】Get peace of mind with our package that includes passive bookshelf speakers, wall-mounted accessories. Our dedicated after-sales team is available 24/7 to provide exceptional service and support for your products. Order now and enjoy worry-free listening!
- ❗❗❗PLEASE NOTE: Passive bookshelf speakers require an amplifier to function properly! Without Bluetooth function and speaker wires are not included!
- 【Compact Size, Powerful Sound】 Experience room-filling, high-fidelity audio from these surprisingly compact stereo speakers. Measuring just 4.2 x 4.2 x 4.3 inches, they deliver a powerful 15W performance.
- 【Full-Range Balance with Vocal Clarity】The 3-inch full-range driver combines deep bass with a clear midrange and transparent highs for exceptional vocal clarity.
- 【Deeper Bass, Minimal Distortion】 The dual bass reflex port design optimizes airflow to unlock deeper, tighter bass from the speakers.
- 【Effortless Wall-Mounting for Optimal Home Theater】 Create your perfect surround sound system with ease. The included wall-mount brackets allow for 170° of horizontal and vertical adjustment. The shockproof design is integrated into the speaker's mounting hanger, which effectively minimizes vibrations for stable, distortion-free audio.
- 【40Wx4 Bookshelf Speakers and 75w Center Speaker】: The surround sound system features four high-power and full-range speakers, including one 3-inch passive center speakers and two pair of 3-inch passive bookshelf speakers(four speakers are identical), allowing you to experience stunning surround sound from all angles.
- 【Enhanced Dialogue Clarity】: Saiyin 5.0 home theater system comes with a professional center channel speaker that improves the clarity and accuracy of dialogue. Every line of dialogue in movies or TV shows will be crystal clear, ensuring that no important lines are missed.
- 【Flexible Installation and Placement】: Compact and lightweight home theater speakers can be flexibly mounted on shelves, stands or walls to meet different installation requirements. In addition, the position and number of speakers can be easily customised according to the size and layout of your room, ensuring optimal sound positioning for an unparalleled audio experience.
- 【Classic Rretro Wooden Enclosure】: Each home audio speaker enclosure is handcrafted with unique wood textures and colors to reduce sound resonance while still blending well with any space and decor. The exquisite details and vintage charm of each enclosure bring a touch of nostalgia to your home entertainment area.
- 【Please note】: These five passive speakers require speaker wires and AV receiver or amplifier, the speaker wires and receiver are not included in our package.
- TRUE 2-WAY AUDIO PERFORMANCE: Features a 3.5" woofer with paper cone for clear mids and bass, paired with a 0.5" PEI tweeter for crisp highs, delivering superior sound compared to 1-way designs.
- 360-DEGREE SWIVEL BRACKETS: Easy-to-install wall mounts rotate in any direction, allowing precise sound staging for optimal audio in living rooms, bedrooms, or commercial spaces like restaurants.
- COMPACT AND STYLISH DESIGN: Sleek 4.13" x 4.72" x 4.13" ABS cabinet weighs just 1.32 lbs per speaker, blending seamlessly into any decor while providing powerful 30W RMS output.
- VERSATILE HOME THEATER SOLUTION: Ideal for 2.1, 5.1, or 7.1 surround systems, these speakers pair well with subwoofers for immersive audio in entertainment rooms or small venues.
- HIGH-QUALITY CONSTRUCTION: Shielded grill protects against dust, with Euro block terminals for quick connections, ensuring reliable performance for audiophile-grade sound.
- Pair of Rockville RockSlim White 5.25" 240 Watt Home Theater Slim Speakers with Easy Wall Mount Brackets
- Pair of Rockville RockSlim White 5.25" 240 Watt Home Theater Slim Speakers with Easy Wall Mount Brackets. RMS Power Handling: 40 Watts Per Speaker / 80 Watts Per Pair. Peak Power Handling: 120 Watts Per Speaker / 240 Watts Per Pair.
- 5.25” Woofer with Paper Cone has Natural Sound Reproduction with Clear Mids and Bass. 0.5” Mylar dome tweeter delivers pristine highs. Sensitivity: 89 dB. Nominal Impedance: 8 Ohm. Frequency Response (±3db): 100Hz - 20kHz. Cabinet Material: ABS.
- Color: White. Shielded grill offers additional protection from dust and damage. Easily hangs on your wall – Just as easy as hanging a picture!. Hanging bracket is molded into the speaker. Recessed spring loaded speaker wire terminals make it easy to hide wires.
- Molded speaker wire groove makes it easy to run speaker wires behind the speaker. Beautiful sleek design is perfect for a living room, bedroom, kitchen, restaurant, and more. Product Dimensions: 10.8" x 7.3" x 1.38" inches. Product Weight: 2 Lbs. (Per Speaker)
- SLIM WALL-MOUNT DESIGN: Features a sleek 1.38" slim profile and easy wall-mount bracket, blending seamlessly into any space while saving room.
- CLEAR, BALANCED AUDIO: 5.25" woofer and 0.5" Mylar dome tweeter deliver natural mids and crisp highs with a 100Hz-20kHz frequency response.
- POWERFUL SOUND: 40W RMS per speaker (80W per pair) and 120W peak power per speaker for robust home theater or music listening.
- DURABLE CONSTRUCTION: ABS cabinet and shielded grill resist dust and impact, making these ideal for any living room, kitchen, or commercial space.
- EASY INSTALL & CLEAN LOOK: Molded wire grooves, spring-loaded terminals, and built-in brackets make installation simple with wires tucked neatly out of sight.
Your Guide to Choosing the Best Surround Back Speakers
Surround back speakers complete your home theater. They bring amazing sound from behind you. This makes movies and games feel real. Choosing the right ones can be tricky. This guide helps you pick the perfect pair.
Key Features to Look For
Good surround speakers have important features. These features control how well they sound.
Speaker Type
- Direct-Firing: These speakers point sound straight at you. They offer clear, sharp audio.
- Bipole/Dipole: These speakers fire sound in two directions. They spread the sound around the room. This creates a wider, more diffused effect. Many people prefer these for true surround sound.
Frequency Response
Frequency response shows the range of sounds the speaker can play. Look for a wide range. This means the speakers handle deep bass and high treble well. A good range usually starts low (around 50Hz) and goes high (up to 20,000Hz).
Sensitivity (Efficiency)
Sensitivity tells you how loud the speaker gets with a little power. Higher sensitivity means the speaker sounds louder without straining your amplifier. Aim for 88dB or higher.
Important Materials Matter
The materials used in the speaker affect its sound and how long it lasts.
Driver Cones
The cones move to make sound. They should be light but stiff. Good materials include treated paper, polypropylene, or Kevlar. These materials reduce unwanted vibrations.
Cabinet Construction
The box holding the parts is the cabinet. A solid, thick cabinet is best. Heavy MDF (Medium-Density Fiberboard) cabinets stop vibrations. Thin plastic cabinets can sound “boxy” or cheap.
Binding Posts
These are where you connect the speaker wires. Look for sturdy, gold-plated binding posts. They ensure a strong, clean connection for the best signal transfer.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
What makes a speaker sound great or just okay? It comes down to design and build quality.
Impedance Matching
Impedance is the electrical resistance. Most home theater receivers expect speakers rated at 6 or 8 ohms. Always check that your speakers match your receiver’s requirements. Mismatching can damage your equipment.
Sound Dispersion
How sound spreads matters for surround speakers. Bipole or dipole designs spread sound widely. This helps fill the room evenly. If the sound is too focused (narrow dispersion), only one person hears the effect clearly.
Crossover Quality
The crossover is an internal filter. It sends low sounds to the woofer and high sounds to the tweeter. High-quality crossovers use better components. Better components lead to smoother transitions between the sounds.
User Experience and Use Cases
Where and how you use these speakers changes your choice.
Placement Flexibility
Surround back speakers often go on the side walls or mounted high on the back wall. Choose speakers that fit your space. Some models offer versatile mounting brackets. Smaller bookshelf-sized speakers work well for tight spaces.
Matching Your System
For the best sound, try to match the brand and tonal quality of your front speakers. If your front speakers sound warm, choosing surround speakers that sound harsh will sound strange when the sound moves around you.
Use Cases
- Movies: Use dipole or bipole speakers for immersive sound effects like helicopters flying overhead.
- Music: For music listening, direct-firing speakers might offer more precise imaging behind you.
10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Surround Back Speakers
Q: Do I really need surround back speakers?
A: Yes, for a true 7.1 setup, they add realism. They improve effects coming from behind you in modern movies.
Q: Are surround back speakers different from regular bookshelf speakers?
A: Often they are designed differently. Surround speakers prioritize sound dispersion (spreading the sound) over pinpoint accuracy.
Q: Can I use old speakers as my surround backs?
A: You can, but the sound quality might not match your main speakers. Try to use speakers with similar sensitivity.
Q: What is the best place to put surround back speakers?
A: They should be slightly behind and above your main listening position, aimed toward the seating area.
Q: Should I buy a matched set or mix and match brands?
A: Matching brands is usually better for consistent sound tonality across your setup.
Q: Do surround back speakers need a lot of power?
A: Generally, no. They handle effects more than main dialogue, so they usually don’t need as much power as your front speakers.
Q: What does “7.1 setup” mean?
A: It means seven speakers and one subwoofer. The two surround back speakers make up the ‘7’ part.
Q: How important is the cabinet material for these speakers?
A: It is quite important. A solid cabinet stops rattling noises that distract from the movie experience.
Q: Are wireless surround speakers a good option?
A: They are convenient because they reduce wires. However, wired connections often provide a more stable and higher-quality audio signal.
Q: What does “dipole” mean in speaker terms?
A: Dipole means the speaker has two sets of drivers firing in opposite directions. This bounces sound off the walls for a soft, enveloping effect.