Best Music Systems in India - Reviews and Comparison 2021

It is not just one frequency that we hear when the sound and music plays. The sound consists of multiple sound waves coming from the source – from the noise of your neighbour's car starting to Blinding Lights' melody by Weekend playing late night on a good day.

Not every type of speaker can produce every type of frequency. As the sound waves' output significantly depends on the diaphragm's varying size and stiffness, this dynamic exists. The size of the diaphragm is proportional to the size of the speaker. Larger the speaker, larger the diaphragm.

Home music systems mainly consist of 3 types.

• Woofer: A woofer, is a type of system designed to emit low-frequency sound waves in the range of 20-500 Hz. In any given general music system, the width of a woofer is usually 6 inches, and height can be 9 to 12 inches. The size of the speaker is vital when it comes to emitting low-frequency sounds. Larger the better. There exist a speaker called sub-woofer, which is known to emit intense sounds. Home music systems do not always come with a woofer. It reduces the overall cost, a sub-woofer in the package—a very typical and straightforward set of arranging but serves the purpose very well.

• Mid-range: A mid-range speaker is known to emit sounds which fall in the middle range- frequency ranging from 500 – 4000 Hz. A suitable mid-range speaker is an essential part of a home music system for a fuller sound. This frequency range includes sounds ranging from the human voice to instruments like piano, guitar and sitar. The general of a mid-range speaker is usually 3 inches and 5 inches. They can be designed smaller than this but wouldn't serve our purpose so well.

• Tweeter: These are very tiny speakers designed to deliver high-frequency sound, i.e. any sound above 4000 Hz that can be heard. A lot of modern tweeters are likely to use polyester or silk for the diaphragm instead of using paper. Majority of the Tweeters are classified as dome tweeters. Dome tweeters are a type of tweeters which emits the sound in all direction.

• Form Factor:

• 2.0 systems: 2.0 systems means that sound has a right and left stereo with two different channels. Stereo means the type of sound is recorded with more than one channel, so when the listener listens, it sounds like it is being emitted from more than one source. It is a very dominant type of sound recording method seen in movies and music recorded by artists. Necessary features panning, i.e. if someone in the left of the screen speaks, the sound has to be emitted from the left, this is experienced in movie theatres. In case anyone standing in the centre of the frame speaks, the sound is supposed to be emitted equally from both channels. This enhances the experience while watching any movie as the sound is a huge factor. Another example of this is when a car screeches it's tyring on the screen; the sound travels from the one channel to another, which gives a more surrounding sound effect. Similarly, if a performer is walking on the stage during the performance, the sound has to be panned accordingly to make it seem lively; this is possible using stereo speakers. A 2.0 music system will generally consist of a woofer, mid-range, tweeter or a mid-range and a tweeter or merely a mid-range speaker. Most of the high-end music systems in our country, use 2.0.

• 2.1 systems: 2.1 is the most used configuration for the general home music system. The ".1" stands for a subwoofer along with a woofer. The two side speakers can be mid-range speakers or even tweeters. But for sounds like drumbeats that will echo evenly in the room despite the subwoofer's position, it might be a great idea to use the only subwoofer instead of pairing it with a woofer.

• 5.1 systems: This is somewhat an upgrade on the 2.1 music systems. It comes with a subwoofer, a pair of left and right speakers on the front, coupled with a team of right and left rear speakers. It is known for providing a surround with a 360 sound for the experience. This is achieved as a 5.1 system uses multiple channels for sound. This provides depths and dynamics to the sound and enhances the user experiences. 5.1 is known to be used for movies as music is not often recorded for 5.1 systems. Movies and CDs which support 5.1 music system usually have a Dolby or a DTS Laboratories logo on the cover.

• 7.1 systems: 7.1 is an upgrade of the 5.1 music system. With the addition to the speakers that a 5.1 system has, 7.1 brings in one more pair of speakers placed behind the listener and just a bit ahead of the speakers' rear pair. This sound is not generally available on CDs and Netflix. Currently, you can experience it on a Blu Ray. Despite the configuration of the system, it is compatible with stereo. For old movies recorded around in the 1980s, only 5.1 system is available, playing one left and right each speaker from the front and rear pair.

In the last decade, the popularity of soundbars has been on the rise. Soundbar takes up significantly less space as compared to the full-fledged traditional music systems. A soundbar is designed to be a long and flat speaker in shape with a configuration that can accommodate 4 – 10 speakers. They are known to have many technical advantages. Moreover, even if they cannot provide a 360 experience, they are a significant upgrade from any television's default speaker.

As recent developments, soundbar companies have started to innovate and add satellite speakers into the configuration which can be placed anywhere you like. They also have a subwoofer in the set to enhance the bass output.

As we know, the sound system requires an electrical signal to function. How is this signal provided to the speakers? Yes, we do have the output of your system, i.e. TV, Laptop, Computer.

However, this signal is just a few milliamps, which is not substantial to drive the speakers as required. Passive speakers require external amplifies that is configured between the speaker set and the sound source (could be a laptop, mobile phone or television). It is used to amplify and make the signal stronger. The amplifier is connected to the mains; it draws the power from there and sends it through the electronic circuits to generate the required signal.

This set-up without a doubt is more expensive as there is more than one set of equipment along with the speakers. Majority of the music system uses powdered systems. They come with an internal amplifier inside the subwoofer body, and subwoofer takes its power from the mains.

Which is better? 

An independent amplifier is always, but it also happens to be costly as compared to internal amplifiers. Powdered speaker systems are useful to pick in case there is scarcity of space. The third type of speaker exists, which works on the tiny 2.0 power system charged by the source's output, be it a TV, laptop via the USB port. These speakers usually provide you with a good quality 2.5-inch mid-range for each channel precisely. Even though they do not offer excellent sound quality, they can be used as an extra portable sound system wherever you want to take them.

This is considered to be the most tricky part while purchasing a home music system. Companies have practised various marketing gimmicks to pull a more vast audience crowd to multiple the sales. You will come across speaker packaging mentioning ‘1200 WATT PMPO 'or peak music power output in bold and capital letters. However, this amount of power is significantly more than what a music system can process. Such numbers can be confusing to a daily life user, and this should be paid attention to make a better decision. However, it is not rocket science; you can understand the wattage by referring to the device guide or the user manual handbook. It is usually mentioned as '20-watt x 2 + 1 x 50 watt ' generally for a 2.1 sound system, which means it draws 20 watts each and subwoofer with 50 watts, which is 90 watts overall.

How many RMS wattages is good enough? This is a tricky one to answer. Generally, a 10-watt total power is considered the ideal for a 10 by 10 feet space. Usually, it should be more significant by many multiples – anywhere ranging from 30 – 100.

More wattage is better wattage, according to the rule of thumb. You can achieve louder volume on such speaker without facing problems like noise distortion. A regular size movie theatre is known to use around 3000-6000 watt. It is also considerably much more extensive than homeroom.

Even if we say that more watt is better, you will hear the significant difference on a 90 watt home music system playing a sound and a 20 watt Bose or Harman Kardon music system playing a song.

One of the reasons why high-end music systems get the upper hand over the low-end equipment is that they can successfully emit the same volume using considerably less amplifier power, measured in dB, i.e. decibels. Sticking to layman terms and not making it complicated with technicalities, let us define decibels as the loudness of sound. This loudness, however, rises exponentially even though it is measured linearly. E.g., if pin-drop silence is 0 dB in loudness, a whisper could be around 30 dB, 40 dB for a quite a library on a good day, a vacuum cleaner could go up to 60 dB and so on. Plus, it is essential to look for THD, i.e. total harmonic distortion numbers. They are measured in percentage. Our daily home music system happens to have a THDN of around 0.5%. The lesser the THD, the better. It is used to determine the amount of noise that is sent into the signal by your amplifier.

Music systems get complicated when it comes to connections. From input systems to the music systems and vice-versa. All types of connectors are not found in every home music system.

Sometimes there will be so many amplifiers and wires to connect that you might fall short of space.

Therefore check the type of connection you are going to use and choose accordingly.

• RCA connecters: RCA connectors, also known as phono connectors, connect the set-top box to your television. Even the latest and modern television sets are still equipped with these as an output. It is a very efficient method to get your output device and the home music system connected and going!

• 3.5 mm input: 3.5 mm information is a female input, generally coated with the green colour, can accept as a 3.5 mm audio jack or a headphone jack and an input.

• HDMI: HDMI is considered the most efficient method of connection. The two connectors listed above are analogue connectors. A majority of soundbars support HDMI connectors as well. HDMI means High-Definition Multimedia Interface, which is a mechanism to transmit digital signals between systems. This plug has a total of 19 puns and is shaped in a flat hexagonal way.

• Aux-in: Aux-in is short for an auxiliary input. It can be an RCA or a 3.5 mm depending on the model. Aux-in is used to connect another device without interrupting the flow or the connection of the primary input device.

• Bluetooth: If we go back 10 years from now, Bluetooth was considered something hi-tech in India. As we go ahead and as technology advances, Bluetooth is now commonplace. You can define Bluetooth as something similar to the radio but which works across short distances only. It can be used for instant file sharing across the room. There are various pros of a Bluetooth enables music system. There is no need to handle the wired connection into your devices like TV, laptops, or smartphones. No restrictions on the distance of the designs from the speakers as well. It is also extremely easy to use Bluetooth as all you need to do is select the device, pair and connect to it. You are ready to go. Nowadays, almost all modern music systems come with Bluetooth enables functionality.

• WiFi: It is not a necessity but a great to have functionality. It is a level above Bluetooth in terms of connectivity. As mentioned above, Bluetooth devices need to be paired to each other to work relentlessly whereas WiFi allows you to function from any place in your house. It is also effortless to connect your home network directly to the home music system, which also creates an interconnectivity between all the devices connected to the home network.

• Radio: The radio and FM channels have always been a very widely used entertainment and fun source in India and outside. It is already built-in functionality. You can just tune into whichever frequency you like and listen to media playing currently on it. There's no need to hunt through hundreds of files to decide what you want to hear.
  

This is a feature that cannot be compromised with when it comes music system. It is valuable equipment which gives you control over the music system to use it more efficiently and to the fullest. Imagine turning on the music system, then settling back on the sofa and receiving a call from a friend, and now you again get up and lower the volume. Wouldn't a remote be handy in such a situation? Yes, that's precisely what we are talking about. Remote controls enhance the usability along with the user experience.

This has been an age-old debate, but the style is essential. The music system is big and sits right in front of your living. It needs to fit into your living room furniture and the setting. An excellent complementary style with suitable colours is essential when it comes to the design of the music system.

High-end models come with tiny LED indicators besides various functionalities of the system like the power, the volume, FM stations. They are good to have functionality but not necessary. It is essential to consider the fact the LED panel should not hinder your viewing experience in anyways.

The high fidelity systems are the most sophisticated sound systems. Do you remember the audio recordings of the old movies? The noise and disturbance in the tracks? Hi-Fi systems can produce clear soundtracks giving you high-quality sound reproduction. If you have a home theatre set-up, then a Hi-Fi surround sound is your best pick.

The Mid-Fi systems are usually used for casual background music. So the speakers you see in pubs or at parties are all mid-fi systems. These have a limited sound quality and will distort beyond a particular sound level.

If you want to have a casual party set up at home with no particular hearing need, then Mid-Fi is your best choice.

The carry-along limit is 7 kilograms. As long as the speakers are within those limits, taking them on board should not be an issue. Along with the weight, the dimensions of the system will also need to be considered. Some aeroplanes may also require you to obtain special permission to take heavy electronics on board.

Yes, music can boost immunity. Studies have revealed that listening to music increase the production of antibody immunoglobulin - natural killer cells. These killer cells are the same as ones that attack any viruses in the body. Increased production of these cells improves the body's immunity.

A music system that serves your needs and also fits into your home is the one you should choose! Do not forget your pocket, though!

We have compiled a list of 7 best music systems in India. Have a look at our selection and select the best!

Working of music systems can be a complicated affair. It is also a technical one. Have a look at our features above to see the detailed working of music systems!

Take a look at the user guide.

Your home music system that you have purchased generally will consist of two front speakers (left and right), two rear speakers (left and right), a single central speaker (overhead), and one sub-woofer.

Connecting the speakers to your input device ( TV/DVD)

1. Now that we know our speakers, let us take a look at the available connections and wires.

2. Depending on your source, we can connect using compatible cables. Different music systems come with various connection ports like 3.5 mm jack, HDMI connector, or clip-on.

3. Connectors. After we connect the speakers to our receiving unit, you can do the same by inserting the naked speaker wires into the clip-on at the back of the receiver unit. 

4. The next step is to connect it to the TV / DVD. You can join the unit using either an HDMI wire or RCA connect, whichever is compatible with your TV and the music system.

5. Some music system also comes with in-built Bluetooth and WiFi functionality. This feature would enable you to spend some less time with the wires and cables and directly do the connection.

6. You can also connect your mobile to the music system via the 3.5. mm jack on your mobile phone for instant use.

Placing the speakers rightly.

1. As listed above, all the different speakers in your music system come with labels which also specify the position. It will be essential to place your speakers correctly in the room accordingly for the best experience. E.g. the sub-woofer is placed right in the front of the TV. The front pair of right and left speakers, which have labels like (FL, FR – Front Left, Front Right), enable you to know where to the position the speakers. Same goes for the rear pair of the speakers.

Press Play!

1. Once we have connected all the necessary cables and wires, find a way to hide all the mess behind the table. Settle down on your sofa, grab the remote, press play and enjoy!

Manufactured by iBall, this home music system comes with a subwoofer, satellite speakers, remote control, audio cables and user manual to guide you through an amazing experience. It is a 2.1 channel music system made up of wooden material and is available in black colour, which adds the perfect amount of finishing needed to a music system. Being a 2.1 channel system, Tarang Lion delivers high-quality surround sound in your space. This system also provides us with multiple connectivity options like a USB port, SD card reader, AUX and Bluetooth inputs along with FM connectivity. Having almost all types of connectivity segments make this system very efficient for instant use. You also save yourself the hassle of getting into the complications of setting up the wired connections.

iBall Tarang Lion is an excellent buy considering the price and features it provides. A good sound system for a reasonable price is how we would like to conclude it.

Sont SA-D40 promises one thing for sure: it is an excellent surround sound experience as it is a 4.1 channel music system. This full-fledged packaged system comes with a speaker(4U), subwoofer (1U), remote commander x 1, AC adapter, AC cord x 1, stereo mini cable x 1, instruction manual, warranty card, dry batteryx2 and footpads(1set). Apart from this, this system also boasts a nice glossy finish in black colour which elevates your living room's look. It can be used with TVs, PCs and music players. The type of connections available here is Wireless, Bluetooth and USB. It also comes with remote control and fits well with the front speaker dimensions. 80W output enables this system to deliver excellent bass sound output with the subwoofers.

Infinity's Hardrock 210 is known primarily for the quality of bass it can deliver with the 2.1 channel speaker system with the peak output ranging as high as 100 watts. It also stands out in terms of the design as the sub-woofer is made of wooden material. It also offers various types of connections like plug and plays USB for mp3, Bluetooth, an RCA, and Aux converter. It comes with a subwoofer, two satellite speakers, wireless remote with the battery included, one power cable, audio cable, and a QSG. It provides with a 3.5" full-range driver for satellites and 6.5" bass driver for subwoofer.

It is a right choice if you are looking forward to hosting a party with some music or even have a relaxing session playing yoga music to calm your mind.

iBall Tarang Classic comes with bass and treble control knob to fine-tune the sound according to your taste. This music system consists of 2 N satellite speakers, 1N woofer, 1 N remote control, 1 N user manual, and 1 N audio cable. It has a dynamic 2.1 subwoofer. This system enables us to connect and play the music system wirelessly using Bluetooth in terms of connectivity. It also gives us more playback options like Bluetooth, USB port, SD card, Aux-in, and FM. The peak output of this system ranges up to 40-watt. The highlight of the Tarang Classic also happens to be its smooth finish cabinet in black colour.

This music system manufactured by Philips comes configured with 2.1 channel multimedia speakers. This package consists of a subwoofer, 3 full-range speakers, remote control for better user experience, radio, and SD card. The peak output of this system may range up to 60-watt. If we are talking about connection types, Philips is providing us with an Aux input, USB port, and FM playback and you can also choose to play from either one of your DVDs, TV or mobile devices. Its 2.1 distinct channel speaker system enables delivering a high-quality surround sound to enhance user experience drastically.

Philips's music system with a 2.1 channel speaker is a good fit if you are looking to buy a very decent music system for your home use.

Amazon Echo Dot is famous for its high-quality sound paired up with portability as it is a lightweight speaker weighing only 300 grams. It also comes with built-in voice feedback while not connected to a device to enhance the user experience. Considering the types of connectivity, Echo Dot is always ready to connect to your WiFi. Alexa App is compatible with Fire OS, Android, and iOS devices, and you can also use your web browser to access the same. Other than that, you can also connect your device to Echo Dot via Bluetooth and play music instantly on the go. It comes with one year warranty concerning the terms during the purchase.

Another portable speaker- this one is manufactured by Saregama and around 5000 evergreen Hindi songs come pre-stored in it. It also allows you to browse through its collection of songs and choose your favourites. You can create and browse through playlists too. The package comes with a 1 A battery as a power source. The output range of this speaker is upto 10-watt. Even though it is a portable speaker, it weighs around 1.3 kg. The battery life of the Saragama Carvaan speaker is around a maximum of 5 hours. The package consists of the main unit, charger, remote, antenna and a user guide manual. The design looks pretty sleek and stylish with the royal blue finishing. Checkout reviews and comparison of best fire TV sticks, best 55-inches LED TV, best projector for home, best OLED TV, best set top box in India.