Rockville Home Theater System
Last updated date: November 5, 2020
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We looked at the top In-Home Sound Systems and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best In-Home Sound System you should buy.
Editor's Note November 5, 2020:
Checkout The Best In-Home Sound System for a detailed review of all the top in-home sound systems.
Overall Take
The Rockville Home Theater System's five speakers and a subwoofer give you powerful audio, whether you're listening to music or watching movies. You can adjust the audio on each speaker to find the exact sound levels you want. You can pump up the volume without having to worry about distortion at higher ranges, as you get with other surround sound systems.
In our analysis of 113 expert reviews, the Rockville Rockville Home Theater System placed 12th when we looked at the top 13 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.
From The Manufacturer
The Rockville HTS56 5.1 Channel Home Theater System is the solution to your surround sound needs. The system is capable of 1000 watts peak power and 500 watts program, with 250 watts continuous RMS. We tested this system and it really hurt our ears. It's crazy loud! This complete home theater system features two full range 3” front speakers, two full range 3” rear speakers, a center speaker, and an 8” subwoofer. The speaker cabinets are made of strong MDF material and not particleboard like some systems out there. Each speaker has its own volume control so they can be adjusted independently. We include long length cables with RCA connectors. This allows you to quickly and easily mount the speakers wherever you want. One thing worth mentioning about conventional 5.1 channel systems is that when you play music using bluetooth or the radio or even other non HD sources you only get sound out of the two front speakers. With the Rockville HTS56 you can listen to music using any source and all 5 of the speakers and the subwoofer will always play together. You will get surround sound whether you are listening to music, watching a movie, or using the radio. The 8” subwoofer provides super clear deep, rich bass with no rattling or discernible distortion even at high volumes. It has a built in media player/receiver with digital readout, a 5-band EQ, FM radio, Bluetooth, SD/USB input, and two ¼” MIC inputs with echo control for Karaoke on the front. On the rear you have 5 RCA audio outputs, 6 RCA DVD audio inputs, 2 RCA AUX inputs, and an FM antenna input. There are also 5 RCA inputs to power each speaker's LED. A full function remote control is included so you never have to leave the comfort of your chair. The system also features an LED light system with multiple modes. The subwoofer LEDs can be set to blink to the beat, look like an EQ spectrum analyzer, or change colors (constant or cycle). The satellite speakers have cool blue LEDs that can be turned on or off.
Expert Reviews
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Our Expert Consultant
Technology and parenting blogger
Molly Thornberg is a professional writer, creative and mom to four kids, living her best life outside of Dallas, Texas. With a love for all things tech, she is passionate about helping parents raise kids in the digital age. She writes about technology, parenting and humor on her blog Digital Mom Blog.
Overall Product Rankings
1. Samsung SWA-8500S 2.0 In-Home Sound System
2. Bose Acoustimass V In-Home Sound System
3. Logitech In-Home Surround Sound System
4. Monoprice In-Home Sound System & Subwoofer
5. Onkyo Home Theater Speaker System
6. Sonos 5.1 Surround Home Theater Set
7. Sony All in One Micro Stereo System
8. Sony Micro Music System with Bluetooth
9. Klipsch Surround Sound System
10. vmai Sound Bar for Home Theater In-Home Sound System
11. Yamaha Home Theater System with Bluetooth
12. Rockville Home Theater System
13. Enclave Audio Wireless Home Theater System
An Overview On In-Home Sound Systems
Whether you’re sitting down for movie night or spending an afternoon gaming, a good surround sound system makes all the difference. But unless you’re an audiophile, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed with all the talk about wattage and subwoofers and bass response.
“The sound systems of today are not the sound systems your parents had,” says technology and parenting blogger Molly Thornberg. “From watching a movie with theatre-quality surround sound to creating a unique atmosphere in your home by playing music in every room, choosing an in-home sound system requires considering many things.”
As you start shopping, you’ll probably notice right away that some speaker systems are larger than others. It can be all too easy to assume that this larger size provides more powerful audio than smaller speakers can offer, but that isn’t always the case. Today’s speaker manufacturers can pack a lot of punch into a small form factor, giving you great sound without taking up too much space. The smaller size can also come in handy if you need to pack up your home to move, or you just like to rearrange your furniture on a fairly regular basis.
Measuring a surround sound system’s sound can be complicated. Look for a surround system that mentions Dolby Digital 5.1 or Dolby Digital Plus, both of which can be counted on for top-quality performance. You’re looking for a system that not only provides impressive, true-to-life sound, but also can hold its quality even at the highest volumes.
The sound output can also be quantified by a speaker’s wattage. Look not only at a speaker’s advertised maximum wattage, but also continuous wattage. It’s also important to make sure you don’t hook a lower-wattage up to one that pushes a much higher level of power, as it can be easy to damage the lower-powered speaker without realizing you’re doing it.
The In-Home Sound System Buying Guide
- Before you start shopping, determine where you’ll be placing the speakers. If you’re dealing with a small, closed-off living room or family room, you may find a larger system will overwhelm the area. However, a system designed for smaller rooms won’t be sufficient for a large home theater or a room with high ceilings in an open-concept home.
- True surround sound requires multiple speakers, placed around the room so that it surrounds its occupants. Consider what comes in the set you purchase. You should at least get a subwoofer, a center channel and smaller satellite speakers that you can place strategically around where you’ll be sitting.
“Something else to consider when buying an in-home sound system is the system’s capabilities for expanding its speakers or zones in the future,” Thornberg advises.
- If you plan to move in the future, the size of your speakers will also come into play. Some large speakers are heavier and therefore difficult to move around.
- Good sound is about more than the size and number of speakers. Some speakers are simply better than others at delivering rich bass lows and sharp, realistic highs. You can usually count on known technology like Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby True HD or DTS-HD Master Audio.
- It’s also important to consider the power of your speakers. Some speakers will begin to distort audio as you reach higher volumes, so if this is an issue, it may help to test out the sound before you purchase.
- You’ll want a speaker that can hold up not only after years of use, but also one that includes a physical casing that’s durable. If you’re moving and someone drops a speaker, will the build hold up? Always use care while moving your speakers around, preferably packing them in a box with padding if you need to move them from one home to another.
- Speakers come in a variety of sizes and designs. Many are solid black to easily blend with any décor, but bulky speakers can become a problem. If you’re sliding some of your speakers into a cabinet or behind a piece of furniture, measure to make sure there will be enough space before you buy.
- Some consumers prefer to mount their speakers. If that’s the case, make sure a mount is included with the system you buy. You’ll also need to check to ensure you have the tools and hardware necessary to install your wall-mount speakers once you have them.
- Although getting your speakers going is merely a matter of setting them up and plugging them in, there will be a little setup involved if you want everything to work together. Some systems come with an installation manual, while others use labels to tell you where to put each item, and in what order. You probably won’t need to pay extra for professional installation, although it is sometimes offered as an add-on option.
- A remote can come in handy for controlling volume and setting up your system. Check to see that your surround system offers a remote that will work the way you want it.
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