RS Recommends: The Best Compact Sound Bars to Upgrade Your Home Theater System (2023)

FAQs

Which is best home theatre or sound bar? ›

Don't get us wrong, a soundbar does deliver exceptional quality audio for movies also but it still lacks a little depth when compared to home theater speakers. However, if you prefer the sound coming at you from the front, then soundbars are the best option.

If you're looking for a home cinema audio experience that makes as little physical impact on your living room as possible, then a soundbar will be the best option.

Smaller soundbars generally don't sound as spacious as their wider counterparts, but their more compact form makes them easier to travel with or set up wherever you'd like. We've tested over 160 soundbars, and below you'll find the best soundbars with a small design to buy.

Turn off or mute your television's internal speakers to allow your soundbar's quality sound to shine through. Use HDMI (ARC) or other high-quality cables to relay audio signals to your Soundbar. Adjust your equalizer settings, if possible, to ensure your soundbar is optimally programmed for your specific audio source.

The choice between a soundbar and surround sound system may come down to your living arrangements. If you have a small apartment, the compact design of soundbars make them the go-to choice. However, if you have the space, surround sound setups will almost always provide a better listening experience.

No, of course not. Nothing can replace a full-blown Klipsch home theater setup... BUT a sound bar can be the ideal solution for those seeking an upgrade to their wimpy TV speakers. Let's break down the pros and cons of each so you can decide what's best for you.

No the tv can't sit on top of the sound bar. You can connect the sound bar to the bottom of the tv though.

Decide how many channels you want.

If you simply want to enhance your TV sound, a soundbar with 2.1 channels (two front channels and a separate subwoofer) could be enough. If you want true surround sound, buy a soundbar with a subwoofer and rear speakers (preferably wireless) for multichannel sound.

No it wont work unless you have TV connected to stereo with optical, Sound bar only has optical input or Bluetooth.

Do soundbars make dialogue clearer? ›

Some soundbars make dialogue clearer and easier to understand, while others can make voices sound more muddy and cluttered.

Soundbars: 6-16 years

A newer amplified soundbar, like a Sonos Arc, should not become obsolete anytime soon, though expect the hardware to operate for up to 7 years before needing a repair or a replacement.

While you can always get the biggest one, it might not look so great if your TV is smaller than your soundbar speaker. Instead, you want a soundbar that is 5 to 10 inches shorter than your TV. For instance, your soundbar should ideally be up to 50 inches long if your TV has a screen size of between 55 and 65 inches.

First look for something called “Dynamic Range Compression” (some TVs have an option called “Night Mode,” which is similar). The idea of this setting is to even out (or compress) loud noises like explosions and softer ones like dialogue. By bringing them closer together in volume, you will be able to hear words better.

What is the best audio format for sound quality? A lossless audio file format is the best format for sound quality. These include FLAC, WAV, or AIFF. These types of files are considered “hi-res” because they are better or equal to CD-quality.

A soundbar doesn't need a subwoofer to sound good. Soundbars include multiple internal speakers that can sound great on their own, but a subwoofer helps produce low frequencies that many soundbars cannot.

Soundbars are designed to replace your TV speakers; they are not meant to work in parallel with your television's built-in speakers. The primary reason for this is the echo. When you run both your TV speakers and your soundbar at the same time, the same audio signal is relayed to both.

Yes, soundbars are worth it because they enhance your audio experience, far outperforming your TV speaker. They also come with a other convenient features that can incorporate other media devices in your home. Placed in front of your TV, a soundbar does an excellent job in improving the sound.

While an active soundbar can completely replace a receiver in a setup, it is important to make sure any other equipment will be compatible without the traditional receiver.

Do you need an amplifier for a soundbar? ›

In most cases, you do not need an amplifier or receiver for your soundbar. The exception is the case of a passive soundbar. However, most soundbars are active and therefore do not need the extra amplification provided by an amplifier or receiver.

It is not necessary to match brands for your soundbar and TV. With that being said, there are a handful of benefits to doing so, such as single-remote syncing, matching sound features, design compatibility, and possibly other special features.

Bose is best known for its top-notch home audio systems and speakers, noise-cancelling headphones, professional audio products and automobile sound systems.

The Samsung HW-Q80R is a better soundbar than the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 by itself, though the Bose can easily be upgraded into the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module.

What is this? If you have a TV console, the best setup using a soundbar would be to have the TV stand toward the rear with the soundbar placed on the console at the front. This should only be done if the console leaves room for the TV stand and the soundbar to each fully be supported by the console.

Issues with Soundbar Placement

So, it's better to just set it on the table rather than wall mounting it. Some Soundbar system bounces the sound off the walls in order to create a theatre-like surround sound experience. So, the layout of the wall and the interior decoration might block the sound.

For the best experience, we recommend placing the sound bar at ear level. Position the sound bar main unit on top of the table and right below the center of your TV.

How many watts does a sound bar use? A sound bar uses 20-50 watts by itself. If you have subwoofers and rear speakers, the wattage increases because you have additional devices.

Are bigger soundbars better? ›

Soundbars come in all shapes and sizes: from under a foot long to wider than a big-screen TV. While the larger soundbars sometimes offer more drivers and hence a bigger sound, there are others where all you're paying for is a longer box. If you want the soundbar to be exactly the same width as your TV then take note.

While most modern soundbars rely on an HDMI cable to connect to HDTVs and 4K TVs, there are still plenty of soundbars on the market with legacy audio inputs that will work with older TVs—and yes, that includes CRT (aka “tube”) TVs that are decades old.

On your TV, navigate to Home, select Settings, select Sound, select Sound Output, and then select Bluetooth Speaker List. Select your soundbar from the list. When the TV detects a nearby soundbar, the message Need Pairing or Paired will appear in the TV's Bluetooth device list.

Bluetooth is more common amongst soundbars and TVs. But HDMI cables offer the best and most consistent audio experience. If your TV does not support WiFi or Bluetooth, you can always use a Bluetooth adapter to achieve a wireless connection.

A 2.1 channel soundbar only features 2 channels, with one on each side. Meanwhile, a 5.1 channel soundbar has 2 side channels and a center channel plus two rear speakers. The rear speakers could be built-in or external. As one would imagine, the more channels you have, the larger a soundbar would be.

The Samsung HW-Q80R is a better soundbar than the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 by itself, though the Bose can easily be upgraded into the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module.

The Sonos Beam wins out by a margin due to its excellent ecosystem and by offering a choice of voice assistants. But if you want a TV speaker that can make your TV sound better, then opt for the Bose.

The difference between a 2.1 and 3.1 soundbar is very simple – a 3.1 soundbar just has an extra channel of sound. This extra channel relates to a centre channel, so while 2.1 soundbars have a left and a right channel, a 3.1 soundbar has speakers arranged in a LCR configuration, LCR standing for left, centre and right.

A 2.1 soundbar includes two speakers, usually a left and right channel and a subwoofer. A 5.1 soundbar includes five speakers, usually front left, front right, front center, surround left, surround right, and a subwoofer.

There are also pedestal-style soundbars, called sound bases, that your TV can sit on, but they've become rare as TV sizes have become larger. Soundbar speakers are found in a wide range of prices. You can spend as little as $100 or more than $1,000. Many sell for $200 to $600.

Do I need HDMI 2.1 for a soundbar? ›

You're in luck — all you need is a single HDMI cable to connect your TV and soundbar enabled with Dolby Atmos (HDMI 2.0 for ARC should do the trick while HDMI 2.1 is necessary for eARC setups). This is the simplest option and will send audio directly from your TV to your soundbar.

Side-by-Side Comparison

The standalone Bose Smart Soundbar 900 is a bit better for mixed usage than the Sony HT-Z9F. The Bose is better built and has better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances. The Sony has DTS support and a Full HDMI In port for high-quality passthrough, unlike the Bose.

Side-by-Side Comparison

The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is a bit better for mixed usage than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Bose is better-built, with better soundstage and surround performances. Also, it has built-in voice assistant support.

Side-by-Side Comparison

The Samsung HW-Q90R is a better soundbar system than the Bose Smart Soundbar 700, although the Bose can be upgraded easily into the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module. The Samsung gets louder and supports Atmos.

What is a good alternative to Sonos? Sonos is the best known of all the multi-room systems, but there are plenty of alternatives. Big names like Apple, Amazon, Google and Bose offer speakers that can work together wirelessly as a multi-room system, as do less mainstream brands like Audio Pro and Bluesound.

The Sonos is better-built, with better soundstage, center, surround, and Atmos performances. It also comes with a room correction feature, and it can be upgraded as the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers. However, the 2.1 Sony comes with some EQ presets as well as a Full HDMI In port, unlike the Sonos.

Bose speakers are the best in terms of sound quality. They have a very good bass and treble, which is why they are preferred by many people. The clarity of their music is also amazing as compared to other brands available in the market today.

Audio Quality

We mentioned above that 3.1 soundbars have a more powerful audio reproduction than the 2.1. Plus, that extra channel in the center helps enrich the dialogue, making it sound more precise and sharper. It also adds to the whole listening experience.

How many watts does a sound bar use? A sound bar uses 20-50 watts by itself. If you have subwoofers and rear speakers, the wattage increases because you have additional devices.

If the number is a “2”, this means your soundbar includes a left and right channel. If the first number is a “3”, however, this means the soundbar has a left, right, and center channel. Soundbars that include “5” channels will support either “mimicked” or actual surround sound speakers as well.