Soundbars are a great way to add sound and style to your TV. They’re also much easier than installing surround sound speakers in each room of your home, but they can be tricky to shop for if you don’t know what you’re looking at. So we’ve put together this guide that will help you understand all SoundBar Buying Guide so that when it comes time to buy one, you’ll feel confident about making a choice.
Written with the intent of getting the reader excited about reading on by providing an explanation as well as offering them value through informative content.
A quick look at our TV ratings will show that while many TVs these days offer great picture quality, the sound is often an afterthought. Only about 80 of the 200-plus televisions in our survey can deliver satisfying sound for watching movies with high-quality music tracks or listening during commercials when there’s no dialogue to speak of–and you’ll notice if it doesn’t match up.
Is one option worth considering? A Soundbar Speaker which has several speakers and electronics built into one thin enclosure; connect this box directly to your set using HDMI cables (no need to worry about picking up interference).
Soundbars are a great way to go if you’re looking for a sound that can fill up your living room. Most of them come with an aux input, so they’ll connect seamlessly without any wires getting in the way! Sound bases usually have space on both sides where TVs sit, but there are also pedestal-style models which provide more stability when placed against walls or shelves above or below whatever surface their sitting upon.
Contents
What Is Soundbar?
A Soundbar Speaker is a long, thin speaker that has left and right speakers sitting next to each other. These should be connected to your television using HDMI cables for the best sound quality.
Just like with Bluetooth Wireless Speakers, soundbars have surround sound options which give you a more immersive experience while watching movies or playing games. They’re not going to come close to the same quality as a 5.1 surround system, but they can definitely help add a little something extra to whatever you’re doing.
HDMI
This is by far the most popular way to transmit both audio and video signal, so you won’t want to overlook this connection on your new soundbar. Most TVs have more than one HDMI input, which means that if you decide one day to connect your cable box or gaming console there’s still an option for your Blu-ray Disc player.
A less expensive alternative is Optical Audio Output which sends digital audio signals through fiber optic cables rather than wires – just make sure that your TV has an optical audio input available before purchasing a speaker set without this feature.
Soundbars are usually sold with remote controls, but do yourself a favor and pick up some inexpensive speakers until you know how it will fit into your system (no need to repurchase them later).
Audio Inputs/Outputs
Most soundbars only have one or two of these connections, but if you’re looking for a full surround-sound system with several speakers and subwoofers, it’s worth checking out to see what additional models would need to be connected.
It may not feel like it since they are so new, but soundbars have actually been around for over 20 years now. They first started becoming popular back in the early 2000s when TV sets became very slim and flatter than ever before. Back then nearly every LCD was sold with built-in speakers which didn’t provide the best audio quality (and some were downright terrible).
Soundbar Reviews We’ve had great success working with manufacturers including Samsung, VIZIO, Yamaha, Sony, and LG. Although we’ve spent plenty of time testing out soundbars ourselves, we think the best way to get a feel for how one will perform is to read other people’s experiences.
We’ve gathered up all of our top picks and tested them in different environments to make sure that they’ll work well no matter where you’re setting (and what kind of TV you own). Be sure to check out our video reviews and compare specifications like the number of channels and wattage to get an idea about which one might be the best choice for your room setup.
Streaming Soundbars
A new and growing category of speaker is the soundbar/streaming media player combination. These models typically feature a base that houses a connection for your TV, as well as physical controls and an HDMI output; attached to this or placed on top is a bar that features wireless (or wired) speakers as well as playback controls for streaming music services as well as compatibility with popular audio formats like FLAC.
The sound quality tends to be very good, although the lower-priced choices tend to sacrifice some dynamic range compared to their more advanced big brothers. As you might expect, these products are perfect for those who want super easy access to their favorite tunes and internet radio without having to connect several components together just feel bad about replacing an existing but outdated audio system.
Buying a soundbar can be a little intimidating at first, especially if you’re new to the world of home theater and surround sound. But with our help we’re confident that we’ll have you listening to your favorite music within minutes. There’s no better way to figure out which one is best for you than by checking out what other people just like you had to say after they bought and tried them out in their own homes.
Connectivity Options
Soundbars provide a great way to upgrade your TV’s audio without having to make too many sacrifices in terms of space, but they still have plenty of connectivity options available.
For the most part, you’ll see two or three options depending on whether or not it has surround sound capabilities. If all you need is an improved listening experience for programs and movies, then there are speakers that mainly focus on improving things like bass response and voice clarity.
If you’re looking for something to connect with your gaming console, Blu-ray player or smartphone, then you may want to go with one that features Bluetooth compatibility.
Optical port
This is the most common and easiest way to connect a soundbar to your TV. The optical port sends digital audio directly from the source device (ie: cable box or Blu-ray player) into the soundbar, which then plays the signal through its speakers without having to convert it along the way.
An optical connection can carry up to 5.1 channels of surround sound including Dolby Digital and DTS formats; this means that you’re able to experience full range audio with great precision and accuracy even if you don’t have an available HDMI port on your TV or home theater system.
HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel)
The ability for a soundbar speaker system to receive both video and audio signals over a single HDMI cord is extremely convenient. One end goes into the soundbar and the other into your TV or source device, which means you don’t have to mess around with multiple cables for things like video and audio transfer.
The ARC HDMI connection offers to surround sound compatibility too, so regardless of whether you’re using component or optical in your setup, there’s a whole lot of information being transferred through this one cable.
Dolby Atmos
This is a relatively new technology that lets you add height to your surround sound experience by bouncing the audio off the ceiling. In other words, it creates an immersive three-dimensional soundscape with overhead effects and sounds that play from above rather than just around you.
In order for this to work properly, you’ll need speakers that are pointed straight up or at least towards your ceiling. This means you may have to invest in a receiver capable of powering a 5.1 Home Theater System if you want to take advantage of this particular piece of tech.
Controls and Setup
Remote controls can be a little frustrating, especially if it’s one of those universal models that end up changing your input every time you accidentally brush against it. The good news is that most soundbars offer simple controls so it doesn’t take much effort to access the features important to you.
Some are also compatible with smartphone applications which allow for wireless connectivity when syncing them together just doesn’t work out. On the other hand, some soundbar speaker systems have power indicators right on the front that may or may not display volume levels depending on how extensive their control options are.
Soundbars are usually very easy to set up, especially if you already have a home theater system since it means you can just plug everything into the soundbar instead of having to deal with connecting elements like subwoofers and external amps. There are usually spring-loaded speaker connections on the rear so the process only takes moments.
Surround Sounds
If what you’re looking for is an enhanced listening experience where you can catch all of the sounds your TV doesn’t provide, then there are several choices available. Some feature 2.1 home theater setups which will give you better sound quality across high, middle, and low frequencies without bothering with surround effects because it’s not that big of a priority.
For something comparable to cinema-quality audio though, consider a 4.1 setup instead which adds a subwoofer for low-frequency effects and booming bass.
Lifespan
If you’re planning on using your soundbar as the centerpiece of a home theater system then it should probably last at least 10 years or so. This is especially the case if you have kids who might be tempted to use them as a skateboard.
If you’re just looking to enhance TV audio though, then something cheaper may do the trick just as well depending on how much time you plan on spending with it in front of you.
Soundbars are known for their ability to provide volume levels that create an immersive effect without requiring additional speakers or amplifiers, making them relatively simple devices that can fit into tight spaces while still delivering high-quality audio.
If you’re planning on using your soundbar as the centerpiece of a home theater system then it should probably last at least 10 years or so. This is especially the case if you have kids who might be tempted to use them as a skateboard.
Soundbars are generally cheaper than other audio equipment since they don’t require additional amps and speakers, but this will depend on whether or not it has features like surround sound compatibility or bass enhancement.
Conclusion
If you are in the market for a good soundbar, our blog post should have given you some valuable information. We hope that this will help with your decision-making process and make it easier to find the right product for your needs! So what do you think? Did we mention something new or interesting about soundbars that helps you decide which one is best for your budget?
Let us know if there’s anything else on your mind by leaving a comment below. And don’t forget to share this article with friends who might be interested! Have fun shopping around, but please take note of our tips before making any purchases – they may save you some money down the road.