Sound bars are a great way to improve the audio from your TV. They can have a variety of features to suit your home theater setup.
Some have a subwoofer for better bass, and others feature surround speakers for a more immersive experience. You can also find models compatible with audio.
Wireless subwoofers
A soundbar can be a great way to add deep bass to your home theater setup without taking up too much room. Adding a wireless subwoofer can make this even easier, eliminating the need for bulky speaker wires that could get in the way of your viewing experience.
Many brands like Samsung Parts offer compatible subwoofers optimized to work with their soundbars for balanced, powerful bass. You can also buy a standalone subwoofer compatible with any system, though this may require more setup and configuration.
Consider the connection method you want to use with your sound bar from the start, as this will impact how easy it is to set up and maintain. At the very least, look for HDMI ports, the latest standard that optimizes audio performance. You should also find a model that supports Bluetooth for an utterly wireless listening experience.
HDMI ports
Most soundbars have built-in amplifiers and speakers rated to work well at typical viewing distances. Some even come with a subwoofer. But you may still want to add a few extra speakers for surround sound setups, and you’ll need connections.
The most common is a digital optical connection. These have a slim cable that runs from your television to the soundbar and is one of the easiest ways to connect a device like this. Look for HDMI ports labeled ARC (Audio Return Channel), making the process even easier.
Some soundbars also have RCA input jacks, but that’s rare as the technology is dated and won’t give you the quality you want. Some higher-end options include this option, but it’s usually for older televisions that don’t support HDMI ARC. For newer equipment, go with an HDMI ARC connection instead. This will reduce the number of cables and remotes you must handle.
Power options
A sound bar can solve many home theater issues: it looks great, it upgrades your TV’s aesthetic, it reduces the number of wires you need to run, and it saves space over a component audio system. Many models have a built-in wireless subwoofer for added bass, and you can upgrade your experience by adding surround speakers.
Look for a model that supports a high-quality brand that adds immersive 3D audio to your content. These models usually have upward-firing drivers that reflect sound off your ceiling and walls for a virtual surround effect.
You can also find sound bars that include room correction technology to optimize your audio output based on the size and shape of your room. This can make a significant difference in good quality. Also, check whether the soundbar has an HDMI input that can accept multiple sources. This is useful for multi-source streaming devices. Some sound bars also support connections.
Design
Sound bars are long, thin, bar-shaped speakers that offer a single-box solution for a home theater setup. They come in different shapes and sizes, with many offering built-in connectivity for multiple A/V components. This is especially useful to avoid a tangled mess of wires.
If you want to get the feel of authentic surround sound, look for a model with rear-facing speakers. These are usually mounted high and angled down to grab your attention as the audio moves throughout the room.
You can also find models with dedicated center speakers to separate voices from the left and right for more explicit dialogue. This option may not work well if you play back a soundtrack with traditional 5.1 surround sound, but it’s still a great way to improve the clarity of spoken words in your TV programming.