Soundbars

Soundbars—The Number of Channels Matters

The classic TV soundbar is installed beneath the TV screen and only transmits audio from the front. With more sophisticated solutions, you can simulate multi-channel (4/5/7.1) speaker sets to create surround sound. If the soundbar contains real rear speakers, spatial localisation almost always ends up being more accurate and precise.

• 2.0-channel soundbars feature two front channels for classic stereo audio without a subwoofer.
• 2.1-channel soundbars have two front channels complemented by a subwoofer.
• 3.0-channel soundbars hold two front channels, a subwoofer, and a centre channel for dialogue.
• 5.1-channel soundbars include three front channels expanded with two rear channels and a subwoofer for better surround sound.
• 7.1-channel soundbars offer a total of 7 channels, 4 of which are special surround channels, located at the front and back in two pairs. The remaining 3 channels are standard fare - 1 at the front and the last 2 at the back.
• Soundbar 9.1 brings you cinema-like sound. It features 9 audio channels and a subwoofer.
• Soundbar 13.0 offers a total of 13 channels for absoltely incredible sound.

Soundbars Bring Booming Bass to Your Living Room 

A subwoofer is a special type of speaker that produces low frequency sound, commonly known as bass, that really enriches your audio experience. The subwoofer is often combined with a soundbar, and comes in two forms:

1. A soundbar with a built-in subwoofer is an elegant and compact solution, but its volume and bass output aren’t quite up to par.
2. A stand-alone active subwoofer is used by the higher-quality soundbars, creating deep, powerful bass.

Creating strong and deep bass means the subwoofer must move a relatively large amount of air. If you want a soundbar with strong bass performance, choose a subwoofer with the largest diaphragm possible and a big enclosure (the bigger the better).

How to Choose a Soundbar

Modern soundbars include many different technologies, inputs, and outputs, so it’s good to take some time to understand what they really offer. Remember that the best soundbar is one that fits all your requirements.

More Powerful Soundbars Give More Decibels 

The power output for a soundbar is measured in RMS, which indicates how much power can be fed into them without breaking down. A typical soundbar has a performance of 20 to 200 W. However, discerning buyers can find speakers even more powerful.

Soundbars and Their Different Audio Standards

Soundbars can use a variety of surround sound technologies. Which ones are we talking about?

• Dolby Digital is a surround sound technology with a 5.1 or 7.1 speaker arrangement.
• Dolby Atmos is an extension of Dolby Digital technology. In addition to the 5.1 speakers, it adds two overhead speakers for even better surround sound.
• DTS Digital Surround is an audio format with 7.1 support. It's very popular in home theatre setups.
• DTS: X can handle asymmetrical speaker placement. Using a calibration microphone, the system shifts the sound effects to balance the sound of the asymmetrical placement.

Soundbars and Smart Technology

You can listen to music in several ways, including:

• Soundbars with WiFi/LAN play content from the Internet (YouTube, Spotify, etc.) or from your data storage, e.g. NAS.
• Soundbars with Bluetooth let you play content directly from mobile phones, laptops, and tablets.
• Soundbars with radio allow you to listen to your favourite radio stations without the need for a separate radio device.
• AirPlay is Apple's technology to make it easier to connect your iPhone or iPad to a soundbar.
• Google Chromecast is essentially a mini PC for wireless media sharing on your TV.
• NFC delivers lightning fast connectivity simply by placing your device on the soundbar.
• Voice Assistant lets you control your TV with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.

Soundbars—Inputs & Outputs

Every soundbar contains many inputs and outputs for connecting your audio devices and TV. Make sure to check if your TV shares at least some of the inputs and outputs with your selected soundbar. The most common types are:

• USB output, which is used to play media from external and flash drives.
• Cinch input performs the same function as 3.5mm line input and can be converted to the 3.5mm interface.
• 3.5mm line input (AUX, line-in) is a wired connection to any audio source, e.g. a phone.
• Headphone output (3.5mm Jack) allows you to connect headphones to the speaker body and then listen to music.
• Optical output acts as a substitute option for audio transmission from TV, unless it has an HDMI port with ARC.
• HDMI (with ARC) is used for digital transmission of audio and video content. The audio return channel (ARC) allows two-way connection to the TV with just one cable.