When looking for a soundbar, there are several features to consider to ensure you get the best one for your needs and budget. Here are some things to look for:
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Channels: Choose a soundbar with 3 or more channels, at a minimum. With 3 or more channels, you can simulate surround sound for a more immersive experience. Soundbars are denoted based on the amount of built-in treble, bass, and height channels. A “2.1” system, for example, has two speakers and a dedicated subwoofer. A 5.1 system has five speakers (a center, left, right, plus two surrounds) and a subwoofer.
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Active vs. Passive: Go with an active soundbar. Active soundbars come with built-in amplifiers (passive soundbars do not). We say its worth it, especially if youre trying to save space or want a 2-for-1 solution.
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Sound Quality: The most important feature of any soundbar is obviously the quality of its sound. Look for recognizable brand names like Samsung, Vizio, Sony, Polk, LG, Bose, and Sonos. Try them out. Soundbars with similar scores in ratings for sound quality are likely to sound different from each other because of the way they handle various frequencies and how they interact with the acoustics in your room. Audition soundbars in a store if you can, and ask about returns and exchanges if the one you bought doesn’t suit you once you get it home.
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Connections: There are two main types of connections for soundbars: wired and wireless. Wired connections will always be superior in quality over wireless ones because they dont have any lag time or interference from other devices on your Wi-Fi network. If youre going with a wired connection, youll need an HDMI cable (or similar) that has all three audio channels (left/right/center) running through it.
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Smart Features: Many soundbars feature smart assistants, multi-room audio connectivity, and other bells and whistles. If you’ve already got a smart assistant you love (Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri), keep this in mind when shopping for a new soundbar. You might not need a smart speaker in your living room if you end up with a smart soundbar instead.
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Budget: Consider your budget and what you want to use the soundbar for. If you’re using the soundbar only to make your TV sound better, you can go for a low-priced, no-frills model that has at least decent sound quality in ratings. It will be a step up from almost any TV’s built-in sound. But if you want to use the soundbar for music as well as TV, we recommend a model with a very good or top-notch score for sound quality.
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Size: Consider the size of the soundbar in relation to your TV. While its worth considering an Atmos bar for some future proofing, its still not an essential buy. Check the width of your TV compared to screen size with a handy chart or more.
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Subwoofer: If you want true surround sound, buy a soundbar with a subwoofer and rear speakers (preferably wireless) for multichannel sound. Some new models have multiple speaker arrays and powerful subwoofers that have enough sonic oomph to fill even a larger room. However, if you want a soundbar that sounds good enough without a subwoofer, you can go for a 2.1, 2.2, or 3.1 channel soundbar, which are...
