If you are looking for the best soundbar available on the market, you will find a complete buying guide in this article. We’ll walk you through what soundbars are and everything you should know before buying. We will also help you discover the best soundbars on the market, according to reviews, tests, and consumer reviews.
Soundbars make up for one of the main shortcomings of flatscreen TVs: sound. Due to their design and shape, modern flatscreen televisions cannot incorporate a high-quality audio system.
What is a soundbar?
Soundbars have become an almost essential addition if you want to enjoy the sound from your TV fully. They are an ideal alternative to Home Cinema, take up little space, are discreet and more economical, and can be found in cars, on the street, in homes, and provide a lot of atmosphere.
Soundbars enhance the sound of TV through multiple speakers placed in line. In addition, they can integrate surround sound functions.
What types of soundbars are there?
There are many features, including soundbars, which can significantly improve the sound quality of televisions.
Soundbars
The soundbars are installed below the TV. As the name suggests, they are compact and don’t take up much space. They have an elongated shape, are discreet with an attractive design. Of these three systems, this is the simplest but also the most limited. They usually do not include a subwoofer, but in case they do include it, it’s external, and you will therefore have to install it somewhere else. The speakers must be of high quality if you want to emulate the surround sound of a 5.1 home theater. Some soundbars have presets that allow this function.
Sound bases
The sound bases have a box-shaped design. They weigh heavier and are placed below the TV. They have a built-in subwoofer and, therefore, better bass. However, they do not have surround sound, the projection of the audio being unidirectional.
Sound basics are more expensive and don’t have a very good reputation among experts. This is still not a bad option if you only want to improve the sound of your TV. They will also come in handy if you want to get rid of cables.
5.1 and 7.1 home cinema
Home Cinema systems are top-quality audio systems. They are excellent for total immersion with remarkable sound reproduction. The main downside to this system is its bulkiness: it is a set of five or seven speakers and a subwoofer that you will need to distribute properly in your living room.
Another big drawback is its high price. The purchase of this type of device is only justified if you intend to cover large areas. Designed for television and movies, they do not perform as well for music.
The Best Soundbars of 2021
In the following article, we present a list of the best soundbars. These are the most popular and most sold on the Internet, developed through testing and user reviews. You can also learn more about the specific features of this device.
Sony HTCT390.CEL 2.1 Soundbar
Let’s start our comparison with the Sony HTCT390.CEL. Live the power of all the tapes fully with the soundbar 2.1 of Sony. The dual drivers have been carefully engineered to give you a balanced audio response across the entire frequency range, while the wireless subwoofer adds body to your bass.
In addition, S-Force Front Surround technology mimics the way the brain combines sound sources to create realistic volume, sound shift, and sound wave spectrum, transporting you to the heart of your movie. Users are satisfied with its excellent value for money as well as the clear and powerful sound.
ABOX Soundbar for TV 34
Let us continue our comparison with a 120 W power system: the ABOX soundbar designed for deep bass and punchy, averages detailed and precise highs. DSP technology disperses sound 180 degrees, giving you an immersive experience no matter where you are in the room.
Quickly connect your smartphone, tablet, or laptop in seconds via Bluetooth for powerful, well-balanced sound from your favorite library or streaming service. Effective range up to 50 feet from any Bluetooth-enabled device. Users are delighted with their purchase, especially for the well-rendered sound and its beautiful design.
Samsung HW-K450 / ZF Soundbar
Give your movies powerful and immersive sound with 300W RMS and Surround Sound mode. Live a breathtaking immersive and realistic experience! Wirelessly connect your soundbar to your TV with the Soundconnect TV function and use only one remote control.
With the ClearVoice effect, vocals are clearer and more precise, letting you savor any dialogue without having to turn up the volume. Users say they have found a powerful and versatile device that reproduces good sound quality. It was the third product in the rest of our comparison.
Yamaha YAS-105 Soundbar
In the final position of our comparative tests and according to customer reviews is the soundbar YAS-105. It delivers a total of 120W (60W + 30W + 30W) of power contained in a model with neat aesthetics. In addition to the left and right speakers, this model is equipped with two subwoofers and two tweeters. Yamaha’s exclusive Air Surround Xtreme feature delivers high-quality surround sound and a sound field that is both realistic and impressive.
The dual subwoofer system equipped with large magnets and large-diameter voice coils guarantees dynamic reproduction of sounds and bass. We recommend this product for very efficient surround sound.
The criteria for buying a soundbar
Soundbars are innovative products, and it’s normal that you don’t know what to look for. We walk you through some of the more redundant features from testing and comparison below so that you can find the best soundbar for your needs. Learn more about the aspects you should consider before choosing.
Sound Quality
The soundbar is designed to improve the mediocre sound of modern TVs. The most important aspect is, therefore, the sound quality. Not all bars offer good sound quality, so it’s common for low-end devices that don’t improve the sound.
How can you check if the sound is good? Based mainly on the quality of its components.
Bars typically feature several types of speakers: tweeters for high frequencies, woofers for midrange, and subwoofers for bass. Some have full-range speakers capable of reproducing all frequencies in the same enclosure. Take the test and see what works best for you!
RMS Power
RMS power is the measurement used to know the power of an amplifier. It is the average and constant sound level, that is to say, the power of a speaker at a certain volume.
The first thing to consider is the power received by the amplifier. If there is too much power, the sound will be distorted, and it can even overheat and damage the speakers.
Length and dimensions of a soundbar
Dimensions and weight are important aspects when buying a soundbar. One of the most common problems is to open its control Amazon and find a soundbar too high that does not fit in the space provided.
Make sure you have enough space so that the soundbar can be placed well under the TV. It is imperative to do the tests! With the rush of shopping, many people forget to measure their furniture. Please keep this in mind before choosing.
Dolby and DTS decoder
Ideally, your soundbar should incorporate both. Dolby is a format used by all video on demand services such as Amazon Prime Video, HBO or Netflix, TNT and Blue-Ray channels, as well as video game consoles. This is why all the bars incorporate this decoder.
DTS is a multi-channel format that uses less compression than Dolby. It is found on DVDs and Blu-ray. To be able to play DTS format media, the soundbar must have a DTS certified decoder. Most flatscreen TVs already have their own Dolby decoder. Only the most modern models also incorporate DTS technology.
