The 10 Best SoundBars of Year
Listening to dialogue and music at higher quality is possible. This is what the soundbar promises. Opt for a compact model if you don’t have space in your home, even if these products are usually not bulky. Check for features such as Bluetooth or the absence of wires, which only create disorder and spoil the beauty of the environment in which you place it.
The output power is another factor to consider for the consumption and the ability to make the film’s vision equal to that of the cinema. You can follow our advice to understand how to find what is right for you, but in the meantime, take a look at the products we have preferred among those on the web.
Table of Contents
Buying guide – How to choose the best soundbars?
Buying the best soundbar on sale on the market may not be immediate, especially for all users who have never had to deal with this type of device and wonder what the main features to consider are.
Before looking at the price, ask yourself what you are looking for in a soundbar if you prefer compatibility or want a complete device with a subwoofer included in the package.
Brand and Compatibility
To have the mathematical certainty that your soundbar is compatible with the TV, the best choice is to opt for a product of the same brand. This way, you will create an ecosystem just as the developers thought, minimizing compatibility problems.
This often proves to be a costly choice, so it may not be the best option if you are on a budget. To check the compatibility of third-party soundbars with your TV, you will have to invest some time in reading one of our reviews or analyzing the technical datasheet to highlight the device’s equipment, such as HDMI cables, optical and, above all, Bluetooth module.
Ease of use
Users who do not have much experience in this regard may prefer simple soundbars to install and configure, which need to be connected to the chosen device to deliver clean and quality audio into the environment immediately.
Although any soundbar still requires a minimum of configuration, Plug & Play products perform equalizations automatically or with the push of a button.
Subwoofer
If you are used to watching movies and listening to music with the built-in speakers of a low-mid-range TV, even the use of a simple soundbar will probably amaze you, and it is good to know that it can further improve the sound. Thanks to the use of a subwoofer dedicated to bass reproduction.
Some products include it in the box to offer the buyer a complete audio system, with an often negligible price difference unless you are looking for a particularly powerful or efficient device. Those who usually buy a soundbar do so for simplicity and space since they cannot install a real Hi-Fi system.
So if you live in a small apartment, even purchasing a subwoofer could be problematic since it certainly occupies more space than the soundbar, which can instead be fixed to the wall. So before opting for these sets, also consider the space available.
Bluetooth
This is the primary wireless connection used by most soundbars. It is a real boon for any consumer who does not like to fill their apartment with cables that accumulate and tangle easily behind the TV.
If you prefer this type of connection, always check its presence in the product datasheet, carefully evaluating its compatibility with your TV. The only disadvantage of this technology is represented by the need to perform the pairing every time you change it.
For example, if you hooked the soundbar to the TV but want to enjoy some music from your smartphone, you will first need to press the ” Source ” button to change the source and then carry out the first pairing. Nothing particularly complicated, but it is still a procedure that takes a few minutes.
Cables
The wired connection will be more inconvenient, but it is certainly the most efficient, so you won’t have to worry about random disconnections or difficulties during the pairing procedure.
All you have to do is insert the cable into the correct slot, both the one behind the soundbar and the one behind the TV, and you can start using the soundbar immediately. If you still have doubts about these devices’ use and functionality, we invite you to read our guides that you find below carefully.
Frequent questions
Wireless soundbar, how does it work?
The soundbar uses different types of connections, both wired and non-wired. So if you don’t like having a tangle of cables behind your TV or want to take advantage of all the soundbar features, connecting it to smartphones and tablets, for example, you could take advantage of the Bluetooth wireless protocol.
Once activated on the source device, you have to press the appropriate button on the soundbar to enter detection mode. Then, you can highlight and select your smartphone or tablet menu to automatically send the audio to the device.
How to Build a Soundbar?
Building a soundbar by yourself is not a simple undertaking and requires basic knowledge of audio systems and a place where you can work with wood, drill, glue, and electrical cables. If this process does not scare you and you prefer a DIY device rather than buying one at a competitive cost, be prepared to invest a significant amount of time and resources.
First of all, buy at least four speakers and an amplifier based on the first ones’ wattage. With special wooden boards, you will have to fix them with screws and create spaces to house them.
Then connect the speakers to the amplifier and create a wooden structure that closes the components, naturally leaving the rear space so that you can insert the power and audio cables to connect the soundbar to the chosen device.
How to place soundbar and subwoofer?
The positioning of the soundbar and subwoofer must be done with the knowledge of the facts. While the first can be placed under the TV, either resting on a piece of furniture or fixed to the wall, the subwoofer needs more attention to spread the sound throughout the entire room.
So start from a neutral position, perhaps right in front of the sofa, activate the system to listen to some music, move it to the right or left of the starting position depending on how you perceive listening.
How to connect a Samsung soundbar to a Samsung TV?
If you wonder how to connect soundbars to Samsung TVs manufactured after 2013 or have the SoundConnect or SoundShare function, the answer is straightforward, especially if the device is of the same brand. With both devices turned on, press the “source” button on the side of the soundbar or the remote control (the one with a square and an arrow) until the light signal indicates “TV.”
Wait for a message to appear at the top of the TV screen indicating the soundbar has been detected. Then, select ” Yes ” to enable the connection, and if it does not happen automatically, press and hold the ” play ” button on the soundbar remote for five seconds.
Remember that switching sources using the “source” button automatically disconnects the connection between the soundbar and the TV.
How to use a soundbar
Using a soundbar is not an extremely complex operation. It only requires some initial connections to enjoy significantly better audio than that obtained from your TV’s built-in speakers. Before moving on to installation and connection, let’s see together a soundbar how it works.
These are usually products with an elongated shape containing the necessary for audio reproduction: the speakers and an amplifier. Soundbars can usually be connected to various devices, such as TV, smartphones, and tablets, to improve music and movies’ listening experience.
The latter can send the audio signal either via cables or via Bluetooth wireless connection. If you find the sound unsatisfactory, know that you can also connect a subwoofer to get full bass.
Where to place the soundbar
Anyone wondering where to place their new soundbar should not despair since it is designed to be installed near the TV. So all you have to do is place it on the same piece of furniture as the TV or, if it is fixed to the wall, install it on the same wall, directly below or above the TV, thanks to the kit present in most products.
How to connect a soundbar to the TV
As for the TV connection, you can usually take advantage of various methods, both with HDMI cables or digital optical cables and wireless via the Bluetooth module. The choice depends a lot on your needs.
Those who do not like the presence of bulky cables or are unable to hide them from view might find the wireless connection much more interesting, but it can only be performed with TVs that are in turn enabled for Bluetooth connections.
How to connect the soundbar to an LG TV
Depending on the LG TV you own, you can connect your soundbar with different approaches. The most classic and simple are definitely via cables, be it HDMI or optical. In this case, all you have to do is use one end of the cable for insertion into the soundbar and the other to connect the TV.
So by turning on the devices, should route the audio to the soundbar. The wireless method is slightly more complex since you will need a TV enabled for Bluetooth connections. So, turning on both devices, be sure to turn on wireless on the soundbar and, on the TV, instead, enable the search for devices. This way, you will be able to pair and enjoy the improved audio.
How to connect the soundbar to a Sony TV
Again, you will have to consider which types of ports your TV supports. Sony BRAVIA TVs, for example, have HDMI ports with ARC support, which stands for Audio Return Channel.
You can recognize them for the ARC wording printed near the HDMI input. Their advantage is the possibility of transmitting the audio signal from the TV to the soundbar without using other cables.
Not all brand models have this convenience, and if you find yourself with a Sony TV with a simple HDMI port, you will also have to connect the digital audio output with the optical cable. If your TV is an older generation, you could point to the last connection via the “Analog” port and a 3.5 mm jack cable.
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