Rating sound bars is an essential part of any home theatre or music fan's purchasing process. These ratings help you choose the right soundbar for you, regardless of whether you are looking for an affordable surround-sound system or one that offers voice control and Dolby Atmos.
How to Select the Right Soundbar
You should think about several factors when buying a sound bar. These include audio quality, power output, connectivity options, and other considerations. Also, you will need to determine how much space you have for a soundbar and where it will be placed.
Stereo sound bars reproduce the same stereo audio information as your TV but are typically stereo. They can be an attractive option for viewing movies or television shows as they are often powered via larger speakers and amplifiers.
By having two to three speakers in their main enclosure, it can increase the quality of the dialogue in television shows and movies. Dolby atmos or DTSX 3D audio systems may support upward-firing driver that reflect sound off ceilings to create a three dimensional surround effect.
External subwoofers can be used to enhance the bass of some sound bars, but it is not always necessary. Some sound bars can be integrated into larger systems that offer more flexibility in placement. Others are completely independent and do not require additional speakers or subwoofers.
How to Select the Best Audio Features
These models assume that your room is standard in size and shape, which can cause dead zones in your surround-sound system. Some models allow you the ability to customize your room's dimensions to set the EQ/calibration settings. This can prevent dead zones from occurring and help deliver better audio.
Some soundbars are made to work with particular TVs, such 4K UltraHD. These models have a lower profile than others and can be placed on stands, or directly above your TV to increase the audio quality.
How to choose the right Bluetooth(r) audiostreaming technology
Many of these sound bars offer wireless streaming of audio from your favorite music services, so you can listen to your favorite songs without having to connect a separate audio device to your TV. This feature is great for people who live in smaller spaces or want to save money when buying wireless speakers.
How to Select the Right Multi-Room Capable Video/A/V Systems
Some soundbars may be paired with multiple audio/visual devices, making them a central hub of your audio/video sources. This is great for a single room setup but you may also want to use some soundbars as the central hub of a multi-room system.