Do I Need a Soundbar For My TV

Improve TV sound with a soundbar. Is this a good idea? How much better does that sound? Modern TVs are pretty to look at the great picture, almost no bezels around the screen, and a thin and light body. What is often lost in the sound? Above all, decent woofers are hard to find. It doesn’t matter if you’re watching the news or talk shows. With films and series, however, some of the experience is lost. Nevertheless, what good does a soundbar do for the television? The soundbar is often the easiest way to add some spaciousness to the sound of a flat-screen TV. Surround sound without having to pull many wires and many loudspeakers in the living room? It is what soundbars promise, which are supposed to bring music and film sound into the ear not only from the front, but also from above, below and behind.

Audio Technologies

However, it is very annoying that it has to be with the sound. It’s difficult to install loudspeakers on the super-slim housings, which firstly radiate to the front and secondly don’t sound like a tin can. Nevertheless, TV engineers certainly didn’t fall on their heads. But they seem intent on getting you fed up with the constant fumbling with the volume button on your remote or your neighbors’ knocking tirades. Moreover, when that point is reached, they assume you’re looking for a technical solution. Thanks to clever audio technologies and simple installation, you can ideally bring a cinema-like sound into your living room without the neighbors banging against the wall every time your favorite movie explodes. Because more and more users have recognized the sound problem with their televisions, soundbars are enjoying increasing popularity.

In the test, the soundbars are tested in a quiet room with a TV so that there is no excess background noise. The sound is checked for all available sources. It includes, for example, audio from a TV via an HDMI cable or music from streaming services via a Bluetooth connection. To get the best overall sound experience and various features such as the increasingly important spatial sound, it is common for at least two editors to conduct separate listening tests. The results are then compared and evaluated. Factors such as optics, equipment, and accessories also play a role in the test, although to a lesser extent. The focus of the soundbar test is, of course, sound with all its facets.

Pros and Cons

Soundbars are conquering the living rooms of home cinema fans and are replacing conventional systems, especially when space is limited. However, what are the advantages and disadvantages of compact sound systems and what are the reasons for buying a soundbar? The strength of a soundbar lies in its compact design. Because here several loudspeakers are housed in just one single housing. Depending on the model, the subwoofer is even located directly in the speaker unit. Especially for small rooms, a soundbar is an ideal alternative for a space-consuming surround system with several speaker units that have to be placed around the room. In addition, only one cable has to be pulled from the soundbar to the television and the annoying cable clutter that arises with systems does not even come about here. Due to its flat design, the soundbar can be placed directly in front of the television or, if it is wall-mounted, hung under the device on the wall. Wireless subwoofers also enable flexible installation and can be placed anywhere in the room.

Establish A Connection Between the Soundbar And the Television

Newcomers in particular do not dare to approach complex sound systems and fear that setting up a soundbar can only be realized with previous technical knowledge. However, it is precisely at this point that the compact loudspeaker units offer an advantage over systems. All you have to do is establish a connection between the soundbar and the television and users can enjoy high-quality sound in their home cinema. Thanks to “Plug & Play”, there is no time-consuming installation and the soundbar is available immediately after connection – without having to make any further settings. If the soundbar also has Bluetooth, there is no need to connect a cable and the transmission can also be made wirelessly. Soundbars are optimized for TVs for a number of acoustical and technical reasons and are sometimes far superior to Bluetooth boxes, especially in large rooms and thick TV screens. On the other hand, the biggest benefit of good Bluetooth boxes – great sound with music – doesn’t necessarily apply to soundbars. This does not mean that the soundbar is not suitable for listening to music, and the Bluetooth box is not suitable for watching movies.

Most soundbar models offer the option of Bluetooth playback via smartphone, tablet, or PC. This opens up many possibilities for playing your music, podcasts, audiobooks, or even radio stations. Music streaming services such as Spotify, Deezer, or Apple Music are the top priority for many users. Some products can be connected directly to the Internet. Together with applications such as Spotify Connect, you then have direct access to the service without having to go through Bluetooth. Radio reception via VHF and DAB+ is only possible in a few exceptional cases.

More Advantages

Another advantage is the extremely simple operation. If you want to experience outstanding sound without much effort, the soundbar is the right choice for you. Because here, highs and lows do not have to be laboriously coordinated to produce a perfect sound. Using modern sound technologies, the soundbars even offer virtual surround sound, which can convince in everyday use with room-filling sounds. The various sound effects, which can be switched on depending on the model and ensure a customized sound, offer further advantages. Of course, the look is always a matter of taste. However, a soundbar convinces with its flat and compact design and therefore integrates particularly well into the overall picture without looking like a foreign body. In addition, many manufacturers rely on high-quality surfaces with a lacquer look, which already looks extremely modern and elegant without any further visual highlights.