Types of Soundbars
Soundbar
Approximately 40 inches or longer, the soundbar can be wall-mounted or placed on a shelf above or below the TV. For larger TVs, consider a wider model for a wider stereo picture (spatial position of sound). For smaller TVs, consider a TV no larger than the screen.
The sound bars can have two to five additional speakers in the main cabinet. Some have drivers that point outward toward the sides of the room to create a wider sound field. Most nowadays come with a wireless subwoofer that you can place almost anywhere in the room, even when out of sight.
Sonos has built a reputation for owning smart, easy-to-use speakers, and its latest soundbar, The Beam, won't disappoint.
Soundbar 2.0 is packed with features inside its slim, 25.6-inch chassis. Lines, background effects, and loud noises (seemingly an explosion in an action movie) are always clear, even at high volumes.
Sonos has a built-in "voice enhancement mode" option, which enhances voices. The reason you should choose Sonos Beam - in addition to its ultra-compact size, which is a huge asset - is its slew of smart features.
You can set this best smart TV soundbar up to work with Amazon's Alexa or Google Assistant, allowing you to use it for smart indoor tasks like controlling accessories.
Vizio is famous for its quality, and beautiful sound at a reasonable price, and the latest 2.1 channel model is a notable example of this.
The SB3821-C6 soundbar is sleek, easy to install, and features a wireless subwoofer that can be placed next to your couch.
With 3.5mm input, USB, and optical cable - plus Bluetooth for smartphone music streaming - you can enjoy the crystal-clear sound from virtually any device you own.
If you live in a small apartment or don't have room for a subwoofer in your living room, the Yamaha YAS-109 is for you. It may not have a filler, but this little Yamaha bar is packed with great tech.
With Alexa, great built-in Spotify Connect, and dual HDMI inputs just like the YAS-209, you'll get a stripper bar capable of being the center of your living room acoustics.
Experience - from playing your favorite movies to letting you know the news and the weather - without leaving you with remote control.
Sony HT-G700 soundbar and wireless subwoofer include Sony's most elaborate processing, to make the three drivers in the soundbar look like they give you sound coming from the sides and above.
Sony HT-G700 can't really achieve the same claims as a surround sound system, but that's okay because what it manages is really impressive.
The amazingly wide tonal bands from this speaker come from convincingly left and right but are also more subtly positioned in front of you, to match what's on-screen. And yes, some height is also added, for added immersion.
Packed in an impressive array of speakers (each stereo channel includes a full-range driver plus a tweeter and bass combo handled by a subwoofer plus a pair of bass radiators) for size with its HDMI 4K HDR transmission and Dolby Atmos and DTS: X audio support, Panasonic HT-SCB01 Soundslayer beats some sound bars within the price range.
It offers Bluetooth to stream to it from the phone, but no Wi-Fi. Powerful and deep sound. Its small size is perfect for large gaming monitors or small to medium TVs, but the level of attack Panasonic HT-SCB01 delivers will deliver a great experience. It's particularly capable when it comes to low-end, packing impact on every hit or blast.
Sound base
If your space is limited, consider an audio stand that will be placed underneath the TV. You can say goodbye to placing or wall mounting trouble. Just make sure the audio stand can support the weight of the set if you plan to place the TV on top of it.
Also, make sure it's wide and deep enough for the base or base of the TV. (Some may be thin enough to be placed underneath the TV if its legs are on the sides of the screen.) The audio stands also have speaker arrays, but most have built-in, rather than separate woofers.
Related Posts: Best Wireless Speakers For Home, Best Subwoofer Under $2000
Best Smart Tv Sound Bar Buying Guide
Important note
Soundbars do poorly in large open space areas but do well in smaller enclosed rooms where you sit no more than a few meters away. A soundbar might be ideal for living room entertainment, but less useful when you're out and about for a barbecue.
Setting up soundbars is pretty straightforward, but make sure you have enough space in front of or below your TV screen (they're usually less than 15cm).
If you use the subwoofer and it uses a cable connection, make sure there is enough cable length for positioning for the best effect.
Most models today use wireless, so you can place it anywhere in the room.
Channels
If you just want to enhance your TV sound, a 2.1 - channel sound bar (two front channels and a separate subwoofer) such as VIZIO SB3821-C6 is sufficient.
If you want real surround sound, buy a sound bar with a subwoofer and rear speakers - preferably wireless - for multichannel sound.
Some of the new models may include Dolby Atmos (like Sony HT-G700 and Panasonic HT-SCB01 Soundslayer), a newer immersive sound technology that adds a height factor to the speaker system. A sound bar system is usually done by having booster drivers in the main cabinet.
Placement
If you are going to place the soundbar on the TV stand, make sure there is enough room in the front of the device and check that the sound bar is not so high that it will block the remote control's view of the TV.
Connection
To connect a DVD or Blu-ray player, check that the soundbar has at least one digital audio connection (Toslink or Digital RCA) as well as a stereo input.
HDMI input is ideal (like in Sonos Beam). This connection transmits the video signal through the soundbar to the TV with just one cable.
Some soundbar speakers have one or more HDMI inputs and can include an HDMI output to the TV, allowing you to use the audio sound to switch between video source components.
Many HDMI connections now support an audio return channel (ARC) feature, which allows the TV to send sound back to the sound bar or sound base.
It will also allow the soundbar to have a single connection to your TV, in case your source component (like a cable box), is directly connected to the TV.
If you plan to connect a Blu-ray player or Ultra HD Blu-ray player with 3D or 4K video capabilities, make sure the audio has pass-through to send these signals to your TV.
Bluetooth or Wifi
Many sound bars now support Bluetooth, allowing you to wirelessly send music from your mobile device (tablet, phone, or computer) to the soundbar.
Some support near-field communication (NFC), which is a quick way to create an initial Bluetooth connection. Some have bidirectional Bluetooth, allowing you to send music from a sound bar to Bluetooth-enabled speakers or headphones.
On the other hand, models with built-in WiFi let you access online music services like Pandora and Spotify directly from the soundbar. If you want a wired connection to your home network, some models include an Ethernet jack.
Best smart TV sound bars with Bluetooth: VIZIO SB3821-C6, Yamaha YAS-109, Sony HT-G700, and Panasonic HT-SCB01 Soundslayer.
Best smart TV sound bars with wifi: Yamaha YAS-209 and Sonos Beam.
Front panel display
A display panel in the front of the soundbar comes in handy when you want to listen to music without turning on the TV. Find a model that allows you to dim the screen or turn the screen off when you don't need it, as it can be distracting if it's too bright.
Streams
Some sound bars provide access to online movies or TV shows from services like Amazon, Hulu, and Netflix; internet radio stations such as Napster / Rhapsody, Pandora, and Slacker; and social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. This is a plus if your TV doesn't have this feature built-in and you don't own a media player like a Roku or an Apple TV.
Wired/wireless speakers
Some soundbars support a wired or wireless connection to other speakers. This is sometimes limited to the subwoofer only, but some models have added "surround sound" support, so you can connect additional speakers in the back of the room to mimic 5.1. These speakers are sold separately as optional accessories or as bundles for an extra fee.
Subwoofer
A soundbar that includes a dedicated subwoofer (external) can sound better than a speaker that doesn't, especially in a large room. A well-produced sub improves low-end sound quality, while also adding a cinematic feel to your setup.
However, a poor sub can have a negative impact on sound quality. If you want some bass but don't have room for an external sub, consider an acoustic stand. They include a built-in subwoofer.
FAQs
Can you recommend a suitable size for my smart TV soundbar?
Soundbars come in all shapes and sizes: from less than a meter long to wider than a large-screen TV. While larger soundbars sometimes offer more drivers and therefore sound louder, there are other types for which all you pay is a long box.
Note that since the TV is measured diagonally, the length of the soundbar does not directly correspond to the size of your TV screen. Of course, the soundbar might not necessarily match the width of your TV, even if they're both from the same manufacturer.
There are two options, first is to check the width of the TV against the screen size, try this handy chart, or more accurately, you can check the width of both models in the specs section. by the manufacturer before buying.
Do I need Alexa or the built-in Google Assistant?
By 2020, a lot of soundbars offer built-in voice assistants from Amazon, Google, or both. Depending on the level of comfort you have for the “always-on” microphone in your living space you can choose to buy a voice assistant speaker or not.
If you're not comfortable with this idea, think of it as a web browser: the Assistant just sits there waiting for you to say the word wake up and then reply (the equivalent of the voice of a web search).
The voice assistant apps even let you re-read everything it records if you're concerned about privacy. However, if this is too much, you can simply choose a model that doesn't have this feature.
Do I need to use the remote that comes with the soundbar?
While most soundbars have remote controls, they are of pretty poor quality, and most manufacturers allow you to use the TV's remote.
In theory, that's not a bad idea: no one wants another remote. In fact, it is sometimes more problematic. After you turn off the TV's internal speakers, some TVs may display an annoying status message whenever a volume adjustment command is received, this will happen if you are using the TV remote control to Soundbar controls.
The easiest workaround to this problem is to use the cable box remote with the volume control or buy a universal remote.
Do I need a front-panel soundbar?
A surprising number of soundbars don't have a real front-facing display, so you don't get much (or any) visual feedback on how loudly the volume or input you're using. A front-facing display is definitely nice, but we don't think they're necessary.
In general, you just need to turn up the volume to a comfortable level, and it doesn't matter much if you're at "20" or "30".
Do I need a subwoofer?
Would you like to get your adrenaline pumping from heart-pounding explosions and low-level thunder effects? If your answer is yes, you may need a subwoofer. The subwoofer is a major component specifically intended to reproduce low-frequency sound effects.
No matter how powerful your soundbar is, you'll never feel the full impact of your movies without using a dedicated subwoofer.
Final Thought
Enhance your movies and games experience with the best smart TV sound bars. Depending on your needs as well as your living space, make the best choices. To help you get more sure, check out Wikihome's shortlist below:
Best overall: Sonos Beam.
Best for the apartment: Yamaha YAS-109.
Best with subwoofer: Sony HT-G700.
Best for gaming: Panasonic HT-SCB01 Soundslayer.
