1/10/2024 0 Comments Sonos sound bar for tvMy advice is to go wired, as you'll ensure the best audio quality and avoid possible audio-video synchronization issues. If you're looking for a fully wireless option, most modern soundbars support Bluetooth, though not all TVs do. It's necessary for Dolby Atmos as well (see below). (Juggling multiple remotes is not my idea of fun.) You may be able to do this via an optical connection as well, but the HDMI option also helps you hear soundbar audio from any other sources connected to the TV, like a game console, streamer or cable box. Among other things, that pairing simplifies controlling the soundbar's volume using your TV's remote - an important usability consideration. Next, it's not critical, but if your TV has an HDMI ARC or eARC port (most modern ones do), I recommend choosing a soundbar that has an HDMI port as well. But even if you're outfitting a smallish TV that lives in a smallish room, I'd opt for a large-ish soundbar, one that can stay with you if you decide on a TV upgrade someday. From a décor standpoint, a compact soundbar might look a little awkward sitting in front of a big TV, and vice versa. (Photo: Rick Broida/Yahoo)ĭoes size matter? As with most speakers, the larger the soundbar, the bigger and better the audio quality is likely to be - one exception being the Bose 600, which manages to wring big sound from a smallish form-factor. (The Sonos Arc doesn't have one.) They're all decent, but I like Roku's best. These are the remotes included with the Roku, Polk, Samsung, Vizio and Zvox soundbars. Luckily, nearly every product here offers that in one form or another. That said, if you have aging ears, some kind of dialogue- or voice-boosting capability can make a big difference. The most important "feature" is the soundbar itself everything else is just gravy. Don't your ears deserve it? What features are most important? That said, I recommend investing a little more if you can, because quality speakers really do make a difference. So does the $179 Roku Streambar Pro.Īlthough I didn't cover super-low-end models here, it's possible to spend as little as $40-$45 on a soundbar and still get an improved TV listening experience. As you'll learn below, the $150 Vizio V214x-K6 offers pretty amazing bang for the buck. How much do you need to spend?Ī lot or a little, it's up to you. There may be other speakers in the mix as well, including a subwoofer (which is very nice to have, as it provides the bass needed for more well-rounded sound) and, in some cases, side and/or rear speakers (aka satellites) to create a theater-like surround environment. The advantage is that it can usually sit right in front of the TV, or below it if it's wall-mounted. True to its name, a soundbar is basically a group of speakers contained in a long, low-profile cabinet. Let me just say it again: You can't go wrong with any of these.īefore I share my top picks for best soundbar, though, let me answer some commonly asked questions. I played movies such as Black Panther, All Quiet on the Western Front and Despicable Me, along with TV shows like Andor, Survivor and The Old Man. Speaking of modes, is it easy to switch between TV audio and Bluetooth or Wi-Fi (for listening to music)?Īre there any senior-friendly features like dialogue enhancement and voice controls?Īll seven soundbars were tested with an Amazon Fire TV Omni Series QLED TV. How's the remote? Is it laid out logically, with reasonably sized buttons that are labeled clearly?ĭoes the soundbar have a useful front-panel display that shows volume levels and/or mode settings? ![]() How good is the instruction manual? Is it clear and detailed, with print that's large enough to read without a magnifying glass? So instead of delving into subjective sound tests and confusing terminology, I focused on real-world considerations like these: Obviously, overall audio quality is important, but I believe we're starting from a high baseline: Any of these products will noticeably improve your TV experience. Here's the thing: Every soundbar here sounds good, if not great. ![]() Although those scores don't always tell the whole story, they do help weed out the products that probably aren't worth your time or money. In making the selections for best soundbar, I also considered user ratings at stores like Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart. Price, because everyone has different budgetsĮase of setup, because technology can be complicatedįeatures and connectivity options, because obviously you want the best bang for your buck I recently tested seven models I consider some of the best soundbars on the market, then evaluated each one based on the following criteria: Ah, but with so many options out there, what's the right soundbar for your living room? Time to find out.
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