What to consider when buying a soundbar

Movies, TV shows and games aren’t just visual experiences – audio is half the fun, and without the right sound setup, you’re missing out. But you don’t have to spend a fortune and spin wires all over your living room; soundbars are a simple but effective way to elevate your entertainment. Here are some key things to look out for when shopping for a soundbar.

The long and short of it

When it comes to soundbars, size does matter. You’ll want to match it to your TV. If your screen is on the smaller side, there’s no need for a big soundbar, but if you’re rocking a 65–75-inch TV or above, a wider soundbar will be better at matching where sounds are coming from relative to the picture. It pays to measure up first, too, to ensure that it doesn’t hang over the edges of your entertainment unit.

Channel check

Soundbars and other speakers are described using numbers like 2.0 or 7.1.2, and these indicate how immersive the soundscape is.

The first number specifies different channels of sound – for example, 2 would be stereo. Surround sound systems usually include 5 or 7 speakers, and some soundbars can replicate that by bouncing audio off the walls.

The second number indicates subwoofers. So a 5.1 system has 5 main channels backed up by a subwoofer (the .1) to pump the bass.

Premium sound systems can also have a third number, which refers to how many up-firing drivers (or height channels) it has. These bounce off the ceiling to simulate sounds coming from above you. Some soundbars can also upmix standard audio to 7.1.2 channel sound.

Plug in and play

How your soundbar connects to your TV affects sound quality. Optical cables are a good baseline, while HDMI with ARC transmits both video and audio in two directions. And HDMI with enhanced ARC (eARC) offers some of the best sound available, transmitting uncompressed surround sound and formats like Dolby Atmos.

Many soundbars also connect to devices wirelessly via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, so you can play music or podcasts from your phone.

Dolby Atmos immersion

This technology adapts cinema-inspired surround sound for home entertainment. Individual sounds are picked out and directed around the room to create a 3D bubble of rich, immersive audio.

Music to the max

Soundbars aren't just for movies. They take music to the next level, too, with easy streaming using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Airplay 2. The full 360° effect of Dolby Atmos Music and spatial audio can also be enjoyed with an Atmos supported soundbar and rear surround speakers.

More modes

Many soundbars offer a variety of useful modes. For example, Night mode keeps the sound clear even at low volume, so you can hear everything without waking up the household. And voice modes highlight dialogue amongst all the explosions and music, so you don’t need to constantly up the volume or turn on subtitles.

Sounds smart

Smart soundbars can have Alexa and/or Google voice assistants built in for hands-free control, and can also double as a smart speaker to control compatible smart home devices like lights and security cameras, when connected to a smart home ecosystem. Intelligent soundbars can also optimise audio according to content and scene for the clearest possible audio.

In sync

Some of the newest soundbars can be synchronised with a TV’s speakers. For example, Samsung’s innovative Q-Symphony feature enables a compatible Samsung TV’s speakers and a Samsung soundbar’s output to work in unison, creating a more powerful and enveloping overall soundscape.

Does a soundbar need to be the same brand as my TV?

Not at all ­– compatibility between soundbars and modern TVs is standard, although the TV does need an optical, HDMI ARC or eARC port for connection.

Sticking with the same brand can sometimes give you the bonus of more seamless connectivity and specialised functions that work in tandem, like the aforementioned Samsung Q-Symphony.