Tired of straining to hear dialogue and details in your favourite movies, shows, and games over your TV’s lacklustre built-in speakers? Want to enjoy powerful, immersive audio without installing a full home theatre system? Soundbar are the simple and stylish way to majorly improve your TV’s sound quality. Just place a soundbar in front of or below your television and experience the theatre-like audio you’ve been missing. But with so many soundbar options on the market, how do you choose? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with these 5 foolproof tips for picking the perfect soundbar for your needs and budget.
1. Consider Your Room Size
One of the most important factors in choosing a soundbar is finding one that’s a good fit for the size of your room. For larger spaces like open concept living rooms, you’ll want a model with multiple speakers and subwoofers to fill the whole area with dynamic, detailed sound. The first number indicates how many main audio channels there are, while the second number shows the included subwoofers. More channels mean the sound will surround you from all angles.
2. Make Sure It Fits Your TV
While shopping, you also need to ensure the soundbar physically fits with your television. Sound bars come in different lengths like 25 inches up to over 60 inches. Match a soundbar’s width to your TV’s screen size for ideal audio alignment and an aesthetically pleasing setup. Look at your TV’s feet positions too.
3. Consider Needed Connections
HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) ports are the most convenient option, requiring just a single HDMI cable between the soundbar and TV. This carries both audio and control signals. Optical audio ports use fibre optic cables to transmit sound between the TV and soundbar. This is the simpler old-school connection method. Some soundbars have HDMI inputs to also connect Blu-ray players, gaming consoles, and other devices directly to the soundbar. This gives you enhanced audio from those gadgets too.
4. Check for Voice Assistant Compatibility
Another great soundbar feature to look out for is integrated voice assistant support. Many models now work with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri through simple voice commands. You’ll be able to change volume, music stations, look up information, and more completely hands-free, adding to the convenience and futuristic feel. Compatibility with smart home ecosystems like Alexa allows you to even control soundbar functions as part of larger device routines.
5 Compare Sound Quality
Of course, audio performance should be a priority. Listen to demos of a soundbar’s audio quality before buying when possible. Key aspects to listen for include dialogue clarity, overall volume, bass depth without boominess, subtle sonic detail, and expanded imaging beyond the TV. Let your ears guide you to crisper, more immersive sound.
Conclusion
Following these tips will lead you to a soundbar that takes your TV’s audio to new heights. With the perfect model for your space that fits your TV setup and sounds superb, you’ll finally hear all the amazing detail in movies, shows, and more. Get ready to enjoy TV like never before once you install your soundbar!
