Last Updated on December 11, 2020 by SoundBarScan
Back in times when TVs used to have great speakers, not many people knew about these smart speakers. The same is true for people who have old TVs and want to switch to modern wallpaper televisions.
Technology has evolved, and there are a lot of things that have improved in the TV technology, the modern-day LCD televisions have better image quality, consume less energy, and come with a bunch of other features too.
The only thing that downgraded in quality over the period of time is the sound quality. Due to the ultra-thin design, there is no space left in these TVs to put decent quality speakers. Therefore, you need to buy additional speakers in order to enjoy great sound.
Soundbars are a great alternative to TV speakers. These magical speakers produce amazing quality sound, take up minimal space, and are relatively affordable.
Hence, these soundbars are very popular. Unlike other sound boxes, you can easily fit them under your TV screen to enjoy the cinema-quality sound.
What is a Soundbar?
A soundbar is a sleek and slim enclosure that contains one or more speakers. Soundbars are designed in a way that they can be mounted on the wall, or placed under the TV easily. These speakers in a closed shell provide solid sound performance.
Types of Soundbars
Active Soundbars
The active soundbars have their own built-in amplifier, and they do not require any external source for their functioning. Active soundbars are generally cheaper than passive soundbars. These soundbars are perfect for beginners.
Passive Soundbars
Passive soundbars, on the other hand, require an external amplifier to work. These soundbars are generally way more expensive and provide very high-quality sound. These soundbars are more inclined towards audio and sound enthusiasts who take their sound very seriously.
Channels
A lot of people, when they jump into soundbars, get confused by numbers such as 2.0, 2.1, 3.1, etc. Don’t worry; we will show you what they mean and how you can choose the right soundbar for your needs.
2.0 Channel Soundbar
The 2.0 channel soundbar comes with two speakers. One right speaker and a left speaker. These soundbars are the most basic type of soundbars and do not come with a subwoofer.
2.1 Channel Soundbar
The 2.1 channel soundbar comes with the right speaker, a left speaker, and a dedicated subwoofer. These soundbars are able to produce surround sound too.
3.1 Channel Soundbar
The 3.1 channel soundbars are a step-up to the 2.1 channel soundbars. These soundbars come with one left speaker, one right speaker, a central channel speaker for enhanced dialogue clarity, and a dedicated subwoofer. If you like to enjoy more with a much more detailed sound. These soundbars provide ultimate clarity for the movie dialogues.
5.1 Channel Soundbar
A 5.1 channel soundbar comes with a front left speaker, front right speaker, a central channel speaker, a left surround system speaker, a right surround system, and a subwoofer. These soundbars offer a much more detailed sound and offer a cinema-like sound experience.
7.1 Channel Soundbar
A 7.1 channel soundbar comes with a front left speaker, front right speaker, a central channel speaker, a left surround system speaker, a right surround system, two extra speakers for enhanced sound experience, and a dedicated subwoofer for producing a low-frequency response.
Connectivity Options
Soundbars offer a variety of different connectivity options. Typically, a soundbar comes with Bluetooth, AUX, RCA, HDMI, and Optical connectivity options. Hence, you can use these soundbars with a variety of different devices.
Price Factor
Soundbars come into various price brackets. Soundbars range from 30 USD all the way to the several hundred bucks. If you want to buy soundbars in a budget, we have put together a list of best-rated soundbars under 100 USD
Soundbars Vs. Home Theatre Systems
There are a bunch of additional features that you can get with a soundbar. We will share with you five reasons to buy a soundbar over a home theatre system.
Bulky
Home theatre systems are often bulky and come with additional speakers. Hence, it is very inconvenient to place them in the right place. On the other hand, soundbars come in the form of a single enclosure with different speakers, which makes soundbars a perfect choice for compact space.
Clutter of Wires
Home theatre systems come with external speakers. Although, some of the soundbars come with wireless subwoofer and speaker. But most of the time, these speaker systems use wires to make a connectivity chain, which makes it look messy.
On the contrary, soundbars come in the form of a sleek design with a built-in speaker. So, it looks way more stylish and appealing to the eye.
Sound Quality
Soundbars more or less produce the same quality of sound as of a home-theatre system (unless you are an audiophile). There is no major difference in the sound quality of a soundbar and a home theatre system if you choose the right soundbar.
Affordability
Soundbars are way more affordable than the home theatre systems. Hence, soundbars are a perfect choice for people who are looking to enhance their sound experience without breaking their bank.
Hassle
Home theatre systems due to their bulky and messy design are way more difficult to manage. These sound systems require an immense amount of time for the proper setup.
Soundbars are relatively very easy to set up due to their plug and play nature. Moreover, there is no hassle of managing cables and sorting speakers at different positions.
Final Verdict
Soundbars are a great alternative to the native TV speakers. Soundbars produce amazing quality sound at a reasonable price. These soundbars come in different price brackets, connectivity options, and channel choices.
If you have any questions in mind regarding the soundbars, you can ask us in the comments section below. We would love to hear from you.
