Some audiophiles might disagree but soundbars might have pushed those old-school home theatres to the edge of redundancy. We’re not saying that home theatre systems are completely out but the sheer convenience and aesthetics of Bluetooth soundbars have made them the preferred companion for large screen TVs and projectors. Here’s our quick buying guide:
Space saving: The biggest advantage with a soundbar is the space it saves. Soundbars fit effortlessly into smaller living rooms and spaces without the clutter of multiple speakers. They are also worth considering if you don’t have space for rear speakers and don’t fancy wires running around your den.
Sound set-up: Soundbars usually ace low-mid to high frequencies but they are always great with low frequency sound. An additional subwoofer kitted with large drivers for low frequency sound especially in the bass and sub-base sound zones can complement your soundbar. The JBL Bar 5.1 is a soundbar that also comes with a wireless subwoofer while Sennheiser’s AMBEO delivers deep 30Hz bass without the need for an extra subwoofer. Some newer soundbars come with Dolby Atmos for immersive sound. If you just need to enhance your TV sound, a budget soundbar like the Mi soundbar should do the trick.
Stream your music: It’s not just about blockbuster movies with booming sound, soundbars are also on the rise because they offer multiple connectivity options with your smartphone or tab. You can stream music seamlessly from Spotify or Apple Music.
Connectivity: Bluetooth soundbars are a standard now allowing you to connect multiple devices. Soundbars with NFC enable a faster initial Bluetooth connection. Wi-Fi connectivity is a great add-on, especially to access music streaming sources directly from your soundbar. Aside from standard HDMI inputs, many premium soundbars also support audio return channels like ARC that enables a TV to send audio back to the soundbar. This is particularly useful if there are other sources like a set top box connected to the TV.
Best soundbars across price points:
Sennheiser AMBEO: A premium soundbar with an immersive, surround sound experience. It’s powered by 13 drivers and compatible with Dolby Atmos, MPEG-H and DTS:X. It features a unique ‘Upmix’ Technology that can recreate stereo and 5.1 Content in stunning 3D. (Rs 1,99,990)
Bose Soundbar 700: Finished with a tempered glass top, a wrap-around metal grille and clean lines, this bar looks every inch premium. Amazon Alexa is baked in, allowing you to control the device with voice commands that are easily picked up by an array of eight microphones. You can add extra bass with the Bose Bass module and also Bose surround speakers. (Rs 79,000)
Sony HT-G700: You don’t need to add rear speakers to this soundbar thanks to Sony’s unique digital-sound-field-processing technology that virtually reproduces the surround-sound field, with audio coming at you from both sides. Sony’s Vertical Surround Engine allows you to tune into the latest cinema audio formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. It comes with a powerful wireless subwoofer. (Rs 39,990)
Samsung Soundbar 300W 2.1 Ch A450: This 300W soundbar (that also includes a subwoofer) is a convenient option if you already own a Samsung TV. The Bass Boost feature adds to its immersive appeal, while the Adaptive Sound Lite feature automatically analyses your sound sources to optimise the audio track for your specific content. (Rs 16,000)
Blaupunkt SBA10F: This budget soundbar is packed with dual speakers and 10W RMS sound. It supports 3.5mm aux audio input aside from Bluetooth connectivity. It’s compact, you can double the output by pairing two of these soundbars with Blaupunkt’s True Wireless Stereo (TWS) Function. (Rs 1,075)
