And, of course, you need stands, shelves, or some other sort of nearby flat surface to place all the speakers on. You can hide them with rugs or in-wall conduits, but they can still be a hassle. Each satellite requires wires running either to the wall or a centralized device like an A/V receiver, and that means a lot of cables. On the downside, true surround systems create more clutter than a single soundbar. Not all soundbars support Dolby Atmos, though, and not all that support Atmos have the drivers necessary for height. It's an immersive effect, especially with the addition of upward-facing drivers to produce sounds with a sense of height. Spatial sound systems like Dolby Atmos map every source of sound from what you're watching to a location around you in a 3D space and calculate how to mix the audio to best reproduce their locations whether your speakers have two drivers or dozens. Conventional 5.1- and 7.1-channel audio is common for a lot of content, but home theater sound has gone beyond that with spatial audio. There's also the matter of the type of surround sound you want. If you really want a sense of immersion, you need a full surround sound speaker system-or a soundbar with separate satellites for the rear audio channels. Audio processing and driver placement can create a sense of surround sound even if the speakers are just directly in front of you, but this type of setup isn't capable of reproducing the accurate imaging of a true surround system with dedicated satellites for each channel. Most soundbars claim to offer some form of surround sound, but this can be a bit misleading. Wireless Surround Sound: More Convenient to Connect Than 5.1 and 7.1 Systems Just like it takes a lot of space to move that much air, it also takes a lot of power.Ĭheck out our article on how to set up your speakers for more on soundbar placement and how to get the best possible audio out of your system. You also need to make sure your subwoofer is powered (has a built-in amp) or connect a preamp between your unpowered subwoofer and the soundbar. You have to consider cables with this method, though. Some models have subwoofer outputs, which means you can add one after the fact. If your soundbar doesn't include a subwoofer, you might still have options. Make sure to read to the end to learn everything you need to know about soundbars during your search. This list comprises the best soundbars we've tested, ranging across prices, sizes, and feature sets. They don't take up much space but add much-needed power, range, and clarity to your audio experience. They are often long, somewhat thin speakers that incorporate stereo, left/right/center surround sound, or even spatial audio drivers in an easy-to-set-up device you plug into your TV's HDMI or optical port. You need a separate sound system if you want loud, high-quality audio for your home theater: You need a soundbar. However, a slender frame isn't an advantage for sound quality because speakers typically require space to produce good audio (with a few unique technical exceptions, like expensive and rare electrostatic panel speakers). New TVs are generally thin, which makes them look great on your wall or in your entertainment center. Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions.
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