Sounds bars: What to shop for when upgrading your home audio
Find out why sound bars are a good investment for your home entertainment setup.
Soundbars are one of the quickest ways to create a more immersive home entertainment system -- sometimes in one simple package. If you've struggled with poor or unstable audio quality and want to remedy this, keep reading.
What is a sound bar?
Soundbars, sometimes called speaker bars, are exactly what they sound like: bar-shaped speakers that project audio from televisions and stereos for a fuller, more powerful sound than a built-in speaker usually cannot provide.
Which sound bar is right for me?
First, consider your budget. The cost of sound bars, like most audio equipment, can quickly add up when you tag on various bells and whistles. For a limited budget, keep it simple and stick to the basics -- we've found some bestselling options below to peruse.
What is your main goal in buying a sound bar? If you want clear sound that lets you hear every audio detail of a film, consider the TCL guide to buying sound bars that suggests movie lovers look for a built-in subwoofer, the ability to connect to your TV through HDMI cables (or whichever method works for your model) and potential additional speakers (whether sold separately or packaged with the soundbar) that provide a surround-sound experience.
When looking at channel numbers, TCL also notes it's helpful to remember they're formatted as "x.y.z," with "x" representing the number of channels or speakers "at ear level" while "y" represents the channels or speakers dedicated to low bass reproduction. "Z" represents the number of overhead channels or speakers -- these are upward firing and add to the surround sound aspect.
You can also consider the sound bar's portability and go for a wired model that can be placed on a mount for semi-permanent positioning, or opt for Bluetooth capability if you plan to move the sound bar from room to room.
Keeping these priorities in mind, continue scrolling to see some top options for every budget.
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