As long as I’ve been living, I’ve been dreaming about a good 5.1 or 5.1.4 audio system, where there are also speakers on top. I want to watch a movie, immersed in the world of Dolbia and other marketing names for what makes modern cinema very cool - in a word, in the world of surround sound. However, with all these systems there are three small problems: wires, price and the space required for this joy in the house or apartment. And I’m still silent about the rather complex process of setting up the entire system.
In recent years, various technical solutions have appeared that offer surround sound even in places where it is practically impossible to achieve it. For example, the Sennheiser Ambeo soundbar. The Russian division of the company invited me to listen to it in its office.
Let's talk about the price: 189,900 rubles. This is a considerable amount. However, for this money you get a solution with which you will not worry about space and setup, plunging into the very world of surround sound.
Types of soundbars
There are 2 types of home soundbars:
- Active – connect directly to the TV, easy to install and control. However, the sound quality may be far from ideal.
- Passive - connected through a receiver, which significantly improves sound quality.
Soundbar benefits
A soundbar differs from a home theater system in its compactness. Not every residential apartment can boast the space to accommodate a home theater sound system, which consists of several speakers (they need to be placed in a certain sequence around the perimeter of the room).
The soundbar is easy to install. Nothing extra, just connects to a TV or other device.
In addition, the soundbar is quite a budget choice compared to home theater systems. To install the speaker, you do not need a specialist, as is most often required when placing a home theater in an apartment.
You can always choose a convenient type of connection to your TV:
- HDMI cable. Any modern device is equipped with at least one (and sometimes more) HDMI outputs. Connecting a soundbar is not difficult. The volume of the device will be adjusted via the TV remote control.
- Toslink – digital socket for connecting to a TV. In this case, you will not be able to control the volume from the TV remote control.
- RCA – analog stereo sound. Multi-channel sound cannot be achieved.
- Bluetooth – allows you to connect the soundbar not only to your TV, but also to your smartphone. If the NFC function is enabled on the device, it will be enough to touch the gadget to a certain zone on the soundbar for the devices to find each other.
- DLNA is a specific type of communication via Wi-Fi. As a rule, this method is provided for smart systems on the TV.
Soundbar manufacturers, in the fight for consumers, provide devices with a variety of functionality in the budget niche.
Not all soundbars include this element
The problem with buying a soundbar with a built-in FM radio is that there are many models that don't come with this feature included out of the box. Or what is the same: they allow you to listen to FM radio , but via the Internet. And we intend to avoid this option because it has a big disadvantage: audio delay.
Maybe you like to listen to the radio while watching your favorite football team play. And if you're using Internet radio, you'll have to deal with noticeable lag that will completely degrade the user experience. On the other hand, if you buy a panel with FM radio, you won't have to worry about this.
Most models that include this feature have an antenna inside so you can find all the stations without too much trouble. Other brackets have the antenna on the outside, or there are even solutions that use the power cable itself as an antenna.
Budget soundbar Xiaomi Redmi TV
Xiaomi Redmi TV starting from 3.5 thousand rubles. is a miniature soundbar that can easily be placed on a shelf.
The gadget is suitable for unpretentious users who do not have high demands on sound quality.
- The 30 W device is not conspicuous due to its dimensions and can be mounted on the wall.
- The kit does not include a remote control, but Xiaomi Redmi TV connects to other devices via Bluetooth.
Experts and users classify the Chinese soundbar as a stylish device.
Options
To understand what exactly the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar is, I will give the technical parameters of this audio system:
- Format: 5.1.4;
- Power: 500 W;
- Amplifier class: D;
- Frequency range: 30 – 20,000 Hz;
- 13 loudspeakers: five inch dome tweeters, two 3.5-inch full-range drivers, six 4-inch long-throw low-frequency woofers;
- Two dual-core 32-bit DSP processors;
- Dimensions and weight: 1265 × 135 × 171 mm, 18.5 kg.
JBL Bar with built-in subwoofer
The cost of the JBL Bar 2.0 All-in-One device varies within 9 thousand rubles. The speaker is impressive in size, but with a power of 80 W it produces excellent sound. Moreover, the soundbar has a built-in subwoofer.
Experts consider the gadget an excellent option for connoisseurs of high-quality sound with clear bass. The device easily connects to smartphones and TVs via Bluetooth and HDMI.
The remote control allows you to control the volume of the device. Among the “cons” is the delay of sound via Bluetooth.
How to choose a soundbar for your TV in 2022
When choosing a soundbar for a modern TV, it is recommended to consider several of the most important parameters:
- Power. The indicator directly affects the volume reserve and sound. For large rooms from 50 sq.m. you will need a device with a power of at least 200 W, while for medium-sized rooms 100 W will be enough. For a small bedroom or kitchen, options even up to 50 W are suitable.
- Connection. Models can be connected to the TV directly or through a special AV receiver. The first option is easier to use, but the second provides better and more sophisticated sound. The presence of wireless communication modules significantly increases the usability of devices.
- Functional. Some modern models support direct playback of files from external media, as well as connection to other devices via wireless communication channels. There are also soundbars with an extended sound range or full-fledged speaker systems that replace a home theater.
- Accommodation. Soundbars can be placed on the wall or on the floor. There are also systems with their own shelf on which you can install a TV.
- Number of channels . The more channels there are in a soundbar, the more spacious the final sound will be. The simplest 2.1 and 3.1 devices provide standard stereo sound, while 5.0, 5.1 and 7.1 create spatial wave propagation for complete immersion.
General recommendations
If there is not enough space in your home to install a home theater and surround speaker system, a sound bar will replace them.
If you don't want cluttered cables, look for speakers with multiple HDMI inputs, outputs, and audio return channels. Not every soundbar supports HDMI, offering alternative digital channels.
If you want to listen to music from smartphones wirelessly, you need support for Bluetooth connection.
Pay special attention to a mobile soundbar with aptX if your devices support it. It provides superior lossless compression for high-quality streaming, unlike the standard A2DP profile.
AirPlay technology is less common and iPhone owners should pay attention to it.
To prevent excessive bass, choose models with separate subwoofers. Most manufacturers offer a wired subwoofer, but for the best experience, choose a wireless one. They can be easily hidden by placing them behind furniture near sockets instead of being tangled with wires.
Moreover, depending on the purpose (increasing the acoustics of a TV or approaching functionality like a music center) and cost (the more options, the higher the price), the device is equipped with the following functions:
- USB storage support.
- Karaoke support.
- Smart TV capabilities.
- Wi-Fi module.
- Availability of Bluetooth, AirPlay or DTS Play-Fi.
