The best soundbars are a must-have for movie lovers who want to make their home theatre experience feel like it was in theatres. These devices put powerful speakers right under your TV and can produce crystal clear dialogue with accurate surround effects, so you’re surrounded by nothing but lush music as if there were actors on screen.
The best home cinema experience is a cinematic one. If you want your favourite films and music to come alive on screen, there are no two ways about it. You need an amazing soundbar for the job.
In a world where the TV was king, it’s astounding to think that one of the most under-appreciated aspects is sound. When you watch your favourite show and hear the dialogue but then notice how poor or unclear all other sounds seem in comparison – as if someone has muted their mic for what seems like an eternity. But by using one of these, you’ll get to enjoy clear dialogue and more immersive shows with rich background music.
The best Soundbars are a great way to get better sounding music in your house without having an unsightly speaker system that takes up too much room. With soundbars, you can enjoy high-quality audio with minimal visibility and still be able to have surround speakers for late-night viewing sessions on TV shows or movies from Netflix streaming services. They also have more features than basic units so it’s important before buying one what exactly do we need.
Do you want the best soundbar on your shopping list? One of the best ways to enhance your home theatre experience is with a soundbar. But what are you looking for? How much space do they need?
Keep reading and find out how to buy a great sounding, high-quality product. The information in this buying guide will not only help narrow down what brand or model is right for you but also give some insight into why certain features may be important.
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How to choose the best Soundbar for you
It’s important to pick the best soundbar that suits your TV and living room. The first thing to look at is the size of the bar, as too wide may not fit on an AV cabinet or it could be wider than your screen which might make for an awkward wall mount situation if you plan one – especially when placed in front of our TVs with lower resolutions like Full HD. If height matters then there needs also be consideration given towards where exactly will they hide behind during placement into space available without blocking any part of your TV screen?
Next, consider whether you want a standalone soundbar or one with extra speakers to enhance the audio experience. A simple setup is easier but these bars can lack dynamism and immersion in comparison to more complex setups.
Nowadays where people have to surround TVs as well like Dolby Atmos which lets them feel enveloped by sounds coming from all directions. A less complicated setup can offer more immersive and satisfying results but these units may lack dynamism in comparison to complex systems that are installed into your home theatre setup Standalone bars struggle when producing convincing bass output which is why many come supplied by default as subwoofers too.
Wireless Subwoofers are also available. These add-ons will allow you to go much deeper into those hearts pounding moments without having any unsightly wires connecting them upfront so keep an eye out next time.
What’s the best way to connect a Soundbar?
A wide array of connection options is always a bonus because you never know what might be useful in the future. HDMI, which has been favoured by most soundbars for years now and even cheap ones too, offers convenient access between your sources like games consoles through TVs or Sky boxes with an HDMI input. It also passes video signals onto screens more easily than other types such as optical audio cables. Having more connections means better flexibility in future needs.
The HDMI ARC (audio return channel) is a feature that allows for audio to be sent back from your sound bar’s speakers, so you can enjoy it without having an empty TV screen. It also works well if there are no more input options on the remote control because all of this will go through one cable which reroutes what would have been just heard out loud as regular old white noise instead.
Optical digital is the best way to connect your home theatre system if you have a music source, console or TV that’s not HDMI ARC compatible. While it can’t produce surround sound like Dolby TrueHD and DTS:X do though it will still allow those who want an audio upgrade from their television without hooking up another device in addition. It also allows for simpler installation since many units come with adapters already built-in so all we need are some speakers (or headphones) as well as power outlets behind where they’ll be mounted on our wall.
The soundbar can be connected with a wide range of devices, including phones and tablets via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi for high-quality music streaming as well as potential integration in multiroom speaker networks and it also supports digital voice assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant also perfect choice if you want better sound on TV while playing games.
The Best Soundbars NZ
1. Samsung HW-Q950A 11.1.4 Ch Soundbar
The Samsung HT-Q950 is an 11.1-channel soundbar that delivers a truly immersive surround sound experience. It features Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, which provide realistic 3D audio with the added dimension of height for more lifelike audio. The system also supports HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) to minimize additional wires running from your TV to the soundbar, making it easier to connect all your devices and enjoy high-quality surround sound with less clutter.
2. Samsung HW-Q700A 3.1.2 Ch Soundbar
The Samsung HW-Q700A 3.1.2 Ch Soundbar is a good product for anyone looking to upgrade their sound system in the home or office. This soundbar offers an excellent quality of sound and is ideal for watching films, listening to music and playing games on your television.
The Q-Symphony technology provides great surround sound and the SpaceFit feature allows you to adjust the bar’s height depending on how many people are sitting in front of it.
3. LG SP9YA 5.1.2ch Dolby Atmos Soundbar
The LG SP9YA soundbar is a premium, high-end home theatre system that delivers the ultimate surround sound experience for your TV. With its wall-mountable design and wireless subwoofer, this LG soundbar has an impressive 520W of total power with 5.1 channel surround sound and a wireless subwoofer to deliver crisp, clear audio from all angles throughout your room.
4. JBL Bar 9.1 Soundbar
The JBL Bar 9.1 Soundbar with Surround Speakers is a home theatre sound system that delivers the ultimate 3D sound experience with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, Bluetooth wireless streaming, Ultra HD 4K Pass-through with Dolby Vision and much more.
It features Chromecast built-in so you can play music from your favourite apps like Spotify, Google Play Music or YouTube using your voice or by simply tapping the Cast button in Chromecast-enabled apps on your smartphone, tablet or laptop. You can also wirelessly stream music from any Bluetooth enabled device.
5. Sony HTG-700 3.1ch Atmos Soundbar
Sony’s HTG-700 soundbar with a wireless subwoofer is designed for big-screen TVs to provide an immersive audio experience. With Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support, it has built-in upscaling technology that delivers 7.1.2ch surround sound from any source to give you the best possible listening experience.
With its unique design, the soundbar can be mounted on your wall or placed under your TV, but if you want even more bass, there’s a wireless subwoofer included.
6. Philips Dolby Atmos Soundbar
Philips’ Dolby Atmos soundbar is the perfect upgrade for your TV. With two HDMI ports, this soundbar lets you connect to devices like your PS4 or Xbox One. You can also wirelessly connect a subwoofer, so you really get the best of both worlds.
The wireless subwoofer gives you more freedom when it comes to placement, and it provides even deeper bass than traditional soundbars. And with built-in Bluetooth technology, you can stream music from any mobile device.
7. Panasonic HTB600 2.1ch Soundbar
The Panasonic HTB600 2.1ch Soundbar is a stylish, sleek, and compact soundbar that delivers an immersive surround sound experience without the need for additional rear speakers.
It features DTS technology to create an expansive 3D surround sound effect from any source with only two front speakers. This best Soundbar has built-in Bluetooth that allows you to wirelessly stream music directly from your smartphone or tablet device.
8. JBL Bar 5.1ch 4K Soundbar
JBL Bar 5.1ch 4K Soundbar is the perfect sound system for any TV, with its 3 HDMI In/Out (ARC) ports and Bluetooth connectivity it’s easy to connect all your devices to this amazing soundbar. It has 510W of power that will fill any room with rich, immersive sound.
The wireless surround speakers can be placed anywhere in the room for an amazing surround experience. JBL Bar 5.1ch 4K best Soundbar features a 10″ (250mm) wireless subwoofer that delivers thrilling bass from every corner of the room.
9. Samsung HW-S61A 5 Ch Soundbar
Samsung’s HW-S61A 5 Ch Soundbar will enhance your viewing experience by providing a surround sound effect from the TV. It has HDMI ports and an optical digital audio output for easy connectivity to your other devices.
This best Soundbar is wall mountable, so you get to save space on your desk or table. The Adaptive Sound feature automatically adjusts the bass and treble levels depending on what kind of content you are playing.
10. TCL 2.1 Channel Soundbar
The TCL 2.1 Channel best Soundbar is the perfect addition to your TV for a better audio experience. With 320W peak power, it delivers deeper bass with a wireless subwoofer and 3 distinct listening modes – Movies, Music & News. Dolby Digital technology gives you surround sound without the wires or clutter of additional speakers.
The included remote control makes it easy to adjust the volume and switch between listening modes; while Bluetooth connectivity lets you wirelessly stream music from your smartphone or tablet.