Soundbars have their own characteristics and differ in many characteristics. Speaking of design, it is extremely important that they are in harmony with the TV and the room itself, and also not be cumbersome. Some are used as a stand for a TV set, some are placed on a shelf or attached to a wall, while others supplement the TV itself. As for the sound itself, it is necessary to pay attention to the operating frequency range, since often soundbars capable of reproducing high frequencies have problems with the operation of low frequencies. Therefore, some need to buy a subwoofer, which solves these problems. Soundbars have different types of connections and ports, which depending on the price may or may not be present in a specific model. The main connectors are an optical digital connector and USB.In more expensive models there are HDMI inputs, the possibility of wireless streaming of audio over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and AirPlay.
Contents:
- Cundbar of which firm to choose
- Best inexpensive soundbars
- Best premium saudbars
- What soundtrack to buy
Cundbar of which firm to choose
Soundbar is the type of equipment that people buy for a long time, therefore it is necessary to pay very great attention to the choice of model,then do not be disappointed in the purchase. Sometimes it is difficult to make the right choice, even for people who understand the technology, because there are a lot of different manufacturers and models that have their pros and cons.
Below is a list of the leading manufacturers listed in order of decreasing popularity:
1. LG
2. ASUS
3. ASUS
4. Focal
5. Philips
6. Samsung
7. Monitor Audio JBL
9. Canton
10. Sony
11. Toshiba
12. Humax
All of the above companies are represented on the Russian market, in their catalog there are several different models of soundbars that differ in many parameters. Consider them.
Best inexpensive soundbars
LG SH4
Company, known for its quality products and many years of experience in the market of technology and IT.It produces fairly simple sound panels with a configuration of 2.1, which indicates the presence of a subwoofer in the kit. Frontal speakers can be fixed to the wall, and with a power of 120 watts to give a very high quality and surround sound. The total power of the speakers is 300 W.
One of the main advantages of this sound panel is that it reproduces almost all frequency bands without problems, which is not always found even in more expensive models. In the presence of the ability to play streaming audio via Bluetooth, there is also an optical digital connector and a USB port, used to connect external storage media. The soundbar is controlled by the remote control.
Advantages:
- good quality / price ratio;
- large range of operating frequencies;
- the presence of a powerful subwoofer;
- the ability to stream audio playback;
- decoder Dolby Digital;
- nice design.
Disadvantages:
- is not the most convenient remote control;
- wireless playback at different frequencies is played in jumps.
Samsung HW-J450
Fans of technology from Samsung can purchase an inexpensive but very functional sound panel. It uses the Dolby 2.1 standard with a total power of 300 watts, of which 140 are wireless subwoofers. The main feature of this model is the presence of a very large number of connectors and connection types: optical digital input, AUX, ARC, HDMI, USB, Bluetooth and Anynet +.
For maximum sound quality, it is advisable to use HDMI in conjunction with the pre-installed seven-band equalizer and various audio modes. A small but very useful feature is the ability to automatically turn on the soundbar with the TV.When installing a special application, you can turn your smartphone into a control panel of the sound panel.
Advantages:
- the optimum price;
- is a good total power;
- subwoofer;
- a large number of ports;
- equalizer and built-in sound modes;
- availability of wireless control via smartphone.
Disadvantages:
- the quality of the materials could be better;
- subwoofer control is carried out separately.
Sony HT-CT380
The Japanese multinational corporation has a line of inexpensive sound panels, which use the latest innovative technologies. The case is quite small, however, a system with a subwoofer is used inside, the total power of which is 300 W.It does not matter in what position the sound panel will be used, the automatic system using technology of formation, amplification and optimization of surround sound, will independently adjust the settings for obtaining the best result.
There is support for all existing video formats, including 4K Ultra HD.You just need to connect the TV with a soundbar, and at the output you already get an image and a sound of original quality. In addition to the traditional connectors, there is support for NFC and Bluetooth technologies, as a result, practical any digital device can become an external source. It is possible to use the Android device as a remote control.
Advantages:
- reasonable price;
- support for all modern formats;
- a large number of possible connection types;
- smart sound control system;
- beautiful presentable design.
Disadvantages:
- over time, the fabric on the panel is dusted;
- sound volume is lower than that of competitors.
Yamaha YAS-105
In the lineup of this company's soundbars there are both budget panels and premium class. Their main advantages are mobility and compactness, beautiful strict design and great functionality.
Two 4-way speakers provide clean and soft sound, their total output power is 60 watts. Thanks to the built-in 60 W bass player, the sound becomes much more voluminous and more vigorous. The device has original patented technologies that improve this or that signal by adjusting the DSP.Thanks to this, it is possible to improve the playback of dialogues, it's a good idea to simulate virtual 7.1 sound, to reveal the depth of basses and much more. It is also possible to manage the panel from a smartphone or computer. On the rear panel of the device you can find the inputs USB, AUX and optical digital connector. There is support for playback of content with Bluetooth. The panel can be mounted on a wall, placed vertically or used as a stand for a TV.
Advantages:
- good price for this quality and functionality;
- quality bass;
- a large number of original technologies that improve the overall sound;
- versatility;
- small size.
Disadvantages:
- is not the highest power and not the loudest sound;
- does not support HDMI.
Best premium sound-bars
Focal Dimension
A new manufacturer of sound panels, taking into account the experience of competitors and modern trends of Hi-Fi. He equipped his sound panel with five broadband speakers, which were developed back in 2005 for car audio. Focal creates volume effects not by reflecting signals from the walls, but by adjusting the DSP and delaying the sound of the side speakers.
The soundbar sound, despite the lack of a subwoofer, is quite saturated and energetic. Together with the subwoofer, the detail and sound processing increases, the volume increases, the background and voices become more natural and soft. Using the remote control or the touch panel, you can change the settings, adjust the equalizer or sound modes. There are USB, Aux, HDMI and optical digital input ports. Separately it is worth noting the body and design, for which the accent was made. The metallic black surface has an excellent finish, the whole construction looks very solid. The quality of the components is good, and the design itself is admirable.
Pluses:
- design;
- metal housing;
- is perfect for large rooms;
- surround sound due to unique technologies;
- convenient control;
- functional decoder.
Disadvantages:
- rather high price;
- no subwoofer included;
- no Bluetooth and Wi-Fi modems;
- without a subwoofer the sound is sometimes too bright.
Philips Fidelio B5
Philips is known for its quality and reliability. The production of soundbars was no exception, which is why Philips products are one of the most popular on the market.
In addition to the main 3-inch wide-band speakers, there are two more detachable speakers that turn stereo sound into a voluminous multi-channel audio picture. They do not need any wires and can be used as a portable Bluetooth speaker that can play not only movies, but also any other media for 10 hours. The speakers are charged when connected to the main soundbar even when the state is off. The whole system works in conjunction with D-class amplifiers, a multichannel decoder, a 32-bit equalizer and some patented technologies from Philips that affect the sound of certain frequencies. According to the creators, the whole system analyzes the audio signal in real time, and, depending on the environment, regulates the sound itself.
The design of the models of this line tends to "minimalism".Almost the whole body is covered with black dust and moisture-proof cloth, and only in the middle is used a small curved semigloss plate with a power button. Thanks to the available power connectors, it is possible to connect any modern digital device. It should also be noted a high and narrow wireless subwoofer, which connects to the panel by pressing one button.
Advantages:
- very high quality sound;
- a large number of adjustable settings;
- strict minimalist design;
- various connectors, ports and connection types;
- protects against dust and moisture;
- fully autonomous detachable speakers.
Disadvantages:
- high price;
- is only black.
What soundbook to buy
The main criterion that buyers pay attention to when buying is quality and surround sound. It depends not only on the components, but also on the size of the audio system itself. The main problem is that almost all manufacturers are trying to make their products compact, while they realize that such solutions can affect the quality.
Budget models differ from the top ones with their sound quality and components in general. They are more designed for a mass buyer. Therefore, in order to attract more people to their product, manufacturers add to the soundbars additional functions, connectors that are not available for premium models.
1. If you are limited in the budget or just do not want to spend money on the soundbar, we recommend you the Samsung HW-J450.It has a fairly powerful bass player, the sound quality is also at a fairly high level. It is possible to manage the panel using a smartphone.
2. The optimal top option is Philips Fidelio B5, because it has no shortcomings, except the price itself, which is normal for models of this class. It has a very strict and beautiful design, the sound due to the design features is very voluminous, energetic and clean. Smart system, stuffed with technology, automatically adjusts the sound in real time.
3. If you have large rooms at home and need a very loud sound, then the most convenient model for you is Focal Dimension. Firstly, he has a very beautiful design that will look good with modern plasma TVs. Secondly, it uses technology to simulate a volumetric 7.1 sound, which is played on powerful speakers with a total power of 450 watts.
4. If you do not like the sound of your TV, have a small room or simply do not need a very high volume, then your choice can stay on the Yamaha YAS-10. The main advantages of this model are compactness and small size, the presence of a powerful subwoofer, very high-quality sound and a small price.