They’re smaller than full speaker setups, but they still pack a punch…
You don’t have to be a diehard audiophile to know that the sound quality on integrated speakers, whether they’re in your monitor, TV, tablet or laptop, is pretty bad. The drive for slimmer devices means that more and more manufacturers are compromising on audio quality to squeeze out those extra millimetres.
In fairness, perhaps there’s a good reason for that. If you’re buying a high-end screen, maybe you want the chance to choose your own high-end sound system to go with it. Why rely on weak, tinny internal speakers that face in the wrong direction when you can choose your own, finely tuned drivers instead?
Buying a soundbar gives you an all-in-one solution for pumping out audio, whether it’s for movies, gaming or music. Compatible with almost all hardware, they can become the hub around which your entertainment is built – especially if you have a media centre PC in your living room.
But there are loads of soundbars on the market, ranging from the surprisingly cheap to the superexpensive. So what features should you look for, and what are the available models like? We’ve put together this quick guide so you don’t have to wonder any longer.
Features To Look For
Connectivity is always important, but especially if you want to use your soundbar with multiple devices. While all soundbars should have a standard 3.5mm jack, you should also expect to see a digital optical socket. Digital sound means the clearest possible signal, and if you’re using a high-end sound system, you’ll need a clean input to avoid interference. Chances are, if you use a 3.5mm jack, you’ll get all sorts of distortion and/or buzzing on your audio signals.
As they get more expensive, soundbars add additional inputs such as HDMI audio and wireless streaming, using technologies like Bluetooth and AirPlay. The more you pay, the more of these features you should expect to see. For Bluetooth, look specifically for aptX (or an equivalent) branding, which delivers CD-like audio over the otherwise low-bandwidth connection.
In the best models, you should expect to see more powerful drivers, better (and more) drivers, and the ability to decode things like Blu-ray and Super-Audio CDs.
Since you have to look at soundbars all the time, design is also worth considering. The more expensive they are, the better their appearance tends to be. Cheaper ones won’t necessarily ruin your living room’s aesthetic, but if you can spend more, you’ll get something that can genuinely enhance it.
What Else?
It’s worth checking whether the bar you’re buying has an internal or external subwoofer. Neither is particularly better than the other, but it can influence the placement of your bar, as well as the space it takes up. External subwoofers may be wired or wireless. This means you can move the speakers around with greater flexibility. Remember, however, that it’ll take up an additional plug socket.
Many soundbars come with a wall-mounting capability, if not a bracket included, but again this is purely a personal choice. A rare few split into two satellite speakers, allowing you better control over the stereo effect, but it’s less clear whether this is a feature most people are interested in generally.
Part of the reason for this is that home cinema systems are usually better suited for sound at this level of granularity. Home cinema systems consist of a central decode with five to seven satellite speakers and a subwoofer, so they’re a step up from simple soundbars, but they’re also bigger and much more expensive. Soundbars are usually a happy (and more versatile) medium, although if you watch a lot of movies with surround sound and that’s what you’re hoping to improve, home cinema systems may be a better choice for you.
Product Examples
We’ve looked at soundbars generally, but to help you make some concrete decisions about what you do and don’t want, here are a few examples we can recommend at various prices, and what they can offer.
Under £100: Roth Audio Sub Zero II
At this price, you won’t get a huge number of features or ridiculously impressive sound, but the Roth Audio Sub Zero II is miles beyond what standard TV speakers can offer, and its £89 price belies its surprisingly decent capabilities.
The Sub Zero II doesn’t have a separate subwoofer, but it does have an aptX Bluetooth connection so you can stream from mobile devices. Connection for high-quality sound output is through optical only (don’t expect an HDMI port at this price), and the control system is fairly basic, but the hardware is wide, tastefully designed, and comes with wall-mounting brackets and a remote. For the most part, this is a purchase you’re making for sound quality rather than connectivity or feature reasons. At least in that area, we can say that any shortfalls it may have are more than made up for by the sheer good value of it.
Under £350: Q Acoustics Media 4
The Q Acoustics Media 4 isn’t the best-looking soundbar around, but it makes up for its somewhat angular look by having a superwide soundstage. Wall mounts are included, but it’s heavy (almost 5kg), so be careful!
Connectivity includes the standard wired inputs (optical, 3.5mm and RCA), but again no HDMI. Bluetooth (with AptX) and NFC pairing are also both included for easy mobile device usage. The bundled remote is a bit weedy, but the important features can be accessed through your standard remote thanks to IR learning. Again, what matters most is the sound output, and that’s hard to criticise thanks to some high-end, well-balanced drivers that can easily fill a room, thanks to an integrated subwoofer.
Admittedly, it’s a couple of years old now, but it received a ton of awards on its release and continues to be a strong piece of hardware – especially now that it’s price has dropped from £400 to £329. Maybe not one for people who want all the latest features, but if you want super high-end sound at a reasonable price, it’s worth considering.
Under £600: Orbitsound A70
The Orbitsound A70 is the company’s flagship soundbar and can be bought for £499.95 at retail. Its ultra-high definition sound is bolstered by a number of connectivity features, including aptX Bluetooth and NFC pairing.
It features a wireless subwoofer, and the bar itself can be mounted on a wall or a table. Its extra sidemounted speakers are specifically designed to fill a room with sound, and the acoustically treated wood with discreet rubber pads to dampen vibrations gives it a classic finish without risking unwanted noise. Better still, the A70 has the ability to learn your TV remote’s volume control, so you don’t need to have an extra one hanging around the house.
The S3 stand-alone subwoofer offers a low-latency connection and the ability to easily control the level of bass from the remote. A lightup touch-panel on the soundbar also allows you to control both it and the subwoofer, and get status updates about device connectivity and levels.
Included in the package, in addition to the A70 bar and the S3 subwoofer, you get a remote control, power cords, optical and aux cables, and a wall mount kit, so there’s everything you need to get started with a high-end soundbar system – as long as you’re willing to spend the money!