How to choose the right soundbar

By admin | April 5, 2021 |

How to choose the right soundbar

If you’re in the market for a new soundbar, we’ve pulled together some of our favourites to give you some tips on buying the right one for you.

Which of our soundbar picks is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below!

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Watch Next:
How to choose the right TV – https://youtu.be/Gyj2sMYQGhU
Best soundbar 2014 – Q Acoustics Media 4 – https://youtu.be/R8QnoWebCng
How To… get the best from your HiFi – https://youtu.be/1rCma1yvpF4

Head over to whathifi.com –
We pick out some of the best soundbars to buy in 2014 from all of our soundbar reviews, including those with Bluetooth, wireless subs and more.

READ MORE:

Best soundbars to buy in 2015: http://www.whathifi.com/news/best-soundbars-to-buy-in-2013

Monitor Audio ASB-2 review: http://www.whathifi.com/review/monitor-audio-asb-2

Philips HTL9100 review: http://www.whathifi.com/review/philips-htl9100

The rack in the video is this one: http://www.whathifi.com/hi-fi-racks/podium-xl/review

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All reviews are available in full online and in our monthly magazine What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision.

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Posted in Soundbars/Surround

48 Comments

  1. Jason jay gregory on April 5, 2021 at 4:03 am

    Where’s orbitsound



  2. Ratul Nandi on April 5, 2021 at 4:03 am

    very helpful



  3. Tony W on April 5, 2021 at 4:03 am

    I’ve listened to $700 soundbars that don’t come close to sounding as good as a couple of $100 bookshelf speakers and a cheap subwoofer. They’re for people who are either too lazy to set up a proper AV system or don’t care about audio quality, and small spaces are no excuse either.



  4. Michael Bradley on April 5, 2021 at 4:03 am

    Don’t buy a silly sleazy sounding sound bar, Hook it up to you old rack stereo system and save a good deal of cash. Sound bars rarely sound any better than the thin TV speakers.



  5. Mark Peters on April 5, 2021 at 4:04 am

    Does anyone know how to fix the audio from the sound bar when its not in perfect sync with the picture ? When people talk the voice is a split second behind the visual .. It’s driving me nuts ! does this happen on all sound bars hooked to HD big screen TV?  Help !



  6. Christian on April 5, 2021 at 4:08 am

    Step 1: Don’t.



  7. nagracdc on April 5, 2021 at 4:08 am

    Forget all these and buy a Focal Dimension 5.1



  8. Chit Aye Ba on April 5, 2021 at 4:09 am

    Thank you for you shared your experience with us. you are really a professional for sound-bars.



  9. Fred Server on April 5, 2021 at 4:09 am

    Nice naughty wobble on her threepennies



  10. Dainius Damasevicius on April 5, 2021 at 4:12 am

    Why would you want to turn off your TV speakers when using a soundbar? i use some 7.1 speakers and having the 7.1 digital sound coming from the  TV too only makes the sound more spacious and richer.



  11. JOHNAG on April 5, 2021 at 4:14 am

    Sonos man!



  12. Muayyad Mahdi on April 5, 2021 at 4:15 am

    can i used polk soundbar 2000 with polk subwoofer 5000?



  13. toddpf on April 5, 2021 at 4:21 am

    I came here for soundbar info. Not be be distracted by cleavage. Onto the next vid without the distractions, because I really do want a soundbar.



  14. Daniel Johnson on April 5, 2021 at 4:21 am

    I have a Phillip sound bar. When I connect the wires to the back I get a new component option on my T.V. to enjoy this new external device. When I click yes I lose all TV signals. If I choose no I get no sound. My sound Bar does not make any sound. I even changed my remote battery and no result. Any advice other than trash it or bust it up?



  15. Germán Soto on April 5, 2021 at 4:25 am

    I cant find a soundbar with HDMI input without external subwoofer under 150€. Any advice? thanks



  16. Bo Larsen on April 5, 2021 at 4:26 am

    Gode bryster



  17. netman88 on April 5, 2021 at 4:26 am

    Interesting video. I went for the Sony one current but I have tried the Vizio. I did those reviews on those.



  18. Nick Burkart on April 5, 2021 at 4:26 am

    samsung f540



  19. small animal soft accessories on April 5, 2021 at 4:28 am

    thanks for the video,didnt know what i wanted now have a much clearer idea of what i need,



  20. Richard Penn on April 5, 2021 at 4:29 am

    I have the ultimate sound bar set which is the Yamaha YSP 4100  projector and its paired  with the SVS SB 2000 subwoofer



  21. Carlton Ashley on April 5, 2021 at 4:31 am

    DONT KNOW WHICH ONE TO GET



  22. Tomasz Trzciński on April 5, 2021 at 4:31 am

    Bought Yamaha YSP-2500. Spectacular sound, low profile with outstanding quality. Worth every penny. Recommended to everyone who want best possible cinematic experience wire free.



  23. Raymond Leggs on April 5, 2021 at 4:32 am

    Don’t get a soundbar.



  24. R K on April 5, 2021 at 4:33 am

    The input of hdmi / optical threw me off a bit. Any help is appreciated. I have a phillips tv that I use with a built in tv tuner, external free view tuner (hdmi) and ps4 (hdmi). Sound is shite. I want the soundbar to turn on automatically when tv is on. And not have to fart about with remotes or changes when I switch from watching TV to playing playstation.
    Simply what I see on tv is matched with sound no matter the source.
    Cheers anyone.



  25. MrBjp001 on April 5, 2021 at 4:36 am

    How can you forget samsung and sony bars



  26. Leonard Palad on April 5, 2021 at 4:37 am

    Yamaha has been around for a while, they certainly know their stuff. I got to test drive ysp 2500 at Harvey Norman today, and boy the sound is spectacular….truly a surround sound master.



  27. Michael Bradley on April 5, 2021 at 4:37 am

    HDMI though a sound bar does not sound that great.



  28. Tobbelitto on April 5, 2021 at 4:37 am

    My Soundbar is Toshiba SBM1W Mini 3D Sound Bar



  29. Ynys Lochtyn on April 5, 2021 at 4:39 am

    Annoying accent. Speak too fast. Is the hdmi signal passed through? U don’t really explain about analogue vs digital audio.



  30. アストロサンダー on April 5, 2021 at 4:40 am

    Man shes got a great set of speakers



  31. Lucas Wolgast on April 5, 2021 at 4:43 am

    first tecz video hy a women i realy realy liked, seem offensive but its true xD
    maybe im just unlucky 😀



  32. Tugger Wilson on April 5, 2021 at 4:43 am

    Hi I am enjoying your help on soundbars I am just about to get one. But it’s the stand I am also interested in can you tell me the make of it. Tugger thanks



  33. Jack Saladin on April 5, 2021 at 4:43 am

    Hi , great review 🙂 I have a PS4 and a need a Soundbar with an HDMI input , but I also need one on budget. Any help ?



  34. Simply Abz on April 5, 2021 at 4:45 am

    Off topic, where could i get that tv stand from?



  35. Eric Franklin Shook on April 5, 2021 at 4:45 am

    How about DON’T BUY A SOUND BAR — go STEREO. 



  36. The1WhoKnowsTheTruth on April 5, 2021 at 4:46 am

    Get a Roth Audio Sub Zero III.



  37. michael hawkyard on April 5, 2021 at 4:47 am

    That was as clear as mud. Totally confused and little the wiser.



  38. Tino LaFratta on April 5, 2021 at 4:48 am

    With price in mind I ended up with the Bose Solo 15 and LOVE IT!!!!  I returned 2 other ones as they sounded tinny and weak, a polk and a sony……  You can’t beat a true sound around system, but compared to other "soundbars" it kicks ass.



  39. jonesy on April 5, 2021 at 4:49 am

    Stupid price, s get a night with a high class hooker for that



  40. David Dunster on April 5, 2021 at 4:51 am

    I am thinking of replacing my Sony 5.1 with a sound bar. Only real reason is considerably less wiring and that the sound bar I am looking at has 4 HDMI in vs the Sony single HDMI. My current choice of sound bar is the Yamaha 5600. I am sure it will be the perfect addition to my 59 in plasma. Thanks for the info on this video.



  41. Lost Soul Of The Reaper on April 5, 2021 at 4:51 am

    No my question wasn’t even mentioned, dose it matter if I get a sound bar smaller then my tv, I have a 55" tv but the only soundbar I can afored or find is a 37" soundbar how much will it effect the quality and what size soundbar should I be using for a 55" tv



  42. Pro-ology Ltd Audio-Visual on April 5, 2021 at 4:53 am

    to see and hear for yourself just how easy a SOUNDBAR can improve your own Home Cinema, please visit LIVING TECHNOLOGY showroom in Poole, Dorset (A35) – tweet @livinghometec #tedstechtips



  43. Gilberto MJ on April 5, 2021 at 4:54 am

    Wow ! Very hot girls at 2:15.



  44. actionjack40 on April 5, 2021 at 4:55 am

    I have a question and would really appreciate it if someone answered. Just got the 7.1 sony soundbar with wireless 30w sub. The other option is the same with an 100w sub. My question is is there going to be a substantial difference between the two? Worth the $200 dollar difference? Thank you in advance.



  45. Pro-ology Ltd Audio-Visual on April 5, 2021 at 4:55 am

    The LG3530a seems good value for money



  46. norm lor on April 5, 2021 at 4:55 am

    great video but unless we’re the Queen or Mark Zuckerberg, then we’re out of luck. most people I’ve seen on here would never toss out $2K for one of these at least the ones I’ve seen on here. I just purchased one from "Walmart" for $200. and have been crazy reviewing it . apparently, it’s one of the top models for people like myself who live a normal life on a budget.



  47. michael hawkyard on April 5, 2021 at 4:56 am

    It seems like these days you have to be little short of an IT geek just to watch TV. Picture and sound quality may be great but it is such a pain in the derriere to organise all that’s needed to get there that I’m tempted to just say ‘bo66ocks’ to it all and put up with what I’d ‘put up with’ all my previous life. (& at much less expense)



  48. Soham Chakrabarti on April 5, 2021 at 4:59 am

    How good is JBL SB200 ?? What will it cost in India. Is is good for SAMSUNG LED TV’s ??