Speaker or Soundbars – Which one should you buy and why?
If you’re thinking about upgrading your home theatre, you should think about the audio system first. But what is the right choice between a soundbar and a speaker system? Of course, the sound quality of both sound systems will be superior to that provided by your TV, but they are different. Here’s how to choose the right home theatre speaker by learning the difference between surround sound speakers and a soundbar.
Which is better, a Soundbar or Speakers?
Installing a soundbar is easier and cheaper than installing surround sound speakers. Nevertheless, surround sound speakers usually produce better sound quality, and come with a range of options that can be upgraded over time.
Soundbar vs Speakers: Installation
Installing a soundbar is as simple as plugging it into your television. However, a receiver must be attached to each surround sound speaker if you wish to install them.
As soundbars are all-in-one devices, there is usually only one wire that must be connected to your TV. A conventional surround sound speaker, on the other hand, involves a large number of individual speakers. Therefore, AV receivers must be connected to each of these speakers in most cases. The AV receiver must then be connected to your TV.
Soundbar vs Surround Sound: Features
Soundbars can now be equipped with many features, such as Bluetooth capabilities and built-in intelligent assistants. As long as you have a suitable receiver, you can enjoy all the same features and more.
HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) cables are typically used to connect soundbars to televisions. In general, soundbars come with only one HDMI port on the back. Thus, most soundbars can only be connected to a television. However, most AV receivers come with multiple HDMI ports for connecting other devices, including consoles, Blu-ray players, and so on.
Multiple HDMI ports on an AV receiver mean you will not need to connect your other devices directly to your TV. Connecting new devices or disconnecting old ones can be easier with this feature. The back panel of most AV receivers features other audio ports to connect record players, radio antennas, etc.
Soundbar vs Surround Sound: Design
The soundbar might be a more appealing option than surround sound speakers in home theatre sound systems. In addition to taking up much more room, surround sound speakers don’t look as good as they should.
When designing a surround sound system, it is best to use speakers from the same line and manufacturer. This will ensure that the colour and design of all your speakers match.
As for design, JBL soundbar speakers are pretty modern and come with all the latest features.
Soundbar vs Surround Sound: Upgrading
The soundbar is less expensive than surround sound speakers, but you have fewer choices when upgrading your system. If your budget allows, you can upgrade your sound system over time by adding a few speakers at a time. The soundbar, on the other hand, doesn’t provide much flexibility.
An AV receiver and two stereo speakers are all you need to start using a speaker system. Subwoofers, centre channels, and other speakers can then be added later. Nevertheless, your AV receiver needs to handle all your channels if you want to upgrade your system.
Unlike soundbars, most sound systems cannot be upgraded over time. Therefore, upgrading or replacing your soundbar will require you to buy a whole new one. In addition to the soundbar, you can add wireless rear speakers and a subwoofer to a few high-end options, including the Sonos Arc or JBL soundbar speakers.
Soundbar vs Speakers: Audio Quality
The best audio quality is usually provided by surround sound speakers, not a soundbar. Even the most expensive soundbars generally have a much smaller soundstage than speaker systems.
It is virtually impossible to accomplish that with regular soundbars, so surround sound speakers are the only way. The soundbars advertised on some websites claim to provide surround sound audio, but you would need additional speakers to experience “real” surround sound. As far as sound quality is concerned, the JBL soundbar speakers are better than other brands.
Soundbar vs Speakers: Cost
Soundbars are usually much cheaper than surround sound speakers. An AV receiver will also be needed if you are buying a quality speaker system.
In the event of a broken speaker, you can purchase a new one or upgrade your surround sound system. In addition, you may save more money over time by using surround sound speakers.