If you’re trying to increase the audio quality of your television, you might be wondering whether you should skip standard speakers and opt for a soundbar instead.
Speakers are available in a wide range of different shapes and sizes, but soundbars are arguably the best option aesthetically. They fit directly underneath a television, so you don’t need to worry about wires or where to hide the speakers. There are, however, a number of important differences. So what’s best for your home setup?
What Is a Soundbar?
A soundbar is a type of loudspeaker that has a long, rectangular shape. They are designed to match the length of a television and are much wider than standard speakers. A single soundbar has multiple speakers built into it and usually has a subwoofer either built-in or as an additional component.
Soundbar Pros and Cons
Soundbars are an increasingly popular alternative to standard speakers because they offer high-quality audio at an affordable price. Here are the pros and cons.
Pro: Soundbars Offer Surprisingly Good Sound
Televisions are now designed to be as thin as possible, and this has caused a significant drop in audio quality. Many people are surprised to learn how much of an improvement a soundbar can offer despite coming in a single package.
Pro: Soundbars Are Smaller
A soundbar can be installed directly under a television, which is sometimes preferable to having speakers that you need to place around a room. Soundbars are useful for small rooms and any room where there is no optimal place to put speakers. You can also move your furniture around without worrying about affecting audio performance. Some people also prefer the way soundbars look, but this is obviously debatable.
Pro: Soundbars Only Have One Wire
A soundbar can be connected to a television using only one wire. This makes it easier to set up and provides a much cleaner appearance. Some speaker sets are now wireless but many require an individual wire for each speaker.
Pro: Soundbars Are Often Cheaper
Soundbars are available at a wide range of price points, but they are usually cheaper than speaker sets. It’s possible to purchase a soundbar for as little as $100, which isn’t even enough for an entry-level set of speakers.
Con: Soundbars Don’t Offer the Same Sound Quality
Soundbars offer audio similar to surround sound, but it’s not quite the same. Regardless of how much money you spend, there’s a limit to what can be achieved when all of the audio comes from a single location. If you want a sound system that’s specifically for watching movies or playing games, you may want to opt for a set of speakers instead.
Should You Buy Speakers Instead of a Soundbar?
A set of speakers is what you want if you care about sound quality more than convenience. You can build a high-quality audio system with a receiver and two speakers. But a better sound can be achieved by adding a subwoofer. Genuine surround sound also requires additional smaller speakers to be placed around the room.
Speakers Pros and Cons
Speaker sets offer superior sound, but they require you to spend more and place individual speakers throughout a room. Here are the pros and cons.
Pro: Speakers Offer Superior Sound
Speaker sets offer better audio quality than soundbars. This is partly because of their size. But it’s also because by placing speakers throughout a room, you can achieve genuine surround sound. Speaker sets are ideal for providing an immersive experience while watching movies or playing games. It’s important to note, however, that the best-sounding speaker sets cost significantly more than a soundbar.
Pro: Speakers Are Easy to Upgrade
Speaker sets are easy to upgrade. If you’re on a budget, you might start out with a receiver and two speakers and then add to it over time. This allows you to build a high-quality audio setup gradually without a large initial outlay. Some soundbars can also be upgraded, but it depends on the model, and your options are usually far more limited.
Pro: Speakers Are More Flexible
Speaker sets are more flexible because if you don’t like how they sound, you can swap a component or add additional speakers. Speaker sets have more features, which provides additional customization options. You can also decide exactly where you want each speaker to be, which obviously isn’t possible with a soundbar.
Con: Speakers Are Harder to Set Up
Some speaker sets are easy to set up, but others require a certain amount of audio knowledge to set up correctly. Not everybody who wants better quality sound wants to become an audiophile. This is in comparison to soundbars which are typically plug and play.
Con: Speakers Are Not as Convenient
Speaker sets sound better, but this comes at the cost of convenience. Many speaker sets require a wire to go to each individual speaker, and even wireless speakers still take up more space and can potentially be knocked over. A speaker set also isn’t a good option for small rooms because each person watching the television should be roughly in the center of all speakers.
Can You Use a Soundbar and Speakers Together?
Soundbars are designed to work independently, and this is one of the reasons that they are so popular. It’s possible to connect some soundbars to additional speakers, but this is often a complicated process and therefore not recommended. If you’re not sure which one to buy, you should opt for speakers because they are easy to upgrade.
Soundbar vs. Speakers: Which One Is Right for You?
Whether you should buy a soundbar or a set of speakers depends largely on your priorities.
If you’re on a budget, a soundbar is cheaper. It’s also easier to set up, and you don’t need to put speakers throughout a room. Soundbars are also a better choice overall for smaller rooms with limited space.
If you’re an audiophile, however, or you just want the best possible sound, nothing less than a set of speakers will provide that. Soundbars are improving all the time, but they simply cannot offer the sound quality or customization of an optimally placed speaker set.
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