When you buy a TV it's almost a given that you'll have to invest in a sound system for it as well. Why? Because TVs have gotten so paper-thin that there's just no room for big speakers. And with sound, speaker size (and the amount of speakers) really does matter.
TV manufacturers are using this to their advantage. These days, all the most popular TV manufacturers — such as LG, Samsung, Sony, TCL, Vizio and Roku — also make soundbars and multi-channel speaker systems that are designed to perfectly pair with their TVs. So it's a way for them to get you even more money.
For most people, the easiest solution is to get a soundbar. It's one speaker, one wire and very little hassle. And that's why in recent years, the soundbar market has boomed — and it's expected to continue to grow moving forward. Of course, this has had a negative impact on the sales of AV receivers and multi-channel speaker systems.
We concede that while soundbars are a great option for a lot of people, they might not be the best option for you — especially if you're looking for the best surround sound experience. As a counterpoint, we've rounded up all the reasons why you forgo a soundbar and treat your ears to a better setup.
Soundbars don't play true surround sound
A soundbar is a single box placed directly in front of your face. The best soundbars — which have multiple speakers and support Dolby Atmos — only trick your ears into thinking that sound is coming from anywhere other than underneath the TV.
A true 5.1- or 7.1-channel home theater system — which consists of an AV receiver and multiple speakers placed around the room — delivers a way more immersive sound. Even a stereo system, which is an AV receiver and a pair of bookshelf speakers, are better at delivering a surround sound experience than most soundbars.
Most soundbars can't fill large rooms
The majority of soundbars are able to deliver a serviceable sound when you’re right on top of them. Specifically, if they're situated under a 55-inch TV (or smaller) and placed in a small-to-medium sized room. But larger rooms demand a bigger sound that really only multi-speaker systems can deliver.
Some flagship soundbars have extra drivers (including upward-firing ones), such as the Sonos Arc or Bose Smart Soundbar 900, to better fill larger rooms. However, these higher-end soundbars tend to cost as much or more than a multi-speaker setup.
Soundbars aren't nearly as upgradeable
A soundbar’s specs are pretty much permanent. If you want to improve the sound of your soundbar, there's a good chance you'll have to get an entirely new soundbar. A speaker-and-receiver system gives you a lot more room to grow and experiment. You can start with a modest stereo speaker pair and add a center channel, rears or a subwoofer. Or not! The choice is yours.
The counter to this is that there is a growing number of wireless soundbars (by the likes of Sonos, Bose and Sony) that are upgradable. Specifically, you can buy a soundbar and then a year later build out your system by adding a wireless subwoofer or wireless rear satellite speakers.
Essentially, you're turning a soundbar into a multi-channel surround sound system. It works really well and is surprisingly easy. The downside, however, is that building out a soundbar system is very expensive and often limited.
For example, the maximum Sonos home theater system you can build is 7.1.4. This consists of an Arc soundbar ($899) and two Subs ($799 x 2), and two Era 300 speakers ($449 x2). That's nearly $3,400.
Soundbar systems trap you in one brand's ecosystem
As previously mentioned, some of today's wireless soundbars play nice with additional speakers and this allows you to build out the soundbar and turn it into a multi-channel system. The catch, however, is that those extra speakers have to be by the same brand as the soundbar. So if you buy a Samsung or Sony soundbar, you're limited to buying a wireless subwoofer or wireless surround speakers by that same brand. It essentially traps you into an ecosystem.
On the flip side, an AV-and-speaker solution lets you mix and match manufacturers. So you can have an AV receiver by Denon, a center-channel by Klipsch, floorstanding speakers by Elac and a subwoofer by JBL. Not only does this allow you to fine-tune your system's sound (and look), but it's more budget friendly too. It gives you more wiggle room to snag a deal or make use of speakers you already have.
Most soundbars don't have the same headroom as AVR systems
An AV receiver, the heart of a non-soundbar system, is an extremely versatile device. Most of today's AV receivers support Bluetooth or Wi-Fi steaming — or both — and this allows you to beam music from your smartphone or have your home theater speakers play in tandem with the other wireless speakers in your home (through a multi-room setup via AirPlay 2, Chromecast or HEOS).
A lot of soundbars do support similar wireless connectivity, but they can’t match a receiver’s flexibility — especially when it comes to analog connections. Most AV receivers have a wide variety of analog ports for connecting other playback devices such as CD players, turntables and hi-fi network streamers. Basically, when you're not watching TV, an AVR setup allows you to use your home theater speakers in more ways.
The Real Deal
In the market for a traditional system? An entry-level setup will set you back about $2,000.
Elac Debut 2.0 5.1 Home Theater System
This is an excellent 5.1 home theater package that delivers clear and dynamic sound at a relatively reasonable price. Plus, you can upgrade it by adding Dolby Atmos modules that fit on top of the front and surround speakers.
Yamaha RX-V6A
The Yamaha RX-V6A is a perfect new-age AV receiver. It supports up to a 7.2-channel Dolby Atmos system, which gives you some room to upgrade. It has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for easy streaming. And, well, it's gorgeous.
