Music, Reviews, Tech

Best soundbar in terms of design and sound quality

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September 27, 2024
alininja

When in search of the best soundbars, it’s important to consider several factors before making a purchase. First and foremost, audio quality should be your top priority. Look for soundbars that support advanced audio technologies such as Dolby Atmos or DTS:X, that gives a rich and immersive sound experience. Connectivity options are equally essential, with HDMI eARC for high-quality audio transmission and Bluetooth for wireless streaming from your devices.

Moreover, consider the form factor and design that fits perfectly into your space. Soundbars with smart features like voice control (Alexa, Google Assistant) and room calibration technology, such as Trueplay or ADAPTiQ, can further elevate your audio setup. To simplify your buying process, the following list gives you a comprehensive guide, featuring soundbars renowned for their audio excellence, connectivity options, and design considerations. Whether you prioritize cinematic surround sound, sleek aesthetics, or smart functionalities, this curated list ensures you find the perfect soundbar to elevate your home entertainment experience.

Best Soundbars Quick List:

Sonos Arc
Bose Soundbar 900
JBL Bar 1300X
Samsung HW-Q990C
LG S95QR
Vizio V Series

Sonos Arc

The Sonos Arc, the manufacturer’s flagship soundbar released in 2020, stands out as a smart soundbar with integrated voice assistant capabilities, giving seamless integration into your living room. Designed for versatility, it supports multi-channel audio formats such as Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital, giving an immersive experience for your favorite movies and shows. Linking the soundbar with other Sonos products allows you to extend audio throughout your home or enhance performance with the Sonos Ultimate Immersive Set featuring Arc.

Versatile across various uses, the Sonos Arc serves as a premium standalone bar suitable for music, movies, and TV shows. With clear dialogue right out of the box, it reproduces instruments perfectly for an enhanced audio experience. The soundbar has various audio formats, including Dolby Digital and Dolby Atmos, and you can enhance its performance in the future by adding a subwoofer and satellites.

Channel Configuration: 5.0.2-Channel (Virtual Surround)

High-Frequency Drivers: 1 x Front-Firing Tweeter 2 x Side-Firing Tweeter

Full-Range Drivers: 4 x Front-Firing Elliptical Cone 2 x Side-Firing Elliptical Cone 2 x Up-Firing Elliptical Cone

Inputs: 1 x HDMI – ARC/eARC

Wireless Audio Protocols: AirPlay 2, Proprietary, Wi-Fi

Wireless: NFC

Audio Decoding: Dolby Atmos

HDMI Compliance: ARC, CEC, eARC

Wall Mountable: Yes, with Optional Hardware

Bose Soundbar 900

The Bose Soundbar 900 is a sleek, high-end soundbar designed to deliver a premium audio experience for home entertainment. Equipped with Dolby Atmos support, the soundbar creates a spacious, 3D-like soundstage that immerses you in your favorite movies and shows. The integration of Bose’s proprietary TrueSpace technology enhances this further by upscaling non-Atmos content, making every sound seem richer and more dynamic. Its minimalist design fits well in most living spaces, while the tempered glass top and metal grille give it a stylish finish that matches its premium sound quality.

One standout feature is the voice assistant support, with built-in Alexa and Google Assistant for seamless voice control. It also integrates well with other Bose products, allowing for easy setup of a multi-room audio system. While it excels in clarity and spatial sound, its bass performance may not satisfy users looking for deep, rumbling lows. However, it is compatible with the Bose Bass Module 700, allowing for an easy upgrade. Overall, the Bose Soundbar 900 strikes a good balance between design, smart features, and high-quality sound.

Microphones: Built-in Microphone

Sound Options: Multiroom, Rear Speakers (Optional Accessory), SimpleSync

Controls: Auto Off, Auto On, Buttons, Equalizer, In-App Control, In-App Volume Control, Microphone Off, Remote Control, Remote Control (Universal), Bass, Low Power Standby, Presets

Entire Product System: 2.25″ H x 38.5″ W x 4.25″ D (10.5 lb)

Product Material: Glass, Metal, Plastic

Wireless Connectivity: Apple AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, Network (WiFi Enabled), Wireless Connectivity.

Bluetooth Version: 4.2

Bluetooth Range: up to 30 ft (9 m)

Bose App: Bose Music App

Samsung HW-Q990C

Released in 2023, the Samsung HW-Q990C is the flagship soundbar, succeeding the HW-Q990B, offering similar features for a great listening experience. it provides extensive customization tools, including SpaceFit Sound Pro for room optimization and Q-Symphony support for easy pairing with compatible Samsung TVs. Built-in Alexa ensures convenient hands-free control.

Ideal for various purposes, the Samsung Q990C, boasting an 11.1.4 configuration, excels with various audio content—music, movies, and TV shows. Straight out of the box, it delivers clear, detailed sound with impactful low-bass for action scenes. Supporting multiple audio formats and offering customization features, it caters to individual preferences. Particularly impressive with Atmos content, this soundbar brings an immersive audio experience to your living room.

Number of Channel: 11.1.4

Subwoofer Type ( Active / Passive / Wireless, Built-in ): Wireless

Packaging (WxHxD): 1309.0 x 595.0 x 277.0 mm

Packaging (Gross Weight): 28.2 kg

Electrical: 0.5W

Operating Power Consumption (Main): 41W

LG S95QR

The LG S95QR stands as the flagship soundbar in LG’s 2022 lineup, featuring a 9.1.5 configuration with a dedicated subwoofer. With two up-firing drivers for Dolby Atmos content and a distinct up-firing center channel (also present in the LG S90QY and LG S80QY), this soundbar delivers a comprehensive audio experience. The rear speakers adopt a 4.0.2 setup with both front-firing and up-firing height channels.

The LG S95QR includes AI Room Calibration for room correction and the TV Sound Mode Share feature, enhancing sound when paired with your TV. It offers premium performance for TV shows, music, and movies. Out of the box, it produces a rich, bass-heavy sound, customizable through bass and treble adjustments. Clear dialogue and impactful bass enrich the experience with action movies and bass-centric music genres. Supports a range of audio formats, from Dolby Atmos to Dolby Digital, it caters to diverse content available on various streaming platforms.

Amplifier Output: 350 W
Subwoofer Amplifier Output: 220W
Inputs:   2 x HDMI – Audio/Video, 1 x Optical TOSLINK – Audio
Outputs:   1 x HDMI – ARC/eARC/Audio/Video
Wireless: Bluetooth 5.0
Audio Decoding:   DTS Digital Surround, DTS-HD High-Resolution, DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS:X, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, LPCM
HDMI Compliance:   ARC, CEC, eARC
Wall Mountable:   Yes, with Included Hardware

Vizio V Series V51x-J6

The Vizio V Series V51x-J6, an affordable 5.1 soundbar, represents the next generation of its predecessor, the Vizio V Series V51-H6. Notably, it distinguishes itself in its price range by offering discrete satellites, Upgrade the surround sound experience when placed around your seating area. Despite a slightly smaller subwoofer, it delivers impactful sound effects and bass-heavy music. Also gives you an option to integrate a voice assistant device for voice-controlled operation.

For varied purposes, the Vizio V51x-J6 proves satisfactory. Straight out of the box, it ensures clear and accurate dialogue in TV shows and podcasts, while maintaining balance in voices and instruments for music. The bass range receives an extra punch, injecting excitement into the audio mix. specially suitable for 5.1 surround sound formats like Dolby Digital, thanks to its discrete satellites, it excels in giving an immersive experience. However, the absence of Atmos support limits its compatibility with some of the most immersive audio formats available.

Total Number of Speakers: 6

DTS Virtual:X: Yes

Sound Enhancement Technology: DTS TruVolume, DTS Virtual:X

Speaker Channels: 5.1

System Frequency Response: 50Hz-20kHz

Sound Bar Buttons: Sound Bar Buttons Power, Input, Bluetooth, Volume UP & DOWN

Remote: Yes

Remote Control Type: With LCD Display

Listening Modes: Movie, Music, Game, Direct

Wall Mountable: Yes, with Included Hardware

JBL Bar 1300X

The JBL Bar 1300X stands out as a high-end 11.1.4 Dolby Atmos soundbar, akin to the JBL Bar 9.1 and JBL Bar 1000. Having detachable truly wireless satellites, these can be strategically placed around your living room for an exceptionally immersive sound experience. Advertised to last up to 10 hours on a single charge, and recharging is conveniently done by connecting them back to the main bar. Additionally, these satellites double as wireless Bluetooth speakers, offering versatility for audio playback, including the option to create a stereo pair.

Ideal for diverse uses, the JBL Bar 1300X, with its 11.1.4 configuration, caters to various audio content such as music, movies, and TV shows. The discrete center channel ensures clear and prominent dialogue, while the substantial subwoofer enhances the sensation of bass in music. Extensive support for immersive audio formats like Dolby Atmos commonly found on streaming platforms contributes to a rich audio experience. The inclusion of up-firing channels in both the bar and satellites creates an all-encompassing sound environment, allowing flexibility in adjusting the satellite positions to achieve the desired audio effect.

Sound system:   11.1.4 channel
Power supply:   100 – 240V AC, ~ 50/60Hz
Networked standby power: < 2.0W
Operating temperature: 0°C – 45°C
Total speaker power output (Max @THD 1%): 1170W
Soundbar output power (Max @THD 1%):   650W
Frequency response: 33Hz – 20kHz (-6dB)
Audio inputs: 1 Optical, Bluetooth, USB (USB playback is available in US version. For other versions, USB is for Service only.)
Remote:   Yes
Wall Mountable:   Yes