Choosing the right soundbar for you
Updated: 27 February 2024
There is still one aspect where today’s modern flat-panel 4K TVs do not cut it: Sound.
With the latest OLED and QLED technologies, modern, thinner and space-saving flat-panel 4K TVs deliver the best picture quality we have ever seen. However, these leave them with no room to fit in good full-range speaker drivers, often resulting in sub-standard dialog, thin sound and inadequate bass. That's where soundbars come in to provide an immersive audio experience.
There are several tips to look out for when choosing the right soundbar system. We have added a comprehensive comparison table for you to make the best purchase decision.
Before diving into the world of soundbars, here are some quick tips for you:
| GOOD: 2.1-Ch Virtual Surround |
BETTER: 5.1-Ch Surround |
BEST: 7.1-Ch Dolby Atmos Soundbar |
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1. Louder than TV speaker 2. Dedicated subwoofer for better bass 3. Virtual surround for wider-than-TV soundstage |
1. Dolby Atmos audio for 3D surround experience 2. Dedicated subwoofer with bigger driver for greater impact 3. Rear speakers for surround sound coming from the back of you 4. 4K HDR pass-through for ultra resolution picture quality 5. HDMI connections for better audio format (Dolby and DTS audio) |
1. Complete 360-deg surround all around you 2. Dolby Atmos and DTS:X covers all audio formats in the market 3. Dedicated single / dual subwoofers for cinematic chest-thumping bass 4. Up to 4 rear speakers to introduce surround sound coming from the back of you 5. 4K Dolby Vision pass-through for vivid, brilliant picture quality 6. More HDMI ports available to become a media hub for control convenience |
Top Rated Dolby Atmos Soundbars on Amazon
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| MODEL | NAKAMICHI SHOCKWAFE Ultra 9.2 eARC |
NAKAMICHI SHOCKWAFE Ultra 9.2 SSE |
NAKAMICHI SHOCKWAFE Elite 7.2 eARC |
SAMSUNG Q990C |
SONY HT - A7000 |
SONOS ARC |
JBL Bar 9.1 |
NAKAMICHI SHOCKWAFE Pro 7.1 eARC |
| PRICE & RATING | ||||||||
| Price* | $1,899 | $1,499 | $1,299 | $1,898 | $1,300 | $899 | $1,199 | $899 |
| Rating* | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.5 |
| AUDIO | ||||||||
| DTS | DTS:X | DTS:X | DTS:X | DTS:X | DTS:X | - | DTS:X | DTS:X |
| Dolby | Dolby Atmos | Dolby Atmos | Dolby Atmos | Dolby Atmos | Dolby Atmos | Dolby Atmos | Dolby Atmos | Dolby Atmos |
| Audio Channel | 9.2.4 | 9.2.4 | 7.2.4 | 11.1.4 | 5.1.2 | 5.0.2 | 5.1.4 | 7.1.4 |
| Subwoofer | 2 x Wireless 10" (High Output) |
2 x Wireless 10" | 2 x Wireless 8" (High Output) |
1 x Wireless 8" | 2 x Built-In 2" x 3.8" Rectangular |
No | 1 x Wireless 10" | 1 x Wireless 10" (High Output) |
| Rear Speaker | 4 x Wired 2-Way (Upgraded) |
4 x Wired 2-Way | 2 x Wired 2-Way | 2 x Wireless 3-Way | No (Separate Purchase) | No (Separate Purchase) | 2 x Wireless 2-Way | 2 x Wired 2-Way |
| Power | 1300W | 1000W | 1000W | 656W | 500W | Undisclosed | 820W | 850W |
| CONNECTIVITY | ||||||||
| Video Passthrough | 4K HDR10, Dolby Vision | 4K HDR10, Dolby Vision | 4K HDR10, Dolby Vision | 4K HDR10, Dolby Vision | 4K HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG | Not Applicable | 4K HDR10, Dolby Vision | 4K HDR10, Dolby Vision |
| HDMI | 3 x Inputs 1 x Output eARC |
3 x Inputs 1 x Output ARC |
3 x Inputs 1 x Output eARC |
2 x Inputs 1 x Output eARC |
2 x Inputs 1 x Output eARC |
No Input 1 x Output eARC |
1 x Input 1 x Output eARC |
3 x Inputs 1 x Output eARC |
| Optical | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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* Based on Amazon list price and ratings as of February 2024