Sound bars are sleek speaker systems that prevent the need for separate speakers and cords. They also provide more explicit dialogue and richer audio for movies, TV shows, and music.
They feature a central amplifier that converts digital bitstreams into audio signals. This decodes the stereo, Dolby Digital, or DTS signals into discrete left, right, center, and surround channel signals.
Enhanced Audio
Soundbars like those in samsungparts.com contain multiple speakers to make audio richer and more realistic than your TV’s built-in speaker. They typically include tweeters to produce high-frequency sounds like screams or the wail of an electric guitar. They also have midrange drivers to handle the middle range of frequencies, vital for dialogue and music. Woofers or subwoofers provide a low range of frequencies, which is essential for deep bass and sound effects.
Many sound bars also come with a central channel, which helps to clarify the intelligibility of on-screen dialog in movies and TV shows. They may also have upward-facing subwoofers to add surround sound effects that mimic the real-life location of sounds in a room. If you want to take your home theater to the next level, consider a good bar that supports Dolby Atmos or DTS:X 3D audio formats. They usually feature HDMI ports with ARC support, which lets you use one cable to pass standard and advanced audio formats.
More Versatile
Sound bars are more versatile than the stereo speakers in a standard TV. Typically, they have multiple speakers with advanced audio processing capabilities that can make movies and TV shows more immersive and realistic.
Most of them have a speaker in the center to improve intelligibility for dialogue in movies. They may also have a subwoofer to add low frequencies for richer sounds, and they often feature a grill cloth covering (also known as acoustic cloth or speaker mesh) designed to let sound pass through it quickly.
Some models allow you to add wireless surround speakers and a subwoofer for a multi-room audio experience. These models typically run digital signals through a head-related transfer function (HRTF) processor to create virtual surround sound that tricks your ears into thinking that sounds are coming from left, right, behind, and above you. They can even emulate DTS:X 3D surround sound if they support it. Many have a dedicated button on the remote to enable it.
Easy to Install
Unlike full surround sound systems, which require speakers placed around the room, good bars neatly consolidate multiple speakers into a single cabinet that fits under most TVs. And they’re typically less expensive than a complete home theater system.
A sound bar’s main speaker enclosure usually houses one to five speakers, including a center channel for more intelligible dialogue and a subwoofer to deliver deep bass sounds. Some models also include side and rear-firing speakers for a more realistic surround sound experience.
Some soundbars have built-in microphones to support voice control systems like Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit (with Siri), and Google Assistant. You can pair them with other smart speakers to create a multi-room audio setup. A soundbar’s built-in audio calibration feature and manual adjustments make it easy to fine-tune its performance based on your home’s dimensions and acoustics. Some models allow you to program a universal remote control to consolidate control of your TV and sound bar.
Reduced Noise
Whether watching a movie or using it for home office audio conferencing, sound bars reduce ambient noise so you can focus. Plus, they’re great at enhancing voices and making them easier to hear, eliminating the need for external microphones.
Most basic sound bars are stereo designs that reproduce the same right and left channel audio information as your TV. But many also incorporate Dolby Digital audio processing, creating a broader front soundstage and more precise placement of sound effects.
Some even add a separate subwoofer for added oomph. Compared to a full surround sound system, a good bar is a more straightforward, less expensive route to immersive audio that your brain will think is coming from everywhere. And you’ll only have to deal with a few wires, which is a significant benefit if you don’t want a mess of cords cluttering your home. A sound bar’s cabinet houses a variety of speakers, including tweeters and midrange drivers. The former are responsible for high-frequency sounds, such as cymbals and other high-pitched percussion, screams in horror movies, and sibilance (transient “s”‘ s) in dialogue.