No matter how stylishly thin and smart TVs become, and no matter how bright and colourful the picture of the latest, most innovative panel technology, the sound provided by a television's built-in speakers is always somewhat underwhelming - especially if you are planning on going large with a home cinema set-up. Ditto projectors: they may provide huge-screen entertainment (see our round-up of ultra-short-throw projectors on the following pages), but they aren't capable of providing the same scale when it comes to sound. Nor should they be expected to.
And let's face it, if you are going to spend hard-earned and not inconsiderable cash on the biggest, brightest, most immersive and cinematic picture, why would you settle for less when it comes to pleasing your ears? Moreover, you don't need the expense and clutter of a multi-box surround set-up to get a cinematic sound - simply adding a soundbar to your set-up is an easy way to get a more engaging, clear and enjoyable viewing experience.
Most soundbars pack impressive audio into a self-contained package. The best are single capable speakers that don't need additional surrounds or subwoofers to fill the room. That said, with many of the soundbars we have included here, there are options to expand to a more extensive surround set-up if you so desire.
What you are really looking for in attempting to replicate the kind of immersive sound you would get from a cinema experience is height as well as width of soundfield. Some soundbars make use of Dolby Atmos processing to provide height effects to make you feel as though those helicopters really are flying overhead, for example. Others use up-firing drivers and reflected sound to simulate the ceiling speakers you find in a movie theatre.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 2022 من What Hi-Fi Sound and Vision India.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 2022 من What Hi-Fi Sound and Vision India.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
The slim, not shady soundbar
Shaking up the category and its nomenclature, Sony is pulling no punches with the BRAVIA Theatre Bar 9.
New world charm
The Music System (Gen 2) doesn't mince words, does it? It does exactly what it says on the wrapper play music. Simple.
Singing the verse
One of the most hallowed Indian hi-fi brands, Sonodyne has been making speakers for virtually every kind of application for decades now.
Radio Ga Ga
FOR Build quality, retro design, natural sound, simple controls
Maximizing on Mini
FOR Bright panel, calibrated modes, great picture quality
Vertere Dark Sabre
Details matter in audio design.
INDOOR PLANTS IN FULL BOOM
These premium wireless speakers are designed for use in the home - where they will raise the roof
RAISING THE BAR
Elevate your home cinema sound with this trio of convenient soundbar packages
I SPENT 24 HOURS IMMERSED IN DOLBY ATMOS MUSIC - THESE ARE 8 KEY THINGS I LEARNED
What Hi-Fi? UK deputy editor Andy Madden gained some interesting insights from the world of immersive audio on a visit to a Dolby Atmos studio
TAKE TO THE FLOOR
From pumping dance music to grand orchestral heft, these pillars of strength will deliver in spades