Soundbars have been around for a while now, but what they do varies rather a lot by make and model. Of course, all of them are wide and not very tall so that they can sit in front of a TV. But some are simply two channel models (perhaps with an associated subwoofer to make them 2.1), while others offer an attempt at surround sound with varying degrees of success. An early model from Yamaha used digital signal processing to control forty-two separate drivers to produce a surround effect. These days, some offer Dolby Atmos height channels, employing upwards-firing drivers on the bar. In short, there’s a huge range, but perhaps the one thing in common: all of them have built-in amplifiers. Those with HDMI connections typically support the HDMI Audio Return Channel, so your TV can feed sound back to the soundbar over the same cable that passes the picture through to the TV.
At Addicted To Audio we carry soundbars from some of the world’s best-known brands, including Sennheiser, Sonos and Yamaha. But we also carry an exciting range of first-class soundbars from some of the finest specialist audio brands in the world, such as Bowers & Wilkins and Naim Audio. You may not be familiar with some of those brands, but they’ve got a quality experience in store for your ears.
There are two great ways to buy soundbar. The best way for most people is at a quality retail outlet in your city. That way you can have a listen, try some out, see whether they feel like a good “fit” for you. But if you’re confident that you already know what you want, consider purchasing your soundbar direct from us at Addicted To Audio. We are an authorised Australian reseller for all our products. We provide full service and after sales support. And we ship fast.
An optical cable can be a great way to get a bit-perfect digital signal from your TV to your soundbar if you don’t have the option of an HDMI or Bluetooth connection.
The best way to connect most soundbars to your TV is to to use an HDMI connection. Connect an HDMI cable ot the “HDMI out” on your soundbar, and connect it the the appropriately “HDMI ARC” input on your TV. HDMI ARC allows you to control your soundbar via your TV’s remote, for a high-quality signal with the lowest latency, or delay. Once connected, follow your TV’s audio setup guide and check the settings to select HDMI ARC as the output.
Many soundbars also have an “optical” digital input, which can be connected via an optical cable to your TV if it has an appropriate optical output.
And of course, many TVs and soundbars these days offer wireless Bluetooth connectivity. Always check the instructions and setup guide for both devices, and pair your devices up to enjoy improved sound minus the need for unsightly cables.
Soundbars can offer a substantial upgrade over your TV’s built-in speakers, but being compact, streamlined devices they don’t always have the power or ability to recreate the lowest frequency sounds from music and video, depending on the room that you’re using them in. The addition of a subwoofer can help create a more realistic and immersive experience for both music and home theatre by “filling out” the sound with frequencies that the smaller individual speakers inside your soundbar cannot reach.
