For the Ultimate Aural DelightByVaidyanathan Subramaniam-December 4, 2019 ‘ 3/3.1134.png ‘3/3.1135.jpg Yamaha YAS-207BL Features: Slim design DTS: X Virtual Sound Connectivity: Bluetooth HDMI Optical Analog Inputs / Outputs: 1x HDMI 1x Digital Optical 1x Analog Audio (stereo mini jack) / 1x HDMI $299.95 The Yamaha YAS-207BL Soundbar is a Bluetooth wireless soundbar and is one of the world’s first to support DTS Virtual: X Virtual 3D surround sound. In the initial release this support was not available but Yamaha released a firmware that enabled this feature. The soundbar and the subwoofer are very slim in design and compliment your existing setup and record very well. The YAS-207BL can be configured using either optical or analog Bluetooth HDMI connections. It can also upmix traditional stereo sound to a positional audio more life-like. Yamaha also offers a smartphone app for soundbar control, and it offers a few additional options that are not found in the remote. The only major gripe with the YAS-207BL is that Wi-Fi streaming like Google Chromecast or Spotify Connect isn’t supported. But that shouldn’t be a big concern since you can simply buy and plug in a Google Chromecast dongle. Pros: Virtual: X DTS supports Slim and good-looking Cons: No support for Wi-Fi 2. Samsung HW-N950
Offer “3/3.1136.jpg” Samsung HW-N950 Features: 17 Dolby Atmos DTS: X Object-based sound Compatible with Samsung SmartThings Inputs / Outputs: 1x HDMI 1x Digital Optical/1x HDMI Dimensions (W x H x D): 48,2 x 3,2 x 5,4 in $1699,99?$349,00$1350,99 The Samsung HW-N950 is a premium soundbar designed by Har’s experts. The soundbar integrates a total of 17 speakers with the subwoofer and side speakers that aim to deliver the ultimate in Dolby Atmos and DTX: X positional audio. The soundbar can be controlled via a single remote that works both for the TV and the soundbar. The rear speakers connect wirelessly with Amazon Alexa, and they work well. That side-firing effect is the best thing about this soundbar. The Samsung HW-950 works largely without any problems and the only problem we found was that it does not directly accept IR inputs unless the source setting is changed. The speaker cord lengths can be a bit longer but it’s hard to beat the Samsung HW-N950 overall. Cons: Every time Cord lengths can be a bit longer
3, you need to manually change source. Sonos Beam
“3/3.1137.jpg” The Sonos Beam is a standalone soundbar so you need to pair it with other Sonos speakers for true 5.1 or 7.1 surrounds if you need surround sound output. Also while individual Sonos speakers can connect wirelessly, a wired connection between the Beam and the TV is still required. Note that if you pair the Xbox One with the Sonos, a perceived delay will occur if you play DTS audio via the Xbox, as it takes some time to convert DTS to Dolby. The Sonos Beam does not offer DTS to convert to Dolby so this is something you should be aware of. Pros: In-built Alexa Wireless pairing with other Sonos speakers Cons: No wireless TV connection No built-in DTS to Dolby converter
4. VIZIO SB2920 “3/3.1138.jpg” VIZIO SB2920 Features: 95 dB Bluetooth sound output streaming DTS sound Connectivity: Bluetooth Optical Analog Inputs / Outputs: 1x USB 1x Digital Optical 1x Analog $69.99 The Vizio SB3621 is one of the best soundbar speakers under $100. Despite the comparatively low price, the VIZIO SB2920 offers excellent sound quality with support for major sound formats from DTS and Dolby. You will also get options for Bluetooth USB and analog connectivity. The SB290 is capable of producing 95 dB of sound that is sufficient to fill a medium sized room. You will also get a wireless subwoofer included in the package for a soundbar speaker which doesn’t even cost a few hundred dollars. There are some lights on the speaker’s sides too. But we’re not sure exactly why they are glowing, and when. The soundbar also frequently gets into standby after short periods of inactivity so if you find it irritating you might want to change the setting. Pros: Good value for money Cons: No audio 5.1 HDMI No. Polk Audio MagniFi
Offer “3/3.1139.jpg” Polk Audio MagniFi Features: Compact size Wireless subwoofer Bluetooth streaming Inputs / Outputs: 1x HDMI ARC 1x Digital Optical 1x Analog Dimensions (W x H x D): 13.4 x 4.3 x 3.2 in $299.00 ? $100.00 $199.00 Polk Audio MagniFi is one of the best soundbar speakers under $300 and offers a great home theatre. The MagniFi supports Polk’s own patented digital sound format for room-filling sound, called Polk SDA and Dolby Digital 5.1. It also offers a low volume night listening mode, without disturbing the family. The Polk Audio MagniFi has a six-driver array, and can create a true 5.1 experience along with the powerful subwoofer. It also supports the streaming from your smartphone or mobile device over Bluetooth. The Polk Audio MagniFi only offers Dolby support so DTS streams need to be converted to Dolby before this soundbar can play back. The remote is also not well designed, and often requires placing it in the soundbar’s line of sight and multiple presses to activate a function.Features: BMR wide dispersion technology Built-in MoviEQ Subwoofer Connectivity: Bluetooth Optical Analog Inputs / Outputs: 1x HDMI 1x Digital Optical 1x USB 1x Analog Dimensions (W x H x D): 13.4 x 3.7 x 21.6 in The Q Acoustics M2 offers an excellent soundbar speaker experience and comes with an integrated subwoofer in its compact body. Despite the size of the M2 it offers a room fillFeatures: BMR wide dispersion technology Built-in MoviEQ Subwoofer Connectivity: Bluetooth Optical Analog Inputs / Outputs: 1x HDMI 1x Digital Optical 1x USB 1x Analog Dimensions (W x H x D): 13.4 x 3.7 x 21.6 in The Q Acoustics M2 offers an excellent soundbar speaker experience and comes with an integrated subwoofer in its compact body. Despite the size of the M2 it offers a room fillInputs / Outputs: 2x Optical 2x Aux in 1x USB-in 1x Subwoofer Dimensions (W x H x D): 42 x 11.57 x 6.61 in If you are not really after surrounding sound technologies like Dolby Atmos or DTS and prefer the better stereo sound to enjoy your music from any device the Dali Kubik One is the one you should be looking at. The Dali Kubik is far more than just a regular soundbar. It is a complete system of speakers per se. The soundbar is perfect for voice and music. Film lovers would not be disappointed though either. The overall dynamic range is good and it sounds fairly neutral on all frequencies. The Dali Kubik One can be selected in various front mesh colours. A single aluminum frame supports the interior which helps to effectively suppress resonance. Connectivity is well supplied. You get both optical and analog connections, and microUSB-in connections. You can hook up the Kubik directly onto a computer using the microUSB port. High-rescue audio files play well in 24-bit/96 kHz format. You’ll also get Bluetooth support from your smartphone for wireless music streaming. The Kubik offers enough bass, but if you wish you will have the option to add your own subwoofer. Overall the Dali Kubik One is a costly soundbar but very effectively satisfies the needs of stereo connoisseurs. Pros: Good for hi-res stereo audio Can connect directly to Mac or PC
12. Sonos Playbar
“3/3.1146.jpg” Sonos Playbar Connectivity: Wireless Ethernet Inputs / Outputs: 1x Optical 2x Ethernet Dimensions (W x H x D): 35.5 x 5.51 x 3.35 in $698.99 The Sonos Playbar is quite different from the previously detailed Sonos Beam. Just like any other soundbar in this list, the standalone Playbar offers quite a nice upgrade from your regular TV speakers. The soundbar is perfect for playing music from most sources of playback including internet streaming services like Spotify Deezer etc. It can also be hooked to your NAS or PC, and used in excellent stereo to play your music. The Sonos Playbar offers very minimal connections, unlike most other soundbars. You just get one optical-in ports and two Ethernet ports. You can connect one of the Ethernet ports to your home router, while the other can connect either to your TV (if it supports Ethernet connections) or to another network device. If your TV has no optical output or Ethernet, this soundbar is not the one you should be following. The Playbar sports accelerometers to adjust the sound to the angle that you are placing it a very nifty feature. The Playbar is easy to set up via the Android or iOS Sonos app. More speakers like a subwoofer or another Sonos Play:3 speakers can also be added wirelessly to create a true 5.1 setup. Keep in mind though it can be very expensive to opt for this route. Pros: Good Dual-Ethernet ports for music and sports Cons: No HDMI No Bluetooth No Hi-def audio support
13. Harman Kardon Enchant 1300
Harman Kardon Enchant 1300 Features: MultiBeam Surround 13 audio channels Automatic MultiBeam Calibration Dolby Digital DTS TV Remote Compatible Connectivity: 3x HDMI-in 1x HDMI-out 1x Optical 1x USB Dimensions (W x H x D): 44 x 4.9 x 2.6 in
‘ 3/3.1148.jpg ‘ In many respects the Bar 400 resembles the Yamaha YAS-207BL, with the major design change being that the Bar 400 sports a metal front grill instead of a fabric grill. The Bar 400 has two HDMI ports, one of which connects to the TV and one which connects to a video source, such as a Blu-ray player. This allows Dolby Digital and DTS surround tracks from the player itself to be 4 K video passthrough and native decoded. The Bar 400 supports the MusicCast function of Yamaha which allows you to connect additional MusicCast-enabled speakers wirelessly for true surround sound. The speakers can be hooked via the Android and iOS-enabled MusicCast app. Also it supports Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The Bar 400 offers a slew of audio enhancements including DTS Virtual X support for upgrading stereo tracks into the surroundings. The Yamaha MusicCast Bar 400 offers great sound reproduction, whether with music or film. The speakers provide enough power to cover a room that is medium in size. Clear Voice turned on allows you to easily pick nuances in the dialog that you may not have noticed before. The soundbar offers decent surround output on its own but for a proper surround effect you would want to use a few more satellites. The only negative is the lack of an OSD to tell you exactly which mode the soundbar operates. Otherwise the Yamaha MusicCast Bar 400 is one of the best under $500 soundbars. Pros: Very good sound stage Power subwoofer Dear readers, our recommendations for buying the best soundbar speakers in 2019 were these. Before buying one, we recommend that you first decide on the design of the room and what kind of content you’d watch before you decide on a speaker system. If you do not get the acoustics right and do not feed it quality content, having the most expensive soundbar won’t guarantee an immersive experience. We hope this article has helped to clear up any confusions you may have about selecting the best speakers in soundbars. As always, if you need any further information, we are here to help. Post your questions and comments below and we will be getting back to you as soon as possible.