Soundbars vs Surround Sound Speakers: Which is Best for You?

People constantly argue whether or not soundbars are a good alternative to a traditional surround sound system. Some will say that soundbars are absolutely terrible and some will live by soundbars and want nothing to do with traditional sound systems.

Purchases made through some store links may provide some compensation to us.

[vanessashaw]

This was EXTREMELY helpful in language even I can understand.

[macinman]

I've gone with sound bars for the time being because of living in an apartment and not being ideal for dedicated setups based on space, and volume of sound. Years back I had a Panasonic theater in a box that had 5.1 for the built in DVD change, and stereo inputs for anything externally. It was a nice balance between a sound bar and dedicated setup. Initially I was going to just do a stereo setup for TV and Movies because I was concerned a sub would be too hard to control. However, I have really good neighbors and only on one side, and the setups I've decided on haven't caused any problems. I'd love to do a dedicated home theater, however that won't happen here, but it gives me something to look forward to whenever I can afford my own place (not rented )

I thought you did an excellent job presenting the arguments for each side and which each is better suited for. Have a great day!

[hellowill]

Me: Buying an audio system for my small apartment living room, probably going with a soundbar.
Also me: Researching all these fancy home audio systems.

[craigosterberg]

Just subscribed. I like the way you explain your video and don’t get super complicated. You voice runs smoothly. You get to the point on pros and cons. Thanks

[SeanVedell]

The basics of speaker placement hold true for both separates and sound bars. Get the front speakers at eye/ear level as best as possible. Keeping them at least as high as the bottom of your screen will also ensure a proper soundstage or placement of the audio where it looks like it’s coming from on screen.

[Monsux]

Nice video. I do love them both... I have a good 5.1.2 speaker setup in a living room + 5.1.2 Soundbar at the bedroom. Works well when using a receiver that has 2 HDMI out ports. One PC runs both systems. There is no way I could ever do a surround setup in my bedroom without a soundbar.

[micoboo]

I just watched two of your videos so far but I can already tell you'll be one of my favorite channel. No non sense intro and direct to the point. How I wish I can also have one of those speakers or soundbars your have.... keep it up Bro.

[bernong]

Extremely helpful. Thank you. You cleared my doubts about connections and sound quality and why one would use a soundbar.

[Drewsterman]

I loved the pros and cons between both setups. I was hoping for you to explain the differences in sound stage between sound bars and like a 2.1 LCR w/ subwoofer setup.

[gair]

Your review comparing sound bars, after the other research I did convinced me the Sonos ARC system is the one to get. So I bought the whole system. I have had my Sonos ARC system since Feb 1, 2021. I got the Sonos ARC, One SL surrounds, & the Sonos Gen 3 Sub. I am extremely impressed with the system. EXTREMELY! The Sub surprised me at how deep it goes, yet it is very musical and well integrated. It doesn't just add 'boom'. the center channel for dialogue and detail is exceptionally clear. Even though I have high 12' vaulted ceiling on the wall where the ARC soundbar is mounted, I still get a nice sense of up-firing sounds from the Dolby Atmos speakers. In short, I am blown away at the overall performance of the system. If I had one complaint, it would be the system can be somewhat bright, even when I dial down the Treble EQ range. It is not however a deal breaker. The benefits of this system are massive. I love it. I was thinking of adding a second sub just to see how it performs. I don't feel I need it however. But I am curious. Pricey however, so I'll hang back for a bit.

[alexandriam]

Appreciate this video and tips while I’m shopping for upgrading my entertainment area!

[MegaAlacrity]

Thank you for a very "understandable" video. I was struggling with the dilemma of soundbar vs surround sound. I now understand it and have decided for simplicity and to meet my budget that a soundbar is the way forward for me. Thank you

[victormunoz]

So I have had both. Surround (Bose 7.1) and it sounded great. That was 5 years ago. I just bought Sonos arc Surround sound and I was blown away with Dolby Atmos. Plus I'm a minimalist so clean look for me

[kingkiper]

Great video...this is the same info i tell my friends...unless they are in an apartment i always tell them to go with a traditional setup and work your way up if need be.

[stephenliu]

I definitely will agree with you about the Bluetooth topic. I am not a big fan of Bluetooth but it does have its advantages and disadvantages. I do appreciate the fact that most if not all sound bars have wireless subwoofers, moving away from the built in subs in the sound bars themselves. Doing this had made the sound while listening to music much more enjoyable, as the sub bass does not overpower the over frequency ranges. But you can't just ignore the other frequencies, a lot of companies are making equipment with "bass" in mind and I'm not a fan of that. I love hearing tonal ranges of all kinds; warm sound, bright sounds, intimate, etc. It is hard to do all this in a small but uniform package and I will not shy away from saying this thing that gets people to pricing! The saying "you get what you pay for!" stands so true. investing in a high quality sound system or headphones is almost as important as the listening experience itself. So with all in mind, I would suggest you test the equipment out before buying it and not just "oh, these are the new speakers from beats!" but to use them and see if they match your liking.

[wilsonherbito]

I'll go for traditional speaker, because more versatile sounds, best audio quality for music.

[HenryFlores]

I absolutely loved my Sony 7.2 receiver and setup. Unfortunately, it finally burned out and died on me (I'm sure it is repairable but just can't afford it now). Anyway, enter my Sony Sound Bar from 2013. It is a great substitute for the time being. When watching TV or playing games, I sometimes forget that I am listening to a 2.1 sound bar instead of my 7.2 one. Just my 2 cents. I think sound bars are perfect for apartments or small/medium rooms. But receivers are always going to be #1.

[fredsalfa]

Thanks for that it raised and answered a lot of questions about what I’m looking for which I don’t myself yet.

[pikeg]

For years now I've always had various sound bars from Panasonic, LG, Yamaha and most recently a Bose Cinemate 120.. I decided to switch a Pioneer AV Receiver and 3.1 speaker set up (Pioneer sub and Centre, Denon bookshelves Left and Right).. The difference in sound is vast!! The setup I have now is half the price of the Bose and with a few tweaks of the settings and it blows the Bose away totally.. The sound stage is wider with a full range of sound.. I love this setup

[captainie]

great advice, thank you. Regards from Ireland