Raise your hand if you remember when having a “flat screen TV” was something worth advertising in hotel brochures. These days all TVs are flat screens, but it wasn’t that long ago when this was new technology. But while the design and picture quality of TVs may have improved dramatically in recent years, the sound often still leaves something to be desired.
With this in mind, it’s a good idea to get a separate audio system for the TV. But how do you choose between soundbars vs. speakers? There are many pros and cons when it comes to both soundbars and speakers for a TV audio system. Here are some features of each type of TV audio system, and how to choose between soundbars vs. speakers.
Soundbars
A soundbar is a thin, tube-like fixture that houses multiple small speakers designed for use with a TV. It’s usually designed to blend in with the TV, and many models even clip onto the top or bottom of a television. While it looks good with a TV, it will also greatly improve the clarity and immersion of sound for shows, sports, movies and everything else you watch on television.
There are many advantages to soundbars vs. speakers for a TV audio system. One of the most prominent advantages is that soundbars are easy to set up. Often it only requires plugging the soundbar into a power source, and then plugging into the TV via HDMI or other type of cable. Some soundbars are wireless and can be connected via Bluetooth, which will require a little more time to set up but can offer more flexibility in terms of placement within the room.
Another advantage of soundbars is that they’re generally more affordable than speaker setups. A good soundbar can be had for around $100 to $200. Some soundbars include a separate subwoofer (often wireless), and some even have sound processing technology that mimics 5.1 surround sound at a fraction of the price of having a full six-speaker setup.
Speakers
When considering the choice between soundbars vs. speakers, there’s more to keep in mind than just ease of setup and price. After all, if that’s all that mattered, there would be no need for speaker systems at all. But speakers have a big advantage over soundbars in that they sound better and feel bigger.
No matter how good a soundbar may be, there will always be a speaker system that’s better. Speakers get louder, have better clarity of sound and offer more immersion with true surround sound setups. You can also hook up multiple sound sources to a speaker system, which is great for listening to music as well.
On the flip side, you will need to buy multiple components for a speaker system, including an amp/receiver and the speakers themselves. It can also be a little more complicated to set up a speaker system.
When you’re ready to choose between soundbars vs. speakers for your TV audio system, contact JDS Systems today for assistance.