Modern TVs are getting slimmer as technology advances with time. However, these paper-thin TVs only have the space for paper-thin speakers inside. While a small speaker works well with your smartphone or laptop, your TV needs a better sound output.
If you’re watching Avengers: Endgame on your new 4K OLED TV with spectacular picture quality, you would need the audio to complement it. Otherwise, your movie night experience gets disrupted due to muffled dialogues and a subdued background score.
After all, you would want to hear those famous Iron Man dialogues with utmost clarity, and proper sound effects. This is where a sound bar comes into the picture, as it enhances your TV sound manifold, and brings it to equal footing with its display.
Today, you can find an assortment of speakers ranging from a basic sound bar priced at 4,000 INR to a premium 9.1 Dolby Atmos soundbar priced at 90,000 INR. These come with varying features and specifications that you need to consider in order to get the perfect sound bar for your TV. Read on to find out the main factors you should keep in mind while choosing the best sound bar, and how to set it up.
Placement
Where you intend to place your sound bar is an important factor that dictates your buying decision. If you plan on keeping it on a TV stand or rack, it should fit well. The sound bar should not hang over the edge as its base might not be in contact with the surface, which negatively impacts the sound.
If your TV is wall-mounted, ensure you mount the soundbar directly below the TV. Some sound bars priced highly come with external subwoofers. In that case, you will get the best audio experience if you place the subwoofer right next to the sound bar. Thus, you should check the size of a sound bar before purchasing it to ensure that it fits as mentioned above.
The TV
Another aspect you should consider is the width of your TV. A sound bar that’s too narrow will be dwarfed by your TV. On the other hand, you don’t want your soundbar to be too big for your TV. From an aesthetic standpoint, your sound bar shouldn’t be wider than the TV.
As a rule of thumb, a 65 cm wide sound bar is suitable for a TV anywhere between 49 and 55 inches. Additionally, make sure there is sufficient room between the bottom of the TV and the table where it’s kept. Your sound bar should not block a part of your TV screen. Hence, you should purchase a sound bar with dimensions that suit your TV size.
Number of channels
The number of channels in a sound bar is like sources of sound. More the channels, the better the sound you get. If you only want to improve your TV’s sound to make it louder, a simple 2.1 channel sound bar (2 speakers and a subwoofer) should be enough. If you want a more enhanced sound quality, you have more options like 3 channel, 5 channel and 7 channel sound bars.
The most advanced sound bars come with Dolby Atmos surround sound, which also reflects sound upwards for a three-dimensional immersive aural experience. As you go up the ladder, the sound bar price increases. Thus, you can choose a sound bar based on the sound quality you want and the budget you have.
Connectivity
An important factor that must be accounted for is the kind of connections you need. To connect different audio and video sources, ensure that the inputs on the sound bar match the outputs on the source devices.
Most sound bars come with HDMI inputs that you can connect to your TVs ARC (audio return channel) jack with an HDMI cable. Some sound bars also feature built-in Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to stream audio from your smartphone, tablet and computer.
Advanced sound bars also come with Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing you to stream music from Spotify, YouTube Music etc. through your Wi-Fi network. Check the connectivity options in a sound bar before purchasing it.
Set-up
If there is an HDMI port marked ARC on both your TV and sound bar, all you need is an HDMI cable. Just plug it in the TV and soundbar and you’re all set. If your TV does not have an HDMI ARC port, you will need to connect it to the sound bar with an optical cable.
If there’s an external subwoofer with your sound bar, it might require a cable connection. Wireless subwoofers can be placed anywhere, but it is advisable to keep them as close to the TV as possible. Once the sound bar is connected to your TV, go to the TV menu and change the output sound to external speakers.
To get the lowest sound bar prices, head over to the Bajaj Finserv EMI Store. With lucrative discounts and convenient offers such as the no-cost EMI offer and zero down payment facility on select models, shopping at the EMI Store is a highly rewarding experience.
