Whether you’re buying a new TV or just upgrading your home entertainment setup you might be considering purchasing new audio equipment, such as a surround sound system or a sound bar. You also might be wondering which of the two offers the best audio. Here we’ll explain what you can expect with both options, and which one might be the right choice for you.
Home audio has come a long way over the last few years, especially since many devices now rely on digital and smart algorithms to improve the audio. At the same time, prices for these products have also come down making now a good time to pick up new audio hardware for the home. While the major difference between surround sound systems and sound bars comes down to space, that does have a direct impact on the sound quality as well.
Digital tweaking aside, audio reproduction comes down to physics, the bigger the speakers, the better. This is why both surround sound systems and sound bars greatly improve the audio compared to the speakers built into the TV. With more speakers, and more space for those speakers to resonate, both solutions can not only increase the volume of the output, but also the quality.
In the same way that both surround sound systems and sound bars increase audio quality compared to a TV’s speakers, surround sound systems also offer better audio than a sound bar. The same logic applies with surround sound systems tending to come with more speakers, and in most cases, those speakers are physically separated and housed within units that are specifically tailored to improve the sound quality. This extra degree of separation also means they can often be positioned in different places in the room to fully optimize and maximize the surround sound experience. This is also why you’ll often end up paying considerably more for a premium surround sound system compared to a premium sound bar - more hardware results in a higher cost and better audio quality overall.
While surround sound systems offer better audio quality in general, that’s not to say they are necessarily the right choice for everyone. Sound bars have evolved greatly in recent years and now offer excellent quality and usually at an affordable price. In addition, more sound bars are now utilizing digital technologies and virtual surround sound processing to close the gap on surround sound systems with Dolby Atmos being a prime example. Sound bars equipped with Dolby Atmos have the ability to emulate a surround sound system by firing audio from different speakers in different directions. The end result being the viewer hears sounds coming from all around them as if there were speakers positioned in those places. All of this is done while maintaining a size and shape that’s far more discreet, making it a perfect solution for those short on space.
Overall, if you want the real experience, and have the money to spend, then a full and proper surround sound system is the way to go. You’ll get real surround sound and an audio quality that’s only limited by your budget. However, if space or cost is a concern, then a good sound bar can provide a similar audio experience for a lesser price, while taking up less space.
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