soundbar speaker

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A short guide to Soundbars and why you may want one!

In thisLens we talk about what a Soundbar is, how simple they are to set up and why you might want one!
If you've been thinking that your new super HD TV just doesn't sound as good as it looks then this is going to be the lens for you!

Why I like Soundbars!

SoundbarMany of us would like to achieve that 'cinema experience' with great sound and video at home!

The television bit is relatively simple but the up until recently the sound has been more challenging. The 'surround sound' can be created with the cost of an amplifier and 4 to 6 speakers placed around the room. Unfortunately you have the disruptive fact of the cables having to be fed around the walls, perhaps behind skirting boards, even under the floor boards or carpets. It's a real put-off, not to mention wall mounting or finding the space to locate all the speakers!

So whilst picture quality has advanced greatly with LCD, HD and now even 3D available on remarkable wide screen and wafer thin televisions; it is just a fact that the sound quality hasn't matched their picture performance. (Those thin TVs just don't have the bulk required for good bass!)

There is a simple option now available. Depending on how much you wish to spend on one, a SOUNDBAR can produce up to 5.1 surround sound in a single box! A Soundbar looks like a wide shallow speaker and normally matches the width of your TV, so can be placed seamlessly beneath it on your stand or wall mounted. It is simple to set up requiring only a mains plug and sound in/outputs from whatever gadgets you need to connect. With an automated onboard microphone setup program option, many Soundbars automatically tune in the correct sound levels for your environment.

Just make sure your Soundbar has enough inputs for you to match your equipment and you will be experiencing encompassing cinema sound; for example you may need a HDMI input for your XBOX, now there's a thought%u2026how great will Halo sound with a Soundbar cranking out the the sound effects?

In our experience there are four great bits of advice:
Choose a Soundbar that has an option for a separate subwoofer, preferably wireless for ease of setup)
Make sure you understand how the unit connects to your existing devices
If you have HDMI output (for instance XBOX and BlueRay players) then make sure your Soundbar has enough HDM inputs
Check that the width of the Soundbar that you want will fit on your TV stand or that you can wall mount it.
All the big audio manufacturers produce Soundbars now so there should be no reason not to find a system that works for your needs. Just make sure to do your home work and make sure to read the manual properly before plugging anything in!

If you enjoyed the information in this article and would like more help choosing your ideal Soundbar then we would love to see you over at www.soundbarinfo.com
Happy Soundbar hunting!

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www.soundbarinfo.com
Recomened reading - ground zero for Soundbar information!

Setting up a room for a soundbar

Configuring up a Soundbar should be straight forward for you, but before your get started a little more Soundbar Information is in order! After all, no matter how good your system it will definitly benefit from correct positioning and room setup.
All Soundbars have got a little different setup considerations and so do be sure to check the manual that comes with yours after you purchase it. This guide should provide you adequate typical information to assist you setting things up so the the Soundbar works well in YOUR environment.

Before we get to the specifics we should have a very short refresher regarding how a Soundbar really works. That streamlined wide device that you'd like sat below or over your TV is stuffed with compact speakers that will beam the audio at diverse angles. How many speakers is determined by whether or not you have a 2.1, 5.1 or 7.1 system as well as the make and model which you have. The impact is completed by all of the high-tech trickery like SRS WOW, DTS, and Dolby etc.

If you envision these sounds coming from the Soundbar at fixed angles you rapidly recognize that you'll want to be sure that all of them meet at the same spot - you!

The next step is to be sure that the lines possess an continuous path and that also the length of each type of line is approximately the same. That's not quite as difficult as it may seem, just be certain there won't be any items of home furniture getting in the sounds course!

Now as you've likely read in our technical guide a number of Soundbars may have onboard calibration techniques. Therefore they're able to project a sound and then change itself depending on what it gets back via the built in microphone. These systems are wonderful. Other systems permit you to manually regulate the output which again is an important feature. Nonetheless, even though you may have got a system making use of these awesome tuning capabilities you are going to boost audio quality by simply endeavoring to stick to these tips;

Listening spot has to be in front of your system
The gap between the Soundbar and you ought to be upwards of 6ft. (1.8m)
Set up the device in the centre of the left and right wall
Pieces of home furniture must not hinder the travel of sound
Listening place ought not to be too near the walls
Walls must be solid enough to be able to reflect audio beams

Measure the size of your Tv set rack and be sure the Soundbar will definitely fit with no things blocking the path

When you buy your Soundbar investigate the manual thoroughly so you can get suggestions specific to your model BEFORE begining the setup process!

How to choose the best soundbar?

As we have already discussed, a Soundbar provides an excellent stereo or surround sound effect without the complexities and expense of a full surround sound system.

So what is "the Best Soundbar?" Well, like with a great number of things in daily life the reply is 'it depends'. The quick response is 'the one that really does what you want it to do and you can afford'. To attempt to figure what this means read on!

Which do you need it for?
Give consideration to exactly what your ultimately want the Soundbar for. Is it simply to supply your flat screen Tv set superior audio or would you like to emulate that rich surround sound experience? Maybe you also have an Xbox 360 or gaming system you want to enhance? These variables will settle if you will be happy with a easy entry level appliance or a top of the range system many different connection choices.

What's the budget?
Soundbars vary from around £50 ($82) all the way up to £1400 ($2,300).

What do I wish to connect?
Make a list of anything you need to connect and determine if it's feasible - general demands are Xbox 360, Blu-Ray, MP3 Player,BlueTooth and naturally Tv set.

How can I connect?
On many entry to mid-range Soundbars you can expect to attach all your gadgets (Wii, Xbox 360 and so on) to the TV and then the audio out from the TV to the Soundbar. With some high end Soundbars you can actually connect every thing directly.

HDMI
Pay special attention to HDMI, specially HDMI ARC. If both Soundbar and TV support this it can make cabling simpler.

Be sure that the room you'll be setting up the Soundbar into is suitable.
You need walls which will reflect sound readily. (A few wall coverings can result in acoustic damping.) Ensure you haven't got pieces of furniture that may block the sounds path. Verify that the Soundbar you're interested in will either fit on your Television set stand or can be easily wall mounted.

How loud are you looking for?
Sound can vary from a feeble 30watts RMS right up to 400 (Phenomenal!). 100 or above is probably about suitable for most people..

What manufacturer do you prefer?
A lot of the big electronics companies produce Soundbars, so if you have a favourite then that might guide your decision. In our experience we hear the most reviews that are positive regarding Yamaha.

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TheShadowman

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