Soundbar
{{Short description|Type of loudspeaker}}
File:Philips Soundbar with Ambisound HTS9140 front.jpg
File:LG IPS LCD 4K TV & SAMSUNG SOUNDBAR HW-J250 (cropped).jpg
A soundbar, sound bar or media bar is a type of loudspeaker that projects audio from a wide enclosure. It is much wider than it is tall, partly for acoustic reasons, and partly so it can be mounted above or below a display device (e.g. above a computer monitor or under a home theater or television screen). In a soundbar, multiple speakers are placed in a single cabinet, which helps to create stereo sound and surround sound effect. A separate subwoofer is typically included with, or may be used to supplement, a soundbar.{{cite web |title=Roku's New Soundbar Doubles as a Streaming Player: Soundbar Meets Streaming Box |last=Honorof |first=Marshall |date=4 September 2019 |website=Tom's Guide |url=https://www.tomsguide.com/news/rokus-new-soundbar-doubles-as-a-streaming-player }}{{cite news|date=7 June 2018|title=Sound Bar Buying Guide|url= https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/sound-bars/buying-guide/index.htm |access-date= 3 December 2018|work=Consumer Reports}}
History
One of the earliest attempts at a soundbar was the TeleSound Model 1300, marketed by TeleSound, Inc., in 1980.{{cite journal | last=Staff writer | date=1980 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SiMqAQAAIAAJ | title=TV sound improvers | journal=Weekly Television Digest | publisher=Television Digest, Inc. | volume=20 | issue= | page=10 | via=Google Books}}{{cite book | last=Utz | first=Peter | date=1983 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ofpMAAAAIAAJ | title=The Complete Home Video Book: A Source Book of Information Essential to the Video Enthusiast | publisher=Prentice-Hall | page=386 | isbn=9780131613645 | via=Google Books}} The TeleSound comprises a single wide enclosure with two 5-watt loudspeakers spaced 12 inches apart. Connecting a television set's mono output to the TeleSound via a 3.5 mm audio jack allows viewers to watch television in simulated stereo. Alternatively, separate left and right audio jacks allow for true stereo playback from LaserDisc players or special video tape players.
Later early passive versions simply integrated left, centre and right speakers into one enclosure, sometimes called an "LCR soundbar".
Altec Lansing introduced a multichannel soundbar in 1998 called the "Voice of the Digital Theatre" or the ADA106. It was a powered speaker system that offered stereo, Dolby Pro-Logic and AC3 surround sound from the soundbar and a separate subwoofer. The soundbar contained four 3-inch full range drivers and two 1-inch tweeters while the subwoofer housed one 8-inch dual voice coil driver. It used Altec Lansing's side-firing technology and algorithms to provide surround sound from the sides, rear and front. This configuration eliminated the wiring of separate speakers and the space they would require.{{cite web |url=http://www.soundguys.com/devon-announces-heos-homecinema-5767/ |title=DENON ANNOUNCES THE HEOS |last=Molina |first=Adam |date=3 June 2015 |website=SoundGuys |access-date=24 June 2016}}
Advantages and disadvantages
Soundbars are relatively small and can be easily positioned under a display, are easy to set up, and are usually less expensive than other stereo sound systems. However, because of their smaller size and lack of flexibility in positioning, soundbars do not fill a room with sound as well as separate-speaker stereo systems do.{{cite news|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-13645_3-57551015-47/before-you-buy-a-sound-bar-speaker-read-this/ | title=Philips HTS6510 review | date=November 17, 2012| work=CNet| last=Arrowsmith | first= Richard | accessdate=August 29, 2013}}
Soundbars have also been criticized for their lack of upgradability. While a sound system using a receiver can be paired with most speakers and subwoofers, soundbars are usually only compatible with their manufacturer's bespoke options, if upgradable at all.{{Cite web |title=Soundbar vs. Speakers: Which TV Audio System Is Best for You? |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/home-entertainment/soundbar-vs-speakers-which-tv-audio-system-is-best-for-you/ |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=CNET |language=en}}
Soundbars are available at various price points.{{cite web |url=https://www.brainybuyer.com/categories/3237803011-1/sound-bars |title=Sound Bars - Brainy Buyer |publisher=BrainyBuyer. |access-date=2025-04-09}} Soundbar prices vary from ~15$ to thousands of dollars.
Soundbar hybrid
To take advantages both from soundbar and stereo set system, some manufacturers produce soundbar hybrids in which the soundbar represents left, center, and right speakers; the subwoofer and rear-left and rear-right speakers are connected wirelessly to the soundbar. The setup offers all channels needed to produce 5.1 surround.{{cite web |url=http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/home-cinema/1300732/philips-htl9100-soundbar-announced-with-detachable-speakers-for-5-1-surround |title=Philips HTL9100 SoundBar Announced with Detachable Speakers for 5.1 Surround |date=June 26, 2013 |website=ExpertReviews.co.uk |access-date=July 14, 2021 }}
With the increasing availability of Dolby Atmos content since 2021, it has become increasingly important for soundbars to produce height effects.{{cite web | url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/2021-year-of-dolby-atmos-music/ | title=From Movies to Music, 2021 Was the Year of Dolby Atmos | date=9 December 2021 }} The conventional setup involves additional wireless up-firing speakers: the ceiling of the room is to bounce height effects off the ceiling, towards the listener.{{cite web | url=https://www.whathifi.com/us/best-buys/best-dolby-atmos-soundbars-the-best-atmos-tv-speakers | title=Best Dolby Atmos soundbars 2022: Budget to premium | date=2 August 2022 }} Audio specialized companies such as Nakamichi offer a different approach, in which proprietary upmixing algorithms (patial-amplification, phase improvements, height effect sound layer interlacing) allow a regular 7.1/7.2/9.2 system to provide height effects.{{cite web | url=https://www.nakamichi-usa.com/shockwafe-sse | title=Shockwafe SSE Technology | Dolby Atmos | Dolby Vision Compatible }}
Usage
Soundbars were primarily designed to generate strong sound with good bass response. Soundbar usage has increased steadily as the world has moved to flat-screen displays.{{cite news|date=9 July 2013|work=FORBES|author= Morrison, Geoffrey |title=Are Soundbars Worth It?|url= https://www.forbes.com/sites/geoffreymorrison/2013/07/09/are-soundbars-worth-it}} Earlier television sets and display units were primarily CRT-based; hence the box was bigger, facilitating larger speakers with good response. But with flat-screen televisions the depth of the screen is reduced dramatically, leaving little room for speakers. As a result, the built-in speakers lack bass response. Soundbars help to bridge this gap.{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}} Many people confuse soundbars with home theater systems as both are designed to enhance audio but they differ significantly in design and performance. Soundbars are more compact and simplified offering a streamlined audio solution whereas home theater systems typically consist of multiple speakers and components providing a more immersive and customizable audio experience.{{Cite web |last=Doungel |first=Michelle |title=Difference between soundbar and home theatre system |url=https://www.dealivore.in/blog/best-soundbar#What_s_the_difference_between_soundbar_and_home_theatre_system__Please_explain_ |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=Dealivore |language=en-in}}