A soundbar can breathe new life into any entertainment system without breaking the bank. They are popular, but there are also many reasons to avoid a soundbar. While these systems are easy to set up and considered affordable, they aren’t without drawbacks. We’re going to touch on the four of biggest reasons to steer clear of a soundbar and have put together a list featuring a few excellent alternatives.
The Best Reasons to Avoid a New Soundbar
All soundbars have a similar design with one goal; producing stereo-quality sound without traditional components. There are some soundbar “systems” that include more than one speaker. These configurations are closer to home theater systems but are still plagued by some common problems.
Placement
One advantage of buying a soundbar is the size. Overall, they can require less space than a multi-component system. That means placement is a perk for many consumers, but it can also be a drawback in some homes.
Larger, longer soundbars require more space than a compact model like the Sonos Ray. Want to sit it in front of your TV? That could block the remote control sensor. That may seem minor, but it’s something that can be a bigger headache than you think. Especially with larger soundbars and smaller entertainment centers where space is tight.
Placement is also something to consider with ports and onboard controls. We’ve seen plenty of manufacturers put ports in odd places, which can make routing an HDMI cable challenging. Remote controls are standard, but onboard controls give you a backup way to adjust the volume or mode. Having to move your soundbar to access ports and controls is far from ideal.
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Underwhelming Performance
You can find soundbars with a half-dozen channels, and many models have high-tech features designed to lure consumers in. Features are important, but they should be an afterthought next to the performance of a soundbar. That’s a major reason to avoid a new soundbar, especially if you expect surround sound from a simple system.
If you’re purchasing a soundbar and expect it to provide true surround sound, you’ll be disappointed unless it’s a 5.1 or higher system. The soundbar itself is a single component with multiple speakers inside a bar-shaped housing.
A 2.1 or 3.1 system may have a subwoofer for an extra channel, but you can’t get surround sound without rear or side speakers. If the soundbar doesn’t have a sub, you will certainly notice the lack of bass and depth.
Soundbars from Bose and other big audio brands put an emphasis on audio quality, but a soundbar is still a front-firing speaker unless it comes with additional components. While companies like to use the term “surround sound” with their soundbars, keep the number of components in mind if you want a theater-like experience.
Connectivity
Do you have an older TV set or a modern smart TV with plenty of HDMI ports? That can impact which soundbar you can buy and is also a reason to avoid a new soundbar in some cases. Port shortages are a real issue, and most soundbars will take up an HDMI port.
On average, a newer TV will have between 3-6 HDMI ports. Subscribe to cable? That cable box will need a slot, and so do home video game consoles. Blu-Ray players also need an HDMI port if you want to enjoy 4K content. The Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick, and Roku streamers fall into that category as well.
Many soundbars have an optical port that allows users to connect to TV sets without sacrificing an HDMI port on their television. HDMI carries high-resolution audio and video signals including Dolby Atoms and DTS. That’s not possible with an optical cable, which could impact your home theater experience.
Another thing to consider with connectivity is wireless components. Having wireless subs and side speakers connected to a soundbar may seem like a great idea. It is, as long as the components are compatible. That’s hit or miss with add-ons, so you’ll need to check on whether that’s a possibility on specific models beforehand.
Pricing
For years, soundbars were considered “budget-friendly” for many consumers interested in expanding the audio capabilities of their TV sets. That’s still true today as you can find soundbars for well under $100. There are more premium models, however, which shortens the gap between soundbars and home theater systems for audiophiles.
A big reason to avoid a new soundbar today is pricing if you’re interested in a true surround sound system. Some of the best models on the market today sound amazing but have price tags over $1,000. You’re only getting a soundbar, subwoofer, and rear speakers in the best-case scenario.
Alternatively, you can pick up a complete package for the same price with a receiver and between 5-7 premium speakers. The number of speakers included with these home theater systems varies as much as the price. You can find comparable options for the price or cheaper if you have the extra space, however.
The Best Alternatives to Soundbars
Whether you’re short on ports or don’t like the price of a soundbar compared to a home theater system, there are alternatives. With that in mind, here are three home stereo systems that can put the best soundbars to shame.
Yamaha YHT-4950U Home Theater System
Yamaha is a great brand to turn to when you’re looking for a home theater system. The YHT-4950U is a system that’s ready to go out of the box and is an excellent reason to avoid a new soundbar today.
This is a 5.1-channel system that provides true surround sound through a range of speakers. In this case, you’ll get the Advanced YST II subwoofer, a center speaker, and four satellite speakers for surround sound. This matching set has a modern style that will look great in any room. They are also fairly compact aside from the sub which has a beefy 8” driver.
Audiophiles will be impressed, and content will explode off the screen with full 4K support. The system supports 4K pass-through at 60fps with Dolby Vision and HDR. It has four HDMI inputs along with a USB port and a slew of settings. It doesn’t have Wi-Fi, however, only Bluetooth for wireless connectivity. The system can also tune itself through YPAO and the included microphone.
The Yamaha YHT-4950U is a fantastic stereo in a box for homeowners interested in something more powerful and immersive than a soundbar system. It includes everything you need, and will even tune itself in once you hook up the components. The only knock on the system is the fact it doesn’t have Wi-Fi, although that’s more of a flagship feature than a necessity on a receiver.
- Seven piece home theater system with Yamaha receiver
- Yamaha YPAO room optimization
- 4K compatible 5.1-channel stereo
- CINEMA DSP technology with Dolby
Klipsch Reference 5.1 Home Theater System
Our top choice is the best option for the average consumer, but if you’re looking for something with more power, we have you covered. This home theater system has a premium price tag but can shake up your neighborhood and provide 360-degree surround sound.
While this system is billed as a Klipsch stereo, the Onkyo TX-NR696 is the engine that drives the speakers. This THX-certified 7.2-channel receiver produces 210 watts of power per channel. It supports Dolby Atmos 5.2.2, DTX:X, and is smarter than other systems. That’s due in part to Wi-Fi and built-in Chromecast with Google Assistant. It also supports AirPlay 2 with Siri and is optimized to work with Klipsch Reference series speakers.
As for those speakers, the highlight are the matching R-625FA tower speakers. They have an elevation channel for Dolby Atmos along with 6.5 and 5.25” copper spun IMG woofers and dual compression tweeters. The sub has considerably more pop than Yamaha’s system with a 12” woofer and all-digital amp. The same care and attention to detail were taken with the center speaker and matching bookshelf speakers as well.
The Klipsch Reference home theater sports a premium price tag, but that’s understandable once you dig into the tech specs. This matching set of speakers has been well-received across the board, and Onkyo makes some of the best receivers on the market. This system can do it all and has a price comparable to the Samsung HW-Q990C soundbar.
- Onkyo TX-NR696 4K receiver with six Klipsch reference speakers
- Smart Receiver compatible with Siri and Google Assistant
- THX Certified Select 210 watts per channel
- 12" subwoofer
KEF LSX II Wireless Speaker System
Purchasing a home theater system instead of a soundbar is a great option if you have the space. If you don’t have room for multiple components, KEF has a unique solution. The KEF LSX II speakers are wireless, small, and have more connectivity options than most soundbars.
These attractive color-matched speakers are designed to connect to anything. That includes new TV sets, gaming consoles, other speakers, or a smartphone. Dual-band Wi-Fi and an Ethernet port on the back allow you to use Chromecast or AirPlay 2. KEF included built-in support for key streaming services as well including Tidal, Amazon Music, Spotify, and more.
Whether you connect this speaker to a TV set through HDMI ARC or an optical cable, you won’t be disappointed by the audio quality. They are versatile, so movies and TV shows will have more depth and your music sounds fantastic. Reviewers love the new version of the LSK speakers, and they are impressive considering they stand less than 10” tall.
- Full range of connectivity options including HDMI, optical, and Ethernet
- Pair and expand with other wireless speakers
- AirPlay 2 and Chromecast support
- 24-bit 384kHz streaming capabilities
The Wrap-Up
Soundbars have become incredibly popular as more companies get into the niche, but they aren’t the best solution for everyone. They can’t replicate surround sound like a home theater system without additional speakers, but ideal if you just want to give a TV in your home a boost in the audio department.
- $549.95Buy Now on Amazon
- Seven piece home theater system with Yamaha receiver
- Yamaha YPAO room optimization
- 4K compatible 5.1-channel stereo
- CINEMA DSP technology with Dolby
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11/27/2023 02:46 am GMT - $1,799.98Buy on Amazon
- Onkyo TX-NR696 4K receiver with six Klipsch reference speakers
- Smart Receiver compatible with Siri and Google Assistant
- THX Certified Select 210 watts per channel
- 12" subwoofer
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
11/27/2023 01:31 pm GMT - $999.99Buy on Amazon
- Full range of connectivity options including HDMI, optical, and Ethernet
- Pair and expand with other wireless speakers
- AirPlay 2 and Chromecast support
- 24-bit 384kHz streaming capabilities
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
11/27/2023 01:31 pm GMT
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