Overview
If you are someone who likes to listen to music a lot in your home then buying a soundbar specifically designed for that would be a good idea. They offer the best premium audio quality that will make you feel like you are actually at a concert and not in your living room. Soundbars for music are great for hosting big parties, but most of them can be attached to your TV and be used for watching movies and shows.
Read all about the features the Best Soundbar For Music Lovers models offer and how they achieve the premium quality audio we get. Also, read on our top models at this time, all in the article below.
- SCORE9.3
- BrandSAMSUNG
- SCORE8.9
- BrandVIZIO
- SCORE8.9
- BrandSonos
- SCORE8.9
- BrandJBL
- SCORE8.5
- BrandSAMSUNG
Last update on 2023-03-21 / Affiliate links / Images, Product Titles, and Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API
Number of channels
The number of sound channels on a soundbar can range from two to eleven. A simple "2.0" (or two-channel without subwoofer) soundbar is usually the cheapest and easiest to set up, but it won't provide you with a cinematic experience. A "2.1" bar combines a soundbar with a subwoofer; this is the most common variety, and the majority of them cost less than $300. For greater voice clarity, a "3.1" bar adds a center-channel speaker. Surround speakers, which may be incorporated into the ends of the soundbar or may be separate, are added to a "5.1" bar. Dolby Atmos-enabled bars are commonly labeled "5.1.2" or "5.1.4," indicating that two or four upward-facing Atmos speakers are used to bounce sound effects off the ceiling. We tried everything we could get our hands on because all of these soundbars can be of interest to various people.
Wireless audio support
Only soundbars with the ability to stream music from a phone or tablet through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi were examined (or both). Fortunately, most new soundbars are equipped with this feature. Wi-Fi systems like AirPlay, Chromecast, and Sonos are more difficult to set up than Bluetooth, but they offer potentially superior sound quality because they don't compress the audio stream further, and they can work with multiple compatible speakers in a multiroom audio system arrangement.
HDMI ARC connection
We only listed soundbars with an HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) connection, which allows audio to be transmitted between the TV and the soundbar using a single HDMI cable. This functionality is crucial because it allows the soundbar to function as if it were an integral element of the television: When you turn on your source device (such as a streaming media player or a cable/satellite receiver), both the TV and the soundbar should turn on and switch to their proper inputs, and you can control the volume of the soundbar with the TV or media player's remote. Tech-averse family members won't have to touch a button on the soundbar or its remote if this connection functions as it should.
Configuration
Powered soundbars with built-in amplifiers and audio processing were the only ones we examined, as opposed to passive soundbars that require an AV receiver. We also passed on sound bases, which fit under a TV; while some sound nice, many TVs have legs that are too far apart to allow the TV to sit stably atop a sound base.
1. Are soundbars worth the money?
Absolutely. Even if you're not a die-hard cinephile, the best soundbars will transform your TV viewing experience — built-in TV speakers simply don't do your favorite movies, TV shows, or games justice.
2. How much should a soundbar cost?
It all depends on what you're looking for in the first place. Just keep in mind that you usually get what you pay for, and these low-cost versions are unlikely to contain premium features like Dolby Atmos, back speakers, or high-resolution audio.
3. What is the best location for a soundbar?
When it comes to soundbar installation, you typically have two options: wall-mounting it or placing it below your TV on your TV cabinet.
We recommend all of the soundbars for the music models we tested in this post. The Bose Smart Soundbar 900, on the other hand, is one of the Best Soundbar For Music Lovers. It's stylish and sleek, and it'll go with practically any decor.
Our top picks
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Sonos Playbar - The Mountable Sound Bar for TV, Movies, Music, and More
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JBL Bar 2.1 - Deep Bass Soundbar with 6.5" Wireless Subwoofer (2019 Model)
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SAMSUNG HW-Q900A 7.1.2ch Soundbar with Dolby Atmos/DTS:X Alexa Built in(2021)
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Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Dolby Atmos with Alexa Built-In, Bluetooth connectivity