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Soundbars can Enhance the Viewing Experience
The televisions of today are thinner and provide breathtaking picture quality. However, they may not emit the same quality of sound to complement the wonder picture capabilities. And the sound quality is essential too when you are watching a blockbuster movie or viewing your favourite sports. The LED TV sets do not provide the best sound. It is where a soundbar can come to your help. There are several products to choose from, and they come with a wide range of features.
Moreover, you may not wish the soundbar to have an in-built subwoofer. However, with so many products available, you may be spoilt for choice. In this article, we will discuss some of the best soundbars without a subwoofer.
How to Choose a Soundbar?
Here are some factors to consider before you purchase a soundbar without a subwoofer.
- Space available: One of the essential points to consider before buying a soundbar is to check the space it will require. While most soundbars will not require too much space, the soundbar must not be longer than your television. As a user, you must also check if it can be hung from the wall, as some of the products may not have this feature. The ideal space for it is near your TV or below it. You must ensure that this space is available.
- The connection I need: As a buyer, you must know whether you will connect other devices to the television using the soundbar. If you wish to connect the home theatre device to the TV, then the television's HDMI ARC must be connected to the soundbar. You must keep in mind that this feature should be supported by the product you are buying.
Some of the newer products are expensive, but they have multiple HDMI inputs that can allow you to connect devices directly to the soundbar. As a buyer, always make sure that the product has three inputs, and they can accept HDR and 4K signals. It is also essential to check if it can provide USB ports and an optical port. The product should also support wireless connectivity. - Availability of extra features: If you are tech-savvy, you must check whether the soundbar will have all the features you need. The soundbar should ideally support Bluetooth and allow Wi-Fi music to be played. Wireless streaming can enable the user to play audio from different sources. Another feature you could require is Alexa or Google Assistant that will act as a voice assistant. The soundbar must have Dolby technology and surround sound feature too.
- Number of soundbar channels : You must first finalise the reason why you want the soundbar. If it is only to enhance the television's sound, a 2.1 channel soundbar should be enough for your needs. While most products provide five different audio channels, all the products may not have this feature. It would mainly encompass the number of speakers supported by the soundbar. And the more channels supported by the soundbar, the better it is for the user.
- The budget: Before setting out to scout for the ideal soundbar, you must first do initial research and set up a budget. It will allow you to ring-fence your research and keep out the brands outside your budget. You will not spend more than what you are capable of with your savings. But you must have a reasonable budget to procure a product that will suit your requirements and be compatible with your television and other devices you wish to connect to the soundbar.
The Best Soundbars without a Subwoofer that You Can Buy in India
Bose Soundbar 700
We start this list with an entry from Bose – the leaders in acoustics globally. The Bose Soundbar 700 has an inbuilt Alexa voice control that allows the device to recognise your voice through a noise rejection microphone array and near field detection. The device can be used with Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to play from any device. It also has a cloud-based music app that allows the user to control the music devices fully.
The device provides 3.1 theatre sound effects and provides HDMI for ARC connections. The soundbar can be controlled using the Bose app or your voice. There is a context-sensitive remote that comes with this device. It does not take too much space and is smart-looking with a tempered glass top. There is an in-built "PhaseGuide Technology" and the Bose's QuietPort design that ensures a new listening experience to reduce the distortion.
It is priced at Rs. 79,000 at digit.in.
Samsung SWA-8500S
If you are looking for a soundbar without a subwoofer, this entry from Samsung can be your choice. The SWA-8500S comes from Samsung, which is a globally renowned name in electronics goods and acoustics. The system can be mounted on your wall for the ideal surround sound system. Two rear speakers can be connected over Wi-Fi. The soundbar is suitable for sports and movies.
The speakers have an elegant design and can easily be used in your home theatre system. There is a rear speaker kit that you can use to enhance the sound quality. All the user has to do is plug and play to enjoy the favourite entertainment over surround sound. Several models are compatible with this soundbar.
It is priced at Rs. 8,103 on the ubuy.co.in.
Sonos Playbar
Sonos is among the leading soundbar producers globally, and it is not without reason that it has been mentioned here. The Playbar has nine speakers – three tweeters and six centres that allow the users to enjoy the sound at home. It has a unique design and is shaped like a small beam with a black grid all around with the support of two metal plates at the sides. It is also compact and does not take too much space.
There is the Sonos app that fills the requirement for remote control. There is an IR blaster that ensures the signals are correctly transmitted. It can play all the audio formats, including Dolby Digital 2.0, Dolby Digital 5.1, etc. It has an optical audio input and two ethernet ports. The device is mountable and allows the user to enjoy an impressive bass. It can be connected with speakers in different rooms using Wi-Fi.
It is priced at Rs. 1,24,498 on Amazon.
VIZIO SB3820-C6 Sound Bar
Vizio's soundbars are an ideal choice with its slim and sleek design, and it does not need too much space. It is lightweight, and there is minimal distortion, even at high volumes. It provides clear sound and has deep bass modules. The soundbar comes with Dolby Digital DTS technology and can be paired with medium and large HD TVs. The DTS TruVolume makes it an ideal experience for you when looking for entertainment on television.
The soundbar can be controlled using Bluetooth or through the remote. The soundbar has seven connectivity options for the user, and it allows you to connect different devices. As it supports Bluetooth, you can even play music from your smartphones. The soundbar operates from 60 Hz and 19kHz and has two channels.
It is available for Rs. 20,499 on the woog.in.
Polk Audio Signa Solo
The next entry Polk Audio Signa Solo comes with the patented SDA surround technology that provides stereo imaging and multi-dimensional audio. There is a four-driver array, and it also has Dolby Digital technology. The device offers an easy to upgrade the sound of your television. It has two inputs (digital optical and 3.5 mm0 and Bluetooth along with four 2,5 inch drivers. The soundbar also has several EQ settings, like Music, Movie, and the Night Mode.
The device has an optical cable to connect with your television. It comes with a Polk VoiceAdjust Technology to customise the voice levels. And ensure that you do not miss any of the dialogues. The built-in bass ports provide that no external subwoofers are needed. It ensures a better media experience, and it can work with the television remote too.
The soundbar is available on Amazon for Rs. 38,814.
Sony S100F
This soundbar from Sony is one that does not have a subwoofer as it does not require one. There is a Bass Reflex speaker to aid in sound with low frequencies. It helps in reproducing voices clearly that makes it the ideal choice for television buffs. It is an entry-level product from Sony and provides a barebones setup. The device has an always-on surround sound – the S-Force Front Surround.
It is all black but has a metal grille in the front and covers half of the sides. The top of the soundbar has a few touch-sensitive controls. There is a voice enhancement feature that can help if you have trouble understanding some of the dialogues. There is a Bluetooth connection, and it has a remote too. There is an HDMI ARC that helps in an easy link to the television audio.
It is priced at Rs. 48,319 on Desert Cart.
TaoTronics Soundbar
The TaoTronics soundbar is an ideal 2.1 channel system, and it has two sub-range and two full-range drivers to provide 360-degree surround sound with deep bass. The device has multiple modes for news, music, and movies. It is powered by a cord and works with a remote that comes with the device. It is easy to install and does not occupy too much space. It can be mounted on the wall also.
The soundbar has a robust global presence, especially in the West. It also has four connection modes, viz. optical, coaxial, a 3.5 mm aux-in, and wireless Bluetooth 5.0 connection. An LED display shows the sound and connection mode. It is slim and easily pairs with normal-sized television sets to provide excellent sound levels. The power button can also allow the user to go through the different modes. It can be used with any television.
It is available for Rs. 6,589 on Flipkart.
Bose Solo 5
If we are talking about acoustics, Bose must indeed occupy a prime part in it. This is the second entry from Bose, and Solo 5 is known to deliver an excellent audio experience. You can have a single connection to your television and can choose from analogue or digital outputs. The digital model can be used to connect over Bluetooth technology. It can also be used for music streaming from any device. The remote can be used to control the bass, Bluetooth, and television connection.
The remote can be programmed and to operate six devices at a time. There is a coaxial input, optical output, and Bluetooth. The soundbar is made from solid plastic with a metal grid at the front and the sides. With Bluetooth, it can pair with up to eight devices. A smart sound ability allows it to adjust its volume depending on the content. The device also has an Intellivoice technology that enables the hearing impaired with an enhanced ability to process the dialogues better.
It is priced at Rs. 15,430 on Amazon. The device is an ideal buy for lifestyle-centric buyers, but some of its peers provide better sound quality at a lower price.
Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar
If you are looking for rich and balanced sound, the Sennheiser Ambeo is ideal for you. It comes at a premium and is feature-rich too. The soundbar comes with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support and also has a 4K HDR pass-through. There are four HDMI inputs and support for Chromecast. It can be called a beast and measures 14 cm tall and 127 cm wide.
The soundbar has larger drivers that negate the need for an external subwoofer. Space can be a problem, but you can mount the television on the wall as well as the soundbar. It supports Bluetooth 4.2, too, allowing endless options for streaming. There is a display that shows the selected input and the sound format received. There is a Smart Control app that can be used for various needs, including an equaliser and input renaming. It is expensive, but the vast array of features ensures it is value for money.
It is available for Rs. 1,99,990 on avstore.in.
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The Number of Channels is a Crucial Specification to Consider!
As described in this post, the number of channels basically differentiates the different sound qualities a soundbar can offer. Your soundbar's sound quality keeps increasing with the number of channels. Hence, it is advisable to go for options that come with a higher number of channels if budget is not a constraint for you, as the prices also keep increasing with the increasing number of channels in a soundbar.