Tips to Get the Best Sound from Your Sound Bar Leave a comment

You can enjoy the best sound from your sound bar by following some of the tips in this blog post. No one likes muffled or poor quality sounds any way.

Experiencing sub-par sound quality from your soundbar can be frustrating. Often, the solution lies in checking the placement and cables of your soundbar. In this guide, we’ll show you how to ensure optimal sound quality, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in your favorite movies and series.

How to Get the Best Sound from your Sound Bar

A sound bar does exactly what the name says – delivers sound from its speaker. With this in mind, you’ll want your sound bar to emit the best sound so you can enjoy audio from your TV or other audio source.

However, if the sound quality of your sound bar isn’t delivering up to your expectations, then there are a few tips you can employ to make it better.

Some of the tips to enhance the sound quality of your sound bar include:

1. Review the placement
2. Limit vibrations
3. Check the connection
4. Calibrate the sound bar
5. Disable or turn off the TV speakers
6. Acquire a sound bar that fits your room
7. Pair your sound bar with a subwoofer

1.  Review the placement

If your soundbar sounds muffled, it might be due to limited space around it. To ensure the best sound, avoid placing the soundbar in a TV cabinet or closet.

Doing this hinders the sound from reaching your listening spot. Dolby Atmos relies on bouncing sound off the ceiling to reach your position, and if the soundbar is in a cabinet, this won’t work effectively.

2.  Limit vibrations

If your soundbar is on an uneven surface, it might wobble and vibrate, causing a disturbance in the audio.

Many sound bars come with rubber stands on the bottom for stability. If you’ve mounted your sound bar on the wall, ensure the mount is robust enough to keep it securely in place.

3.  Check the connection

Is your sound bar emitting a crackling sound? It’s likely due to the cable. Swap out the HDMI cable and check if the crackling persists.

If you don’t have an extra HDMI cable, consider connecting the sound bar to your TV using an alternative cable, such as an optical cable.

4.  Calibrate the sound bar

Lots of sound bar brands come with various sound modes to choose from. Be sure to explore the different sound modes on your sound bar to find the best fit for your room.

Fine-tune the audio further in the equalizer settings by adjusting elements like bass and treble. Some sound bars offer automatic room calibration through the app or when connected to your TV, making it even easier to optimize the sound.

5.  Disable or turn off the TV speakers

Listen to the stark contrast between internal TV speakers and a soundbar—it’s like comparing apples to oranges, right?

Running both simultaneously can hamper the overall audio quality. The inferior sound from your TV speakers mingles with the higher quality audio from your soundbar, causing disruptions due to differences in frequencies and decibels.

To salvage the situation, go to your TV settings and disable the built-in speakers. Most modern TV models make this a breeze—grab your remote, access the TV settings, and click on the sound settings tab.

From there, disable the built-in speakers. If direct access to settings proves tricky, a simple mute or reducing the volume to zero should suffice. This ensures your soundbar’s depth and quality take center stage without any unwanted interference.

6.  Acquire a sound bar that fits your room

Ensure your sound bar suits the size of your room. Don’t underestimate the importance of matching the dimensions of the room, especially if you have a spacious living area.

Avoid the common mistake of choosing a sound bar based solely on the TV width; instead, consider the overall room size for a more immersive experience.

Many people make the error of selecting a soundbar that aligns with their TV’s width rather than taking into account the room’s dimensions.

Remember, sizing up your sound system is crucial, and it goes beyond the TV’s size. Factors like television size and viewing distance play a significant role.

Use a basic formula to calculate the ideal viewing distance—sitting seven feet away from a standard 42-inch TV provides an optimal viewing experience.

Following these guidelines, a soundbar slightly smaller than your TV’s width should meet your needs.

7.  Pair your sound bar with a subwoofer

No doubt, the audio from a sound bar delivers exceptionally better than what you get from the built-in speakers of your TV.

However, if you are not satisfied with the sound from the sound bar, you can always pair it with a subwoofer to give it that extra bass.

Many sound bars today come as a set with a subwoofer which pairs wirelessly to the sound bar. But if yours doesn’t then you may need to get a subwoofer that works with your soundbar to enjoy a richer audio experience.

Final Words

If you’re still relying on your built-in TV speakers for movie nights, it’s time to step into the present. While some modern TV speakers have improved, they still fall significantly short compared to even the most budget-friendly sound bars.

Building a high-end home theater system can be a costly affair not everyone can indulge in. In times of budget constraints, making the most of what you have becomes essential.

The good news is, you can upgrade the performance of your sound bar without breaking the bank. Ensure your sound bar aligns with your room size, check and opt for high-quality cables, and fine-tune your sound mode settings.

By following these straightforward steps, you can enjoy an enhanced audio experience without the need for a dedicated surround sound system.