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Having a hard time deciding whether to get a soundbar or an AV receiver setup? Let’s talk about both setups and how they compare in terms of sound quality, convenience, and cost.
What Is a Soundbar?
A soundbar is a sleek, compact speaker system designed to enhance the audio quality of your television viewing. It is typically a long, narrow speaker system that can be mounted on the wall or placed in front of a TV. Soundbars often come with a built-in amplifier and sometimes include a separate subwoofer and side speakers for high-end soundbar setups. They are known for their simplicity in setup and use, as they usually require just a single connection to the TV.
What Is an AV Receiver?
An AV receiver is the central hub for managing audio and video signals in a home theater system. It receives audio and video from various sources (like Blu-ray players, game consoles, and cable boxes), processes these signals, and outputs them to the connected speakers and TV or projector.
AV receiver setups use a single AV receiver and different kinds of speakers to create different variations of a surround sound system. AV receiver systems are known to offer a more customizable and dynamic surround sound experience but are typically complicated to set up.
Soundbar vs. AV Receiver Setup
Choosing the right audio system can greatly enhance your home entertainment experience. Whether upgrading your current setup or starting from scratch, it’s important to understand the strengths and weaknesses between a soundbar and an AV (audio/video) receiver setup.
When talking about soundbar vs. AV Receiver setups, there are three main considerations: surround sound, convenience, and cost.
Surround Sound
Most people purchase soundbars and AV receiver setups to enjoy an immersive audio experience and sound quality far superior to a standard TV.
A soundbar provides an immersive audio experience by utilizing digital surround sound processing and multiple speakers to bounce sound waves against the ceiling and walls, creating a virtual surround sound.
The problem with virtualized/simulated surround sound is that it only works in ideal spaces and conditions. Uneven wall distance, wall decorations, high ceilings, and different items in the room could easily and significantly reduce immersion. Aside from an ideal space, a person will also need to be at the center of the room to get the best chance of experiencing a good level of audio immersion.
This makes the surround sound in soundbars inconsistent for 3D audio immersion.
Unlike soundbars, AV receivers provide true surround sound by positioning multiple speakers in the room and processing the right audio channels using the digital surround sound processors (DSP) within the AV receiver.
In a standard surround sound 5.1 system, an AV receiver setup uses two satellite speakers placed in the viewer’s front left and front right, two main speakers at the rear left and rear right, a center speaker in the middle directly in front of the listener, and a subwoofer anywhere near the setup.
AV receiver setups provide superior surround sound experiences and are more consistent than a soundbar system by strategically positioning speakers around the listener.
Convenience
Soundbars don’t have as good surround sound as an AV receiver setup because they’re designed more for convenience.
The default soundbar setup consists of several small speakers within the soundbar. Since these speakers are small and interconnected, soundbars only need one cable. This makes soundbars a great solution for people looking for a plug-and-play solution for their audio setup.
You can also add a subwoofer to handle the bass and even a few rear speakers for better surround sound. Of course, this would mean setting up the speakers, which reduces the convenience factor of a soundbar setup.
In contrast to the plug-and-play nature of soundbars, AV receiver systems are quite the opposite.
Since AV receiver setups use multiple speakers plus the AV receiver, setting up a standard 5.1 surround sound setup would mean setting up six devices, each with different cords, positions, and mounting options. This complicates AV receiver setups, making them more inconvenient to install than a soundbar, even with a subwoofer and rear-firing speakers.
Cost
There are many less expensive options for soundbars than AV receivers. However, this doesn’t automatically make soundbars cheaper than an AV receiver setup.
When comparing a soundbar and an AV receiver with comparable sound quality and sound stage, an AV receiver system will be the more cost-effective solution.
This is because AV receiver setups prioritize sound quality and audio emersion at the expense of longer set-up times, bigger space requirements, and a steep learning curve. Without space, style, and convenience limitations, manufacturers can easily design speakers and AV receivers at prices significantly lower than a comparable soundbar setup. Furthermore, AV receiver setups can work with almost any brand of speakers using all kinds of connectors and interface, making the setup cheaper to maintain, repair, and upgrade.
In contrast, soundbar setups with subwoofers and rear-firing speakers often use proprietary tech and are sometimes only sold as bundles or packages. So, it’s not guaranteed that you’ll be able to upgrade your soundbar system in the future.
If your home setup must have great audio quality and a full surround sound experience, an AV receiver setup will be the less expensive solution. But if you only need a better audio experience than your TV already provides, a soundbar will be the cheaper option.
Why Your Home Should Use a Soundbar
For many users, a soundbar is the ideal choice due to its simplicity and effectiveness. It’s particularly suited for casual viewers who want an audio upgrade without the complexities of a full surround sound system. Soundbars can significantly improve the clarity of dialogue in TV shows and movies, enhance the overall audio landscape, and do so without overwhelming the living space with equipment.
When You Should Upgrade to an AV Receiver Setup
If you are an audio enthusiast or have a large room that can benefit from a more immersive audio experience, upgrading to an AV receiver setup might be the right move. This is particularly relevant for those who value high-fidelity audio and a true surround sound experience. An AV receiver setup is also a better choice for anyone looking to build a dedicated home theater room.
At the end of the day, the decision between a soundbar and an AV receiver comes down to your specific needs, the size and configuration of your room, time, and your budget. While a soundbar offers a simple and straightforward way to improve your TV’s audio, an AV receiver provides a richer, more immersive experience that can be customized to your liking. Consider what’s most important for your home entertainment and choose accordingly.