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Willie Greer - June 22, 2021
Soundbars produce better sound than your TV, that’s for sure, but NOT every single model is meant for large rooms. That’s something we’ve proven with the multiple tests we’ve done on hundreds of soundbars.
So, we’ve compiled the best soundbars for large rooms to save you from missing out. You should enjoy crisp sounds and innovative technology with these picks.
- 5.1 surround sound
- Premium 4K connectivity
- Surround speakers
- Virtual 3D surround sound
- Wireless sub
- Built-in Alexa voice control
- Dolby Digital decoding
- Works with 4K and HD TVs
- Polk Adjust Technology
Reviews of The Top Soundbars For Large Room
JBL Bar 5.1 4K Ultra HD 5.1-Channel Soundbar
The JBL Bar possesses big surround sound capabilities with a complete system for your home theater. This solid sound system features two detachable wireless speakers that double as satellite speakers and a wireless subwoofer, all of which are top-notch for the price.
When it comes to performance, JBL produces excellent sound with DTS and Dolby Pro Logic II technology. This makes the JBL soundbar one of the high-end choices when playing movies, music, or even games!
Aside from the satellite speakers, the JBL 5.1 Soundbar also comes with a heavy-duty subwoofer that pelts out a deep bass, further creating enveloping sounds in a room of any size.
With the great sound output and powerful low frequency tones, it’s the best soundbar for large room we’ve tested.
What We Like
- Excellent sound system
- 2 detachable wireless speakers
- 1 wireless subwoofer included
- Control panel
- 510 watts of power
- Features 4K connectivity through HDMI ARC
- Bluetooth support for music streaming
- High-rating reviews
- Three HDMI inputs
What We Don't Like
- Most of the power is allocated to the subwoofer
- Size and design may not be ideal for small spaces
Yamaha Audio YAS-209BL
Hands-free voice control is one of the top features for convenience, and the Yamaha Audio YAS-209BL Sound Bar fits because it can be integrated right into your smart home devices with Alexa built-in.
For a larger room, more channels and surround sound capabilities are needed in order to simulate a great theater experience. Yamaha YAS-209BL is a 2.1-channel soundbar equipped with DTS Virtual: X 3D virtual surround sound to offer exactly that. And with the wireless sub, you get great bass as well.
You don’t want any of the quality to be lost when your rig emits sound, which is why the clear voice dialogue enhancing feature is so important. You’ll never miss a single whisper or dialogue on screen.
Like other great sound bar models, this well-designed speaker features Bluetooth streaming so you can play content from other devices. With Bluetooth, you can get full use out of your soundbar.
What We Like
- Bluetooth supported
- Voice enhanced for high-quality dialogue
- Comes with a wireless subwoofer
- 2.1-channel sound system with DTS Virtual: X 3D
- Features built-in Alexa
- Powerful bass
- One HDMI input and optical digital support
- Great for the price
What We Don't Like
- Without Google Assistant
- Set-up could take time because it's a large system compared to other models
Polk Audio Signa S2 Ultra-Slim TV Soundbar
A great soundbar should be equipped with a powerful subwoofer so you can really feel the sound output in a large room. The Polk Audio Signa S2 not only has a wireless subwoofer but also has 5 full-range drivers (speakers) to maximize its performance.
The 2-inch height makes it ideal if you have a small space. Plus, it also comes with a subwoofer which gives you those big bass tones. With the soundbar and sub working together, you’ll see a great difference in your home theater experience.
Complete with Dolby decoding, the Signa S2 will produce better sound output than your TV speakers, especially if you connect the soundbar to your TV via the HDMI ARC.
You can also stream content from your favorite music apps through the soundbar with Bluetooth. Plus, the set-up of this 2.1-channel soundbar is simple because it comes with all the cables you need.
What We Like
- Good sound quality
- Well-designed for a smaller space
- Supports Bluetooth for music streaming at home
- Can connect through wired or wireless methods
- Comes with a wireless subwoofer
- Features 5 full-range speakers
- Quick and easy setup
- Good reviews
- 2-inch speaker height doesn't block your TV
What We Don't Like
- Auto shut-off feature can’t be disabled
Soundbar for Large Rooms Buying Guide
When you have a larger room, choosing surround sound speakers is the ideal option. Yet, if you prefer soundbar better than surround sound speakers, the sound of soundbar should be emitted from all directions. Your soundbar will use the walls and acoustics of your room to bounce it off, unlike what your TV sound can provide. With the reviews above and our buying guide below, you’ll definitely make the right decision when you buy a soundbar.
Channels
Channels refer to how many speakers or points of sound emission a soundbar has. The less channels available in a soundbar, the less 3-dimensional the effect will be.
To get top-notch sound, it’s good to choose a soundbar that comes with least 5 channels, which is the industry standard. You want to have left, right, center and two rear speakers to get the soundbar to release immersive sounds.
Then again, you’ll find a lot of great soundbars available in the market without 5 channels, like the Sonos Beam, which is a slim 3-channel soundbar that propels big sounds to the front.
Vizio V21-H8 is another great example, but it is better suited for smaller spaces and TVs.
Sound
Most movies and TV shows we’ve tested during our soundbar reviews have excellent sound quality with Dolby decoding systems included. To make sure the sound is clear and 100% audible from any distance, you would need your soundbar to decode Dolby technology.
Many soundbars you see in the market may be designed with auto-tuning features for top-notch performance as well. They can come with built-in sound modes to provide superior sound for any form of media, such as music and movies.
If you’re willing to shell out a big budget, you want to buy a soundbar with Dolby Atmos technology such as the Vizio Elevate. Better than what a cheap speaker can provide, Dolby Atmos product options can make your listening experience much more realistic in every way. For the multi-room sound quality you get, it’s worth the price.
Subwoofer For Large Room
The soundbar needs to be more powerful in a large room, which is why a separate subwoofer is really important to generating great bass that can reach all four corners of a large room.
A subwoofer can be wireless or wired, but a wireless set-up will give you more options in terms of placement. We do recommend placing it along the front wall for better bass.
In our reviews, a powerful subwoofer can really make a difference in those low notes, giving you a deep bass that can be heard right in front and throughout the room.
Then again, models like the Sonos Playbar come without a separate sub. While this compromises the bass, this Sonos unit can still provide a good, thumping bass for its price. Our reviews reflect that too.
Placement In A Larger Room
A strategic placement can make the sound from your TV and your system be as different as night and day. That’s regardless if you buy just the soundbar and a sub or an entire home theater system for TVs. You don’t want the soundbar design to block the IR receiver on the TV, so a not-so-tall choice is preferred by many.
You can set things up so sound is propelled from multiple directions. To achieve the most ideal placement for your soundbar, you need to make sure there are no obstructions between you and the speaker.
Design
A compact design is one of the things you should look for in a great soundbar. If it’s slim, that makes it easier to move and mount. The JBL unit on our list is a unique and well-designed choice. It can shrink down the size of the soundbar into a slim unit if you detach the wireless speakers from both sides.
You can also get rear modules that can be placed in new positions to create a more encompassing sound system. Some models also have multiple drivers embedded in the soundbar itself to create a multi-dimensional effect for music and movies.
Controls
A lot of soundbars such as the ZVox Accuvoice AV157 come with a remote control and compatible apps. This makes setting up and adjusting the settings easy. If you end up losing your remote, you can always make use of the app if you want.
Usually, a system would provide a control panel built into the design as well. It’s a way to control the soundbar from the device itself. If your TV has a universal remote available [1], your soundbar can be configured to work with it as well.
Connection
Having wireless connections via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi adds a lot of convenience to your soundbar. It also gives you another option in terms of your home setup. Try to look for a soundbar with HDMI ARC, digital optical audio input, or both.
These two methods of connection gives a quality sound output with minimal latency and lag. So, you only get great sounds without delay.
If you want to connect your system to another device such as a gaming console, find one with many HDMI inputs. That way, you don’t have to plug and unplug the soundbar from your TV input every time. There are other input options available in a lot of models, including RCA and coaxial.
Our Top Pick For Large Room: JBL Bar 5.1 4K Ultra HD 5.1-Channel Soundbar
The JBL Bar 5.1 soundbar is our top choice in these reviews for its versatility, superb sound quality, and powerful bass.
The unique design of detachable satellite speakers and a wireless subwoofer also makes this soundbar very attractive, whether you’re inclined to have it wall-mounted or placed on top of your entertainment unit.
With great reviews and a surperb performance, the JBL Bar is a complete home theater sound system in one package.
You can learn more about other high-end soundbars for large rooms with some of our reviews. Check out Nakamichi Shockwafe Elite 7.2 review here.
