When enhancing your home cinema experience, the importance of sound quality cannot be overstated. While projectors bring the big screen into your living room, they often need to catch up in the audio department. This is where a great soundbar comes into play.
In this article, we'll explore the best soundbars for projectors, focusing on attributes like surround sound, audio output, dynamic and realistic sound, and much more.
How We Choose the Best Soundbars for Projectors
When we select the best soundbars for projectors, we consider various factors to ensure that you're getting the best sound quality. Some key considerations include:
Sound Quality and Audio Modes: The best soundbars offer high sound quality and various audio modes for different types of content, ensuring an immersive audio experience.
Surround Sound Capabilities: For a truly immersive experience, a soundbar with Dolby Atmos or similar technology delivers a three-dimensional sound that complements the visuals from your projector.
Connectivity Options: Look for soundbars with HDMI ARC, Bluetooth support, and optical audio inputs. These ensure easy connectivity with your projector and other devices. For analog connection, RCA ports are also helpful.
Wireless Connection Features: A wireless subwoofer and Bluetooth connection offer flexibility in placement and reduce cable clutter. Models like the Bose Smart Soundbar 300 are known for their seamless wireless connectivity.
Design and Build: The soundbar should match the aesthetic of your setup. Sleek designs, like those of Sonos or Klipsch Cinema, add to the overall appeal of your home cinema.
Top Picks for the Best Soundbar for Projectors
Why We Love It:
The Bose Smart Soundbar 300 offers a sleek design and robust sound quality, making it our top pick for the best soundbar for projectors. This sound bar with HDMI cable or wireless connectivity boasts built-in Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for seamless voice control and multiple audio modes to enhance your viewing experience.
For dynamic sound with a deep bass, the Bose Smart Soundbar 300 features five full-range drivers that deliver comprehensive and clear sound. It also has a noise-rejecting mic system that picks up voice commands from every direction, making it easy to control your TV and other devices with just your voice.
You Should Know:
The Bose Smart Soundbar 300, in addition to your sound system collection, always offers you a superior sound experience. However, the price may not fit into everyone's budget. Its voice command system also makes immersive sound in spacious sound fields.
It has a simple TV setup with compatibility with HDMI inputs, ARC, and eARC. It also has built-in streaming features that make it versatile for the music experience. Standing just above 2 inches in height, this wireless soundbar is ideal for positioning low in front of your TV or wall mounting (wall brackets sold separately).
For balanced sound and bass, you can add a Bose Bass Module 500 or 700 to your setup or even the Bose Surround Speakers 700 for a true surround sound experience.
Why We Love It:
The LG Sound Bar and Wireless Subwoofer is a powerful and versatile option for enhancing your home cinema experience. With 300 watts of output power and a wireless subwoofer, it provides deep bass and clear sound for an immersive viewing experience.
Its AI Sound Pro feature automatically adjusts the audio levels based on the type of content being viewed, ensuring optimal sound quality for every genre.
This best soundbar for spacious sound is designed to complement LG TVs, making it a seamless addition to your setup. The Bluetooth and HDMI connectivity options make connecting to your projector and other devices easy.
You Should Know:
LG Sound Bar eliminates tangles of messy cables with a single connection between your TV and sound bar with HDMI Arc. It also lets you stream from your phone or tablet via Bluetooth, making it convenient for playing music or podcasts.
The soundbar is compatible with select LG TVs, so check compatibility before purchasing. Also, the price point may be higher compared to other options on this list.
It also comes with a remote control with batteries, and a wall mount bracket is included for a hassle-free setup. Its sleek design and wireless subwoofer make it easy to fit into any home cinema setup without cluttering your space.
Why We Love It:
The Sonos Arc is a premium smart soundbar that delivers powerful and immersive sound for your home cinema. With Dolby Atmos technology, it provides 3D surround sound for an enhanced viewing experience. The sleek and modern design of the Arc makes it a stylish addition to any setup.
The Sonos app allows you to control the soundbar easily, and it also works with other voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for seamless integration into your smart home system.
With eleven high-performance drivers, this soundbar delivers impressive bass and clear sound for a true cinematic experience. For an even more immersive sound, you can add two Sonos One SL speakers as rear surround speakers.
You Should Know:
Sonos Arc is compatible with a new generation of the Sonos app, Sonos S2. The Sonos app allows for seamless control of your music, TV, and other audio content from one place.
Sonos Arc is a premium option with a higher price point compared to other soundbars on this list. It also requires HDMI eARC connectivity for Dolby Atmos, which may not be available on all TVs.
It's also good for the gaming experience, with its enhanced Trueplay tuning technology and low-latency audio. For improved audio quality, you can add the Sonos Sub and rear surround speakers. However, these additional components will come at an extra cost.
Why We Love It:
The JBL Bar 700 is a 5.1-channel soundbar that offers Dolby Atmos surround sound for an excellent sound experience. Its detachable surround speakers make it easy to set up and enjoy true surround sound without the hassle of extra wires and power connections.
With powerful bass from its subwoofer and clear highs from its full-range soundbar, the JBL Bar 700 delivers a truly cinematic experience. Its sleek and modern design also adds a touch of style to your home cinema setup.
Its wireless connectivity options make it easy to stream music and other audio content from your devices.
You Should Know:
The JBL Bar 700 is a powerful and versatile option for enhancing your home cinema experience. However, it may come at a higher price point compared to other soundbars on this list.
It also has built-in WIFI with AirPlay, Alexa Multi-Room Music, and Chromecast built-in, which may not be necessary if you already have these features available through other devices. Its 620-watt output power may also be excessive for smaller spaces.
The JBL Bar 700 also has a feature called "Auto Calibration" that adjusts the sound settings based on your room's acoustics, but this may not always produce optimal results. It is recommended to manually adjust the sound settings for the best experience.
Why We Love It:
The Klipsch Cinema 400 Sound Bar + 8-inch Wireless Subwoofer is a powerful and compact option for enhancing your home cinema experience. With 400 watts of peak power, it delivers clear and dynamic sound for an immersive audio experience.
The soundbar's built-in Dolby Digital decoding ensures optimized audio quality, and the wireless subwoofer adds deep bass to your viewing experience. Its connectivity options include HDMI and optical inputs, making it easy to connect to your TV and other devices.
You Should Know:
The Klipsch Cinema 400 Sound Bar + 8-inch Wireless Subwoofer is a budget-friendly option for those looking for high-quality sound without breaking the bank. However, it may not have all the advanced features of more expensive soundbars.
It comes with a remote control for convenient adjustment of sound settings, HDMI Arc technology for a simplified setup, and virtualized surround sound decoding for an enhanced audio experience.
The Klipsch Cinema 400 Sound Bar + 8-inch Wireless Subwoofer has a sleek and modern design that can easily fit into any home cinema setup without taking up too much space. Its Bass Boost feature also allows you to adjust the bass level to your preference for an optimal sound experience.
FAQs
Can you use a soundbar with a projector?
Yes, most soundbars can be connected to a projector through an HDMI or optical cable. Some projectors also have built-in Bluetooth connectivity for wireless streaming.
Is it better to use speakers or a soundbar for a projector?
It ultimately depends on personal preference and budget. Soundbars offer a more compact and convenient option, while speakers may provide better sound quality but can be more expensive and take up more space. However, many soundbars now have advanced technology that provides high-quality sound comparable to speakers.
Do projectors support Arc?
Some projectors may support HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel), which allows for a simplified audio setup with compatible soundbars. However, not all projectors have this feature, so it is important to check the specifications before making a purchase. Overall, using an HDMI cable will provide the best audio quality when connecting a projector to a soundbar.
Where should a soundbar be placed with a projector screen?
A soundbar can be placed directly in front of the projector screen or mounted on the wall underneath it for optimal audio projection. If using a wireless subwoofer, it can be placed anywhere in the room as long as it is within range of the soundbar.
Conclusion
In conclusion, selecting the ideal projector soundbar enhances the audio-visual experience, transforming your home entertainment setup.
The best soundbars seamlessly complement projectors, delivering immersive sound that elevates movie nights and gaming sessions. Features such as Dolby Atmos support, wireless connectivity, and sleek designs contribute to a user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing setup.
Considering room size, budget, and personal preferences is crucial in making the right choice. With advancements in audio technology, the top soundbars for projectors strike a perfect balance between performance and convenience, providing an unparalleled cinematic experience in the comfort of your home.
