Soundbars & Home Theater - Costco

What to Look for When buying a Wireless Sound Bar and Speakers

There are many things to take into consideration when searching for the perfect wireless sound bar and sound system for your needs. We've collected a few of them below.

Connectivityfirst, find out which TVs your TV is compatible with and think about other devices you'll be able to connect, like gaming consoles. Ports are crucial and that's where having multiple inputs can come in useful. While having options is great to have, they can be a huge difference in sound quality depending on what you use to connect to.

Optical as well as HDMI are the two most commonly used options, but HDMI Arc is capable of transmitting audio in both directions and allows you to plug devices into your TV while having the sound streamed through your sound system.

Audio Format: It's also essential to ensure that all of your devices can support similar audio format before you install a plugin. Dolby Atmos and DTSX are the two most-common high-res formats right now. Although HDMI Arc isn't able to transmit high-res signals like Dolby Atmos and DTSX (yet) however, there's a new format that's been appearing that could. It's called "eArc," and it's getting more and more popular on the latest models. Depending on your system and sound bar, these high-end formats can play back information encoded by movies and games, immersing you in authentic surround sound - even using only the sound bar.

WiFi: To cut down on the cables, most systems offer wireless options like Bluetooth and WiFi (or either). This isn't just for avoiding messy and tangled wires , or the need to drill holes in your walls to hold speakers. Connectivity to WiFi can also be used to sync up with voice control services such as Airplay, Chromecast, and of obviously, adding more speakers. Syncing up with the other devices of your smart home can be easy too since some devices can connect to Amazon Alexa.

Extras are nice, but it's important for you to focus your attention and your ears, focussed on the sound quality. We've selected these five varying sets to give everybody a chance to upgrade.

1. JBL Bar 5.1 4K Ultra HD Sound Bar

The JBL Bar 5. 1 was introduced in 2016. While it doesn't have the newest features, it's a great value at $200. The Bar 5.1 includes four full-range drivers, which can cover any size room as well as a subwoofer to provide added bass. There are no fancy extras however if you're looking for something basic, this might do the trick.

2. Nakamichi 9.2.4 Channel Sound Bar

This beast of a system includes 9.2.4 channels, including Sound bar with four surrounds, as well as not one but two 10-inch wireless subwoofers.

The bar itself measures 45 inches long, with eight speakers (including the two side-firing tweeters) and it can also be equipped with Dolby Atmos or DTSX when streaming via apps like Netflix. Three advanced audio processing engines boost the surround effect which allows you to appreciate the unique details in every audio mix.

This is a total house shaker of an appliance that allows you to connect six devices, and features a 52-button wireless remote to give you complete control over almost everything.

Amazon Buy Nakamichi 9.2.4 Channel Sound Bar at $1,399.99

3. Sony The HT-G700 Sound Bar

With 38.6 inches, the Sony is small enough to fit in smaller configurations. The bar is able to handle highs and mids, while the subwoofer included in the package delivers the bass to a full and satisfying level.

Sony's "Vertical Sound Engine" surround sound system is built-in and does a great job of capturing audio from all directions, making it sound bigger as it separates the channels further than a sound bar typically would.

The remote's capabilities cover all the basics, but also offer an easily-chosen sound setting based on the content you're watching like sports, news, and cinema. Additionally, there's a Night mode, which compresses its dynamic spectrum of the Dolby digital signal to give better sound quality at softer volumes.

Amazon Purchase: Sony HT-G700 Sound Bar priced at $598.00

4. The Sonos Beam smart TV sound bar

Sonos has been creating excellent sound bars for a long time Their latest model is no different. The Beam is designed to be compatible with all TVs that has built-in sound bars. It is connected via Wi-Fi and comes with four speakers that connect directly to the back of your television. It also has a subwoofer integrated. You can adjust volume levels independently using the remote, and then the entire system will automatically sync to your Sonos speaker system.

The Beam integrates alongside Sonos the company's own streaming music service, which gives access to more than 50 million music tracks.

Installation is as simple just connecting it with your TV and the app's directions guide you through the rest. It's also light enough for you to move around your room and mount it on the wall.

Amazon Buy: Sonos Beam Smart TV Sound Bar for $469.99

5. Samsung HW-T650 Sound Bar

For one of the most immersive sound bar experiences Samsung's sound bar utilizes Dolby Audio and DTS Virtual:X to turn your living room into a stage. Powerful 3D surround sound and a center channel for crisp dialogue audio make it feel like you're part of the theater.

Connect your TV to it via Bluetooth to make it completely wireless With multi-connection, you are able to seamlessly switch between devices. We like the smart and intelligent sound system on this model and, no matter if you're watching an intense sports event or a quiet drama, it'll automatically optimize the audio settings. Gamers will appreciate the optimized, directional sound that comes from the specially-designed "Game Mode".

This 38.6-inch speaker can provide you with the full bass sound with a subwoofer that is wireless, with no HDMI cables are required.

Amazon Purchase: Samsung HW-T650 Sound Bar priced at $279.00

Table of Contents If you are tired of all the cables lying randomly all over your house and you are searching for a problem-free surround stereo for your house theater, the very best thing you can do is to go wireless. Our article on 18 finest wireless surround sound systems in 2021 is developed to help you comprehend all the crucial things you require to understand about wireless surround sound systems and make the very best possible choice based upon your requirements and your budget.

Wireless Klipsch 7.2 Surround Sound Utah - Home Theater ...

We have actually attempted to note all the advantages and disadvantages of these surround sound systems and make your search much easier. Surround stereo have been popular for rather a long time (best home theater systems 2020). Individuals merely enjoy the convenience of having cinema-like experience without going to the actual movie theater. The first surround stereos appeared throughout the 1980s but they truly ended up being popular in the 2000s.

Home Theater Systems - Audio & Visual - Products - Yamaha

Today, lots of houses in the US are geared up with some kind home theater system (television or projector, DVD or Blu-Ray player, AV receiver + set of surround sound speakers). The experience could not be better, right? Well, there is still one hassle. Don't you hate all those cables going under your carpet, and even worse, lying on the floor or hanging from your walls? Unless your home or your home entertainment center is pre-wired, you will need to invest a great deal of time electrical wiring your house theater system, linking all the speakers to the receiver, and attempting to make all those cable televisions" unnoticeable".

Well, since you are here, you most likely want something stronger than a set of little integrated TV speakers. Surround sound is not the only alternative if you just want something louder than your TV - best wireless home theater system 2021. If that's your only desire, you can check our articles on best wireless speakers for television and finest soundbars in 2021.

Home Theater Systems - Klipsch

Types of Wireless Surround Sound Systems

Surround sound surround systems that are wireless are categorized into two main types based on how they are able to receive data: Bluetooth and WiFi.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth Wireless surround-sound speakers are among the initial of these to come onto the market. However, because Bluetooth requires compression of audio data prior to sending the data, its quality is limited.

Although they fall short in the quality category, Bluetooth systems are easier to install, cheaper and more widely used which allows this wireless surround system to function with almost every electronic device.

WiFi

WiFi wireless surround sound systems are a bit newer than Bluetooth technology, so there are some issues to be aware of when connecting devices that don't have WiFi connectivity. But, most Bluetooth-enabled devices will have their own app that users can access via WiFi. It is a more complicated way to pair your device, however the advantages of WiFi could be worth the effort.

WiFi surround sound systems that are wireless are more expensive than Bluetooth, but they are of higher quality in all ways. Audio quality definitely better with WiFi because the data doesn't require to be compressed prior to transmission and WiFi connections are more robust than Bluetooth. WiFi surround sound systems wireless also offer a better coverage than Bluetooth systems, making them suitable for larger spaces.

Audio Quality

The quality of sound for wireless surround sound systems is based on a variety of technical specifications, such as frequency response, rated output power, RMS, signal-to-noise ratio, as well as Total Harmonic Distortion, which combine to form a unique sound experience. But, unless you've spent a lot of time studying the field of audio, a lot of these specifications are difficult to comprehend or completely meaningless.

To make it easier to comprehend, audio quality can be divided between Bluetooth as well as WiFi.

Bluetooth Wireless surround systems have a lower quality of sound due to the fact that Bluetooth technology requires audio data to be compressed before it can be transmitted. The compression of data reduces quality of the sound, and even if the speakers you have in your home are capable of producing very high-quality sound but the way they transmit sound will affect their overall performance.

Wireless surround sound systems that are wireless do not limit their transmissions, which allows the audio information to be sent in its original format and size, while preserving its quality.

But, with all wireless surround systems the quality of the sound depends on the perception of your ears.

1 and some of them can even simulate DTS: X or Dolby Atmos audio formats. As you might assume, simulation is never as great as the genuine thing, but still, something is much better than absolutely nothing. Wireless surround sound systems have actually been presented a few years back and you can't really anticipate them to be ideal.

If you truly desire an ideal wireless surround system, you will absolutely have to pay a lot more than you would spend for a wired surround stereo. best home theater systems 2020. If you compare two cost effective (or cheap) systems within the same price range, you will definitely be better with the noise coming from the wired one.

So, basically, the truth that some surround system is wireless doesn't need to indicate that it's not good (particularly if you buy among those high-end systems). There are 2 kinds of cordless surround stereos Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (some use your home Wi-Fi network, others make their own 5GHz network and don't use your home Wi-Fi at all).

FAQs regarding Wireless Sound Systems

Q. Do surround sound systems with wireless surround equivalent to wired surround sound systems?

Surround sound wireless systems match the high-quality wired models , and allow you the flexibility to put your speakers without connecting back into the central system. If you decide to invest in a low-quality wireless surround sound system, there is the chance that microwaves, smartphones, and other technology within your home can cause interference and degrade the sound quality.

Source: bobvila.com

Q. How do Wireless Home Theater Speakers work?

Klipsch Director of Innovation and Technology Matt Spitznagle states that the difference between wired and wireless devices is quite simple. "You no longer need to run wires from a receiver or amplifier to your speakers," he states. "We put the amplifiers in the speakers, which trimmed the number of components needed for a system to function.

Source: klipsch.com

Q. Can I utilize Bluetooth for surround sound?

Sorry, it's just not feasible at the moment. Surround speakers are a particular part of a film and TV series' soundtrack, and Bluetooth isn't equipped with enough bandwidth to handle the additional information. You can utilize them to enhance stereo sound however, that's all they do.

Source: crutchfield.com

Q. How do connect my television to a wireless surround sound system?

Systems with surround-sound wireless need to be connected to audio outputs of your television. Most systems can connect through the HDMI Audio Return Channel (HDMI ARC). You can also connect with either an optical TOSLINK connection or coaxial connection if it is not possible. However, you cannot establish your system using the analog audio output on your TV, as it's not compatible with surround sound capabilities.

Source: bobvila.com

Q. Are They Worth It?

Our view is that the primary reason to purchase an audio system that is wireless is convenience. If you have no idea how to connect your system and conceal the cables that are longest, then buying wireless systems is a viable option.

Still, you should be aware that you will need to spend more. The cheapest systems (those less than $500) offer pretty good audio quality, however they typically consist of a sound bar and a wireless subwoofer which will only reproduce surround sound. They aren't able to provide that full surround sound cinema-like experience.

The pricier models, especially ones that include two wireless surround speakers provide a superior surround sound experience.

Whether they are worth the price or not is dependent on two factors that you are prepared to deal with cables and your budget.

So, if you don't want to spend hours (or perhaps days) connecting your residence to the internet, and you are able to afford up to $500, there are some really excellent wireless surround sound systems (JBL Bar 5.1, Nakamichi Shockwafe, Enclave Audio, SONOS, Harman Kardon Citation, etc. ).

If that's the case then wireless surround sound systems are certainly worth the price.

So, if your home theater is in a big space, you will be much better with a Wi-Fi surround noise. In terms of sound quality, Wi-Fi is certainly much better than Bluetooth. Bluetooth audio has to be compressed prior to transmission which means that you are not getting Hi-Fi audio. best wireless sound system for tv. Wi-Fi permits transmission without compression so you can anticipate better sound quality.