On the other hand, the same manufacturers are exploring the sound market, offering an alternative to improve the poor performance of their TV speakers. And this is where they come into play sound bars.
Devices that have multiple speakers, subwoofer to increase the bass frequencies and, as in the case at hand, satellites to make the experience even more enveloping and immersive.
What should you look for in a surround sound bar?
The first thing you should know is that for a soundbar to be fully considered 5.1 should have 5 speakers and a subwoofer. There are surround audio options, such as one of the ones we will see below, which equip even more speakers inside the bar, but these examples are the least.
The normal thing is that they integrate three front speakers in the bar that would be the front, left and right channels. In addition to two satellites that you will have to place behind your head, which would be the rear left and rear right channels. And then the .1 which is the subwoofer, a speaker that only reproduces bass and sub-bass frequencies.
Low-end 5.1 soundbars
Once you know the basics of 5.1 sound bars, we start with the cheapest models you can find. Despite its price, its manufacturers have poured all their know-how into offering you a good surround experience.
Sony HT-S20R: economical and functional
Sony is one of the biggest brands of high-end televisions and also has its own sound systems. Specifically, the HT-S20R is the input range for your 5.1 sound bars. A device that will allow you to experience the authentic sound with two wired rear speakers, a 3-channel sound bar and a subwoofer.
In total, it is capable of reaching a total output power of 400 watts, more than enough for any domestic use you want to give it (before the neighbor downstairs starts complaining). Other than that, it has connectivity. bluetooth simple and HDMI ARC input, optical and analog.
Creative Sound BlasterX Katana: with RGB light
If you are already a few years old, surely you remember the mythical sound cards Sound Blaster, the hottest thing to record or play back audio in the 2000s. Now, Creative uses all of its accumulated sapience in audio equipment to present its Sound Blaster X Katana.
A sound bar with a design reminiscent of the Japanese sword and including the lighting system Aurora Reactive: a set of 49 programmable LED lights to offer you a design bonus. But the best is in its five-driver audio system, which separates the speakers by frequency, to achieve superior sound quality.
Vizio M-Series: with 11 speakers
Although not very well known in Spain, Vizio It has one of the most economical and efficient 5.1 sound bars on the market. Its M range has 11 two-way speakers to separate high and low frequencies through independent tweeters and woofers.
In addition, it includes technology Dolby Atmos Y DTS, two standards that will allow you to reproduce the surround sound of most compatible movies and series. An affordable alternative to complement your television and provide it with a more realistic and precise sound.
In the mid range is the best sound
In the next step of benefits are the 5.1 sound bars mid-range. Its main advantage is that the rear satellites include wireless functions, which will give you much more freedom when placing them. In addition to a better quality of materials, which has a positive impact on the quality of the audio.
Samsung HW-K950: a wireless sound bar
With this samsung model we are faced with a Sound bar with real 5.1 technology, that is, it has a front bar with three speakers and two rear satellites. But their great advantage is that they connect with wireless technology, which is always a plus.
It offers a combined power of 500 watts, has Dolby Atmos technology and best of all, a special mode for 4K movies. This type of content contains even more sound data, so you can enjoy first-class image and audio quality.
JBL Bar 5.1: legendary bass
JBL it is possibly the most well-known speaker manufacturer in the world alongside Bose and it’s all thanks to its legendary bass. The reproduction of these frequencies is also very present in the JBL Bar 5.1 that has 510 watts of power to make your whole house reel in action scenes.
However, we cannot understand how a model with these characteristics has battery-powered satellite speakers! This serious drawback means that you can only enjoy 10 hours of playback before having to change them. If this does not matter to you, the rest makes up for it with the rest of the functionalities and bluetooth connectivity.
Philips Fidelio: a 5.1.2 bar
within the 5.1 sound bars we found the Philips Fidelio which boasts of being one of the few 5.1.2. In other words, its surround sound is achieved thanks to the five speakers located in the bar itself and a powerful subwoofer that raises the maximum output power to 808 watts.
A handicap that does not tarnish the good work of the rest of the team, which has Dolby Atmos technologies, IMAX Enhanced Y DTS PlayFi for content that is supported. In addition, it is capable of connecting with the main voice assistants on the market to complete your ecosystem.
Bose Smart Soundbar 900: a world of possibilities
range of speakers Y smart sound bars from Bose It has a wide variety of models and the possibility of including the subwoofer and the two rear satellites in the package to achieve a true surround audio experience.
Specifically, the sound bar 900 It offers you voice control compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa, as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity and AirPlay 2 so that setting it up with your devices is as simple as possible.
LG SP9YA: a smart sound bar
The LG 5.1 model reaches a total power of 520 watts, surround sound technology with standards Dolby Atmos and DTS X and extensive connectivity, either by HDMI eARC, Bluetooth 5.0 or USB. In addition, you can link your content with AirPlay 2, Spotify, Alexa, Google Assistant and Chromecast.
But the icing on the cake is its speaker system made by Meridian. The iconic high-end sound signature is present in the highest-end vehicles from Audi, among others, and is always a guarantee that what you play on them will sound good.
High-end 5.1 sound bars
Lastly, we didn’t want to miss out on the opportunity to show you some of the best 5.1 sound bar models on the market. The high-end has exorbitant prices, but also features that are worth what they cost.
Sennheiser Ambeo: a sound legend
If you dedicate yourself to something related to sound, you will surely have heard of sennheiser. The German brand is a legend in the manufacture of speakers and headphones, where it holds the record (which probably will never be broken) of selling the most expensive and luxurious headphones in the world.
This demonstration of the highest quality can also be seen in its
Ambeo. A Sound bar with 13 speakers which is capable of achieving surround sound despite dispensing with satellites and a subwoofer. But the truth is that you don’t need it to achieve bass down to 30 Hz, almost at the threshold of human hearing. If you are looking for sound quality at all costs, you have already found it.
Sonos Beam: a movie sound
We end with the Sound bar from sound, one of the best known brands of wireless speakers. On this occasion, its sound system has all the elements you need to reproduce the audio with the best quality and is compatible with voice commands from Alexa Y Google Assistant.
A system that gives up nothing, with an elegant and minimalist design, Trueplay technology that dynamically adjusts the speakers based on the acoustics of each room, and touch controls to make the final experience even more pleasing.
The best surround sound for your living room
In order to achieve an experience of surround sound in your living room you can go many ways. In fact, some high-end options have technology so precise that they don’t require satellites or subwoofers to achieve the most faithful audio reproduction on the market, as is the case with the Sennheiser Ambeo.
However, if you’re looking for something more standard, most low-end and mid-range soundbars come with a manual 5.1 system. This may or may not be an advantage, because as you have seen some systems include battery-powered wireless satellites, which can cause more discomfort than anything else.
But as that wise man said, virtue lies in the middle ground. And that’s why our recommendation is the 5.1 sound bar from LG. A model that has intelligent functions, connectivity to spare and sound reproduction endorsed by a prestigious brand.