Lovers of high-quality sound and home viewing of their favorite films are gradually updating their audio and video equipment. At the same time, most people think about what is better to choose for the home: a relatively recently announced soundbar or a time-tested audio system – a home theater? Our experts have made a detailed comparative analysis of both devices and are ready to share their findings.
Characteristics and features of devices
About sauna bars
To understand which of the audio devices is more suitable for you, you need to have a clear idea of what specific purposes the soundbar is intended for and for which home theater. Initially, the first was created as a more compact and no less functional alternative to the cinema. In essence, a soundbar is a soundbar that can dramatically improve the sound quality and amplify the volume of the video being played.
Such panels are usually multifunctional: it all depends mainly on the type of audio system and the manufacturer. Soundbars are selected based on the type of LCD TV and its diagonal size. They are located strictly in front of the screen so that the sound is maximized and spacious. There are so-called 3D soundbars, which are a series of speakers arranged strictly in a row. To obtain the highest quality sound, they must be placed at a strict angle, while maintaining a certain distance.
IMPORTANT. Most soundbars have a so-called 'driver' speaker built into a small structure. Subwoofers are also not very large. Therefore, such an audio device is more suitable for compact rooms: it has a stylish appearance without an abundance of speakers and wires, and pure high-quality sound.
Home theater features
Home theater is a whole complex of devices designed to provide high-quality surround sound in a multichannel format. The device is represented by several high-power speakers (located strictly around the perimeter of the room), an amplifier, an acoustic system, and a device that allows you to achieve the clearest and brightest image.
In home theaters, a discrete system is represented by a variety of satellites and subwoofers capable of rattling glass windows. But with the help of a soundbar, it is impossible to achieve such an effect. In most cases, their configuration is standard, without excess and any peculiarities. Many models have a remote control, do not need a separate receiver. This is their appeal – aesthetics of appearance, embodied in ease of use.
Speaking of home theaters, one cannot fail to note the presence of many audio and video inputs for various components (including multichannel discrete systems, DVD, Blu-ray, etc.). The home theater receiver is capable of decoding both standard Dolby Digital and enhanced formats (such as Dolby Digital ex).
Comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of devices
And now let's try to bring together all of the above and figure out which version of the audio system, after all, is better.
| ADVANTAGES | LIMITATIONS | |
| SOUNDBAR _ | + COMPACT SIZE;
+ QUALITY CLEAR SOUND; + AVAILABILITY OF THE REMOTE CONTROL PANEL; + PLAYBACK OF AUDIO OF ANY FORMAT; + AVAILABLE FLASH CONNECTION; + BUILT-IN PLAYERS. |
– THE NEED TO CHOOSE THE DEVICE STRICTLY DEPENDING ON THE DIAGONAL OF THE TV SET;
– INSUFFICIENT QUALITY AND VOLUME SOUND. |
| HOME CINEMA _ | + HIGH-QUALITY SOUND + AVAILABILITY OF A LOT OF SOUND EFFECTS (HI-FI CLASS SYSTEMS);
+ POSSIBILITY OF ADJUSTING THE PARAMETERS OF THE HOME CINEMA UNDER THE FEATURES AND AREA OF THE ROOM); + POSSIBILITY TO CONTROL THE IMAGE AND SOUND REMOTE. |
– LARGE NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WIRES;
– COMPLEX CUSTOMIZATION REQUIRING LONG EXPERIENCE; – HIGH PRICE. |
On a note. There are a number of models of wireless home theaters – a convenient and mega functional system, which, however, is distinguished by an equally mega high price.
How to make a choice?
Summing up, it should be noted that there are considerable advantages in both home theaters and soundbars. When choosing the right device, you must be guided by personal preferences, in particular, your feelings when listening to the sound of the device and the characteristics of the room in which it will be installed.
-
If the room does not differ in spaciousness and the amount of free space in it is also small, while you want to enjoy high-quality sound, you should opt for a good soundbar.
-
For the music lover / film lover, a powerful multi-optional audio system is more suitable, which can become a full-fledged replacement for going to the cinema. Consider also the location and type of walls, the place where the speakers will stand, the area of the room – all of these will ultimately affect the sound to a large extent.
Happy shopping!
