Soundbars vs. Surround Sound Systems: What’s the Better Choice?

Soundbars vs. Surround Sound Systems — Which one should I buy?

This is a hot topic among people who want to buy an audio system for their TV. Whether you’re a casual listener or an audiophile, this decision is never easy to make. Over the years, there have been so many great products that it makes choosing an audio system even more difficult. As technology advances, so do the products. Recent audio systems are packed with tons of features, and yet somehow, they seem to shrink in size every year.

Soundbars are known for their compact nature and ease of use, providing a cost-friendly solution. Whereas, surround sound systems offer a better immersive experience that turns your home into a personal theater for a couple of extra hundred dollars. But just this amount of information isn’t enough to make a decision; you need to learn a lot more than that to decide what the best option is for you. In this article, we’ll talk about their pros and cons extensively to give you a better understanding.

By the end of this article, you’ll know exactly what you need to buy to complete your home entertainment setup. So, let’s talk about some sound systems.

Which is Better: Soundbars vs. Surround Sound Systems?

Now let’s start comparing some of the important factors that will help you understand the differences between the two.

Audio Quality

The audio quality can make or break the user’s experience. Everybody wants to have a great movie experience at home, but only one of them can give you exactly what you want.

Soundbars: The audio quality is the main feature that separates the two. Given that the soundbar is compact and is integrated with multiple speakers within itself, the surround sound quality falters compared to surround sound speakers. Soundbars are completely potent enough to deliver crystal clear dialogues and accurate audio queues, but they lack in other departments, such as bass effects. Yes, there are soundbars with subwoofers integrated within themselves, but they lack the punch and immersiveness that you may experience with surround sound speakers.

Surround Sound Systems: In contrast, surround sound speakers have the benefit of multiple speakers. Based on how and where these speakers are placed, the generation of spatial audio is amplified, creating a totally immersive experience. The surround sound systems are integrated with object-tracking features to accurately analyze movies or games and generate audio accordingly. Each of the speakers is further fine-tuned to deliver incredible audio quality for clear dialogue and powerful bass. They are also capable of achieving different audio frequencies, creating a wide range of possibilities for entertainment.

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Price

Price is a major factor while building a home entertainment setup. While some users prefer to have a top-of-the-line audio experience rather than worrying about the cost, others want a cost-friendly device with basic audio features.

Soundbars: Soundbars are far less expensive than surround sound systems for obvious reasons — they are smaller, use fewer materials to make, and have fewer features. Good soundbar price ranges anywhere between $50 to $1500 based on the features. This gives the users a good range to purchase based on their budget. Soundbars like the Samsung HW-C450 2.1ch Soundbar that we have mentioned in our best Soundbars article are in the mid-range price category. This Samsung soundbar has DTS Virtual: X support and also comes with a subwoofer, balancing between price and feature.

Surround Sound Systems: A decent surround sound system’s price starts around $300 and can go well beyond $2000 for high-end models. The price of the models increases as the number of channels (2.1, 5.1, 7.1, and 9.1) increases. You can get the lower end if you have a smaller budget, but you shouldn’t expect out-of-the-world audio quality from it. And with expensive ones like Klipsch Reference 5.2 Home Theater System, you’ll have to reach the deep ends of your pocket, but you’ll also achieve a theater-like experience at home, which is the main point of buying a surround sound system.

Connectivity

Connectivity on the sound systems plays a crucial role in how easy it is to install them, and finally, how you experience movies and games at home.

Soundbars: Setting up a soundbar is quite straightforward, and any non-technical person can do this in under 5 minutes. Most soundbars usually have multiple ways to connect them to the TV, with optical, HDMI, and Bluetooth being the most common options. Optical connectivity requires an optical cable that is connected from the Optical Out on the TV to the Optical In on the soundbar — it’s that simple. And Bluetooth is just like pairing any other Bluetooth device that you would do on your phone. This enables wireless connectivity, making your entertainment setup look super clean. There are more connectivity options on soundbars as you buy a higher-end model, which may also depend on the brand.

Surround Sound System: Surround sound systems are complex because of multiple speakers that need to be set up. They offer a broader range of connectivity options that allow for more customized settings for people who want versatile solutions. Most of the recent sound systems include an HDMI option along with optical and Bluetooth connectivity options. Other than TV, HDMI can be used for devices like Blu-ray and streaming device players for high-definition audio. The major downside of surround sound is cable management, which, if not done properly, can make your setup cluttered.

Space

Both soundbars and surround sound systems are built differently, with distinct features and sizes that could change your preference while buying them.

Soundbars: This is a category in which soundbars win with flying colors. Owing to their sleek and compact build, they don’t take up much space at all. They can be wall-mounted, tucked under the TV, or kept in front of it, seamlessly blending with your setup. If you’re going for a minimalistic look or if you have limited space, then getting a soundbar for TV is the best option.
Surround Sound System: Surround sound systems take up a lot of space because of the various components that are needed to complete the setup. Given that they have multiple speakers and a subwoofer, you will need to plan and optimize your space thoughtfully to make the best of the sound system. The main challenge, as we mentioned before, is managing the cables. It takes a lot of effort to make it work, but it is totally worth it.

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Comparison Overview

Should I Buy a Soundbar or a Surround Sound System?

Now that you have read the major differences between the two, you have an understanding of what would suit your setup and budget. But here’s our takeaway.

Both soundbar and surround sound systems offer amazing audio experiences in their own term, but the soundbar still has a long way to go to meet the level of a surround sound system. If you’re craving a simplistic approach to your audio requirements with a tighter budget and smaller space, then a soundbar is the best option. If you can spend a couple of bucks more, you can buy a higher-end model like the Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1 Soundbar. It comes with Dolby Atmos and surround sound features, which could, to some extent, replicate what surround systems can do.

If you want a wider range and a deeper immersive experience, then you should go with a surround sound system. With its multiple-speaker system, you get a theater-like experience at home. Be it movies, sports, music, or gaming, you will experience amazing audio quality. But remember, you will have to deal with the complex setup and the additional space that it requires. So, if you have the budget and a large room to accommodate all speakers for TV, you can go with a surround sound system.

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