If you’re comparing a soundbar to a surround sound system and money is no object, surround sound is the easy winner. If we consider cost, the discussion becomes more nuanced. Price, space, and ease of use may tempt you to choose a soundbar, which is a notable replacement for TV audio. But a soundbar just isn’t in the same league as a surround speaker system when it comes to home theater audio.
A surround sound system provides separation and precision that soundbars cannot replicate because they can only simulate multiple speakers. Although some soundbars can simulate sound well, it will never be the same: there is only one speaker, after all. Imagine a scene in the woods at night. A murmur appears clearly on a center speaker. In the left and right speakers you hear a light piano and matching footsteps. Then a stick slams behind you through the rear left speaker. You jump. That same sound coming from a soundbar sounds more artificial. It’s not actually coming from behind you; rather, it bounces off your walls to emulate the directional sound of that left rear speaker. You hear the crack of the stick, but it’s not clear. You don’t jump.
Then there’s the subwoofer. Many soundbars now come with a subwoofer. But it’s not always a true powered subwoofer, capable of producing low frequencies that shake you while retaining layered tonal sounds and pivoting to new low frequencies. Think of the opening scene of “Top Gun,” as the low boom of jets syncs with the synthesized bass of “Danger Zone.” A soundbar’s subwoofer is more likely to muffle or distort it than a powered subwoofer.
Why a soundbar may be better for you than surround sound
Despite the benefits of surround sound systems, the soundbar market is booming. According to Renub Research, this figure is expected to double over the next decade. The benefits tell you why. First, there is ease. Setting up a surround system will take hours. You need to run wires under furniture or through walls, place speakers, and calibrate the sound for your space. With a soundbar, you take it out of the box, plug it into the wall and your TV, and do a quick setup. It takes about ten minutes.
You’re also more likely to get better value for your money. Surround sound systems can cost more than $1,000 for 5.1 surround or more than $3,000 for a Dolby Atmos system, which layers audio above and around you. Some systems can cost up to tens of thousands of dollars. The best soundbars with Dolby Atmos will cost between $500 and $1,500. The quality/price ratio leans towards soundbars.
You should also consider where you live. If you’re renting your home, you probably won’t be able to drill into the walls to install speakers. The average renter lives in a 1,089 square foot home, making it nearly impossible to properly install a surround system. Even in owner-occupied homes, which average twice the square footage, only a fraction of your space is used for watching movies. A bar under your screen and a hidden subwoofer take up much less space than a multi-speaker surround sound system.