Soundbars have become an integral part of home entertainment setups, right after smart TVs in a pandemic-induced surge in demand.
Consumption of content on OTT platforms as well as console games has become much more popular than in recent years. While the television is often at the center of this experience, the built-in mid-range speakers and lack of control have made additional speakers and soundbars a common upgrade.
A high-end TV must be paired with a soundbar capable of increasing immersion and enjoying content the way it was meant to be. Since most LCD TVs these days come with mid-range speakers, it’s very important that you add a great-sounding speaker system to the mix to get the extra dimension to your immersion.
Taking into account aspects such as sound quality, design, dimensions and price, we have compiled a list of the best soundbars for your television, whether you want to watch movies, play games or stream music.
How should you choose the best soundbar?
Soundbars come in various shapes and sizes and range in price from under Rs 5,000 to over Rs 50,000. While the cheaper models have basic connections, the more expensive ones add superior HDMI inputs (including 4K/HDR pass-through), wireless audio streaming (e.g. Bluetooth and AirPlay), better power, more refined speaker drivers and decoding. of Blu-ray sound formats.
Design is also important. While some models may sit in front of the TV on a stand, others may need a separate shelf or may need to be wall mounted.
For the 2021 edition, we’ve also tried to include Dolby-enabled soundbars and speakers. The following are the best soundbars you can buy in India in 2021.
Sony HT-S40R 5.1
The new Sony HT-S40R is a true 5.1 channel soundbar that comes with wireless rear speakers, offering an immersive audio experience. These speakers not only give you the freedom to place the speakers as per your convenience, but also avoid wire clutter, not interfering with your home interior.
In terms of audio output, the Sony HT-S40R offers a combined 600W audio output and support for Dolby Audio technology for a cinematic audio experience. In terms of connectivity, the Sony HT-S40R supports all standard connectivity modes including HDMI, Bluetooth and optical.
It also supports USB playback and can play your favorite music directly from a flash drive. Sony HT-S40R supports Dolby Digital, Dolby Dual mono, LPCM 2ch, LPCM fs(48kHz) audio formats.
Philips Audio Soundbar TAB7305 300W
Starting the list with one of the best known brands in the Indian industry, the Philips Audio TAB7305. It’s a 300W 2.1-channel soundbar that also comes with a wireless subwoofer with Dolby audio support. While the soundbar outputs 300W, 160W comes from the soundbar and 140W from the subwoofer.
In terms of connectivity, you get optical input, Bluetooth, USB and HDMI ARC. You can also control the soundbar with the TV remote. The soundbar can be wall mounted if needed as it also comes with wall mounts in the box. It supports Dolby Digital, LPCM 2 channel, Dolby Digital plus.2, and the total package weighs 9.84 Kgs.
Zebronics Zeb Juke Bar 9700 Pro
The Zebronics Juke Bar 9700 Pro is India’s first Dolby Atmos soundbar. It is a stylish and elegantly designed home audio speaker system that can be placed in the living room and living room. It can also be fixed to the wall.
The Zebronics Juke Bar 9700 Dolby Atmos soundbar leverages Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless connectivity. It has 2.1 surround sound with Dolby Atmos tuning. The soundbar’s audio speaker system comes with a 450W output. You get support for Dolby Atmos, 4K HDR and Dolby Audio.
The soundbar also comes equipped with various connectivity options that allow you to play music from compatible devices. Options include a 3.5mm audio port, Optical IN, HDMI (ARC) and 2 HDMI inputs. Supports up to 32GB of external memory. The company also includes a remote control for easy control. The remote has 15+ buttons to help you control while all things are sitting on the couch. Overall, the complete package weighs 8.2 kg.
JBL SB110
The list of any audio product is not complete without including JBL, one of the most renowned manufacturers of audio products. The JBL SB110 is an affordable wireless soundbar with a built-in subwoofer and support for Dolby digital sound. It has a 110W sound output and supports wireless audio streaming via Bluetooth.
The device also supports HDMI ARC connection and can also be wall mounted. Built-in subwoofers are said to deliver deep bass and cinematic experience. It’s also lightweight compared to the aforementioned soundbars at just 2.6 Kgs net weight.
Realme soundbar
Smartphone maker Realme launches its first soundbar in Q4 2020, the Realme soundbar performs very well for the asking price. It’s a 100W soundbar with a 2.1 sound system. It will come with a separate 60W satellite system and a 40W subwoofer.
The soundbar includes a 2.25-inch 15W speaker, along with a 15W tweeter for 200% louder sound. While the 40W 5.25 inch satellite subwoofer has a rectangular shape and low frequency enhancement from 10Hz to 24Hz.
In terms of connectivity, you get optical, COAX, HDMI (ARC), Subwoofer, AUX, USB and power ports. As with most Realme audio products, the soundbar delivers deep bass and features Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless connectivity.
Xiaomi Mi soundbar
The Mi Soundbar has a subtle and elegant design that impresses the moment you take it out of the box. This is also one of the best budget soundbars available for those on a budget. Mi Soundbar has 1x Aux port, 1x line-in port, 1x S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) and 1x optical port. It also has Bluetooth connectivity, but you can only connect one device at a time.
At Rs 5,999, it sounds better than any mid-range TV can offer. it’s not very loud but enough for a small or medium room. It’s tuned for cinematic audio. You get deep bass and strong highs, which makes for a satisfying movie-watching experience, but the mids suffer in scenes with high-frequency audio such as loud explosions, gunshots, and the like. It doesn’t come with a remote, but that’s a compromise you might want to make for this deal.
Boat Aavante Bar 1160
One of India’s most popular audio and wearable manufacturers, BoAt also offers an extremely affordable soundbar for just Rs 3,999. It comes with a 60W sound output with 2.25 inch x 4 dynamic drivers.
In terms of connectivity, the BoAt Aavante Bar 1160 offers Bluetooth 4.2, USB and AUX inputs. It is also one of the lightest soundbars at just 2kg in weight. BoAt also says the 2.0 channel sound system provides balanced sound and deep bass for your movies, music and even video games.
Blaupunkt SBA20
We saw soundbars in the budget of Rs. 30,000 to BRL 4,000 above. How about a soundbar with the lowest possible budget? This Blaupunkt soundbar is exactly what you’ve been looking for.
It doesn’t come with crushing bass nor does it have heavy power when it comes to audio power. It only comes with 16W of power, but it’s definitely better for your TV audio. You can use this one if you just want to escape your TV’s existing mediocre sound and get better, not louder sound.