🔊 Speaker and soundbar buying guide for 2026

Improving your TV's sound or filling a room with sound no longer necessarily requires a complex setup. This guide explains the essential criteria for choosing a suitable soundbar or speaker.

Soundbar or separate speakers

A soundbar is easy to plug in, fits into a single discreet unit under the TV, and covers the essential needs of a living room. A separate speaker system, bulkier and more costly to install, offers in return more precise sound staging, valuable for large rooms or demanding home cinema enthusiasts.

The subwoofer, often negotiable

A soundbar with a separate subwoofer brings a real gain on action scenes or music with pronounced bass, at the cost of extra floor space. For a compact living room or use mostly focused on dialogue and TV, a soundbar without a dedicated subwoofer is often enough.

Audio formats worth checking

Dolby Atmos and DTS:X are the reference formats for immersive sound with a recent TV. Their compatibility isn't limited to the soundbar itself: the TV and the source (streaming, Blu-ray player) also need to support these formats to fully benefit from them.

Connections, a point to plan ahead for

An HDMI ARC or eARC connection remains the best option for receiving TV audio through a single cable and controlling volume from the TV remote. An optical input is a reliable alternative on older TVs, while Bluetooth allows wireless mobile use, handy for listening to music from a smartphone.

Power, to be put in context

The watt figure shown is only a partial indicator: channel distribution and speaker quality often matter more than raw power for perceived sound quality. For a standard-sized room, moderate, well-distributed power generally gives a better result than high power poorly utilized.

In summary

The choice between a soundbar and separate speakers mostly depends on room size and the level of demand you're after. Audio format compatibility with the TV and HDMI ARC/eARC connectivity deserve systematic checking before buying.