The Best Wireless Soundbar

Buying Guide

Wireless soundbars have grown in popularity, as their price makes them more attainable then what you find with full-size home theater systems. Soundbars also come in elegant designs that can be much smaller in size than traditional speakers and can add some style to your entertainment center.

There are a few things you’ll want to consider when shopping for a wireless soundbar. The first is where you plan to place the device. All of them are designed to rest on a tabletop, television stand or computer desk but they can also be mounted to the wall. If you’ve already mounted your television to the wall, you’ll probably want to make sure your new soundbar comes with a wall mount.

Although wireless soundbars are capable of syncing with your Bluetooth technology, you can also find plenty of models that also use a wired connection. If you’re interested in one of these dual models, look for an optical digital audio cable to connect to your television for optimal sound quality.

Determine whether the wireless soundbar you are looking at comes with a remote and what features the remote offers. For example, some remotes are more basic and simply allow you to turn the device on and off without getting up from the couch. Others have buttons to increase and decrease the bass levels, as well as buttons to switch between pre-set equalization modes that optimize the sound for various types of programming.

There are even soundbars with LED screens that allow you to quickly glance at the model’s current settings from across the room.

• Most wireless soundbars come with their own remote control, as many are not compatible with traditional universal remotes.
• You may be tempted to go with a wireless soundbar that has more wattage than another, but what you really want to pay attention to is the sensitivity of the speakers. This is expressed in decibels. You’ll find many soundbars are sold with decibel ranges between 90-110.
• Consider the number of speaker channels your wireless soundbar is outfitted with. Most models have two or three channels but some have as many as five or seven channels, which is the equivalent of a traditional home-theater system with up to seven speakers.
• To keep your wireless soundbar in tip-top shape, make sure you dust it regularly.
• Some soundbars are still sold with USB ports. You don’t really need this feature for updates anymore, but it is handy if you have a thumb drive full of your favorite music that you’d like to use.
• Soundbars are sold in active and passive models. The difference is that active soundbars are made with built-in amplifiers to better project the sound. Passive models require a separate receiver or amplifier, so if you go that route, you’ll need to factor the additional purchase into the overall price.