When it comes to improving the sound of a flat television, in addition to the classic stereo speakers, using a mini-system or a home theater set, another of the most popular options are the sound barsdevices that have grown rapidly in features and functionalities.
The usual thing is that we are used to the classic sound bar format, that is, a speaker of rectangular shapes very marked, wider than tall and deep.
Although this has changed and in recent years there are more and more models that offer different shapes and sizes with which to provide new possibilities and added advantages that a thin bar is not capable of achieving.
Unconventional sound bar formats: these are their advantages
The main drawback of classic bars is their general low height and depthwhich means that only small drivers can be installed inside to have an aesthetic product that does not weigh a ton either.
But this limits sound quality and generally forces us to have very long bars that may not fit well on all furniture. Are there no more alternatives? Well yes, since some manufacturers have specific models that deviate from this standard.
To begin with, we have those who bet on ultra-compact bars which offer a much smaller size than usual thanks to a taller format. In this way they manage to fit larger drivers or more of them in a smaller width, although at the cost of being taller and needing more space up to the television.
This is the case, for example, of Polk Audio with models like the Maginfi Mini or LG with QP5, both with a central speaker that is not clearly a bar and that are accompanied by a large subwoofer that should be placed as close as possible to this speaker.
But they are not the only options, since this year Sony has pleasantly surprised us with the announcement of its home theater speakers BRAVIA Theater Quad that will offer real surround sound thanks to four discreet speakers.
Are compatible with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X and capable of creating a surround sound stage without needing to be aligned or having an additional subwoofer (although one can be added), since the included drivers will take care of the low frequencies.
The idea behind this system is to return a little to the classic speakers, in this quadraphonic type model, with larger speakers to house higher performance drivers. For example, in this case they set up a three-way system plus an effects speaker for Atmos.
And what does this have to do with a bar? Well, it is a kind of hybrid between a bar and a home cinema since all the connections and electronics They are located in a separate box that we must place next to or under the television and that will send the processed signal to the speakers without cables.
More unusual formats: soundbases
Another alternative to sound bars are sound basesmuch deeper than the bars, taking up a good part of the furniture where we place them but without protruding from the front.
This allows them to continue offering a decorative appearance while significantly increasing the available speaker space inside, which in turn makes it possible install more and bigger driversoffering more power and better response in mid and low frequencies.
In fact, many of these sound bases They do not require the use of an external subwoofer to achieve a convincing sound, since they usually incorporate one or several at the bottom pointing downwards.
As for the rest of the features regarding sound bars, they are similar with respect to connectivity, supported audio formats, etc., something that will depend on each specific model. Of course, in general the bases tend to promise higher powers since they can accommodate larger woofers.
As for its drawbacks, we find the issue of weight and dimensions of the TV supported. Sound bases are generally designed for televisions with weights up to about 30-35 kilossince they are still a medium density wood structure at best that has certain resistance limits.
Cover image | sony