Far Away from the TV:The soundbar should be near your TV for the best sound quality. If it’s too far away, the sound and visuals may not sync well, impairing your viewing experience.

But for now, let’s look at some of the details around how mounting your soundbar to your TV or not can change your experience. Mounting a Soundbar By Itself A soundbar is an excellent solution for this problem; all you need to do is find one that fulfills your needs and mount it to your TV.Even when properly centered, TVs are often mounted too high. For aesthetic reasons, you may want that TV over your fireplace, but trust me, it is the absolute wrong place to mount it. For a comfortable viewing experience, you want your eyes (at a seated position) to be at the center of the TV. The key thing to know about optical is that it's restricted in bandwidth compared to ARC/eARC. So if you have the choice between the two and opt for optical, you might not be making the most of the audio decoding built into your soundbar. The most advanced immersive formats optical can handle are compressed Dolby Digital or DTS 5.1 surround sound, so that means no Dolby Atmos or DTS:X. You will need to use hardware that comes with the mount to do this. You need to make sure everything is in the correct place before attaching them.

The first is the size. You’ll want to make sure that your soundbar fits under—or next to, depending on your set-up—your TV. For example, the long Sonos Arc soundbar is designed specifically for large screens, so won’t look right with a smaller 50-inch TV. You’ll need to know the size of your current TV and the size of the space you have to fit it and compare those figures to the dimensions listed alongside the soundbar you want to buy. The Sonos Arc isn't cheap, but if you're already a fan of Sonos then we think you're going to love the way this soundbar delivers really impressive Dolby Atmos sound.Hide those wires:Look for ways to conceal the wires with strategic positioning of the soundbar. Learn how to hook up a soundbarfor more details on your wiring options. Find the perfect placement for your soundbar on the wall; it should be underneath the TV and above the ear level of the viewers, but not too high.

The integrated sub, while not up there with the very best subwoofers you can buy, is very impressive for one bundled with a soundbar, with a taut, controlled and powerful performance, "even when we push it to the extremes with the pulsating synths of Blade Runner 2049..." Generally, soundbars are a single long speaker with several drivers inside but some come with external subwoofers for extra low-end extension and rear speakers for surround sound effects whereas others are compatible with other speakers from within the manufacturer's brand. If floor-shaking bass is high on your priority list then these are models you'll want to consider. Unfortunately, ARC/eARC can sometimes introduce a slight audio lag resulting in lipsynching issues that can vary depending on your TV-soundbar combo. However, many brands include controls to adjust the delay on a soundbar's app, and sometimes there's also an option to modify it on a TV's settings. Alternate options:If you don’t want to buy a dedicated soundbar wall mount, consider using a sturdy shelf. Ensure it’s large enough to support the soundbar completely – a too-small shelf can affect sound quality and stability. Installing a shelf above the TV for a soundbarWhen you mount your TV to your soundbar, there are a lot of benefits. First, the sound moves with the TV. Whether you tilt your TV or move it to face another direction, you can ensure that sound will be directed at the person or people watching the TV. The best way to connect a soundbar to your TV is with an HDMI cable. You'll need to make sure you have an HDMI port on your soundbar and an HDMI ARC port on your TV. This allows you to use a cable to connect them. Aside from being a TV audio booster, the Streambar is also a video streamer that offers built-in access to streaming apps within Roku's vast library. The Streambar will work with any television with an HDMI input, outputting 4K HDR at up to 60fps for compatible sets. Everyone else will get 1080p Full HD, with lower resolution signals upscaled. You can buy brand-specific soundbar wall mounts with custom fittings or generic universal mounts that fit most soundbars.

If you're not a big fan of a wall-mounted TV, our TV stands are ideal. They're great for displaying your favourite photos and ornaments too. We've got many options in our range to fit all kinds of spaces and décor schemes. When it comes to sound quality and features vs price, we think the Sony HT-S2000 is the best budget choice around. Although it's a little basic in terms of connectivity, the sound you get from this soundbar is impressive for the money and is certainly a good choice for those looking for an upgrade to their TV sound without breaking the bank. If you have wall-mounted the TV, you’ll need to move it up a little (no easy task) or buy a shorter cabinet.The soundbar should be positioned just below the TV screen with speakers facing the ears where possible. If your TV or soundbar doesn't have HDMI ports, the second best option is an optical. This can still transfer digital sounds, but not the high-resolution ones you'd get with HDMI. Once the TV is mounted securely to the wall, it’s time to attach the soundbar. This is probably the easiest part of the process because you’ve taken all the previous steps with this particular goal in mind. If every measurement and estimation that you’ve made is correct, it should be a piece of cake.