Are you looking for the best soundbar for a large room? Look no further!
Soundbars are quickly becoming the preferred choice for people looking to upgrade their audio system. They are an excellent alternative to bulky and difficult-to-install traditional home theater systems. However, when installing a soundbar in a large room, finding the right soundbar can be a real challenge.
You will need a soundbar that needs to be powerful enough to deliver a good listening experience. In addition to the soundbar power, a few other factors also need to be weighed when selecting a soundbar for a large room.
This article will discuss what you must consider and some of the best soundbars for large rooms in 2023. We will discuss each soundbar we mentioned, why they are an excellent choice for large rooms, the expected features, and how much you should pay.
Do soundbars work in large rooms?
Yes, the soundbar can work very well in a large room, but its effectiveness can vary depending upon the size of the room, placement of the soundbar, and, most importantly, how much power the soundbar has.
It is important to choose a soundbar with the right power output that can produce enough sound to fill the room easily.
If you have a large room or open space, you need something like the Sonos Arc and Polk Audio MagniFi. It will be amazing if you can afford the Nakamichi Shockwave Ultra 9.2.4. It is also important to place the soundbar in the right position to get the most out of it.
The ideal position for a soundbar is under or above the TV. A soundbar should also be placed at ear level, facing you, and as close as possible to the seating area. Additionally, angling a soundbar towards you can also improve its performance.
5 Best Soundbar For Large Rooms 2023
1. JBL Bar 5.1
Regarding the best soundbar for a large room, the JBL Bar 5.1 ranks at the top. The soundbar is built with versatility in mind, making it ideal for mixed usage. Not only this, JBL offers tremendous bass and spectacular sound quality to provide an excellent bang for your buck.
Space shortage is no longer an issue as JBL Bar 5.1 offers an appealing prospect to compliment your living rooms. Besides the classy minimalist design, its transforming surround sound capabilities are commendable. Moreover, it houses a 10 inches subwoofer, five front-facing drivers, and a couple of side-firing tweeters to deliver that 550 W musical punch.
What makes JBL Bar stand out from the rest is its exciting proportions. Not only does it do justice to your movies, but it can also rock your music parties. Bestowing the benefits of two devices, a soundbar and surround sound system, this audio equipment has marked itself as the best soundbar for an open living room.
Boasting a handful of premium options like ultimate Bluetooth support, AirPlay 2, Chromecast support, and Multibeam technology, the soundbar misses some basic ones. On the darker side, it lacks Dolby Atmos support. At the same time, Auxiliary and Coaxial inputs are also missing.
2. Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2.4
Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2.4 soundbar is the best soundbar for a large room. Nakamichi has provided a sensible solution for your audio carvings.
I recommend this bar straight away if budget is not an issue. The bar has all the features and power to fill any room with powerful sound. It is among the few soundbars in the market equipped with two subwoofers and four satellite speakers.
Featuring a beautiful design, the Shockwafe Ultra is a high-end soundbar. This bar measures 45.5″ x 3.0″ x 3.5″ (L X W X H) and is made of high-quality materials. As well as being well-built, the speakers have a premium feel.
It is a powerful 9.2.4 home theatre system with the right accessories that will change the way you listen to music.
Performance-wise, it’s one of the loudest soundbars you’ll ever find. It operates within an adequate frequency response range of 48.3 Hz to 5/7 kHz. Moreover, no matter what volume is used, the sound is clear and distortion-free. The system delivers immersive, powerful sound using 18 drivers and two wireless subwoofers. The soundstage is wide, and the system can reproduce a variety of sound effects accurately.
Moreover, it has a unique sound enhancement feature that adjusts and changes the audio as needed. Furthermore, it supports Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, DTS HD, and DTS: X, delivering high-quality audio. Those who enjoy movies and video games will also find it ideal.
With Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, HDMI inputs, HDMI ARC outputs, an optical input, and a 3.5mm auxiliary input, you can connect with any device.
Overall, the Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2.4 is an excellent soundbar system that delivers immersive and powerful sound. Besides the price tag, the Nakamichi Ultra 9.2.4 is a beast.
3. SAMSUNG HW-Q950T
Level up the audio game with the Samsung HW-Q950T, one of the best soundbars for open living rooms. All the equipment with Samsung signature delivers nothing but excellence, and the HW-Q950T is no exception.
Though this isn’t the newest model, it has still marked its name among the top contenders on our list for various reasons. First and foremost, its matte black exterior can seamlessly blend with any modern space.
The system is heavy but incorporates an elegant slender design. In addition to this, the incredible soundbar is capable of hitting high volumes. Besides explosive power, you can expect a vast dynamic range from this system.
The Samsung HW-Q950T is a 9.14-channel stereo system, including almost all your desired channels. Furthermore, the system includes a soundbar, a pair of satellite speakers, and a sub.
Thanks to the upward-firing speakers, the soundbar can deliver sound formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS: X. These 3D sound formats and sound-bouncing drivers create an ultimate 3D soundscape, making it the best Dolby Atmos Soundbar. Since this is a wireless soundbar allows you to embrace your living rooms with a neat and clutter-free system.
If you are looking for the best Samsung soundbar for a large room Samsung HW-Q950T should be on top of the list.
4. Sonos ARC
Complement your living rooms with a premium Dolby Atmos experience and dynamic audio. Unlike other sound bars, the Sonos Arc is a single-box package without a subwoofer or extra speakers. But you can add satellite speakers and a sub to boost its performance.
The Sonos Arc is a versatile stand-alone setup that accompanies more giant TVs. Due to its sizable width, it must be partnered with a 55-inch TV. Further, Sonos Arc upholds a curvy design and looks deceptively simple. However, its 8.5 height may restrict your TV and remote signals. The long cylindrical matt metal flesh houses eight subwoofers and three tweeters to deliver a solid bass response.
Moreover, the sleek and self-contained unit can deliver the best quality Dolby lossless audio. The ARC supports various audio formats, including Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, and True HD. In addition, you can enjoy a fuss-free experience and ease of setup with all-in-one construction and minimal cables.
As if that’s not enough, the best all-in-one soundbar also supports AirPlay 2, so you can easily access it with your iPhone. Moreover, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa are other included innovative features.
5. Polk Audio MagniFi Max Home Theater Sound Bar
Our last pick on the best soundbar for a large room offers a solid blend of premium features, spectacular sound quality, and convenience. Polk Audio MagniFi Max is a mid-range home theatre system with a soundbar, a discrete subwoofer, and surround sound speakers.
It is a sleek and stylish soundbar with plastic construction and fabric covering. The unit can ideally partner with a 49-inch TV. Moreover, it endorses a pretty effortless and wire-free setup.
Polk understands your audio cravings. Hence it has designed the MagniFi Max to recreate that 3D cinematic experience. Generating virtual surround sound includes the patented SDA, or stereo dimensional array. The 5.1 channel system can deliver loud and clear voices. Further, to make that tech shine, we recommend you keep the sound bar open or go for a wall mounting.
Regarding features, this Polk unit includes enough audio outputs to cope with any setup. Not only this, but it also supports 4K HDR and Dolby Vision pass-through. On top of that, you can enjoy high-quality video streaming with the integrated Google Cast.
Buyer’s Guide
After reading all the way here you might be a little nervous other than size and what other features to look out for when choosing a soundbar for a large room. We have prepared a detailed guide that will help you out.
Choosing the right soundbar Size for a large room
How do I choose the right soundbar size? There is no need to worry.
Choosing a subwoofer for a large or any size room can be challenging. The following are some steps you need to take:
The first thing you should confirm is the room’s size. You can move on to the next step if you already have the dimensions. If you aren’t sure of the size of the room, it’s better to measure it. Measure the room’s width, length, and height.
In the case of a large room, a compact, small soundbar won’t be able to provide decent sound. Similarly, a large, powerful soundbar will be overwhelming in a small space. Knowing the room’s dimensions will make deciding on the appropriate size much easier.
Soundbars that are 40 to 60 inches long should work well in large rooms and cover most of the space. Aside from the room’s dimensions, other factors must be considered, such as the room’s shape, layout, and acoustics.
Based on the size of the room, the following sizes are recommended:
- A soundbar with a size of 20-30 inches should be enough if you have a small room (10 ft x 13 ft)
- For a medium-sized room (12 feet x 18 feet), you can choose a soundbar with a size of 30-40 inches
- For large rooms (15 ft x 22 ft+), you can choose a soundbar that is 40 inches or larger
You should keep in mind that these are just general guidelines, and there may be some exceptions depending on your room’s layout, shape, and acoustics.
Soundbar Channels For a Large Room
The number of channels in a soundbar is another important factor to consider when choosing a soundbar for a large room.
Channels refer to the number of built-in speakers. The more speakers you have, the better the sound quality will be. This will fill up the large room and give you a more realistic experience. A soundbar with at least 5.1 channels is recommended for large rooms. The more, the better.
Furthermore, there are soundbars with Dolby Atmos that add upward-firing speakers to the soundbar, ensuring the highest quality audio. There will be a noticeable difference in sound quality and your experience.
If you want the best soundbar for large rooms with high ceilings, you should add upward-firing speakers. The channel configuration will be something like 5.1.2 or 7.1.2. Five refers to the number of speakers, 1 to the subwoofer, and 2 to upward-firing speakers.
Sound technology
If you’re purchasing a soundbar for a large room or open area, consider the type of sound technology it uses. Dolby Atmos and DTS: X are two of the most popular and advanced sound technologies.
Using these technologies, you can achieve the best immersive listening experience.
Dolby Atmos is the most widely used audio technology that produces high-quality surround sound. On the other hand, DTS:X is also a powerful technology that produces realistic and detailed sound. Although the quality will vary, make sure to invest in a high-quality soundbar. This technology is worth the extra cost, and you will be delighted with the sound quality it produces.
Subwoofer
Subwoofers are designed to provide additional bass and low frequencies and are an important part of any audio system, including soundbars. For your large room, make sure the soundbar either has a built-in subwoofer or allows you to connect a separate subwoofer.
You can determine whether a soundbar features a built-in by looking at its channel configuration.
In the case of a 5.1 soundbar, there are 5 speakers with 1 subwoofer, whereas a 5.0 soundbar has 5 speakers and no subwoofer. The first number indicated the number of speakers, and the second indicated the number of subwoofers.
For listening to deep and powerful bass, a subwoofer will be essential. So if there is no built-in subwoofer, it should be possible to connect a separate subwoofer. As a result, the audio will be enhanced, and the room will be filled with powerful bass.
There are also soundbars with separate subwoofers and two rear speakers, like the Bose Bar. When it comes to enhancing audio quality further, this is great.
Additional Features
Besides the factors mentioned above, you may want to consider a few others as well. The following are some of the key features.
Voice Control: Voice control could be convenient. With an Alexa or Google Assistant-enabled soundbar, you can control it with voice commands. Also, having a soundbar with direct access to streaming services like Spotify and Pandora can be very helpful.
Sound Modes: Modes allow you to adjust sound settings to optimize sound for different types of content. Having different sound modes, such as movies, music, sports, etc., will make it easier for you to switch between them. Another useful mode is adaptive sound, which automatically adjusts the sound mode based on what you are watching. Even at low volumes, it improves sound clarity.
Our Favorite Pick
Our top pick is the SAMSUNG HW-Q950T with Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Alexa built-in. The system is expensive, but it comes with all the necessary and extra features one needs to fill the space with powerful audio.
You will be able to fill any size room with powerful sound with 9 channels, 1 subwoofer, and 4 up-firing channels.
Also, the soundbar is equipped with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, so you can easily connect it to your device. It also features HDMI eARC, which lets you send high-quality audio directly from your TV.
In addition to Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Alexa Built-in, the soundbar also comes with a variety of features. The audio quality is also top-notch, and you won’t regret buying this.
The rest of the options are also high-quality and feature-rich soundbars, including especially Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2.4, which is equally good.
Ultimately, it’s all about what’s right for you and what’s within your budget. We hope that you find the best one for your home entertainment space.