Soundbars. They’re easy, they’re affordable and they serve a very precise function: transforming whichever room they occupy into a something which embodies the sound and atmosphere of a real home cinema. Interested? Of course you are.
The best thing about soundbars – aside from how they sound – is how accessible they are. There are models to suit any budget, and they are very easy to set up and use. You don’t need to be an audio-aficionado to set up and use a soundbar to its fullest capability and you’ll never need to be. A soundbar is a true investment in both sound and vision and will elevate your enjoyment of film, television and even music for years to come. All you need is a television to be a soundbar owner. Yep, that’s all. Perfect for those who want the sound but lack the desire to fill their living space with bulky speaker cabinets and trailing wires. The soundbars bring you the surround sound experience, without the surroundings.
Needless to say demand is high, and therefore there are a lot to chose from. But which makes and models are most worthy? Whether you’re buying for yourself or for a loved one – we have you covered. We’ve scoured our stock to bring you the cream of the soundbar and sound projector crop, and there’s something here for everyone. Sit back, relax and enjoy the show.
1. Wharfedale Vista 100 Soundbar – £149
The Wharfedale is Vista 100 is astonishing value for money, and is packed with some pretty nifty features. It projects sound with a holographic soundstage – designed to rival the sound and power of full-sized speakers. Its Sonic Emotion Absolute 3D Technology may be a mouthful, but it ensures the sound is produced at its highest possible fidelity and Bluetooth is included too – for all your wireless streaming needs – and there are four wired inputs too. Highly versatile, the slim and compact little Vista 100 can be wall-mounted, or stand on its own feet, and will fit snugly into even the smallest of living spaces. Like any of the best soundbars, it is plug-in-and-play, and comes with a simple yet effective remote as standard.
Why do we like it?
We love any product that makes excellent audio as available as possible – and the Vista 100 is exactly that. Its price – and stature – is small, but its sound is huge, and it’s ever so easy to use. A perfect way of introducing home cinema into your life.
Why do they like it?
‘Wharfedale’s impressive single-box soundbar trumps its rivals with some classy design touches and potent yet polished sound quality. If you know a better way of spending £150, we’re all ears’ (Trusted Reviews)
2. Yamaha YAS-93 Digital Sound Projector – £179
Fuelled by a passion for music and performance, Yamaha’s soundbars encompass everything they know about the two. The YAS-93 is a good solid bet if you wish to keep the spend below £200. It has duel front speakers and a subwoofer alongside a Bass Reflex Port which reproduces base deeply and richly a separate subwoofer will simply not be required. It carries several standout features: Clear Voice, Univolume and Auto Delay Control, coming together to ensure your viewing experience is as seamless as it can be. And then there’s the Bluetooth, for effortless streaming. It’s a great little space saver – it can even be placed directly in front of your TV. If the bar shields the remote control signal, the TV Remote Repeater on the back transmits the signal to the TV so operation is not affected. Clever huh?
Why do we like it?
You get fantastic sound for a very reasonable price, and the TV Remote Repeater is a very nice touch. Both black and white finishes too, so it’ll look right at home in any scheme.
Why do they like it?
‘The YAS-103 is an impressive soundbar for the money [it] delivers a big bassy sound from a single box and throws in some tasty features.’ (Trusted Reviews)
3.Yamaha YAS-201 Digital Sound Projector – £269
Next up is the Yamaha YAS-201: a soundbar which comes with its very own separate wireless (and active) subwoofer. Not quite the space saver of its peers, but worth the loss of a little excess floor space. By taking the subwoofer out, there is more room for an even richer, even deeper bass. Like the other sound projectors in the range, the YAS-201 boasts virtual surround sound technology: AIR SURROUND XTREME – and yes, the capitals are necessary. ASX effectively bounces the sound around the room, creating the exact sound and atmosphere of a genuine surround sound system.
Why do we like it?
A excellent hi-end entry level soundbar. AIR SURROUND XTREME sounds as good as it… sounds. And despite the multitude of features, it is particularly easy to use. The dedicated app and the remote control see to that.
Why do they like it?
‘Detail levels are good for a system of this type, and dialogue sounds clear enough without enabling the ‘Clear Voice’ function through the remote. There’s a decent balance across the frequency range and there’s scale and dynamic reach to be had too. (What Hi-Fi? Magazine)
4. Q Acoustics Media M4 Soundbar – £399
The Media M4 stands out for a simple, yet effective, reason – while most soundbars are designed to compliment film and TV, many can’t quite handle music like a dedicated hi-fi system could. The M4 – on the other hand – is designed to handle both music and movies in equal (and excellent) measure. At a shade under £400, the Media M4 is a little pricier, but considering it’s such a high performance multi modal outlet, it will be worth the investment. The subwoofer has been brought inside, so this soundbar is a fantastic way of discreetly bringing big, detailed, hi-fi quality sound into small spaces. It can hook up to your games consoles too!
Why do we like it?
Its film and TV sound is mind-blowing, and music performance is just as mind-blowing. This would be a perfect solution for someone who wants the best of both worlds – hi-fi and home cinema – but don’t want to sacrifice too much space.
Why do they like it?
‘Surfing the £400 price-point there are very few – if any – that can match the sound quality on offer from the M4. Highly Recommended […] A proper Hifi Soundbar.’ (AV Forums)
5. Yamaha YSP-2500 Digital Sound Projector – £799
Let’s bring on the Big Boy. The Yamaha YSP-2500 is widely regarded as one of the finest soundbars money can buy. And if you have the beans, these boxes will provide. I’d need reams of digital space to describe everything that is great and good about this sound projector, but I don’t have that luxury – so I’m going to try and keep it tight! It’s encased in solid aluminium with a 162W total power output. In terms of inputs it has a whopping three HDMI outputs, a coaxial, an optical and an analogue. The YSP range creates beams of sound which are then reflected off the walls of the room – and six different beam modes (thanks to adjustable speakers) including the IntelliBeam – which automatically adjusts the beams according to the space and shape of the room. Depending on what you’re listening to. It has every feature you can think of, from Bluetooth onwards, and yet it is somehow as easy as any of the others to set up and operate. Worth it? Oh yes.
Why do we like it?
Because we have run out of room trying to describe how good it is. And we still had a lot more to say.
Why do they like it?
‘The YSP-2500’s expansive sound field, punch and scale are impressive, and it’s the most appealing solution for those that want cinema-style sound without going the full hog with a 5.1 system’ (What Hi-Fi? Magazine)
Of course, most soundbars and sound projectors are geared towards saving space – but what if space is still an issue and you want something that will just fit snugly beneath your screen? Then you need a soundbase my friend. And luckily, we have a Top 5 for those too! [LINK]
So there you have it. Whether your budget is £150 or £800, there is a beautiful looking – and sounding – soundbar just waiting for you to pick it up and plug it in.