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5 Things to Consider When Buying a Soundbar

17 Oct, 2022 - 3 mins read

1. PLACEMENT

Creative Stage V2 - Placement - 5 Things to Consider When Buying a Soundbar - Creative Labs (Singapore)

Figuring out where to place the soundbar is an important first step because it affects the overall experience. You’ll also need to consider the length of the soundbar in respect to the size of your screen; if you want it to be the exact same width as your TV / monitor, or slightly shorter. A soundbar that matches the width of your TV will create the illusion of surround sound because the audio will sound like it’s coming from the sides of your TV.

Take note that screen sizes are measured diagonally, so a 32 inch TV won’t match up with a 32 inch wide soundbar. You’ll need to check the manufacturers’ specifications for the exact widths, or if matching it to the millimeter is not that important, you can try the following guide:

Speaker Length | TV Screen Size

40 to 50 inches | 55 inches

30 to 40 inches | 40 inches

20 to 30 inches | 32 inches

2. USAGE

Sound Blaster Katana V2 - Usage - 5 Things to Consider When Buying a Soundbar - Creative Labs (Singapore)

While soundbars are all-in-one speakers, you should still consider what you might be using it for; whether it’s purely for movies, or for gaming too. Creative gaming soundbars feature built-in sound cards to deliver realistic gaming effects and audio cues with near-perfect accuracy and positioning. They also boast RGB lights that you can customise and set to match the mood.  

Related Post: 5 Reasons Why You Need a Sound Blaster Katana V2

3. AUDIO TECHNOLOGIES

Creative SXFI CARRIER - Audio Technologies - 5 Things to Consider When Buying a Soundbar - Creative Labs (Singapore)

The next step is to decide which audio technologies you’d like in the soundbar, from Dolby Atmos® surround sound technology to in-house innovations like Sound Blaster Clear Dialog and Surround, and SuperWide™. Several Creative soundbars also feature headphone-specific audio enhancements like Super X-Fi Spatial Holography for hyper-realistic spatialised audio.

4. CONNECTIONS

Creative Stage 360 - Connections - 5 Things to Consider When Buying a Soundbar - Creative Labs (Singapore)

The type and number of connections depends on what you’re using the soundbar for. If it’s just for movies, you’d need at least one HDMI port. If you intend to use the soundbar as an entertainment hub, you’d need more connectivity options like Optical-in and Bluetooth for wireless streaming.

As a rule of thumb and for the sake of future proofing, choose soundbars that have at least three HDMI inputs so you can connect devices directly to the soundbar instead of routing through the TV.

5. BUDGET

Creative Stage Air V2 - Budget - 5 Things to Consider When Buying a Soundbar - Creative Labs (Singapore)

Once you’ve identified all the features you require in a soundbar, the last issue to ponder over is costs–how much are you willing to part with for this sweet audio upgrade? Soundbars that are feature-rich tend to cost a little more, while those that are simpler are far more pocket-friendly.

Discover the full range of Creative Soundbars >

Related Post: Elevate Your Audio: Guide to Soundbars