There’s no doubt that soundbars and speakers both represent a step-up from entry-level Bluetooth speakers and your TV’s native speakers. Modern soundbars have made real strides in audio quality over the past twenty years, and speakers remain a timeless audio staple that you can build up a full home theatre system out of.
When comparing soundbars vs speakers for your home, you’ll need to weigh up your priorities and what type of space you’ll be working with.
Quick Tips
- Choose a soundbar if: you’re tight on space or want a simpler setup.
- Choose a speaker if: you’re after the most premium listening experience or have plenty of space to work with.
Soundbars vs Speakers: Key Differences
Size, space, and placement
Soundbars have a small footprint compared to speakers. You’ll be able to set them up underneath or in front of a TV, whether on a stand or even a coffee table. They’re compact and wide, ideal for making the most of living spaces with not much space and when you want minimal clutter. The small form factor eliminates placement decisions and fine-tuning that comes with speakers – simply place them in close proximity to your TV.
Speakers, on the other hand, take up more space and benefit from a wider environment. Although they can be used in a smaller living room, you’ll get the best performance when keeping them at a distance from walls and furnishings.
Ease of installation
One of the most notable differences between soundbars and speakers is installation time. The convenience of soundbars in this respect is one of their principal advantages, as they often require a single cable with a power connection, in addition to not requiring much decision-making when it comes to orientation and placement. Ease of installation makes soundbars a more appealing and accessible option compared to speakers, which take a few more steps in wiring and connecting to amplifiers or receivers.
Sound production
Another key difference between soundbars and traditional speakers is how they project sound to a room. Soundbars sound impressive for different reasons than a speaker. Both can deliver an immersive experience, but how it’s delivered differs.
A soundbar houses several small drivers inside a single enclosure at an angle. They are also paired with digital signal processing (DSP) to steer sound in different directions. Many soundbars today have upward and sideways firing drivers that bounce off walls and ceilings to re-create a surround sound experience. Instead of placing multiple speakers around a room – to the left, right, in front, and behind the listener – soundbars use psychoacoustic principles.
Speakers use a more conventional approach in line with how we typically think of sound production. Each speaker comes with dedicated drivers – think tweeters and woofers – to handle different frequency ranges. Sound then disperses naturally across the room based on the direction of the speakers. When speakers are spaced apart, genuine stereo separation is created rather than using simulated positions. This gives users greater control and produces maximum realism.
Sound quality
Soundbars, by the nature of their design, are thus limited in sound quality compared to dedicated speakers. Dedicated speakers that have been positioned properly can produce a richer sound, in addition to the wider frequency ranges available – especially in the bass. This difference becomes more stark with hi-fi speakers. Speakers also benefit from upgrades and accessories, such as stands, whereas soundbars have limited options to improve the sound aside from using them in a more acoustically favourable environment.
Soundbars vs Speakers for Movies
Movies are historically where soundbars shine most. They can produce a wide soundstage and interesting surround effects without needing the complexity of a multichannel speaker setup. For many living rooms across New Zealand, a premium soundbar paired with a subwoofer hits a sweet spot between high-quality audio and ease of installation. Although a traditional speaker setup will usually outperform a soundbar with the right setup, they’re still better than having no external speakers at all.
Premium Audio Tailored to Your Lifestyle
At the end of the day, choosing between soundbars and speakers comes down to what you value the most and the space you’re working with. Soundbars are a fast, streamlined option that delivers an impressive audio experience with minimal setup. Speakers, on the other hand, reward a little bit of time spent finding the optimal placement and positioning. Both provide a great upgrade over built-in TV audio when chosen thoughtfully.
The good news is, we have the best soundbars and speakers available. We help customers across New Zealand navigate these decisions every day. Whether you’re settling into a new, compact living room or planning a full home theatre, our team can help you. Explore our range today, we’ve got everything you need to get started.