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As soon as we get home, we pop the latest movie release into the Blu-ray player and settle in for an evening of entertainment. Before long, that relaxing evening becomes one of constantly adjusting the volume to capture both quiet scenes and explosions without damaging the television’s speakers.
In my search for the best way to build a home theater, this issue alone was one of the first factors I considered. Prior to investing in a full home theater, I added a soundbar first.
So, how to make soundbar sound louder?
- If you are looking for great sound in your room, make sure your soundbar is large enough.
- You can enhance the sound quality of your soundbar by turning off or muting your television’s internal speakers.
- You can relay audio signals to your Soundbar using HDMI (ARC) or other high-quality cables.
- Make sure your soundbar is optimally programmed for your audio source by adjusting the equalizer settings, if possible.
- Make sure your soundbar supports current technologies, such as Dolby Digital.
- A receiver is only needed if you have to; simple television and active soundbar configurations do not require one!
There are six tips and tricks to ensure you get the best value for your soundbar. Let us take a look at how you can maximize your soundbar’s performance.
Here are six tips and tricks for louder the sound of your soundbar
Investing in a soundbar has become an important component of living rooms all over the country. Here are six tips and tricks for getting the most out of your investment.
1) Purchase a soundbar that is large enough for your room
The size of your home theater is important to consider before you purchase a Soundbar. There are different sizes of Soundbars, and these sizes allow your sound to be scaled according to your room. Larger Soundbars are ideal for large home theaters. However, a smaller Soundbar, like the Bose Solo 5, would not fit well in such a large space.
In terms of aesthetics, most people prefer Soundbars that match their television’s width. It is pleasing to the eye to see this symmetry. It is important to realize, however, that the size of a room plays a key role in choosing the right television and Soundbar for the room.
After calculating the viewing distance from your entertainment center, you can determine the size of television that will work best in your home theater. For this purpose, multiply the television’s size by 7.7. Multiply by 1.5 instead if you are considering a TV that supports 4K Ultra-High Definition.
The most comfortable viewing distance for a 42-inch television is 7 feet (or 84 inches). The Soundbar should match, or be smaller than, the width of your television to provide adequate sound quality.
There are so many types of soundbars available that it can be difficult to choose one. To help you make your decision, I’ve compiled a list of the best soundbars to buy.
2) Turn off the built-in speakers on your television
Most televisions come with low-quality speakers. That’s why we invest in soundbars. Running your television’s internal speakers as well as your soundbar can dilute the sound.
The difference in sound quality is actually more distracting when it occurs when the same sound comes out of different speakers. For example, muffled or diluted sounds from your television can disrupt the clarity of the sound coming from your soundbar when played simultaneously, but at different frequencies or decibels.
It is possible to disable the internal speakers on the majority of televisions on the market today through their menus.
The soundbar will be able to provide a rich tone and pitch without being distracted by background noises from the television if this option is not available.
3) Use high-quality cables
The world of audio offers a variety of cabling options. However, if you want the clearest sound, you should use high-quality cables.
Whenever possible, you should use cables that relay high-quality digital signals. These include your optical and HDMI opticals. AUX and RCA cables have long been considered outdated technology.
It is important to consider the differences between these cables. Personally, I recommend HDMI cables if possible. HDMI cables can handle both audio and video signals.
In other words, HDMI or cables are the best choices if you are planning to use different sources, such as your PlayStation 4 or Blu-ray player.
In contrast, optical cables can only relay audio signals, which means you should use additional cabling if you wish to connect video sources as well.
Optical cables may offer slightly better sound quality than HDMI cables, but they are not as widely accepted. Read our detailed article on this topic to learn more about HDMI and optical cables.
4) Adjust the settings of your equalizer if possible
A soundbar’s equalizer settings are typically used to adjust the volume, treble, and bass levels based on your preferences or what your media requires. By adjusting your equalizer settings, you can make sure your soundbar plays as it should.
With today’s soundbars, you can adjust your equalizer setting. Technology makes this even easier; you can install a number of mobile apps on your phone to determine what level works best in your home.
Depending on your personal preference, you can also adjust these settings by ear. Using your soundbar’s user manual should help you equalize it.
5) Buy a soundbar with Dolby Atmos or DTS: X
It is important to keep in mind that audio technology is constantly evolving. Most devices you use today support Dolby Digital sound, but you should consider the capabilities of Dolby Atmos or DTS: X.
With Dolby Atmos, for example, a sound signal is bounced off the ceiling and back down to you. DTS: X maps sounds in a three-dimensional space.
As a result, Dolby Atmos and DTS: X work in very similar ways to enhance your listening pleasure. The plane flying above you actually sounds like it’s over you.
It is not possible for all soundbars to support these technologies at the moment. As DTS: X becomes more popular, investing in one may make the transition easier. My personal favorite DTS: X compatible soundbar is the Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1ch DTS: X Soundbar (on Amazon).
6) Remove the receiver (if possible)
You can eliminate the middleman – the receiver – by buying an active soundbar! Connecting your television to your soundbar and ignoring the receiver will give you better sound without requiring a receiver. If you are looking for a simple setup and just want better sound, you can do so without buying or using a receiver.
They are, more or less, all-in-one speakers that help boost your sound with minimal effort. Active soundbars have their own amplifier; they eliminate the need for a separate amplifier or receiver.
You can even get quality sound without the bulk of a full surround sound system simply by adding an active soundbar. With an active Soundbar, signals can be relayed between it and your source device almost instantly because the receiver can be cut out.
In this way, you will reduce the likelihood of audio lag, syncing issues, and other annoying issues. If you experience an audio lag between a soundbar and a TV, then be sure to take a look at our guide to fixing lag.
A passive soundbar, however, does not have an amplifier. For this reason, you will need an amplifier or receiver to power the speakers,. As a result, the sound quality can be muddy and lag can occur.
Soundbars actually improve sound quality over TV speakers, right?
Yes! Today’s television speakers are superior to those even 5 years ago. However, they still lack a lot of quality, which makes soundbars so popular.
With a soundbar, you can enjoy quality sound beyond the capabilities of your television. Without taking up much space, you can mount it on the wall or place it in your entertainment center.
In order to really enhance your cinematic experience, you could invest in a high-end home theater system.
Alternatively, a soundbar provides many of the same benefits, without breaking the bank. It is also common for high-end soundbars to play an important role in home theater setups.
Frequently asked questions
How do I increase the volume on my sound bar?
Making Your Soundbar Louder: What to Do?
- Make sure the soundbar you choose has adequate speaker channels.
- You should adjust the acoustics in your media room.
- The TV settings should be programmed correctly.
- Increase the number of speakers in your sound system.
How can I make my TV soundbar louder?
1. Ensure that your TV produces audio
- The TV remote allows you to access “Settings.”
- The Samsung TV’s sound output can be controlled by selecting “Sound” and then “Sound Output”.
- Choose your Samsung soundbar from the options and adjust the volume with your TV remote.
Why does my Samsung Soundbar sound so low?
Make changes to the output audio settings
You may notice a decrease in volume if your Digital Output Audio Format isn’t set to PCM, for instance, if Dolby is selected.
How do I get better sound on my Samsung Soundbar?
On your remote, select the Home button, then select Settings. Select Sound, then select Sound Output and then select the desired sound output.
