Soundbar vs. Home Theater System

Which one is right for you? Which one gives you the most for your money?


Summary (TL;DR)

Soundbars give you the best bang-for-your-buck and yield massive sound quality improvements over your built-in TV speakers. A home theater system will provide you with a much more impressive and immersive experience but at a much higher price tag. Soundbars are a great solution for most casual listening situations, but a home theater setup is best for people that are serious about their entertainment experience.

Looking to upgrade the sound on your TV? Find out whether a Soundbar or Home Theater System is the best option for you.

Gone are the days when you needed a $10,000 minimum investment to get amazing sound from your entertainment system. Most soundbars these days fall below the $200 mark and you can get an entry-level 7.1 surround sound system for less than $1,000. As a home theater installation company, we have seen a massive shift away from home theater systems towards soundbars. In this article, we will discuss why soundbars are so good, and when you may want to still invest in a home theater system.

Why Get a Soundbar?

TV Installation with Soundbar
Sony TV with Yamaha Soundbar – Installation by Reference Audio Video

While some TV’s for sale today feature improved integrated speakers, our experience tells us that a soundbar will still sound so much better than built-in tv speakers. One of our favorite soundbars we have worked with at Reference Audio Video is this Yamaha ATS-1080. You can find it on sale at amazon right now for $179.99 and they frequently go on sale at Costco. These soundbars are basically plug-and-play with any modern TV with an HDMI ARC input. Using the ARC feature on your TV allows the soundbar to power on and off with your TV. Additionally, the volume buttons on your TV remote will control the volume on the soundbar. For casual TV watching, casual movie watching, and casual gaming, a soundbar will give you the best sound quality per-dollar of any other audio setup.

Why Avoid a Soundbar?

Although some soundbars advertise “Virtual Surround,” we are skeptical of the sound quality provided by these features. There is no substitute for a true 7.1 Surround Sound system, and soundbars only try to mimic the effect of surround sound by using Digital Sound Processing to widen the stereo image of the sound. Essentially, you’re getting a spruced up stereo signal that may actually decrease the sound quality in attempt to gain the illusion that you’re listening to a surround sound system. A proper Home Theater System would enable you to get true Surround sound without compromising quality.

Why Get a Home Theater System?

Bright Home Theater System with New York Theme
New York Themed Home Theater System with Stewart Cinemascope screen by Reference Audio Video Utah

Home Theater Systems are great if you want to hear every detail of the movie you’re watching, or you want to have a competitive advantage on games that support surround sound (being able to hear which side your opponents are on can give you a huge leg-up in Fortnite and a multitude of other games). I always get a thrill from playing Need For Speed and being able to hear that I have an opponent racer trying to pass me on one side or another.

 The experience of watching a movie with a correctly calibrated home theater and quality speakers can really transport you to another world. It’s hard to describe without actually experiencing it, but it’s like putting on a VR Headset for your ears instead of your eyes. Entry level systems start around $399 for a 5.1 Surround setup, then you have to factor in speaker wire and a surround sound amplifier/receiver. You will probably find yourself spending around $1000, for a decent entry-level setup. You may save a little money over a full custom setup, but you’ll have wires hanging all over your living space, which looks really un-classy.

                While an entry level system might get you by, it will leave you wanting for more. A full custom home theater system with high quality speakers (like Bowers & Wilkins or Klipsch Reference Series) will deliver every single detail of quality that media producers want you to hear. If you have the opportunity to have a built-in custom home theater in your home in a dedicated room or area, your home value could increase in addition to having a cool selling point to set your home apart from other homes. If you have your system professionally installed, you will often be able to have your wires hidden from sight for a clean, professional look.

Why Avoid a Home Theater System?

There are two main reasons why you should consider not getting a home theater system. One reason is price and the other reason is neighbors.

You could spend an unlimited amount of money on a custom home theater system, but we find that we can put together a really good custom home theater system for as little as $4,000 for the wiring, speakers, subwoofer, surround receiver, and labor—not including a screen, projector, or TV. We realize that this is pretty big investment for a lot of people, but as the saying goes, “you get what you pay for.”

If you live in a townhome, condo, or apartment, a home theater system will not be a great choice for you. Dedicated subwoofers can send low frequency sound through walls very easily, with minimal signal loss, so your neighbors will know whenever you are watching a movie. You may even get complaints if you listen too loud. This is where a soundbar or a simpler 2-channel or 3-channel sound setup would be more appropriate.

Summary

Soundbars give you the best bang-for-your-buck and yield massive sound quality improvements over your built-in TV speakers. A home theater system will provide you with a much more impressive and immersive experience but at a much higher price tag. Soundbars are a great solution for most casual listening situations, but a home theater setup is best for people that are serious about their entertainment experience.


If you live in Utah, please contact us today to schedule a free quote and evaluation of your Audio/Video needs. Also, check out our gallery to see a sample of our work!