Surround sound systems come in all shapes and sizes these days, but there’s a modern alternative that we’ve seen sweep the home theater world.
Yes, we are talking about wireless sound bar systems. Bose recently introduced the Ultra Lifestyle sound bar, subwoofer and wireless speakers, and joins the likes of Sonos, LG, Sony, Yamaha and Samsung in offering a natural system of home audio products that can work together to create the perfect surround sound experience.
While they vary in quality – we recently raved about Samsung’s superb HW-Q990H, while LG’s Sound Suite system didn’t quite hit the mark – there’s no doubt that they’re popular, simple, and effective ways to get surround sound without filling your living room with giant floor-standing speakers.
We even see companies getting creative with their soundbar systems. Most recently impressed us with its Bowfell-sized Halo Atmos system, and Hisense has got the coveted What Hi-Fi? Award for its most affordable AX5125H package.
While they won’t be right for everyone, and a true surround sound speaker package will always win in terms of delivering proper cinema sound, there are plenty of good surround options, and they remind us of the past trend of home cinema sound.
A full box surround sound system is nothing new; in fact, they were all the rage in the early 2010s. Samsung, Panasonic, LG and many others used to sell the whole home cinema in a box, combining a DVD or Blu-ray player next to a 5.1 integrated wired speaker set, enabling surround sound for many people without the need for an AV receiver.
Our review of the Panasonic SC-BTT590 from back in 2012 highlights just how powerful these systems once were. We praised the system, saying “the handover between the speakers is good, it creates a satisfying surround sound”.
Expanding further back in 2010 with the award-winning Sony BDV-E370, which featured “easy, fool-proof setup” and speakers that “deliver incredible scale and power”.
These beautiful, simple systems are designed to combine cinema sound with plug-and-play simplicity, which sounds like a goal very similar to the sound bar systems we see today.
The main difference between home cinema in older box systems and current sound bar packages is the inclusion of a Blu-ray player that once served as a hub to drive these speakers.
That’s to be expected in a world dominated by broadcast and highly advanced wireless audio protocols, but being the virtual media purveyors that we are, it’s a shame nonetheless.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. Sonos, Bose, LG and Sony all take a modular approach, allowing you to connect surround speakers and subwoofers as you see fit, and many of these companies offer components at different price points.
More customization and different speaker configurations mean you can build a surround sound package that best suits your needs and budget, always inclusive.
Sony, in particular, has welcomed this approach with open arms, as it now offers five different optional subwoofers and three different types of wireless speakers.
So, are soundbar systems secretly a revival of one of the home cinema trends of the 2010s? We think they are spiritual followers with a common mission statement: save people from their TV speakers by bringing simple, effective cinema sound to the masses.
MORE:
Check out our selection of The best soundbars for Dolby Atmos
As well as- the best surround sound systems around
And get the best soundbar deals here
