Best Soundbar Australia: How to Find the Best Deals for the Best Soundbar in 2022

What exactly is the best soundbar, and why should you care? 

Remember the good ol’ days when all you had to do was install your TV, and the speakers were built in so you didn’t have to configure your audio setup because it was all taken care of?

No? Well, let us clear the air. Brace yourself, hot take incoming; those days weren’t the greatest. Listening to any TV shows/movies/music on your TV might have felt like the height of innovation back in the day when there was no other alternative; but the future is now, and we have more control over sound quality than ever before!

So, if you don’t want to experience your media as though you’re listening to it underwater, don’t worry. There is an alternative, and it’s called soundbars.

What is the Best Sound Bar?

There are many different types of soundbars with all kinds of configurations. We’re here to help you find the best soundbars that’s perfect for you with this comprehensive list. Here is a list of the best sound bar types that you should look for:

1. The 3.2.1-channel Q Series Home Theatre Soundbar Q600B

    This is the quintessential sound setup; providing cinema-level sound at an incredibly affordable price with an equally incredible easy setup. If you’re considering a soundbar, this is likely the one you’re looking for. 

    Its features include:

    • True Dolby Atmos/DTS:X - Two of the best surround sound formats available, delivering a captivating and immersive audio experience through the use of the innovative combination of overhead and directional effects.
    • Samsung Q-Symphony - There’s nothing bittersweet about this symphony, which uses synchronised motion tracking to perfectly marry your Q-Series Soundbar and compatible Samsung TV.
    • Adaptive Sound - Enjoy optimal, context-based sound that adapts to every literal scene of what you are watching to deliver its audio with perfect quality and clarity. 
    • Samsung Acoustic Beam Technology - Even the walls of your room become part of your audio setup, as acoustic beam technology projects sound, bouncing it off the ceiling and walls to provide you with literal surround sound.

    2. The 2.1-channel Soundbar B450

    The next best option, for sure, provides an exemplary audio experience with the simplicity of a 2 channel setup. Don't worry, you’re not missing out – you’re still getting a wide range of audio features, including:

    • Powerful bass - Who doesn’t love feeling the bass? Is it really an immersive audio experience if your room isn’t shaking?
    • Gaming mode - Video games have come a long way from Pong on the Odyssey. If you want to experience your favourite gaming soundtrack, or truly take in the sound design of your favourite games, this soundbar has you covered. 
    • Voice enhancing - Hear every line of dialogue with perfect crystal clarity. What did Bill Murray whisper to Scarlett Johansen at the end of Lost In Translation? You’ll have a better chance of finding out with this soundbar.
    • Adaptive sound lite - Get the most out of your favourite shows and movies as your soundbar analyses the audio to deliver it in its most optimised form.

    3. The Ultra Slim S801B Soundbar

    If you’re the kind of person that is apprehensive towards how speakers look, but you still want the sophisticated audio experience they provide, this is the best soundbar for you. It boasts many cool features such as:

    • An ultra slim design that perfectly complements the visual aesthetics of whatever space you set it up in.
    • Wireless True Dolby ATMOS & DTS Virtual:X with 3.1.2ch sound, so you’re getting high quality sound no matter what
    • Total Sound Collaboration, so your sound is not only high quality, it has been tailored perfectly to work with your space and synchronise with your speakers
    • Adaptive Sound

    4. The 11.1.4-channel Q-Series Home Theatre Soundbar Q990B

    Eleven channels? Should that even be legal?! If the previous entries in this list feel like child’s play, this soundbar is the one that’s going to push your audio set up to its limits in the best possible way.

    Does it come with features? You bet it comes with features, including:

    • Wireless True Dolby Atmos & DTS:X with 11.1.4ch Surround Sound
    • Total Sound Collaboration + (You read about total sound collaboration in the previous entry, well what if that sound synchronisation was performed with object tracking speakers?)
    • Side Firing Dolby Atmos Rear Speakers
    • HDMI eARC Connection, which passes high-resolution music and 3D surround sound formats, like Dolby ATMOS, from connected gaming consoles and Blu-ray players through your compatible TV to your Soundbar.

    5. The Q-Series Home Theatre Soundbar Q930B

    Okay, maybe you think 11 channels is a bit excessive, but you also don’t want to downgrade too much – perfectly understandable! This is one of the best soundbars, which offers a still very impressive 9 channels, with features such as;

    • Wireless True Dolby ATMOS & DTS:X with 9.1.4ch Surround Sound
    • Total Sound Collaboration
    • Upfiring Dolby Atmos Rear Speakers
    • HDMI eARC Connection

    6. The 5.1.2-channel Q Series Home Theatre Soundbar Q800B

    This solid sound system will give you a comparable audio experience with affordable pricing, containing many of the standout features that exemplify these other kinds of soundbars, such as:

    • Wireless True Dolby ATMOS & DTS:X with 5.1.2ch sound
    • Total Sound Collaboration
    • Adaptive Sound
    • HDMI eARC Connection

    7. Q Series Home Theatre Soundbar Q700B

     

    This 3-channel sound system might not have the sheer power and sophistication of the previous entries on this list, but it’s still the next best option that will benefit your audio experience if you’re operating in a limited space or budget. Features include: 

    • Wireless True Dolby ATMOS & DTS:X with 3.1.2ch sound
    • Total Sound Collaboration
    • Adaptive Sound
    • HDMI eARC Connection

    8. 

    The 3.1-channel Soundbar B650 and wireless subwoofer

    Enjoy crystal clear dialogue and balanced 3D sound, with this 3-channel soundbar, coupled with a wireless subwoofer, and audio enhancing features, such as:

    • Dolby Digital 5.1 / DTS Virtual:X
    • Built-in Centre Speaker
    • Bass Boost
    • Powerful Bass

    9. The 2.1-channel Soundbar B550 and wireless subwoofer

    Just starting out? Looking to take it easy with your audio setup? Well, this soundbar will provide you a great 3D audio experience without the need for additional speakers, alongside other features such as;

    • Dolby Digital / DTS Virtual:X
    • Powerful Bass
    • Bass Boost
    • Voice Enhance

    How do I get the best deal on the best soundbars?

    If you want the best deal for the best soundbars, your best bet is a qualified appliance supplier with a penchant for stellar customer service, competitive pricing and, of course, high quality products. Of course, it would be perfect if they had a website or something.

    1800 Appliances is a fully authorised appliance reseller that has been elevating the audio experience of over 100,000 happy customers across Australia since 2007. We are a purely online service, providing you with a terrific range from the world’s leading brands as well as the best service we can at all times.

    Any questions? Get in touch, so we can help you find the best soundbars setup for you.

    Sound Bar Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    What would a list of the best soundbars be without frequently asked questions? These are the ones we encounter the most, all conveniently laid out for you. Of course, if there are any questions you have that we haven’t addressed, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are here to help!

    Anyway, on with the questions…

    What is a Soundbar?

    A soundbar is basically an all-in-one speaker. Think of it as a box with multiple speakers inside, delivering high quality TV sound without taking up as much space, setup time and money as your typical home theatre surround sound system.

    If you need the absolute best audio humanly possible, surround sound speakers are certainly the better option. However, if you want high quality audio that is more convenient and manageable in every conceivable way, soundbars are a much more accessible alternative. 

    What Should I Consider When Looking at Soundbars?

    There are multiple things to consider when you’re deciding on the best soundbar for your audio setup. These include:

    • The room where your audio setup is, and how a soundbar can be best integrated into it
    • The size/weight that your audio setup can accommodate for your soundbar
    • Whether or not you want a passive or active sound bar
    • The amount of channels your choice of sound bar contains
    • The connections that you need in order to connect your soundbar to your TV
    • The methods of control you want for your soundbar to have

    What Specs are There for Soundbars?

    There are many different specs to differentiate the best soundbars from one another. While there are no bad specs, they can be used as an indicator to help you determine the soundbars that would work best for you. These technical specs include:

    The Number of Speakers Inside the Soundbar

    While it is perfectly possible to add more speakers to an audio setup, a soundbar comes with many built in.

    Types of Speakers

    Because different speakers make up an audio setup, your soundbar can contain various types of speaker, including:   

    • Centre
    • Up-firing
    • Side-firing
    • Wide Range
    • Wireless Rear, etc.

    Audio Features

    These are the extra bells and whistles inside your soundbar that enhance your audio and take your experience to the next level:

    • Active Voice Amplifier
    • SpaceFit Sound
    • Dolby (ATMOS Music, ATMOS, MAT, Digital Plus, True HD, etc.)
    • Sound Modes (Surround Sound Expansion, Game Pro, Adaptive, Standard, etc.)

    Video Features

    These features determine the kinds of video that your soundbar is compatible with.

    • 4K Video
    • High Dynamic Range (i.e. HDR 10+), etc.

    Decoding Formats

    These are the kinds of audio formats that your soundbar can reformat to fit its specific channel playback functionality, such as:

    • AAC
    • MP3
    • WAV
    • OGG
    • FLAC
    • ALAC
    • AIFF, etc.

    Supported Connection Types

    These determine the kinds of methods your soundbar can use to connect to your TV, as well as the added functionality these connections allow, such as;

    • HDMI (In, Out, ARC, CEC)
    • Optical
    • Bluetooth (Codecs, Multi Connection, Power On)
    • Wi-Fi
    • USB Music Playback
    • One Remote Control

    Special Features

    These are the features that go the extra mile towards elevating your audio experience. These include:

    • SmartThings App
    • Q-Symphony
    • Tap Sound
    • Chromecast
    • Spotify Connect
    • AirPlay 2

    Voice Features

    These are the features that allow you to control your soundbar with your voice, such as:

    • Working with Google
    • Having Alexa built in

    Electrical Specs

    If sustainability, or simply using less electricity is an important factor for you, you can keep track of specifications such as;

    • Stand-by Power Consumption (Main, Rear, Subwoofer)
    • Operating Power Consumption (Rear, Subwoofer)
    • Free Voltage
    • Energy Star

    Accessories

    These are extra peripherals that come with the soundbar to help you install and control it. These include;

    • Remote Controller
    • Wall Mount Bracket
    • Power Cables, etc.

    What are Sound Channels and Why Should I Care?

    A sound channel represents an independent audio signal travelling to a single point. So, for example, if you want the simplest audio experience possible, you can listen to a Mono track where all of the audio is fed through a single channel.

    However, you can use multiple speakers to interpret multiple audio channels, creating a more elaborate and layered listening experience that makes full use of the complex sound design that make up your favourite movies, songs and TV shows. 

    What is the Difference Between Active and Passive When it Comes to Soundbars?

    The simple answer is that active sound bars contain built-in surround sound capabilities and amplifiers, whereas passive soundbars don't include a built-in amplifier, meaning that they need outside amplifiers or receivers to work correctly. Because of this, active speakers require power and passive speakers don’t.

    Ultimately, the differences come down to personal preference. The built-in amplifiers increase the weight and price of active speakers, but the consolidation of speaker and amplifier makes them arguably easier to use.  

    Are Sound Bars a Viable Alternative to Home Theatre Surround Sound?

    Home theatre surround sound systems certainly provide the best quality audio, but they also come with a series of disadvantages that can make them surprisingly not ideal, such as;

    • The high asking price
    • The sheer amount of space that they take up
    • The time they take to set up
    • The amount of knowledge they take to not only put together but also effectively maintain, etc.

    Because of this, sound bars are not only a viable alternative, but they are a much better option for a lot of consumers, even if the audio experience that they ultimately deliver is objectively not as elaborate. 

    I’ve Heard the Term “Sound Base” Thrown Around As Well. What are Those?

    Sound bases and sound bars aren’t actually that different. The only difference is that, as the name suggests, sound bases are supposed to serve as a stand for your TV. In order to integrate the sound base into your audio setup, you place your TV on top of it.

    For some, that perfectly suits their room. However, for others, the sound bar’s flexibility makes it the better alternative, as it can be placed anywhere. Ultimately, the one that will work better for you depends on the room in which your audio setup will sit.

    What Connections do I Need When Setting Up My Soundbar System?

    One of the amazing innovations of soundbar technology is the many ways that they can connect to your TV. For example, your options include:

    • HDMI ARC, allowing you to connect your soundbar to your TV’s audio return channel (ARC) input with an HDMI cable, especially good for multi-channel sound bars.
    • Wireless connectivity, whether you decide to use the built-in Bluetooth connectivity that most sound bars come with, or Wi-Fi that allows you to connect your soundbar to your TV using your home’s internet connection.
    • Optical ports, which give you a solid, best-case scenario connection between your TV and soundbar thanks to its ease of use, simplicity and reliability. However, it does not have the bandwidth to carry over a 5.1 signal.
    • USB inputs, which contain the lowest audio fidelity of these connectivity options. However, if you’re in the scenario where you want to play files from a USB, the port is certainly there.

    What is “Cinema Sound” and Should I Consider it?

    Most sound bars have a feature called “cinema sound” (a.k.a. virtual surround sound), which they say mimics actual home theatre sound. The reality is that this usually only amounts to a little digital delay, which results in what can be described as a sort of fractional echo (think reverb). This doesn’t equal authentic home theatre sound, but it does make it sound like you’re in a bigger room. For some, this results in a more immersive experience, however it can be difficult to justify any additional pricing for it.

    What’s so Special About Samsung Soundbars?

    Samsung has brought innovation to a wide range of appliances, and that includes the many sound bars that they have created. Innovative technologies and expertise from the acoustic masters at Samsung Audio Lab help ensure premium performance, to help you achieve cinematic, high-quality sound in your home.

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