There is nothing wrong with the humble soundbar.

if you have an aesthetic requirement, space limited or just want to improve TV Audio. But, to say that you can get a cinematic experience with any soundbar is stretching the truth. I sell and listen to many sounders from many companies and while I do find them impressive based on the size of the speakers and overall dimensions of the bars there has never been a soundbar released to date that truly excites me, makes me feel like I am listening to a great sound system or that has the ability to immerse me in a great soundtrack. So lets put things into perspective! Soundbars are TV enhancements, yes you can listen to music and yes you can listen to movies but a soundbar is not the only option.

• Give thought to your room size - we know room effects sound, in a large hard space a soundbar could sound thin and tiny.
• Where you are sitting - small drivers have a tendency to be quite direct so if you are off access you will be missing information and may not get good vocal articulation
• What is your expectation from the sound system - if you are going to be using the soundbar as your only music system then you need to understand the limitations to avoid disappointment.

Why does this Matter?

When buying a new TV give thought to what is important in the audio system,

• What do you expect from the sound?
• Is it your only music system?
• Will you be watching movies?
• Do you want surround sound?
• Or do you JUST want to make TV audio better than the standard TV speakers?

If you just want to streamline and simplify your system then a Soundbar could be the right product. BUT if you fall into the advertising hype and think that by taking a slim array of speakers home will make you feel like you are in the latest Events Mega Plex Cinema - you will be sadly disappointed. To get a cinematic experience you will need a proper home cinema system, to feel the emotion and immerse your self in great music you will need a proper stereo system.