You may have read about the optimal distance between the TV and the soundbar, but how much distance can you put between the two before it becomes noticeable and the sound coming from it feels realistic?
The best distance between the TV and the soundbar is about 10-15 cm, i.e., 4-6 inches. But this distance is what many people overlook most of the time and instead opt for placing the soundbar at a more aesthetically pleasing place when observed from the couch.
Distance between the tv and soundbar significantly affects the overall quality of the sound, and we will tell you why. Also, this article will discuss the placement of different sound systems. Stay with us and read till the end!
The Distance Between the TV and Soundbar
When you place your soundbar in a center alignment with the TV, the sound you get is synchronized with the images. The ideal gap between the two devices must be between 10 and 15 cm (4 and 6 inches). With this distance, you get easy access to controls and connectivity.
As for the nearest sidewall, keep a distance of 1 meter or 3 feet between the wall and the soundbar. You get equal sound dispersion around the room with this setting, as well as reduced noise from wave interference.
The Distance Between You and the Entire Unit
The distance between the soundbar and you should be at least 3-7 meters. Keeping the seating arrangement a few meters away ensures you experience the best sound quality from the soundbar.
However, this arrangement also depends on the size, and if your room is bigger, you can
distance yourself a little more. Soundbars will still produce a clear, deep bass that bounces off the wall.
It will help if you keep some distance between the soundbar and the nearest wall, as some soundbars are more potent than others.
Remember that your carpet, curtains, and shelving may improve your experience by absorbing noi se and echo. However, different soundbars are available from what you might expect. They contain built-in features that assist users in determining the ideal distances for optimum performance.
Where should a soundbar be placed?
Sound Bars with Subwoofer Setup
If your soundbar has a subwoofer built-in or you add one, find a space for it. Ensure the sub is positioned for the best sound quality and convenience (near an AC power outlet).
Once the subwoofer is in place, and you are happy with the bass response, balance it with your soundbar so that neither is too loud nor too low. Check your remote control to see if the soundbar and the subwoofer have separate volume controls. If so, you can get the right balance with ease.
Make sure the soundbar has a primary volume control as well. You don’t need to rebalance the soundbar and subwoofer every time you change the volume because it can adjust both volumes simultaneously and in the same ratio.
Sound Bars with Surround Speakers Setup
Some soundbars come with surround speakers and a subwoofer. These systems have a wireless subwoofer connected to the surround speakers through speaker cables.
The soundbar generates sound from the front left, center, and proper channels. It wirelessly transmits surround and bass signals to the subwoofer. The attached speakers receive the surround signals through the subwoofer.
Although no wires flow from the front to the back of the room with this arrangement, the subwoofer’s placement is restricted because it must be near the surround speakers.
On the other hand, you may add up to two wireless surround speakers to certain soundbars from Polk Audio (SB1 Plus) and Sonos (Playbar, Playbase, and Beam). It’s not necessary to physically connect these soundbars to a subwoofer. They must still plug into AC power, though.
The best placement for surround speakers on a soundbar is to the sides, 10 to 20 degrees behind the listening position. A few inches should separate the speaker from the room’s corners or side walls.
The best position for the subwoofer to produce the deepest, clearest bass is close to the rear wall if the surround speakers are connected to one.
Balance the subwoofer and your soundbar once they are connected. Next, balance the surround speakers, so they are not too soft but do not overpower the soundbar.
Look for separate surround speaker level controls on the remote. If there is a primary volume control, you can change it so that the soundbar, surround speakers, and subwoofer all have their volume levels adjusted without affecting the balance of the system as a whole.
Sound Bars With Digital Sound Projection Setup
A digital sound projector is another kind of soundbar that you can come across. Yamaha makes such soundbars, and their model numbers begin with the letters “YSP” (Yamaha Sound Projector).
The distinctive feature of this kind of soundbar is that it has a continuous layout of “beam drivers” across the front surface in place of typical speakers.
Added complexity requires additional setup:
- Divide the beam drivers into distinct groups to enable the desired channels (2,3,5 or 7).
- To help with soundbar setup, plug the included microphone into the soundbar.
- The soundbar produces test tones that are sent into space.
- The soundbar receives the tones the microphone takes and transmits.
- The software in the soundbar analyzes the tone with beam driver adjustment to match the dimension and acoustics of the room.
A space where the beam drivers can bounce sound off walls is necessary for digital sound projection. A digital sound projector is not the greatest soundbar option if your room has one or more open ends.
Check out: 8 Best Soundbar Under $100 in 2023
Sound Bar vs. Sound Base Setup
A Sound Base is another variation of the soundbar. A sound base puts the speakers and connectivity of a soundbar into a cabinet that serves as a TV platform.
As the sound base works best with TVs with center stands, placement options with TVs are limited. If your TV has end feet, the feet might be too far apart to fit on top of a sound base since the sound base might be smaller than the TV’s end feet.
The sound base may also be higher than the lower bezel’s vertical height on the TV frame. Consider these factors if you choose a sound base over a soundbar.
A sound base may be referred to as an “audio console,” “sound platform,” “sound pedestal,” “sound plate,” or “TV speaker base,” depending on the brand.
Issues with Soundbar Placement
With each placement of the soundbar, a different problem arises. The TV’s connector is always closer to the bottom of the device. Therefore wall mounting below the TV may cause some interference.
Consequently, placing it on the table rather than mounting it on the wall is preferable. Specific Soundbar systems reflect the sound off the walls to produce a surround sound like in a theater. Therefore, the design of the wall and the inside furnishings may suppress sound.
Measure the height of the infrared receiver on the TV for the remote before purchasing a soundbar and setting it in front of the screen. If the soundbar is mounted too high, it could block the receiver, and the remote would not work.
Can a soundbar be placed to the side of a TV?
When you place your soundbar to the side of the TV, the sound will not sync with what you are watching, and the audio will be weird. For this reason, always avoid placing your soundbar to the side of the TV.
Your brain predicts any audio from the object you are looking at while watching TV (or anything else that creates noise). It seems weird when you’re watching a car slide around a corner on TV and hear screeching tires coming from off to the side.
Additionally, it sounds much stranger when you watch and hear other people speaking. It just doesn’t sound right; compare it to a PC with a speaker that is broken on one side.
If your soundbar is positioned to the side, music may not sound too bad, but dialogue or action scenes on your TV will cause a weird disconnect between what you are hearing and watching.
Since there are no cables and the only issues are connection distance or interference, a Bluetooth soundbar may technically be positioned anywhere.
However, positioning a soundbar to the side would reduce its sound quality and might result in an acoustic echo or make it sound strange from the wrong angle.
You’ll probably get used to the sound regardless of where you put it. A front-firing soundbar should be placed at roughly ear level and directly beneath the TV to ensure the best sound quality and acoustics.
You may also place an upward-firing soundbar above your TV to reflect sound off the ceiling. These soundbars include good Dolby Atmos models. Some prefer to use both for a more immersive experience.
Can you put soundbar in front of TV?
A soundbar should be set in front of the TV– when watching movies or TV shows, that sounds best. The audio setup of the TV show or movie separates sounds that should come from the front. Therefore, this creates the most immersive experience.
Conclusion
A soundbar should be positioned under your TV and facing you. The distance between TV and the soundbar should be about 10-15 cm (4-6 inches). This setting gives the best sound quality and the most immersive audio experience.
You can mount your soundbar to the wall below your TV. If your soundbar has a subwoofer, it is preferable to position it on the floor so that it faces you and is in line with other speakers.
FAQ’s
What distance should there be between a TV and a soundbar?
You have many choices for where to set the soundbar. On the other hand, the ideal spacing between the two devices is approximately 4 to 6 inches. This is the perfect distance since it allows for a clear path to the soundbar.
What is the minimum distance to a soundbar?
A Dolby Atmos-enabled sound bar needs to be at least 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 metres) from the listener's seated position for the full surround effect to be experienced.
Can a TV sit on a sound bar?
The VESA pattern is compatible with the soundbar mounting. They basically work with all TVs, wall mounts, and stands. If your TV is still on the stand that came with it and the VESA holes aren't being used, the installation process will go quite quickly.
Where is the best place for a soundbar?
If the TV is attached to the wall using brackets, the soundbar can either be placed on a shelf below the tv or attached to the wall directly below it. Another thing to think about is whether or not the room has other sound sources, like a turntable or radio system. If so, the soundbar should be put close to those sources so it can pick up their audio signals.
Jason Reynolds
I have been working in the electrical and Audio/Visual field for over 19 years. My focus for EagleTVMounting is to provide concise expertise in everything I write. The greatest joy in life is to provide people with insight information that can potentially change their viewpoints. Our #1 goal is just that!
