Ears On

Soundbars and soundbases are not for everyone. But they are for an increasing number of people, with unit sales having risen from 1.3 million in 2010 to 12.9 million in 2016. I review soundbars and soundbases as well as satellite/subwoofer sets and orthodox speakers, so I know what it's like to live with one. I must admit it wouldn't be my first choice for a primary audio system. But the following scenarios don't apply to me. For brevity, we'll assume this discussion includes both soundbars and soundbases....

Are you living in limited space? Perhaps you're living in your first post-college apartment, a snug little studio? Or you're renting a room in someone else's apartment or house? You might be a soundbar person.

Do you hate the architecture of a conventional audio/video system? Do you find surround receivers so objectionable that you wouldn't squeeze one of those things into your living space for all the tea in China? You too might be a soundbar person.

Do you actually want to own a surround receiver for all the great ways it brings music into your life—but don't want speakers on the floor? A passive three-channel soundbar, along with wall-mount surrounds and (let's cheat a little) a flat wall-hugging sub, might be the right thing for you.

Do you have a primary home theater or two-channel system elsewhere in your home but want something simple for the bedroom? A soundbar might be just the ticket for you as well.

Do you want to buy a Bluetooth speaker, because that's how you like to do your (at least casual) listening—but you want it to do double duty as your TV speaker? Obviously a soundbar is the best solution for you. Most active (meaning self powered) soundbars include Bluetooth.

Do you hate the sound of the speakers built into your ultra-slim no-bezel TV? Clearly a soundbar would be a big improvement for you.

Do you wish to avoid having speakers on the floor but don't want to poke holes in the wall for in-wall speakers? Perhaps because it would violate your lease? Most soundbars are suitable for less invasive on-wall mounting and not at all invasive table placement.

Just because you belong to one or more of these groups doesn't necessarily mean a soundbar is for you. Some of the folks above may be just as happy with a satellite/subwoofer set or various in-wall or on-wall speakers.

Even so, the numbers don't lie. Soundbars are fitting into more and more people's lives, in exactly the way they want audio systems to fit into their lives. And that makes them one of the most powerful categories in an audio industry that is struggling to keep up with the way people want to live.

Audio Editor Mark Fleischmann is the author of Practical Home Theater: A Guide to Video and Audio Systems, available in both print and Kindle editions.