Keep in mind, you will need a pretty specific setup for this. I'm Jonah. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. We explore your main options to help you find the best for your setup. The setup process varies between models, but it usually involves connecting to your soundbar using an app. Difference Between a Passive and Active Subwoofer: Which is Better? The sound normally comes from the TV speakers and the sound bar if they are connected with an HDMI cable. One feature thats always useful on a set of speakers or a soundbar is a headphone jack, as this allows you to hear the audio without bothering anyone in else. As an affiliate, I may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. TheHomeTheaterDIY.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This soundbar is a good middle ground between a soundbar and surround sound system because youre getting a major step up in bass from your TVs speakers. Lastly, connect your surround speakers to your receiver using normal speaker wires. See our expert guide to common soundbar problems. The kind of content you view and the sources youll be plugging in will also determine what kind of soundbar you need. For others, youll need additional hardware, such as an Amazon Echo, Apple HomePod or Google Nest device. If your TV or soundbar doesnt have HDMI ARC (youll need it on both to use it), the next best option is one of the other digital connections, most commonly digital optical or digital coaxial. Do not plug your speakers to the soundbars audio in channels because they will not deliver any sound. You can use the filters on our soundbar reviews to find models with the connections you want. For those who dont care, we also provide instructions for integrating a soundbar into a surround sound system. Pros and Cons of 2 or More Subwoofers in Home Theaters. You can understand more and change your cookies preferences here. Home Theater DIY is where I can share my findings and experience about home theaters and home electronics. This allows you to control other bits of CEC-enabled equipment, such as the volume and power of your TV, using just one remote. Soundbars are a great first step up from standard TV speakers, but dont necessarily expect wonders from them. This feature wont work through every HDMI port most newer TVs have a clearly marked ARC or eARC socket. If your soundbar doesnt have specific instructions about hooking up surround sound speakers, you should never supplement your soundbar with external speakers. The soundbar features 2 x 3-inch full range speakers, along with 2 bass ports that result in fairly round sound. Complicated setup is never a good option, so this will save loads of time. This is by no means a full list, but should be enough to get you started. However, soundbars are useful for saving space and still have plenty of versatility. Full range speakers and additional bass ports result in full sound, particularly from a soundbar. Design is inconspicuous and can be wall-mounted to keep it out of the way. However, this video does take a different approach than this article. Use our free tool to see your TV's ideal picture setting go to how to get the best TV picture. Also check out my top recommendations for soundbars (overall). A good soundbar will sound great wherever youre sitting. Like other models it features digital processing and equalizer settings, but again these arent worth considering because they just clip the audio, particularly at high volumes. Here are the most important things to look for in a soundbar for your home theater: It always makes sense to start with price, as this is one of the most important factors for most buyers. Some models have these features built in, so you wont need to connect them to any kind of hub device. However, soundbars with high-quality speakers can run into the thousands, but this is a bit much just to pay for a headphone jack. The GRC soundbar has a built-in processing chip that can equalize sound for different media, including news, films, and music. The JBL has all the input connections you need, including AUX, USB, HDMI, optical and Bluetooth. This soundbar has 2 built-in subwoofer speakers, meaning it can provide fairly deep bass at high volume. That said, there should still be a nice price range of soundbars with headphone jacks.
To get the full experience on Sony.com, please change your settings to allow JavaScript. Here are my top picks for soundbars with headphone jacks along with links to their listings on Amazon. The smaller version should be fine for most small and medium-sized rooms, but you might want to make the upgrade if you can afford it. Soundbars aren't just for use with TVs, though you can also use one to listen to music from your phone, tablet or laptop. sound system as long as your receiver will allow it. Your soundbar doesnt need any help. If possible, place your soundbar directly in front of your TV and watch head on for the best results. Still having problems with your set-up? It has the coveted AUX headphone jack, along with the other necessary connections, such as HDMI, RCA, optical and Bluetooth.
The Rolls MX42 4-Channel Passive Mini Stereo Mixer (on Amazon) will work perfectly for this setup. Check Applicable Products and Categories for details. But some of us would like to be able to expand our existing soundbar system, so that when we hook up our cell phones via BT, we can take advantage of the bar's wireless capabilities to listen to our favourite music in other rooms, as well say, the restrooms while we take a shower. Id recommend looking for a soundbar with coaxial and optical inputs, as these will provide the best sound and should mean you can still plug headphones in. If youre streaming the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime Video in 4K HDR, youll want to squeeze out the best possible audio quality to make sure your content sounds as good as it looks. This is because soundbars are meant to be all-inclusive, standalone units. If youre really itching to get true surround sound, better to ditch the soundbar for a surround sound system or for a soundbar that includes wireless surround sound speakers. So, are there any soundbars with headphone jacks? in the sales now. Obviously theyre not going to be as impressive as surround sound speakers, but a soundbar from a reputable company like Bose will still have some power. By continuing to browse you consent to our use of cookies. Youll definitely need a receiver with pre-outs. Soooooyou can ignore my last question. However, some have a fairly narrow sweet spot. Home Theater Academy also participates in affiliate programs with Clickbank, ShareASale, and other sites. These cables can carry high-quality stereo signals, but arent best suited for surround sound. Few soundbars come with wireless or wired surround sound speakers. Fairly inexpensive with all the functions and connections you could need. If you need model-specific information, check the supplied manual. Thus, instead of hearing the sound in front of you, you hear it coming from the sides of the room. However, with a bit of digging youll find some high-quality soundbars with headphone jacks. Although the wireless subwoofer might complicate things, its still fairly easy to set up. I feel it looks best put under the TV, but it also comes with the option of being wall mounted. Posted on Last updated: February 24, 2022. I dont feel that makes any difference to functionality, as your subwoofer likely wont be too far away from the soundbar anyway. It also has some good equalizer options, not including its pre-set modes. Also it has the ability to connect USB cables and even has a Micro SD slot too, giving you a range of functions. Discover thebest soundbarsthat combine style with substance. Many soundbars feature a headphone jack along with other input/output sources. This article is incredibly out of date. Check which one your TV has (it might have both) and choose a soundbar that matches it. Use our easy-to-follow guide to find out how you can get the best-quality audio from yours. Our site is not optimized for your current browser. For more info, check out my about me page! Ultimately, hooking up a soundbar to surround sound speakers is a bad idea. var smarthelp_ua = navigator.userAgent.search('SmartHelp_WebViewer');if(smarthelp_ua > -1){$('head').append('')}. Since you will be adding two surround speakers, a 2.1 soundbar will give you 4.1 sound, and a 3.1 soundbar will give you 5.1 sound. We'll show you how. My concern is, will the switcher allow both the headphones and the sound bar to work at the same time? Its worth noting down the important things to look for in a quality soundbar (along with the obvious headphone jack). Hopefully this list should give you a good starting point. This soundbar (Amazon)is another with an external subwoofer, although this one is wired. Also, the brand makes several other options, including ones with external subwoofers if you want a real bass boost. Soft furnishings elsewhere, such as carpets and curtains, will help to improve sound quality. Even so, there are still roundabout solutions to use surround sound speakers with a soundbar. See this link to get a good idea of what i mean: Thanks, K! I began working for an A/V installation company years ago and realized my passion for home theaters! This soundbar from GRC (Amazon) is a good place to start because its reasonably priced and offers a range of great features. Depending on your soundbar, you can fake either 4.1 or 5.1 sound. Check if the Soundbar turns on at the same time.
Many soundbars have a 3.5mm mini-jack input, commonly referred to as a headphone port. Equalizer settings arent even worth touching because they really dont do much. Soundbars tend to sound better when theyre wall mounted because of this. Look up the dimensions and compare the bars width with that of your TV. Heres out YouTube video that covers this topic! quality, no matter what youre watching, get our free Tech newsletter for advice, news, deals and stuff the manuals dont tell you, If youre looking for a compatible hub for voice commands, check our guide on the. Fine. Take Care! JavaScript is disabled. After this initial setup, you should be good to go. To save space, you can fix the soundbar to the wall, but you'll need a separate bracket. I've always been interested in different electronics. Soundbars often have smart features, which allow you to control some settings with your smartphone or tablet.
This handy feature allows you to link HDMI-compatible devices together. The USB indicator flashes twice indicating the Control for HDMI function is on. Make sure its not too close up against a wall, as this will result in boomy bass. As you can see, there are plenty of soundbars that feature headphone jacks. This helps the sound reflect more evenly towards your TV viewing position for a more balanced and immersive experience. At Target, select from a wide range like channel soundbars, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi wireless ones that can connect to your other devices to play audio, ones with a subwoofer for deep bass or the latest built-in voice assistant that you can control the system with your voice. Just because you shouldnt hook up surround sound speakers to a soundbar, doesnt mean you cant. You might need to change the delay and volume levels, as every room has its own shape, layout and furniture, and these all affect the sound. If youre looking for a compatible hub for voice commands, check our guide on the best smart speakers. Although most soundbars come with their own remote control, this soundbar (Amazon)also has the benefit of an LED screen, so you can control the sound options directly on the device, rather than through your TV. Many soundbars now come with wi-fi connectivity that allows them to form part of a multi-room music system. Unlike the other soundbars featured so far, this one (Amazon) has an external subwoofer. This feature allows you to control soundbar functions, such as turning on/off and adjusting volume, by speaking a command out loud handy if youre prone to losing the remote. Others are wireless and can be placed elsewhere, but generally it should be within 10 metres of the soundbar. TVs usually have one or both of these outputs, so youll be able to hook yours up to your soundbar without any issue. It has a sleek design thatll go fairly unnoticed in your home theater, and should fit quite nicely under your TV. Yes, we get it's a bad idea for your entertainment sorround sound system where you watch movies sitting in the exact center of your room. As with all other home theater tech, its worth noting your needs before purchase so you can pick the right piece of equipment.