Soundbar placement that does not block the screen
· 4 min read · EasyTechdesk
The bar belongs below the picture, aimed at the seats, not inside a closed cabinet.
Height
Put the soundbar under the TV, centered, with a little air above it so it does not touch the panel. If the TV is on a stand, the bar can sit in front only if it does not cover the bottom of the picture or the IR receiver.
Inside a cabinet with the doors shut, even a good bar sounds like a phone in a drawer. Open shelves or a mount under the screen are the honest options.
The connection
HDMI ARC or eARC, when both the TV and the bar support it, lets the TV remote run the volume. An optical cable is the fallback. We label which one is in use so the next person does not add a second cable and double the audio.
Home theater setup names the inputs and plays a show before we leave. A bar that only works in one app is not done.
The room
Hard floors and bare walls make dialogue harsh. A rug is not our product, but it is the reason a bar sounds different in a photo than in the room. We set levels for the seats you use, not for the center of an empty floor.
Surround setup is a longer visit when you own rear speakers. A bar alone is not surround, even if the box says virtual.
Keep reading
- Where to hang a TV so the room still works
Eye line, glare, and the stud that is actually in the wall.
- A streaming box or the apps built into the TV
The TV's own apps are fine until they are slow. A box is a five-year escape hatch.
- Fireplace mounts and why tilt is not a cure
Heat, height, and a mantel that blocks the soundbar are three separate problems.