Soundbars have become very popular over recent years because they are sleek, stylish, and compact. They can help keep your home entertainment room looking tidy, without lots of wiring and speaker clutter, and the manufacturing quality is getting better and better. If you have a large entertainment room, you may be wondering whether or not a soundbar will work in your room or if you should go with a traditional speaker system.
Will a soundbar be a good fit for your large entertainment room? You can definitely use a soundbar for a large room. There are tons of soundbars available now that are specifically designed with large rooms in mind. They are equipped with a great subwoofer, multiple speakers, and many other features that enhance the sound in large spaces.
The right soundbar system has a powerful sound output that travels throughout the room, due to high-quality speakers and a great set up. A soundbar’s speakers are either built-in or are wireless, and a lot of times, all of the soundbar’s components are included in a package with the purchase of the soundbar. You can also buy additional compatible speakers for your soundbar.
While a 2-channel soundbar could be a good start for a large room with the right quality speakers, you can amp up your sound even more with a 5-channel or 7-channel soundbar system that really makes your home theater sound dynamic and immersive. There are many large room soundbar options available to choose from including what we have compiled in our list. All of the top home entertainment brands, as well as some you may have not heard of, make great large room soundbar packages.
It’s important to understand the basics of a soundbar and its components so that you can make the right choice. What is important in the design? What does it need to include? What are some good features to look for? How does it mimic a traditional component speaker system? You need to be sure it will work in your large room.
How a Soundbar Works
A soundbar is a compact, all-in-one speaker bar that has solved the problem that flat-screen TVs come with low-quality sound. A soundbar is an answer for anyone who wants a great sound for their TV, without having to add bulky speakers, lots of wiring, and a complex overall sound system. The soundbar has helped simplify sound systems.
Soundbars are long and slim. They are often built with their own amplifiers and have really increased in power over recent years, which makes them very appealing now. Who wouldn’t be interested in a compact, sleek, and wireless sound system that doesn’t hold back the sound experience? Plus, they are often completely wireless and have great technologically advanced features.
Soundbars contain internal speakers, usually the front channel speakers, and you can easily add external speakers and components. Sometimes, soundbars come with a separate subwoofer and speakers, and in other cases, they come without a subwoofer at all (our list of the top 11). Sometimes, they only come packaged with a subwoofer. Sometimes, you’ll have to purchase all of the additional components. It’s important to know what type of sound system you want before choosing a soundbar, so you can calculate your total cost.
Soundbar Size in Relation to Room Size
The best look for a soundbar is to be the length of your TV, but is that the right size for your room? Do you need a bigger soundbar for a bigger room?
When it comes to the size of the soundbar in relation to room size, you’re not going to get a better sound in a bigger room with a bigger or longer soundbar. While it’s important that your soundbar gives off great sound, it is not the most important aspect of the overall sound system. The sound you achieve throughout your room from your soundbar’s sound system will be due to your additional speakers and subwoofer, as well as the quality of the internal and external speakers.
Where your components are placed and what quality of sound they give off will determine how well they fill up your room. A 5.1 or 7.1 setup will help fill up your large room with immersive, real-world sound that is sure to impress, rather than a few front speakers with a 2.0 or 2.1-channel system that only provide sound to the front of the room.
Types of Soundbars Available
2-Channel, 5-Channel, and Beyond
- 1 rated Dolby Atmos soundbar
- 70+ years of audio expertise and feedback from 5000+ reviews
- 360° surround and room-shaking bass
- Upgraded dual wireless subs and 2nd gen surround speakers
- Elevated dual 8” wireless subwoofers
- HDMI eARC, 3 HDMI inputs, 24-bit aptX HD, Bluetooth 5.0
- Optical, Coaxial, 3.5mm Aux-in
- 2nd gen remote with backlit buttons
There are many different soundbar setups available to fit your needs. A 2.0 soundbar sound system will give you a left and right channel speaker, but it does not come with a subwoofer. A 2.0 sound system can be a good start for a small home theater, and with the addition of a subwoofer to take it to a 2.1 system, you will have a more dynamic sound. However, a 3-channel or more sound system is most ideal for the best sound in a large room.
You will have a much truer surround sound experience with a 5-channel or more soundbar sound system, due to the addition of more external speakers, as well as a center channel speaker. A 5.1-channel sound system is a common setup for a large home theater, although it’s important to make sure the speakers are high-quality. A 5.1-channel system with low-quality speakers will lose to a 2.1-channel system with top-notch speakers any day.
With a 5.1 sound system, you’ll have a center, left, and right channel speaker, two surround sound speakers (usually for the back of the room), and a subwoofer. A lot of times, the three front speakers (center, left, and right) are built-in, while the surround speakers and subwoofer are external and wireless. Find out more about the difference between a 2.1 and a 5.1 soundbar.
For an even bigger and better sound experience for your large room, you can go with a 7-channel system and/or a Dolby Atmos system. A 7-channel system will have two additional rear channel surround sound speakers (four total), and a Dolby Atmos system will add upward firing speakers for an even more heightened sound experience. This creates more sound in more space, which is what you’re looking to achieve in a large room. It’s much more interactive and engaging to have sound that fills the room, rather than just comes at you from one angle.
Other Features to Consider
There are so many great features included in soundbars, but to choose the right soundbar for your large home theater, you’ll want to make sure it’s compatible with your TV or screen, as well as comes with all the features you want. Some features to look for in a soundbar:
- Passive vs. active – A passive soundbar doesn’t have a built-in amplifier or receiver, and an active soundbar has a built-in amplifier, as well as front speakers.
- HDMI ARC compatibility
- Wireless connectivity through Bluetooth and/or Wi-Fi
- USB inputs
- An optical port
- Dolby Atmos technology
- Compatible speakers and subwoofers
The Best Soundbar for Your Large Room
So now that you know how soundbars work and what you should look for in a soundbar and its sound system, it’s time to find a great soundbar package for your large home theater, although, it's important to follow the proper soundbar etiquette like turning it off after using it (as we've explained before), in order to get it to last. While some people prefer to buy their speakers separately, there are a lot of great soundbar packages that include everything you need for your home theater, including the ability to take it outside if you decide (our tutorial).
Even though there are a lot of great options available, our top choice for large rooms is the Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1Ch DTS:X (on Amazon), due to its top-quality surround sound package at a great price. Here’s why it comes out on top.
Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1Ch DTS:X
It might shock you that this is our top choice, because it is not manufactured by a well-known tech giant like Samsung, JBL, Sonos, and beyond. However, this product and manufacturer has made a name for itself with a great soundbar package at a great price.
The Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro comes with a 45″ soundbar, an 8″ wireless subwoofer, two 2-way rear surround speakers, and a 52-key remote. It comes enabled with 4K HDR compatibility, Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Vision, and its Spatial Surround Elevation (SSE) Enhancement Technology to achieve lifelike, cinema-grade 3D surround sound.
It comes with one HDMI ARC output, 1 digital optical input, 1 AUX input, 1 digital coaxial input, 1 USB input, 3 HDMI inputs, and Bluetooth. It has a total output power of 600 watts with 105 dB of sound produced, which is perfect for large rooms. You can now get up to 7.1.4 channels on this soundbar system.
The soundbar unit itself comes with high-performing speaker drivers and signature front surround effects tweeters which deliver a 35% wider soundstage. The wireless subwoofer is newly designed with down-firing capabilities that enhance the sound impact and distribute bass sounds equally in all directions. The woofer even comes with a room optimization button, including small, medium, and large size rooms.
For more soundbar recommendations, visit our Recommended Soundbars page.
Conclusion
When it comes to purchasing a soundbar package for your large home theater room, make sure to choose and budget for a soundbar package that has enough high-quality speakers to provide a highly immersive, multi-dimensional sound in every area of the room. It’s worth it to purchase a higher channel system to achieve better sound throughout the room, and there are a lot of great soundbar packages at great prices to choose from.
Make sure that the soundbar package you choose is compatible with your current and future TV purchases, so that it is an investment that will last for many years to come. As always, don’t forget to ask for help with your purchase from your tech-savvy friend or store experts, if you need it. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Enjoy soundbar shopping!
