Image quality is taken care of with your home cinema projector. You get vivid colors and crisp details. Imagine if the audio is equally great. You’ll feel like you’re at the theater when you have high-quality sound and onscreen images.
Boosting audio quality requires adding a soundbar to your home entertainment system, and you have plenty to choose from. So which one is right for your setup? You want to look at the number of channels, and if the soundbar is active or passive. Connectivity is something else to pay attention to.
We’ve done some of the work and reviewed 5 top-rated soundbars. Each one has advantages that may make it a good fit for your home.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 300 delivers exceptionally clear sound and has wireless connectivity, but it does not come with a subwoofer. The TCL Alto 9+ is a 3.1 channel soundbar with good connectivity, but the smaller onboard speakers aren’t capable of filling larger rooms with sound. It’s similar in design and features to the Samsung HW-T650, except the TCL Alto 9+ has a higher price point (>>> Check current price on Amazon).
When you know how the soundbar is capable of performing, it’s easier to know which model is best suited for your projector.
The 6 Best Soundbars for Projector 2023:
Bose Smart 300 | TCL Alto 9+ | Sony HT-G700 | Samsung HW-T650 | Bose TV Speaker | Samsung HW-Q60T | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Power (Watts) | No data | 540W | 400W | 340W | 36W | 360W |
Connectivity Options | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI SUBWOOFER | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Bluetooth, HDMI | Bluetooth, HDMI, HDMI CEC, HDMI ARC | Bluetooth, HDMI, Auxillary | Bluetooth |
Dimensions (inches) | 4.02 x 26.58 x 2.21 inches | 44.5 x 16 x 11 inches | 38.6 x 4.38 x 2.63 inches | 38.60 x 3.50 x 2.30 inches | 4.02 x 23.38 x 2.21 inches | 38.6 x 4.1 x 2.3 inches |
Price | Find on Amazon Bhphotovideo.com | Find on Amazon | Find on Amazon Bhphotovideo.com | Find on Amazon | Find on Amazon Bhphotovideo.com | Find on Amazon Bhphotovideo.com |
You won’t have a problem connecting any of these soundbars to your projector, and each has weaknesses and advantages. When you have all the information, it’s easier to choose the best soundbar for you.
Bose Smart Soundbar 300
Pros
- Immersive sound
- Easy installation
- Wireless connectivity
- Voice control
- Multiple drivers
Cons
- Without an additional subwoofer, bass can sound fuzzy at higher volumes
Number of Channels
The Bose Smart Soundbar 300 may only come with 3 channels, but don’t let this fool you when it comes to audio quality. It can still fill small and mid-sized rooms with sound, and you don’t need to crank the volume up.
You get four drivers to evenly distribute sound. Dead zones aren’t a problem. There’s a driver in each end and two in the center. The tweeter is located between the two center drivers. Add in the baffles and engineering technology, and you get crisp, clear audio. Music sounds better, along with dialogue.
Passive or Active
The Bose 300 is a passive soundbar, but you don’t need a receiver or amplifier. All that’s needed is to connect the soundbar to the projector’s HDMI ARC or optical port. Turn both components on, and you’re ready for a great audio experience.
The downside is the lack of a dedicated subwoofer, though Bose makes it easy to add one. You can find a line of Bose subwoofers that wirelessly connect to the soundbar.
Connectivity
Don’t panic when you see the number of inputs, there are only two. One for optical, and the other an HDMI port. It doesn’t mean that you can only connect the projector and one other device. Bose soundbars have wireless connectivity.
Along with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support, you also have Alexa for voice control. The Bose Music app makes it a breeze to find your favorite tunes. You also get multi-room support for connected speakers throughout the house.
TCL Alto 9+
Pros
- 1 channels
- Wireless subwoofer
- Immersive sound
- Wireless connectivity
- Easy installation
Cons
- The two end speakers and wireless subwoofer are best suited for smaller rooms
Number of Channels
You get 3.1 channels with the TCL Alto 9+, along with Dolby Atmos surround sound. Audio has depth across all ranges, and the center channel ensures dialogue is crisp and clear.
The wireless subwoofer gives you the deep bass you want on all your soundtracks. Movie explosions sound realistic and you can hear every musical nuance on your favorite songs. To ensure an immersive audio experience in smaller rooms, the soundbar comes with Ray Danz technology.
Active or Passive
The Alto 9+ is an active soundbar that comes with an external wireless subwoofer. You don’t need to add any components to hear great audio.
Along with the wireless subwoofer, you get a center channel for dialogue. Two side speakers help fill smaller areas with sound. The only disadvantage is it’s not designed for larger areas without additional speakers.
Connectivity
You can stream your favorite podcasts and music wireless with Bluetooth, Chromecast, and Airplay 2. It also supports Spotify, Pandora, and TuneIn, along with Hey Google.
It’s Roku ready, and also comes with an HDMI and optical port. Connect the cable from the soundbar to your projector, and you’re ready to enjoy audio that matches image quality.
Sony HT-G700
Pros
- Clear dialogue from the center speaker
- Various sound modes to customize your listening experience
- 4K HDR passthrough
- Upscale capabilities for surround sound
- eARCH enabled for wireless connections
Cons
- The HDMI ports aren’t always compatible with Dolby surround sound.
- The audio can be delayed or volume lowered when you switch between devices or viewing channels.
Number of Channels
With 3.1 channels, along with Dolby Atmos and both a Vertical Surround Engine and an Immersive Audio Enhancer, it will sound like the Sony HT-G700 has seven channels. All you have to do to immerse yourself in theater-quality sound is to press the corresponding button on the included remote control.
The three front speakers produce and send audio throughout the area so everything is crisp and clear from music and sound effects to dialogue. Whether you’re sitting in a corner or in front of the screen, you’ll be able to hear everything as it’s being played out.
Passive or Active
The small, yet powerful subwoofer makes this an active soundbar that is capable of producing thumping bass. Since the subwoofer is wireless, you can place almost anywhere it sounds best in the room. You only need to make sure that the subwoofer is still receiving a signal from the soundbar.
Bass will be full, without any distortion that can interfere with you clearly hearing the other frequencies, including dialogue. Since the subwoofer can be remotely placed you can achieve a balanced sound effect across all of the frequencies.
Connectivity
When you purchase a soundbar, chances are you want to use it with multiple devices and this won’t be a problem. Along with Bluetooth connectivity, you also have HDMI in and outputs that include one for HDMI-Arch. Learn how to get sound from projector to speakers.
If your projector is Bluetooth enabled you can connect the soundbar to it wirelessly, eliminating the need for an additional cable running through your home entertainment setup.
Samsung HW-T650
Pros
- Crisp, clear dialogue from the center speaker
- Multiple connections, including two for Bluetooth
- 3D surround sound capabilities
- Automatically optimizes sound
- Wireless design for easy setup
Cons
- The soundbar is not Wi-Fi enabled.
- It does not come with an HDMI-ARCH port.
Number of Channels
With three channels for a left, rear, and center speaker everything will sound crisp and clear, including dialogue. Even when the on-screen characters are whispering, you won’t have to increase the volume.
The center speaker produces clear dialogue regardless of the frequency or the volume of the actor’s voice. Adding to the three channels is the DTS Virtual X technology that is capable of producing 3D sound. You won’t have to turn the volume up even if you are sitting in the back of the room.
Passive or Active
The Samsung HW-T650 comes with a wireless subwoofer making it easy to place wherever it sounds best. Though you do need to stay within range of the soundbar which shouldn’t be a problem.
The small subwoofer does more than you might think. It is capable of producing powerful lower frequencies that are deep and rich without any interference or distortion. Whether you’re listening to a deep voice, an explosion, or bass-heavy music, it will sound crisp and clear.
Connections
You want to be able to use your soundbar will multiple devices, and the HW-T650 comes with plenty of ports. Along with the standard HDMI out and inputs, you can also connect two Bluetooth enabled devices at once. You can easily switch between the devices with the soundbar’s remote, and this also eliminates the need for additional cables.
Bose TV Speaker
Pros
- Small size for easy placement
- Easy to setup
- Improves dialogue
- Improve bass and dialogue quality with the included remote
- Delivers a wide, full-range sound
Cons
- Designed more for use with TVs than home projectors.
- Bass may not sound as deep as you would like.
Number of Channels
The Bose soundbar may be small but it does come with three channels. You have two drivers that can handle all ranges, along with a center one that concentrates on dialogue. To ensure a realistic surround sound experience, it comes with Dolby decoding to further enhance audio quality.
You’ll be able to hear both bass and treble, along with the middle ranges. To further improve dialogue clarity the soundbar comes with a mode specially designed to enhance the clarity. You won’t have to turn the volume up every time someone speaks on-screen. You might want to consider a projector with built-in soundbar.
Passive or Active
Even though this is a passive soundbar, you’ll still be able to clearly hear the lower frequencies. The two full-range drivers are capable of producing natural-sounding audio, though you won’t get the full feeling from the bass you’d expect if there was a subwoofer.
The small Bose speaker is compatible with the company’s separate subwoofers that you can easily add-on. You can also purchase a 3mm cable that can also be connected to an external subwoofer.
Connectivity
Its small size may make you think that the number of ports is limited, but you’ll be surprised at what you can connect. Along with HDMI ports, you can also connect Bluetooth devices. There is also an Auxiliary port that will come in handy.
Samsung HW-Q60T
Pros
- Full 3D surround sound
- Improved dialogue at any volume level
- Plenty of ports, including two for Bluetooth devices
- Easy to set up
- Automatically enhances the sound in every scene
Cons
- Even though it is an active soundbar the bass can occasionally sound muddled or muted.
- It can be difficult to calibrate the soundbar to your listening preferences.
Number of Channels
The Samsung HW-Q60T has 5.1 channels so not only do you have three speakers in the front, but also two in the rear for a full surround sound experience. To improve your listening experience, it boosts Samsung’s DTS Virtual X and Acoustic Beam technology.
You also have the advantage of Q-symphony technology that helps the soundbar sync with the speakers on your other connected devices. Everything will sound natural regardless of the frequency.
Passive or Active
You will notice that this is an active soundbar, and the subwoofer does improve bass quality, and the HW-Q60T also comes with sound optimization technology. The adaptive sound feature automati8cally optimizes each scene so you’ll clearly hear the dialogue, along with music, and the various sound effects.
Connectivity
Like most soundbars, Samsung did not limit its connectivity on the HW-Q60T soundbar. There are HDMI ports, along with two for Bluetooth devices. Once you’ve connected the two devices, you can easily switch between the two with the included remote control.
Conclusion
You get clear, crisp audio with any of these soundbars, but there are differences. You get immersive sound in larger rooms with the Bose Smart Soundbar 300, but it doesn’t have a subwoofer. The TCL Alto 9+ is an active soundbar, but it’s better suited for smaller spaces. If you have a small room, you may also want to look at the Samsung HW-T650. It’s similar in specs to the Alto 9+ but it’s usually priced a little lower. (>>> Find on Amazon)
When you’re looking at soundbars think about the number of channels, along with how it connects to your other devices. It will help ensure you choose the best model for your projector.