Soundbar Buying Guide: How to Find the Perfect Model for Your TV

Modern TVs may be getting thinner and thinner, but their ultra-slim design often comes at a steep price for sound quality. The result: anemic speakers that struggle to reproduce the slightest explosion and turn dialogue into barely audible whispers. Fortunately, a simple and effective solution exists to breathe new life into your TV's audio: the soundbar.

Compact, easy to install, and more accessible than a full wireless home cinema system, the soundbar has become a staple for many households. This guide is here to help you navigate the jungle of available models and make the right choice, based on your needs and budget.

Buying Guide: The Essential Criteria for Choosing Your Soundbar

Before diving into our selection, let's review the key technical criteria you need to know to make an informed decision.

1. Connectivity: Simplicity First

This is the first thing to check, and arguably the most important for a hassle-free experience.

• HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel): This is the connection to prioritise. A single HDMI cable between your TV and your HDMI ARC soundbar is all it takes to transmit audio. Even better, it allows you to control the soundbar's volume directly with your TV remote. In short, it's the pinnacle of everyday convenience.
• Bluetooth: A Bluetooth soundbar lets you stream your music wirelessly from a smartphone, tablet, or computer. A practical feature that turns your living room into a true connected speaker.
• Optical Input: A reliable alternative to HDMI ARC if your television isn't compatible. It ensures a very high-quality digital audio transmission.

2. With or Without a Subwoofer?

The subwoofer is the speaker entirely dedicated to reproducing low-frequency sounds.

• Soundbar without a subwoofer (or with an integrated one): More compact and discreet, these models are perfect for improving dialogue clarity and adding more body to the sound in an apartment or a small to medium-sized room.
• Soundbar with an external subwoofer: Usually wireless, the subwoofer can be placed anywhere in the room. A soundbar with a subwoofer is essential for feeling the impact of explosions in action movies, the depth of a video game soundtrack, or the kick of a drum in music.

3. Immersive Audio Formats: The Case for Dolby Atmos

For an experience worthy of a movie theatre, some models are compatible with advanced audio formats. The most famous of these is undoubtedly Dolby Atmos. This technology creates three-dimensional sound by adding a vertical dimension. The sound no longer just comes from the front; it envelops you, coming from the sides and even from above, for total immersion.

Our Recommended Soundbar Selection

To guide you, here is our selection of models with a compelling price-to-performance ratio, designed for different uses and budgets.

Muse M-1680 SBT Soundbar: All-in-One Simplicity

Why it stands out

This Muse model gets straight to the point: significantly improving your TV's sound without the clutter of an external subwoofer. At 85 cm, it fits easily under most TVs, and its comprehensive connectivity makes it a true Swiss Army knife.

Key Features

• 120W of power: More than enough to fill a medium-sized living room with sound.
• Comprehensive connectivity: HDMI ARC, Bluetooth, optical, coaxial, USB, and auxiliary. Nothing is missing.
• All-in-one design: No external subwoofer, for a discreet installation and maximum space-saving.
• Wall-mountable: Can also be mounted on the wall for perfect integration.

Who is it for? Ideal for those who want better sound without the hassle, whether for TV shows, series, or music. An excellent choice if every square inch counts in your living room.

See the product on Joybuy.fr

Muse M-1880 SBT Soundbar: For Powerful, Wireless Bass

Why it stands out

This model kicks things up a notch with its wireless subwoofer. With 200W in total, the system delivers a much more immersive experience, close to a true wireless home cinema. The deep bass brings a whole new dimension to your movies and video games.

Key Features

• 200W total power: For a full, dynamic sound with plenty of punch.
• Wireless subwoofer: Delivers rich, impactful bass and lets you place it wherever you want, without worrying about cables.
• Identical connectivity: Features the same comprehensive and practical connectivity as the previous model, including HDMI ARC and Bluetooth.
• Suits large TVs: Its design blends perfectly with screens 40 inches and larger.

Who is it for? For cinephiles and gamers who want to feel every explosion and vibrate with the action, but without the complex setup of a traditional 5.1 system.

See the product on Joybuy.fr

TCL S45H Soundbar: Immersive Sound with Dolby Atmos

Why it stands out

The TCL S45H stands out from the crowd thanks to its compatibility with Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X 3D audio formats. Even without an external subwoofer (it's a 2.0 model), it relies on virtualisation technologies to simulate enveloping surround sound. The result: a stunningly immersive experience for such a compact format.

Key Features

• Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X decoders: For virtualised 3D sound that significantly expands the soundstage.
• Ultra-slim design: At only 6 cm high, it slides under any television without ever blocking the screen.
• AI Calibration: The AI Sonic Adaptation technology adjusts the sound output to the acoustics of your room.
• Modern connectivity: It includes the essentials with HDMI ARC, Bluetooth, and an optical input.

Who is it for? For those who want to experience the immersion of Dolby Atmos without breaking the bank or cluttering their living room. Perfect if you're looking for a wide, enveloping soundstage for your movie nights and series binges.

See the product on Joybuy.fr

Looking for Other Options?

The soundbar is the easiest way to upgrade your TV's sound. But if you want to go further and explore more ambitious systems, feel free to check out our other selections.

To complete your setup, take a look at our selection of stand-mounted speakers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I connect a soundbar to a TV?

By far the simplest method is the HDMI ARC (or eARC) connection. A single cable, plugged into the corresponding ports on your TV and the soundbar, is all you need. If that's not possible, an optical cable is an excellent alternative. Bluetooth, on the other hand, is mainly practical for streaming music from your smartphone.

Is a soundbar with a subwoofer essential?

Not at all. A soundbar on its own will already transform your experience, especially for dialogue clarity and overall sound richness. The subwoofer is primarily aimed at cinephiles and gamers seeking thrilling, wall-shaking bass.

What is Dolby Atmos on a soundbar?

Dolby Atmos is a surround sound technology that adds a height dimension to the audio. On a soundbar, this effect is either created by upward-firing speakers (the sound reflects off the ceiling) or simulated by virtualisation algorithms. The goal is to place you at the heart of the action by creating a true, much more realistic and immersive sound bubble.

Written by the Joybuy editorial experts
Our mission: to demystify the market and bring you clear, honest buying guides, free from marketing jargon.