The placement of your soundbar can impact your user experience. As such, it is important to understand where you should place your soundbar and the placement options it offers to provide with the best sounding sound quality.

Many often decides on the placement based on their personal preference or the room setting. However, do remember that there are certain things to consider for best sound performance. The placement of your new audio toy can be based on interior fit and preferences, but you can optimise those placements with the pointers below.

Optimum Positioning

The placement of your soundbar, when done right can help you get the best sound quality. Mounting it in the wrong direction can really impact the experience. The soundbar is placed in an ideal position which allows the sound emitted from the soundbar to reflect off the walls, creating a surround sound effect. The schematic diagram below depicts how sound reaches the ‘sweet spot.

The placement of a soundbar is dependent on how your TV is placed, whether it is mounted on a wall or placed on a platform. Let’s review both the scenarios below:

The TV is wall mounted

Before you consider mounting the soundbar on the wall, know that installing a soundbar more than 3’’ from the screen may delay the audio from video and can result in the poor listening experience. As such, it would be best that the soundbar can be as close to the TV as possible for strong connectivity and best listening experience.

1. Soundbar to be mounted below TV

This placement seems to be the default preference for most people these days. The sound emitted in such configuration is less scattered sideways and reaches the listener directly, with less echo and deflection from walls.

As mentioned earlier, for better connectivity, the soundbar should be as close as possible to the TV. The connectivity plays a major role in the synchronization of both devices. If both equipment is out of sync, a delay in audio and video would incur, impacting the whole experience. If the soundbar is placed below the TV, then the chances of out-of-sync are minimal.

However, do note that one drawback of placing your soundbar below the TV is that it is advisable to remove or avoid any distractions that might obstruct the sound projection. A soundbar requires a clear path to perform to its ultimate potential. If you have a placed any furniture or decorative pieces below it, remove them. These items might interfere with the sound and remote sensor of the soundbar, affecting the sound quality of the soundbar.

2. Soundbar above TV

Another option is to mount the soundbar above the TV. But this decision hinges on how high from the floor your TV is hanging. It is a good idea to place the soundbar above a TV hung at a low height, but if the TV is at mid to high from the floor then we might advise you otherwise.

One thing to note when placement is above TV is that you might have to go an extra mile in controlling the soundbar because the sensor would be at an extra height. If you are not meeting the sensor of the soundbar, then it will eventually be a painful and frustrating experience, not being able to change the channel at your comfort.

At the end of the day, sound emission is in a straight direction, regardless of whether the soundbar placed above or below the TV. The two speakers at each end of the soundbar are usually titled at a certain angle to help create a sort of surround sound. So, it is lesser an issue where, be it above or below the TV a soundbar is placed. It is more a matter of personal preference and room setting.

TV placed on a platform

If your TV is placed on a platform like a Table, Cabinet, Stand or any way other than mounted on a wall, then the soundbar can be placed in front of the TV. There are certain conditions that should be considered when connected in such a configuration.

1. Consider the height of the soundbar. It should be low enough so that it does not cut the visibility of the screen. Compared the height from the bottom of the TV to the top of the table or cabinet. An advantage of this setting is that the soundbar will be close to the TV and as a result it’s connectivity will be strong as well.

2. Even if the height of the soundbar is not interfering with the view of the screen, not that it should still be minimal enough so that it does not block the TV’s sensor. Otherwise changing channels on TV would be a painful process.

3. Placed the soundbar as forward as possible on the cabinet, so that the sound can reach you directly without any hindrance. But ensure that it does not stick out of the cabinet or shelf because that would increase the chance of it falling over.

In conclusion, Soundbar placement options should be considered before selecting your piece. Placing it below your TV may beat most other positions, but it is also a matter of personal choice. At the end of the day, what pleases the eyes and the heart matters the most.