In order to adapt to the specifications of the latest televisions, which are increasingly low and borderless, audio manufacturers are increasing their efforts to offer ever thinner soundbars. Thickness is now an essential factor when choosing a soundbar that can be integrated under a new generation TV without masking the bottom of the screen. After studying the latest generation of TVs, we have concluded that the maximum height of a soundbar should be around 6cm. Therefore, here is a look at slim soundbars ideal for use with the latest generation of TVs. Are they as efficient as larger models?
Why choose a slim soundbar?
While the image quality of televisions continues to improve with OLED, QLED, QD-OLED and even Mini-LED technologies, sound often remains their Achilles’ heel. A soundbar is therefore the simplest and most harmonious way to substitute the sound of a television and enjoy a truly immersive and sometimes even spectacular listening experience. Aesthetically speaking, there are different types of soundbars. Most of them measure between 80 and 120cm long and are 5 to 15cm high. However, modern TVs adopt lowered feet, and the absence of a frame limits the space available under the TV. To avoid hiding the bottom of the screen, the height of soundbars is reduced from generation to generation. The thinnest models are now less than 6cm thick to fit perfectly in front of and/or under televisions.
The performance of compact soundbars
Ultra-thin soundbars range from simple stereo models to versions capable of delivering true 5.1, 7.1 or even Dolby Atmos/DTS:X sound. All variants exist, resulting in a more or less enveloping spatialization. The most compact soundbars such as the LG QP5 (5.9cm high and 29cm long) and JBL Bar 2.0 All In One (5.8cm high and 61cm long) offer stereo sound with at least two drivers. These 2.0 and 2.1 stereo soundbars (with subwoofer) generally adopt a digital processor (DSP) responsible for widening the soundstage by creating virtual surround sound. Most often, these compact soundbars are sold together with a wireless subwoofer to provide a more spectacular sound experience.
The most powerful silm soundbars manage to maintain a height of less than 6cm, while delivering true 3D sound in Dolby Atmos or DTS:X. To do this, these soundbars adopt a more elongated design in order to incorporate a maximum of drivers, including on the top panel for vertical effects. The load volume is also maximized, for better bass performance. A few models, like the Bose Soundbar 900, even manage to provide powerful and deep bass without the need for an external subwoofer. They are therefore ideal for enjoying a true cinema experience, from a single piece of equipment that can be placed in front of the television. These longer models are often intended for televisions with a screen size of at least 43” (108cm).
Thin soundbars: the different models
Having recently appeared on the home theater market, slim soundbars are now a must-have. Bose, Denon, JBL, LG, Samsung and Yamaha are the main suppliers. From simple stereo bars to Dolby Atmos soundbars, they offer many models adapted to the needs of each user. Prices range from €100 to almost €1,500, depending on the features offered and the complexity of the on-board technologies.
Yamaha slim soundbars
The Yamaha YSP-2700 is the most powerful compact soundbar around. This model packs more than 16 1.1″ drivers into a soundbar that is just 5.1cm thick and 94cm long. It decodes the majority of Dolby and DTS multi-channel sound formats via its HDMI and S/PDIF inputs. Thanks to its automatic microphone calibration system, this compact Yamaha bar creates a real sound bubble over 7.1 channels, without additional surround speakers!
Polk slim soundbars
Hi-Fi specialist Polk offers two compact soundbars for modern televisions. The 5.6cm thick Polk React forms an affordable and reliable solution for enjoying Dolby Digital and DTS tracks. It has a virtual surround mode to provide a more enveloping sound. The American manufacturer also offers the Polk Signa S4, an even more powerful model that is designed for music, TV shows and movies. It is compatible with Dolby Atmos to create very immersive 3D sound with 360° effects.
LG slim soundbars
The Korean manufacturer offers several compact soundbars, all Dolby Atmos compatible and accompanied by a wireless subwoofer. The LG QP5 is the most compact option on the market, with a height of 5.9cm and a width of only 29cm. It can be easily placed under any TV, but also on a shelf of an AV cabinet. This ultra-thin 320-watt LG soundbar supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X tracks and uses the latest generation of Meridian digital signal processing technology to create a wide soundstage.
For pairing with large TV models measuring 55” and above, the slim LG SP9YA soundbar is an excellent alternative. This is the most powerful model from the Korean manufacturer. This bar is capable of producing 5.1.2 channel sound with a height of only 5.7cm. It benefits from 520W of power, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X compatibility, and can even be combined with LG SPK8 surround speakers to create a real wireless home theater.
Bose slim soundbars
Specialist in multi-channel soundbars for many years, Bose offers one of the thinnest Dolby Atmos soundbars on the market (5.8cm) with the Bose Soundbar 900. The latter has 9 drivers, two of which are on the upper panel to deliver spatialized sound in all directions. The drivers work together with exclusive PhaseGuide technology that directs sound waves in multiple directions. To optimize the sound, this compact Bose bar features ADAPTiQ audio calibration and optimizes the spatialization of the effects according to the acoustic properties of the room and the position of the listener. The manufacturer also offers a more affordable model: the Bose TV Speaker. Less than 6cm high, it naturally finds its place under the TV, without hiding the bottom of the screen.
Samsung slim soundbars
Samsung has four thin soundbars in its catalog. They all come with a wireless subwoofer. The 5.4cm high Samsung HW-T420 and Samsung HW-A450 soundbars are the entry level models. The difference between these two models is mainly in terms of power: 150W for the Samsung HW-T420 and 300 watts for the Samsung HW-A450. The latter can also be combined with the Samsung SWA-9100S wireless surround speakers (sold separately) to enjoy true 4.1-channel surround sound.
The brand’s midrange model, the Samsung HW-Q60T, is 5.8cm high and 98cm long. It reproduces Dolby and DTS tracks over 5.1 channels thanks to its 9 drivers and wireless subwoofer. It is Bluetooth compatible and can play audio and video files from a USB key.
The Samsung HW-Q700A adopts a Dolby Atmos 3.1.2 channel configuration within a 6cm high and 98cm long enclosure. This Samsung soundbar has drivers dedicated to vertical effects that exploit Samsung Acoustic Beam technology: they project sounds to the ceiling which then reflects them towards the viewers, producing a particularly realistic vertical sound. It comes with a wireless subwoofer.
Panasonic slim soundbars
The Japanese manufacturer Panasonic offers a single compact soundbar: the Panasonic SC-HTB200EG. A 2.1 version with wireless subwoofer is available under the Panasonic SC-HTB250EG reference. This second model is to be favored to enjoy a richer and more convincing experience during action scenes. The major advantage of this soundbar lies in its extreme compactness, with a thickness of only 5.1cm and a length of 45cm. It can be easily adapted to all TV screens, even small ones.
JBL slim soundbars
JBL has understood the problem of lowered televisions for many years now. Most of its sound bars are thin enough to fit in front of the latest generation of TVs. The JBL lineup starts with the JBL Bar 2.0 All In One, an 80-watt stereo model. It measures 5.8cm high and 61cm long. To go further, the JBL Bar 5.0 Multibeam tops the range thanks to its 5.1 channel compatibility (wireless subwoofer) and totals 550 watts of power (250 watts for the sound bar and 300 watts for the subwoofer).
Sonos slim soundbars
At 6.9cm thick, the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) soundbar is slightly taller than previous models. However, it remains compact enough to fit under most televisions. This Dolby Atmos compatible bar has the advantage of being able to perform an acoustic calibration to optimize its performance. Ultra versatile, it can receive music wirelessly, access countless streaming services and be controled by voice.
Driven by ever-lower TVs, compact soundbars have become a lasting trend. The more imposing models such as the Devialet Dione, Sennheiser Ambeo SoundBar and Bang & Olufsen Beosound Stage, above all designed for wall mounting with a TV placed on a wall bracket, will be more complicated to use. In this guide, we have gathered the best ultra-thin soundbars on the market that manage to ideally combine low thickness and high immersion capacity. You can also choose from the many other soundbars available on Son-Vidéo.com. For more convenience, you can refine the search using the height choice filter to select only models capable of fitting in front of your television without concealing the bottom of the screen.
