If you’re looking to upgrade your TV’s audio, you’re likely considering soundbars or Bluetooth speakers. But how do you choose between them?
As a home theater enthusiast with over 10 years of experience reviewing audio equipment, I’ve tested countless models to determine the key differences—and which is better for most home setups.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll compare soundbars versus Bluetooth speakers to help you make the right choice.
Soundbar Overview
A soundbar is a long, slim speaker unit designed to improve audio from your TV without cluttering your space. Soundbars come in a range of sizes, from compact models under 30 inches to full-sized units over 40 inches wide.
Benefits
- All-in-one audio upgrade
- Wide frequency range
- Dialogue clarity
- Subwoofer connectivity
- Wall mountable
Drawbacks
- Not as portable
- Larger footprint
- dialogue clarity
- Fewer placement options
Soundbars shine for home theater usage, providing an easy audio lift for TV shows, movies, and gaming. Their slim profile mounts flush under TVs, while multiple drivers produce wide sound with clear voice reproduction. Add in a wireless subwoofer, and you get room-filling bass too.
While they lack the portable flexibility of Bluetooth models, soundbars fill living spaces with quality, high-volume sound perfect for entertainment listening. Just be mindful that soundbars can sometimes block TV sensors if not carefully positioned.
Bluetooth Speaker Overview
Bluetooth speakers wirelessly connect to your TV or other devices via Bluetooth connectivity. They come in a range of portable sizes, from pocketable models to larger units with 12+ hour battery life.
Benefits:
- Fully wireless
- Battery-powered
- Ultra portable
- Flexible room placement
- Rugged builds
Drawbacks:
- Lacks robust bass
- Not as loud overall
- Potential audio lag with TV
- Can only connect one at a time
Thanks to built-in batteries and wireless Bluetooth connections, these speakers offer awesome flexibility for both indoor and outdoor usage. Their sound shines for music playback, though they can connect to smart TVs as well. With fresh designs and durable builds, they look as great as they sound.
However, Bluetooth reliance does pose some challenges for seamless TV usage. And they can’t reproduce the bass or max volume levels of full-sized soundbars. Still, their convenience can’t be overstated.
Now that you know the basics, let’s do a full comparison of their key differences—and when one is better than the other.
Sound Quality
The single biggest factor when choosing home audio is sound quality. While specs and features vary widely, crisp audio with rich bass just can’t be compromised.
So how do soundbars and Bluetooth models stack up?
Frequency Range
Full-range soundbars are designed specifically to handle the wide frequency spectrum used in TV shows, movies and music—generally 20Hz up to 20kHz. They utilize multiple driver sizes, including dedicated tweeters and woofers, to reproduce everything from rumbling explosions to delicate highs.
In contrast, most Bluetooth speakers peak around 20Hz to 15kHz. They often have just a single mid-woofer driver, lacking the dedicated components for crystal clear treble or chest-thumping bass.
Volume
With their larger form factors and amplified power, soundbars reach much higher volumes than portable Bluetooth speakers. Entry-level soundbars hit 80 to 90 decibels, while high-end models exceed 100 dB — enough to fill large living rooms and kitchens.
Bluetooth speakers top out around 80 to 85 dB, sufficient for smaller rooms or background music but not a room-filling cacophony. Their compact size simply limits raw audio power.
Bass Reproduction
Here is where the biggest difference arises. Soundbars combine several mid-bass drivers with dedicated under-mounted subwoofers for hugely powerful low frequency effects down to 30Hz. The sensation of rumbling, earthquake-like bass transforms action films and makes music come alive.
In contrast, the majority of Bluetooth speakers lack standalone subwoofers. With only mid-range drivers, they fail to reproduce frequencies under 100Hz—losing all sense of tactile, chest-thumping bass no matter how loud you crank them.
Surround Sound
Higher end soundbars simulate surround sound through processing tricks like Dolby Atmos which bounce audio around a room. While not literally true surround, these sound field effects create greater immersion for TV and movies.
Bluetooth speakers are inherently stereo devices. Some newer models include stereo pairing which lets you link two units wirelessly via your phone. But they lack the surround sound simulation of soundbars.
Winner: Soundbars
With superior frequency range, exponentially higher volume and bass output, plus surround sound effects—soundbars deliver decisively better objective audio quality over Bluetooth speakers. They transform the entertainment experience in your living room.
However, Bluetooth speakers offer vastly more flexibility and customization thanks to wireless operation. And they still produce pleasing, crisp sound for music listening or TV dialogue in smaller spaces when loudness isn’t critical.
Ease of Set Up & Use
Beyond great sound quality, choosing new audio gear depends heavily on convenience factors—how tricky is installation, how seamlessly does it integrate with your TV and other devices, and how easy is it control day-to-day?
Here’s how soundbars and Bluetooth speakers compare:
Installation
Thanks to optical, HDMI, or auxiliary cabling, soundbars directly connect to TVs for super simple set up—usually under 5 minutes. Place, plug in, sync, and you’re enjoying studio-grade audio. Most also stand freely or wall mount.
Specific techniques to connect soundbars depend on your TV brand: for example, using an optical cable with Samsung TVs or connecting a Vizio soundbar to an LG TV. But the general process stays straightforward regardless of brand.
Bluetooth speakers need no cables at all, Automatically linking to your devices over Bluetooth wireless in seconds. But most models lack mounting options, so placement depends fully on available shelf / table space.
TV Connectivity
Via wired audio inputs, soundbars seamlessly integrate with smart TV platforms. HDMI even transfers metadata for using your TV remote to control volume and functions. Streaming, gaming, and cable boxes all play through a soundbar just like built-in TV speakers.
Bluetooth speakers rely on your television’s BT connectivity. Many smart TVs include it, but it’s not guaranteed. And even models with Bluetooth struggle with lip sync issues, as the audio stream lags slightly behind video.
If you need to connect a soundbar to a TV without an optical cable, HDMI or analog inputs come in handy.
Multi-Device Switching
Advanced soundbars include multiple HDMI inputs or wireless streaming protocols like Airplay, Chromecast and Bluetooth. This allows effortless switching between media sources like cable boxes, gaming consoles and mobile devices.
Similarly, Bluetooth speakers thrive with multi-device support. Once paired, it’s easy to quickly switch audio playback from say your phone to tablet to computer.
Voice Assistant Compatibility
Leading soundbars integrate Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri for handy voice control. You can ask for volume adjustments, song requests, or launch apps completely hands-free.
Many Bluetooth speakers also offer built-in microphone support for calling on smart assistants. Brand name models from Sonos, JBL and Ultimate Ears include Alexa/Google Assistant access.
Winner: Tie
For sheer installation ease and flawless TV integration, soundbars claim a slight edge. But the total wireless operation and multi-device utility of Bluetooth speakers nets big flexibility points too. With assistance from smart features, both audio options serve up powerful convenience and usability.
Design & Placement
Beyond superb sound quality, choosing the optimal music listening requires the right physical design and placement for your needs and space. Do you want portable indoor/outdoor flexibility? Or a fixed TV companion?
Here’s how soundbars and Bluetooth speakers differ:
Living Room Footprint
The slim, discreet profile of soundbars effortlessly fits into entertainment console shelves or mounts flush beneath wall-mounted flat screens. Tucking close to the TV, they avoid clutter while placing audio right in your line of sight.
Portable Bluetooth speakers stand freely wherever you have open floor space, shelves or tables. Smaller models fit anywhere, while some larger units occupy substantial footprints rivaling compact soundbars.
Customization & Placement
Bluetooth portability offers awesome audio flexibility no soundbar can match. Place them anywhere inside, easily move to any room, or even head outdoors to the patio or park. Switch locations at will.
Soundbars strongly anchor your listening experience to one location—wherever you’ve mounted/placed your TV. While you can move the full setup, soundbars don’t travel standalone.
Durability
Rugged Bluetooth speakers feature weatherproofing and durable exteriors able to withstand outdoor elements, knocking around in bags, or even submersion in water! Making them ideal travel companions.
Stationary soundbars simply aren’t designed for travel abuse. They remain safe indoors away from elements or physical damage. You trade total flexibility for home theater-grade sound.
Aesthetics
With flashy colors, stylish fabric grilles, and smooth contours—Bluetooth speakers double as chic decor statements. Their hip look blends anywhere from dorm rooms to patios.
Utilitarian black soundbar blocks keep aesthetics deliberately low key. They blend discretely into entertainment systems highlight the viewing experience not their appearance.
Winner: Bluetooth Speakers
Easy portability, eye-catching designs, and placement flexibility give Bluetooth speakers a clear edge for those wanting location versatility or travel-ready audio. Just remember sound quality trades off significantly from home theater caliber soundbars.
Connectivity
Both sound systems rely on wireless connectivity for playback, integrating wirelessly with your TV and mobile devices. But subtle differences have big implications on user experience.
General Wireless Protocols
Soundbars utilize WiFi streaming with standards like AirPlay, Chromecast, and Spotify Connect for beaming audio over home networks. Great for multi-room streaming. Bluetooth handles mobile/tablet connections.
Bluetooth speakers link exclusively via Bluetooth wireless—no WiFi. This compact protocol delivers solid one-on-one connection up to 30 feet, but can’t cover whole homes and lacks multi-room potential.
TV Wireless Connections
As we touched on before, some smart TVs include integrated Bluetooth for direct wireless hookup to speakers. There is often a slight audio lag however when watching video content or gaming requiring a wired soundbar instead.
Soundbars utilize WiFi, optical digital audio, or HDMI inputs to achieve tight audio sync perfrect for real-time streaming and gaming needs alongside video. No lag whatsoever.
Home Theater Ready
The gold standard for complete TV, movie, and gaming immersive sound remains a wired Dolby Atmos connection via HDMI ARC / eARC ports. This transfers the highest quality 3D sound from newer content to premium soundbars with zero lag or compression.
Bluetooth can only handle standard lossy stereo signal. So while they function decently for basic TV sound, Bluetooth speakers fail surround decoding crucial for bombastic film audio.
Multi-Speaker Surround Configs
Higher end soundbars come packaged with surround speakers kits for a legitimate multi-channel listening experience. The rear speakers (wireless subwoofers too) sync perfectly thanks to dedicated surround protocols like Dolby Digital or DTS.
You can manually pair multiple Bluetooth speakers to achieve a surround effect. But without a dedicated protocol linking the rear channels, effects won’t be as tight or realistic.
Winner: Soundbars
The dedicated wireless surround and wired home theater connection options favor powerful soundbars here. They integrate seamlessly and lag-free with modern TVs. Bluetooth speakers still make solid secondary devices, but soundbars edge them clearly for robust living room needs.
Price & Budget
Home audio gear runs from budget picks under $100 to luxury models over $1000. What type of investment should you expect for quality soundbars versus portable Bluetooth speakers?
Entry-Level
For buyers on tight budgets, Bluetooth wins handily. Very affordable models like the Anker Soundcore ($130) provide pleasing sound. While cheap soundbars universally disappoint. You need near $150 minimum for decent models like the Vizio V21SFX or Roku Streambar.
Mid-Range
In the $200 to $400 range, value emerges evenly for both categories. You secure genuine quality sound in numerous compact Bluetooth models from JBL, Marshall and Ultimate Ears for example. The same budget grabs full-scale Dolby Atmos soundbars from Polk, Yamaha, LG.
High-End
Over $400+, the money goes much further with soundbars. Premium models from Bose, Sonos, Samsung push near studio-monitor performance, wireless surround, even up-firing Atmos speakers. Equivalent Bluetooth performance costs exponentially more.
Winner: Bluetooth Speakers
Since average consumers balance both budget and quality consideration, affordability matters here. For shoppers emphasizing value over pure performance, Bluetooth speakers with incredibly low entry pricing contrast the higher minimum spend necessary to get comparable soundbars.
Final Verdict: Which Is Better for TV Usage?
We’ve covered a lot of key factors differentiating these two audio choices for living room enjoyment. But if upgrading specifically for improved television sound, which reigns supreme?
The integrated, lag-free performance of full soundbars gives them an edge for seamlessly bolstering flatscreen dialogue, cinematic booms, and immersive gaming. Large, dedicated center channels keep speech crisp, while surround processing creates atmospheric theater ambience. Set up and forget!
For most buyers seeking better integrated TV sound, mid-range wired Dolby Audio soundbars offer spectacular upgrade potential over smart set speakers. Their sizable sound transforms shows without decor disruption or wireless delay issues. They are purpose built home theater companions.
Portable Bluetooth speakers simply don’t offer the robust, full-range power needed for truly whole-room TV audio enhancement. They lag slightly, get easily drowned out in loud scenes, and lack surround capability.
Still, as secondary devices, their wireless convenience shines. Small speakers placed next to central seating boost sound nicely for additional oomph. And connectivity limitations bother less if mainly streaming music versus watching video.
So while Bluetooth models work in a pinch, few match the living room impact of full soundbars purpose built for maximal TV enhancement.
Does flawless surround cinema sound with heart-pounding bass appeal more? Or maximum placement flexibility with crisp musical output? Only you can determine the right audio formula matching your enjoyment needs and budget!
FAQs: Soundbars vs Bluetooth Speakers For TV
Can you pair Bluetooth speakers with soundbar?
You can often link smaller Bluetooth speakers to a full soundbar’s wireless network for “surround sound” effects. But in practice the delays from processing through two wireless links degrades precision. Stick to mounted surrounds or wired secondary speakers.
Which is better for outside?
With weatherproof designs and built-in batteries, Bluetooth speakers like the JBL Flip, Sony SRSXB13 and Ultimate Ears Boom glady venture poolside or onto patios as they equally do inside use. Leaving at-home soundbars helpless indoors once moved from wall power.
Does Bluetooth drain TV battery?
No, Bluetooth connectivity utilizes negligible electricity from modern TVs, which are efficiency optimized anyway. You may see battery drain issues on longer streaming sessions from smaller built-in television speakers though. Adding any external audio provides higher overall loudness.
Can I use old speakers with TV wirelessly?
You can add Bluetooth transmitters which plug into the headphones jack and seamlessly beam audio over Bluetooth to old passive (non-powered) speakers adding effective wireless functionality. Models like 1Mii’s B03Pro send flawless low latency audio.
How many years do soundbars last?
With no moving parts beyond speakers, soundbars last years before any degradation. Their accelerated lifespans beyond 5 years depend mainly on physical sound driver wear. Higher wattage cinema soundbars weaken faster from demanding movie playback. Light music usage guarantees longevity though.
Key Takeaways: Choosing Best Audio For Your TV
- Soundbars offer wider frequency ranges and exponentially higher volume potential than portable Bluetooth speakers.
- Bluetooth flexibility allows placement anywhere, while soundbars station near your TV.
- Soundbars seamlessly integrate 4K and gaming content thanks to wired inputs.
- Bluetooth works equally great for casual TV or background music listening sessions.
- Consider current space plus desired volume/use levels when deciding on the two.
- For under $200, Bluetooth speakers deliver great musical value for money.
- Over $300 dollars, premium soundbars vastly outperform Bluetooth options.
- Any external audio represents big upgrade over smart TV built-in speakers!
Hopefully this guide gave you the comprehensive advice needed to determine which audio gear best amplifies enjoyment of your home theater. Now just start listening!
