Inside Denon

Sound Bars Buying Guide

Everything you need to know

What is a sound bar?

A sound bar is a one-piece home theatre that improves the audio quality of your TV’s built-in speakers. It’s simple to set-up—plug into power and connect one cable to the TV and that’s it. It is a single piece of equipment that houses a left, right, and centre channel speaker so you don’t need individual speakers. Many support Dolby ATMOS and/or DTS:X to replicate 3D sound.


Why do I need a sound bar?

Chances are, if you’re reading this sentence, you care about sound quality. A sound bar will have better sound than the TV’s built-in speakers. If you add one, you’ll get more impact, volume, and clarity in every way from anything you watch. We even make sound bars with the Denon Dialog Enhancer on board, so you’ll never miss a word during those pivotal moments. Some sound bars will have up-firing speakers to take advantage of a film’s surround sound channels, while other sound bars will have the ability to wirelessly connect to a surround speakers.


How to choose a sound bar?

Choose a sound bar based first on the space you are trying to fill. Have a smaller apartment with a small tv? Try a smaller sound bar. Have the large TV room of your dreams? Go with a larger sound bar with a subwoofer, maybe even a bundle to include two rear surround sound speakers as well. Next, go with the sound bar that fits into your budget. “More expensive” does not always equal “best for your needs” in this case. Start with a reputable brand that’s been in the premium audio space for a long time, then go with their best sound bar that you can afford.


Should I get an AV Receiver or a sound bar as my home theatre system?

If you are looking for a simple home theatre solution that improves your TV sound without running wires to passive speakers, a sound bar is probably the right solution for you. If you are looking for the highest quality surround or 3D audio experience or already have speakers in the room or built into the walls, an AVR would be a good solution. 


Do I need a subwoofer with a sound bar?

You don’t need a subwoofer to get good bass from your sound bar. Some sound bars are stand-alone. Others come with a wireless subwoofer. And others, like the Denon Home Sound Bar 550, can wirelessly connect to a subwoofer to add some low-end impact to your listening experience.


Can I add surround sound speakers to a sound bar?

This will depend on the sound bar. Some sound bars come with wireless surrounds and a wireless subwoofer. With Denon Home, you can add Denon Home speakers as surrounds and a Denon Home subwoofer—giving you a proper 5.1 channel setup. That being said, you can’t add just any surround sound speakers to any sound bar as they need to be compatible with one another. So, make sure you check the specs and check out the FAQ page of that specific product.


Why should you buy a Denon sound bar?

Great sound, amazing connectivity, functionality, and easy setup. We’ve been pushing the limits of great audio for more than a century at this point, so we know a thing or two about how to make speakers sound amazing. Buy Denon sound bars for the quality and peace of mind, stay because you won’t be able to listen to movies or music the same way again.


What sound bars have HEOS Built-in?

The sound bar in our Denon Home line has HEOS® Built-in, the Denon Home Sound Bar 550.


What other products can Denon sound bars connect to?

The Denon Sound Bar 550 can connect to other HEOS-enabled products. Some Denon sound bars are come with a wireless subwoofer that connects only to that sound bar.


What services can Denon sound bars connect to?

Our Denon Home sound bar will connect to any services the HEOS® Built-in technology supports. Enjoy Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music HD, Pandora, TIDAL, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Sirius XM, Deezer and more via Wi-Fi, Airplay 2 and Bluetooth connection. Other Denon sound bars have Bluetooth, so you can use your device to stream content wirelessly.