8 Best Soundbar in Singapore 2023: Sonos, Bose, LG, Samsung & more

With a large high-definition TV and a surround sound system, it’s not difficult to get that movie theatre experience at home. A typical surround system has two or three speakers in front and two at the rear. However, there’s been a trend towards sound bars that are able to recreate surround sound in a room with less speakers.

New homeowners should consider soundbars

Homeowners new to getting sound systems for the home can consider buying a sound bar, says Sam Soh, the electrical manager of Harvey Norman Millenia Walk.

A soundbar consists of several speakers placed together in one casing, and is a cheaper alternative to the surround-sound system that you mentioned. Some are even engineered to produce sound that mimics that of a surround-sound system; speakers can also be designed to be detachable. Plus, there is no drilling involved!

“When looking out for a sound bar, ask questions like whether the sound bar comes with a subwoofer and, if it doesn’t, consider getting one to further enhance the bass. Also, ask to listen to the sound effects from various genres of music or movies so that you can decide on the type of sound quality that you like,” advises Sam.

While it’s true that larger speakers have bigger drivers (the part of the speaker responsible for creating sound), the best mini speakers can still pack a big punch.

8 Best Soundbar in Singapore (2023)

Getting a smaller speaker or soundbar for your home or room doesn’t mean giving up big sound and great features, especially if you pick a speaker that’ll fill a small space with sound.

Read on for our guide to speakers and soundbars, and a compilation of the best soundbars and bluetooth speakers in Singapore that will pack a punch.

Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus, $2,299

After much anticipation, Sonova Singapore finally brought its second-generation Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus (and its separately-sold Ambeo Sub subwoofer) to Singapore.

Compatible with Apple, Spotify, Tidal, Amazon, Google

Together, the soundbar grants an audio experience across a wide variety of films, along with popular streaming platforms. It has Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri, Google Assistant, and Chromecast built-in thanks to its Ambeo OS operating system, which practically covers all the core voice assistants and streaming services.

Ambeo offers virtualised 3D surround sound. Instead of brute-forcing all its speakers to create virtual surround sound above and beside you, Ambeo generates “artificial speakers” around the listener by reading the room’s acoustic properties (which takes up to 10 minutes for calibration).

It uses its reflective properties and proceeds to project up to 11 virtual speakers around the user for a mind-bending, immersive audio experience.

An Internet connection to the Ambeo Soundbar Plus matters because of Sennheiser’s proprietary Smart Control app, which houses its customisation and controls all in one place. That said, you can still control the soundbar with its included remote control. Like its predecessor, the Ambeo logo lights up when triggered.

Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus retails at $2,299 (standalone) at authorised Sennheiser Consumer Hearing webstores.

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Creative SXFI Carrier, $999

In the case of the SXFI Carrier, Creative has done an excellent job differentiating itself from the competition, striking a balance between sleek and stylish and a little bit of geek flair.

On the top of the soundbar, you’ll find a smooth, matte, soft plastic finish forming the centre, with a bunch of buttons for turning it on, controlling the volume, and switching between listening modes.

Both ends of the soundbar are wrapped entirely in grilles, and the sides stick out at an angle, giving it a more edgy look. Creative says this angling helps it arrive at the perfect Dolby Atmos acoustics signature, and tells us we shouldn’t place anything on either side of the soundbar to achieve the best results.

Around the back, you’ll find a range of ports, including dual HDMI 2.1 inputs, one HDMI-out (eARC) port, optical-in, aux-in, USB-C audio input, and of course, a sub-out for the accompanying subwoofer.

The subwoofer is wireless - so you can really place it anywhere in the living room that has a power socket within reach. There’s no need to go through the headache of running a cable from it to the soundbar.

All this means the soundbar works great with even the latest TV standards like 8K TVs with HDR and high refresh rates, multi-channel uncompressed HD audio streams that you’ll find in some of the latest shows delivered via Netflix or Disney+ from your TV. If you own 4K Blu-ray discs and a suitable player, you’re covered too.

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Bose Smart Soundbar 700, $849

Having a 4K screen is great but, pair up a soundbar to get the best of both worlds. The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 brings life to your movies with surround sound support. It also connects wirelessly to stream your favourite tunes when not using it for video entertainment.

Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is available at $849 from Amazon Singapore.

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Samsung HW-B450 2.1ch Soundbar, $249

The Samsung HW-B450 2.1ch Soundbar comes with Dolby Digital and DTS and 300W of power. Samsung has included several sound modes to suit whatever you choose to watch. Paired with a Samsung TV and you only need a single remote to control your entire entertainment system.

Samsung HW-B450 2.1ch Soundbar is available at $249 from Courts.

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Sonos 3.1 Beam Gen 2 and Sub Mini Set Wireless Home Theater System, $1,708

The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Soundbar with Dolby Atmos arrived in 2021 to much fanfare as we were very fond of its predecessor. Included is a Sub Mini that is a compact subwoofer.

With Dolby Atmos support, it also has HDMI eARC and voice control with Amazon Alexa, and Siri. With Siri and AirPlay 2, you can even ask Siri to play music for you all over your home.

Sonos 3.1 Beam Gen 2 is available at $1,708 from TCAcoustic.

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LG Centre Up Firing SQ95QR Soundbar, $1,849

The S95QR is a 9.1.5-channel Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundbar with a center up-firing speaker. LG claims the world's first center up-firing speaker bounces dialogue off the ceiling and to the ears for better clarity.

The wireless rear speakers are also upgraded from four channels to six, with four front/side drivers to accompany the two up-firing drivers. LG says the rear speakers are designed to distribute sound evenly across a wide 135-degree space, which offers more speaker placement and angle flexibility.

There is also a more sensitive receiver in the S95QR to allow for more distance between the soundbar, subwoofer and rear speakers without sacrificing sound quality. The more stable wireless connection also minimises lags or drops in the audio output.

LG TV owners can use one remote to control both the TV and soundbar.

LG Centre Up Firing S95QR soundbar is available at $1,849.

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Prism Flow Soundbar, $269

Prism+’s Flow soundbar is a 2.1 channel speaker designed for small spaces with 240W peak power output supported by Dolby Audio Technology.

The soundbar clocks in at 890mm x 82mm x 58mm, making it suitable for small rooms and desktop setups.

In addition, its wireless subwoofers allow for a more versatile setup, meaning users can place the subwoofer in the optimum position.

Prism+ Flow Soundbar is available online at $269.

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Sony HT-A3000 Soundbar, $1,099

Enjoy Sony’s acclaimed 360 Spatial Sound experience in a streamlined package with the Sony HT-A3000 soundbar.

Combined with Sony’s rear speakers, this “new sensation of sound” creates multiple phantom speakers and is arranged in the optimal sound field for your space so that you’ll feel like you’re practically inside whatever you’re watching.

Sony HT-A3000 Soundbar is available at $1,109 from Gain City.

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Why do I need a soundbar?

TVs have been getting flatter, bigger and better in picture resolution over the years, but one thing that has not improved much is audio quality. And tiny speakers at the back of the TV just isn’t enough, if you’re after good quality sound reproduction.

As such, due to its easy setup, size and sound quality, sound bars have been gaining popularity in recent years.

How do soundbars work?

A sound bar comprises several speakers in one long casing.

All you need is one cable connecting the TV to the sound bar — say goodbye to messy cables and multiple speakers!

Some sound bars can even simulate surround sound (usually achieved with multiple speakers or home theatre systems) because the sound is dispersed at different times and in different directions. Most come with an optional wireless sub-woofer, for a stronger bass frequency response.

Can your soundbar connect to your PC, MacBook, and Playstation?

If you need to connect other devices, such as a DVD player or gaming console, to the sound bar, check the connectivity specs before you buy.

Many sound bars have Bluetooth wireless technology, too.

So if playing music via your mobile devices is crucial, test the sound bar's Bluetooth connectivity.

Do I need a subwoofer for my soundbar?

If you do not have space for a sub-woofer, look out for sound bars that deliver punchy low-end frequencies. Use your trusty ears when deciding which sound bar sounds the best!

How Do Surround Sound Systems Work?

With a surround system, the audio signal is split into multiple channels so that different sound information comes out of the various speakers. Typically, there are three channels at the front. The left and right channels gives you the stereo sound, while the centre channel anchors the dialogue and front sound effects. The channels at the side or rear give you a sense of motion and depth, for example, the sound of a train coming from the far left of the screen to the near right side. A good surround sound system is able to recreate that immersive audio experience.

How Many Channels Is Best For Surround Sound Systems?

How many channels do you want for your room? The most common option is 5.1 surround, which means five channels (speakers) plus one subwoofer (denoted by the “.1”) that provides the bass frequencies. 6.1 and 7.1 channel systems have six or seven speakers plus a subwoofer.

Best Position to Enjoy Your Surround Sound System

This is an important factor to maximise audio in your living room. First, you shouldn’t sit too far or too close to the TV screen. The ideal set-up for your TV versus couch should be calculated to get the best of surround sound.

Diagonal length of HDTV x 2 = Distance from TV (in feet)

Second, your main seating location couch should be placed at least one foot away from the rear wall so that bass don’t sound too distorted. Third, the sound bar should be placed directly below the TV, while speakers should be turned 22-30 degrees towards the left and right from where you sit. 

Strong Echo from Surround Sound System

If echo is strong in your room, try adding sound absorption materials or hard staggered objects such as curtains, books, photo frames and rugs around the area to disperse sound into all directions. Everything in the room impacts how sound travels, so there should be a balance to combat unwanted sound reflection or absorption.

Soundbar vs TV Speakers

Full surround sound system is pricey and takes up large space. If you have a cozy little living room, a sound bar is the way to go. It not only enhances audio from the movies and videos you’re watching, it also lets you play music and tunes when you’re entertaining guests.

Subwoofers give that extra oomph to sound effects and audio tunes. Place a subwoofer at different locations around the room to find out where the bass is most deep and sounds the best.

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Part of this article first appeared on Hardwarezone.