Soundbars make TV watching better, easier, and more entertaining. However, positioning some soundbars proves to be more of a challenge than regular home theater systems.
But most people who don’t have the necessary space and cash for a home theater system may prefer sound bars.
They’re right for delivering sound, but the problem arises when they give you multiple issues.
You’ll have issues fitting your sound bar under the TV when there isn’t enough space between the bottom of your TV and the table to accommodate a sound bar. Plus, when it’s wider than the space available under your TV. However, you can rectify this by moving your TV upwards or attaching it to your TV top.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through these issues you might face and how you can resolve them.
Although there are many reasons you can’t fit your sound bar below your TV, they’re all closely related to lack of space.
For example, if your soundbar seems taller or thicker than your tv, it would be nearly impossible for you to fix it under your TV because there’s not enough space for this.
These issues are similar in other cases too. So, let’s examine why your soundbar won’t fit under your TV and how you can rectify the issue.
Below are two reasons why a soundbar will not fit under your TV;
#1. Lack of Space
When your soundbar is too tall, thick, or wide for the space available under your TV, there isn’t much you’ll be able to do but get a new one. However, this is not always a feasible solution.
In that case, you can try rectifying these issues by moving your TV upwards to create enough space to accommodate your soundbar.
You’ll be able to do this when you use an adjustable universal mount.
This adjustable mount will enable you to raise and lower your TV at your convenience and to your preferred height whenever you wish.
However, if you can’t afford to get an adjustable mount, you can try making a DIY TV stand with reams of paper.
They might not be the most fashionable solution here, but considering how solid they’re, you can be sure they’ll act as good support for your TV.
In addition, they’re economical compared to a TV mount. Using a piece of clothing, you can add some decorations to hide their appearance.
#2. Wider Soundbar
This often happens when your soundbar is wider than the space under your TV. It becomes difficult to fix the soundbar.
You can settle for the fixes below to rectify this issue;
#1. Place the Soundbar above your TV
Another option is to keep your sound bar above your TV. However, most people prefer to keep their sound bars under the TV (especially because of their design).
Nevertheless, some soundbars are also suitable for upward placement. They even perform better when placed above the TV.
Soundbars with this type of design have up-ward firing speakers. So, keeping them underneath your TV muffles the sound effect.
These upward-firing speakers help project sounds that are supposed to echo off your ceiling. This sound projection helps in creating a 3D audio effect.
Also, they can act as support to your soundbar, whether you install it on drywall or wood studs.
The most effective ways to place your soundbar above your TV are:
#1. Attaching It To Your TV Top
However, this option is only available on specific soundbar models.
#2. Placing Your TV on a Cabinet/Shelf Above Your TV
If you choose this option, you can install it on a cabinet or floating shelf to mount a soundbar for your speakers.
#3. Mounting Your Soundbar on Your Wall
The main requirement is a mount or bracket, which would drive into the wall above your tv.
You can find an adjustable sound bar wall mount online. It’s fit enough to support sound bars of any kind and thickness.
#4. Positioning Your Soundbar Behind Your TV
Another acceptable way to place your soundbar is by installing it behind your TV.
However, placing your soundbar behind your TV doesn’t mean installing it where your TV might obstruct the speakers.
Doing this will block the sound path of your soundbar and affect your speaker’s audio quality, causing muffled sounds.
So, to avoid this, place your soundbar slightly to the rear of your TV. You can easily do this if there’s enough space toward the front of your tv screen.
This method is most effective for TVs mounted on a console because it provides more space for the soundbar.
In addition, some parts of your TV (like the bottom screen) may obstruct your soundbar, so it isn’t the ideal solution.
How Far Below the TV Can You Mount a Sound Bar?
The unspoken rule is to keep a distance between 10 and 15cm (4 and 6 inches) between your TV and soundbar.
However, this may prove impractical during installation because there may be a piece of furniture under your TV.
An average 65″ flat panel TV has a height of 33″. Ideally, the bottom of this TV should be 26″ (42.5-16.5) above ground level.
The good news is, even though the best position to place your soundbar is at the center just below your TV, you can still go as low as the bottom 1/3rd of your TV line.
Also, the 65″ flat panel tv will mean that the bottom of your TV can be 31.5″ off the ground.
And since most furniture can be as high as 30″, you’ll have just enough space to fit your speakers beneath your TV.
In addition, you won’t have to worry about getting optimum audio quality even when you don’t place the soundbar at the center of your TV as long as you consider the dimensions.
Therefore, how low you place your sound bar influences the experience, you will get with your home theater. So, try to place it just above ground level from your TV.
Can You Fit a Soundbar Above the TV?
You can mount it above, beneath, or behind your TV. However, it depends on the type of soundbar and your decision on where to place it.
Nevertheless, mounting your soundbar above your TV is not always appropriate, as it can result in poor sound and audio quality.
For instance, a sound bar with an upward-firing speaker, which reflects elements under your tv if placed above your TV, will not function properly.
Despite this, you can still find some specialized soundbars with upward-firing speakers but with different requirements for where to place them.
Additionally, positioning your soundbars is ideal for aligning them toward your ears. By doing this, you’ll derive an optimum sound experience from your speakers.
And a convenient view of the TV. This arrangement may be nearly impossible because you’d want your TV to align with your eyes.
After all, you don’t want any discomfort. No one wants to get neck strains while watching TV.
There’s a way you can achieve this, creating a striking balance between your TV and soundbar.
It’d be wise to position your soundbar just below ear level and your TV just above eye level.
With this arrangement, you should be able to get the right TV to sound card spacing (that is, 10 to 15cm).
Deciding to place your sound bar above your TV quite frankly limits your options to wall mounting.
It’s a matter of preference, so you should choose what suits you most.
Can You Use Any Soundbar For Your TV?
Yes, all sound bars work perfectly with every TV. Today’s technology is reaching quite possibly its highest stage of advancement.
And manufacturers are making soundbars compatible with old and new TVs.
But be sure to know the ports of your TV and the sound bar you choose to buy to avoid any inconveniences when installing it.
That is, ensure your TV has the right connectivity to your sound bar, especially if you have a TV about eight years or older.
To know this, check if your tv and sound bar have an HDMI port with a mark that reads ARC (which stands for Audio Return Channel).
A single HDMI cord with a cable version of 1.4 or higher is all you’ll need here.
Nevertheless, if your TV doesn’t have a single HDMI/ARC input, you can use optical and HDMI connections between your TV and sound bar to get the right connectivity.
Recently, a new audio-visual technology called HDMI eARC, which stands for Enhanced Audio Return Channel, offers you better speed bandwidth than previous cable ports.
You can send more data to your soundbar from your TV with an HDMI eARC cable. The result is it provides better audio quality.
Although HDMI ARC and HDMI eARC serve almost the same purpose, they have some differences, which we’ll look at briefly.
Below are the differences between the ARC and eARC HDMI input;
HDMI ARC
HDMI eARC
Higher bandwidth aids in faster audio and video transfer.
Low bandwidth, with less speed in transferring data.
It has better studio quality because it can’t compress audio signals.
It is limited in its audio output as a result of compressed data.
It has some restrictions on soundbars.
It’s more compatible with your soundbar.
Although these are the ideal cable sets to connect your soundbar to your TV.
There are other options of cable cords to choose from, especially if you don’t have an HDMI ARC or optical cable.
Other connection cables you can use include;
#1. Coaxial Cable
You should note that it doesn’t support HD audio formats like the Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. You can find a list of coaxial cables here.
#2. No Cable
Although your soundbar and TV may support Bluetooth, and it can be possible to connect them wirelessly, it’s highly unrecommended.
Because a delay can occur, however, in cases where both the TV and soundbar are of the same brand, using a certain technology can support this wireless connection.
#3. Audio Cable
Sometimes causes delays between images and audio. So, it’s not the ideal choice.
Therefore, even though any soundbar can connect to your TV, it’s best to go for one more compatible with your TV, as this will provide a better video and audio experience.
Conclusion
Insufficient space is the most common issue you might face while trying to fit your soundbar under your TV.
Fortunately, you can always mount the soundbar above your TV, behind it, or on a shelf.
Whether you’re placing your sound bar above, behind your TV, or on a cabinet/shelf, always ensure enough room between them.
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