CRT (cathode-ray tube) TVs from the past were able to accommodate high-quality speakers in their thin, flat screens. It may be some time before we see genuinely sophisticated flat-TV speakers since the TV industry is so focused on display size and pixels. It seems that until then, the only option is a soundbar, and a decent one at that, but where does it go?
Soundbar Location: Above vs. Below TV
Although it’s more common to position a soundbar below a television, it may also be mounted higher up. Depending on the model, the soundbar’s performance and appearance may be affected by where it is placed. In order to have the best sound quality, it’s best to mount the soundbar above the TV, with the speakers pointing upward.
Continue reading to find out how the placement of a soundbar concerning a TV (above or below) might affect the sound quality. In addition, you’ll learn why placing the soundbar vertically is a horrible choice.
Soundbars: A General Overview
A soundbar is more than simply a flat piece of metal with a bunch of speakers attached to it. The audio device’s performance, appearance, and location are all influenced by a variety of design considerations. A television or other display-equipped device may be mounted below or above it, although the extra width is also for acoustic reasons.
TVs with flat screens don’t have the room to hold CRT televisions’ powerful audio technology. Soundbars fill that gap. Even while soundbars don’t sound as well as more powerful speakers, they nevertheless beat over the TV’s built-in speakers when it comes to music.
If you’re looking for stereo or surround sound, you’ll often find many speakers in the soundbar’s cabinet. A separate subwoofer might be added to the box to enhance the soundbar’s performance. Soundbars featuring right, center, and left speakers are available from various manufacturers.
Adding a soundbar to a flat-screen TV isn’t the only way to improve its audio quality. A traditional home theater system might, in fact, be connected to your television through an audio cable.
Because soundbars are easier to install, take up less room, and are less costly than other comparable goods, most purchasers choose soundbars over other similar products.
Positioning Your Soundbar
It is critical to situate a soundbar correctly in order to have the best possible sound quality and audio output. Alternatively, you might mount the soundbar to the wall above or below your television and set the audio device on a table, stand, cabinet, or another piece of furniture.
The location of the audio device is determined by a number of factors, not only the soundbar type and design. Several aspects might influence your decision, such as your room’s environment or design, your own preferences, etc.
Reasons You Should Place the Soundbar Below TV
You can either place the soundbar directly in front of a television or mount a soundbar directly below your television. For these reasons, it’s so commonplace.
Aesthetically Pleasing
The majority of soundbars are designed to be placed directly below a television. In this case, the layout will not be aesthetically correct if these speakers are placed above the television. If the device’s speakers are aimed upwards, you may think the sound is blown over your head.
Superior Audio Performance
If you install a soundbar below your TV, it will likely be at or slightly below your eye level while you listen to it. As a result, you’ll be hearing the music in its entirety.
Less echo and a better audio experience are achieved since there is no scattering or reflection from the ceiling. All of this is included, and the soundbar can be mounted beneath a TV or have front-firing speakers as an option.
Easy Wiring
Wireless and cable soundbars are also options. The soundbar may be positioned as far away from the television as the length of the cable allows. 33 feet is the typical length of the wire (10 meters). Glass fiber cables have the potential to reach lengths more than ten meters. It’s possible to get up to 20 feet of shielded cable length when connecting using a 3.5mm copper connector. Connectors are often located at the bottom of the TV. Soundbar setup and wiring get easier when it is positioned beneath a television. When the soundbar is put in front of or beneath the television, hiding the cables is a breeze. For example, the cable might be routed via a concealing channel.
If you’re placing the soundbar behind the TV and need assistance concealing the soundbar’s cords without damaging them, check out this video.
No Mounting Needed
In theory, a soundbar should be portable. You shouldn’t install it against your wall, if at all possible. Soundbars don’t need to be mounted if they’re put on a stand underneath the TV. This isn’t the case if the soundbar is placed on the TV.
Mounting the stand is required even in the case of a simple glass or wood stand above the TV.
As a result, if you’re using a flat-screen TV, you don’t have to worry about a piece of hardware being stuck. Moving the music player forward or backward is a simple matter of pushing or pulling on the gadget.
Choosing the appropriate location for a soundbar above a television is essential. This requires extensive experimentation to find the ideal location. Not to mention the time and effort required to put up the mount.
Reasons You Should Mount the Soundbar Above TV
A soundbar, as previously said, is often positioned beneath a television. Placing a soundbar underneath the television may not be the best option in certain cases.
Upward-firing soundbar Speakers Must Go Above the TV
Using soundbars with upward-firing speakers should not be positioned below or in front of a flat-screen television. To get the most out of the room’s acoustics, these soundbars need to be positioned in a certain manner.
These models have indeed been developed to utilize the walls and ceilings of a whole room to create a more immersive sound stage. Dolby Atmos technology is almost always included.
In order to get the intended effect, the sound would have to travel to the ceiling and bounce off of it; therefore, placing the soundbar below the TV is not an option. You should ensure that the soundbar is not placed too near to the ceiling of your room, as this might cause sound to not bounce back properly.
No Remote Sensor Blocking Issues
Especially if it’s located extremely near to the TV’s bottom bezel, a soundbar placed below it might get in the way of your TV remote’s sensor. This problem may be avoided if the external speaker was placed on top of the TV. Make sure the soundbar is small enough, or the TV is placed high enough if you insist on putting it below its speaker grille.
The TV’s stand height may be adjusted, or the TV can be raised to a more comfortable viewing height. The soundbar’s thickness may be an issue if the TV can only be tilted vertically to a certain degree or if mounting the TV is not an option.
Every time you want to adjust the station or TV settings, you shouldn’t have to get up from the sofa or raise your arm.
Ideal for Low-Lying Seating or TV Stand
Mounting a soundbar over a lower-than-eye-level television would be aesthetically and acoustically appealing. You may lower your television if you have a sofa or chair that is near to floor level. In these cases, placing the soundbar underneath the TV isn’t the best option.
Anti-Kids and Pets
Placing a soundbar beneath a television might be difficult if the TV stand or table isn’t deep enough. It’s possible that putting the soundbar on the table will make it too simple for children to reach the audio equipment and mess with it.
Can You Position the Soundbar Vertically?
It’s OK to place a soundbar vertically on a few instances, but it’s not a good idea. Soundbars are speakers that are specifically designed to guide sound in a certain direction. Right, and left speakers may sound like they are coming from the floor or ceiling when a soundbar is turned 90 degrees or to its side.
If this were to happen, the audio would be entirely ruined. The possibility of installing a soundbar vertically was previously proposed. When all other placement methods have failed, you may want to consider this alternative as a last-ditch effort.
There are certain folks who have no choice but to place their soundbars vertically, whether for aesthetic or space reasons. A soundbar may not be able to be placed horizontally in certain cases due to the placement of the wall mount and other furniture. When it comes to such situations, it’s best to conduct a little home improvement job or change around the furniture rather than relying on vertical speakers.
A soundbar’s horizontal placement is sometimes a problem when audio equipment is acquired without much consideration for the room’s existing furniture and decor. A soundbar shouldn’t cost a lot of money, but you shouldn’t skimp on it to the point where you wind up with a piece of audio equipment that isn’t appropriate for your room.
A soundbar’s vertical location becomes much more critical if you want to attach it. This is largely due to the absence of soundbar mounts that are able to extend vertically. No soundbar mount maker even considers developing a vertical mount since manufacturers prefer horizontal positioning by default.
The horizontal mount may be turned vertical by 90 degrees by simply tilting it. Soundbar mounts are specially built to distribute the soundbar’s weight horizontally; thus, this isn’t an actual option. Not only will an upside-down or vertically-mounted soundbar be damaged, but so will the wall.
Soundbar Shopping/Placement Considerations
It’s much simpler to browse for a soundbar if you know ahead of time or have already selected where it will go next to the TV.
If you’re thinking of putting your soundbar, be sure it has specialized mounting features, such as keyholes for brackets that are rear-positioned. Instead of installing it, mounting-friendly qualities are not necessary. It would be sufficient to use a simple long bar with no keyholes.
When you’re purchasing for or installing the soundbar, here are some additional considerations:
- Keep the soundbar’s power wire and the outlet it plugs into in close proximity. As a result, there should be no difficulties with audio output or electrical power.
- The soundbar cables mustn’t be located near any power lines. This is to verify that there is no or little interference with the power supply.
- The soundbar’s back must be completely free of any obstructions. Anything and everything should be at least a centimeter away from the item you’re using. The soundbar’s acoustics are improved if the area behind it is filled up.
- There must be a gap between the soundbar and a wall in order for it to work properly. It should also not be placed in front of a television.
- To minimize wireless interference, make sure no wireless equipment is placed next to the soundbar. However, a distance of two to three feet from the soundbar is sufficient.
- Avoid placing the soundbar on flat surfaces such as polished wood or glass. As a result, the soundbar might wreak havoc on the smartphone by causing it to shake. As a result, placing it directly on your table is not suggested; instead, place it on a rubber mat for further stability and support.
- Ensure that you don’t lay your soundbar on any lacquered or fragile furniture. Place the soundbar on top of a rubber sheet placed on the furniture.
- To get the optimum sound, use the soundbar in a room with good acoustics that is not too cramped. Even the greatest soundbars may not provide their full potential if the space itself is physically constrained.
- Make sure the soundbar is correctly aligned with your television, whether it is placed below or above the screen. There’s no need to reposition it if its length is the same as your television. For a long piece of furniture, make sure it covers the width of the TV on all sides. The cinema engineer intended for this kind of center alignment to produce an image and sounds that emanate from the same spatial point source.
- Make sure you are at least 3 meters (300 cm) away from the audio device in order to have the best surround sound experience. 5 to 8 meters is a good distance for a conversation (500 to 800 cm). To avoid video-audio delay difficulties, you’ll need to place your soundbar closer to the television.
- While TV stands are convenient, mounting the TV and soundbar on the wall is preferable. If you don’t plan on attaching your TV or soundbar, be sure they’re on the same or separate stands.
- It’s best to leave at least a 10-centimeter (4-inch) spacing between two wall-mounted devices. This would simplify accessing the many settings and connection options on either device.
- Curtains and rugs may help create a more realistic sound or reduce noise reflections. When it comes to soundproofing, echo foam pads might be a lifesaver.
- Keep your soundbar out of the way of the television. In such a case, take steps to conceal the ugly cables. If you can’t conceal them, consider a Bluetooth soundbar. Not only can hiding a soundbar result in poor audio quality, but it will also make it impossible to adjust the soundbar’s settings.
- In addition, you should not put your soundbar in front of or behind your sofa. The soundbar’s output might be obstructed if the sofa is in the way. Apart from that, they should be positioned directly in front of the spectator rather than behind them.
- As a rule of thumb, don’t put your soundbar on the floor, as this will impede your ability to hear the music. Instead of mounting the soundbar and also not having enough room on the TV stand, you may install it somewhere elevated like a platform or raised surface.
Conclusion
Most individuals want their soundbar to be positioned somewhat below their ear level and their television slightly above their eye level. However, the inverse may provide the best results in theaters with slanted floors or chairs. There shouldn’t be any debate over whether the soundbar should be placed below or above the TV.
Consider and verify whether or not your soundbar is supposed to be placed beneath or below your television. The soundbar should be positioned above the television to include speakers that project upward. You may still place the speaker underneath the television, but the audio quality may suffer.
Always check the product’s user handbook to see what it recommends regarding positioning. A product’s technical documentation would have stated whether the soundbar had special criteria. Place the bar on the television stand if nothing else is specified.
Best Seller List of Sound Bars:
- 【𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭】: Elevate faint sounds to vibrant with automatic loudness boost. Experience immersive sound through 4 versatile placements—horizontal for distortion-free audio, vertical for room-filling sound, tabletop for vibrant clarity, or wall mount for 360° cinematic magic. Transforms your room into a personal theater.
- 【𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐚 𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨】: Powered by 4 high-performance drivers, 80W powerful sound output, it provide richer details, like soft whisper or subtle croon, whether deep thunder or sonorous roar, turn flat audioto vivid, adding weight to music, making the virtual game experience immersive.
- 【𝐓𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝】: Fine-tune your listening experience with 3 dynamic equalizer modes—movie, music, and news. Enjoy rich, cinematic audio, luxurious melodies, and crystal-clear dialogue, tailored to enhance every scene and soundtrack. Spreading the audio evenly throughout a room, ensures that everyone, regardless of seating position, experiences the full range of sound.
- 【𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐔𝐬𝐞】: Enjoy seamless setup with cutting-edge Bluetooth 5.0 or reliable ARC, OPT, and AUX connections. In ARC mode, control your soundbar with ease using your TV remote, guided by our easy-to-follow instructions and video tutorials.
- 【𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭】: Your satisfaction is our top priority. Enjoy peace of mind with our 18-month warranty and 24/7 online tech support. Our 60-day hassle-free replacement policy, with top-tier assistance whenever you need it.
- FULL, BALANCED SOUND WITH A SUBWOOFER INCLUDED: Immerse yourself in your favorite content with perfectly balanced sound and rich bass from the built-in woofer.
- ONE REMOTE. TOTAL CONTROL: Use your Samsung TV remote to control key soundbar functions, including power, volume and sound effects.
- EXPANDS YOUR LISTENING ZONE SO YOU CAN FEEL THE SOUND ALL AROUND YOU: Experience immersive sound that fills the room. Clear audio is projected in all directions so you can feel the action from every angle.
- SEAMLESSLY CONNECTS TO YOUR TV: Connects to your TV without cable clutter. Just pair and play your favorite content.
- PICK UP EVERY PIECE OF DIALOGUE: Hear voices more clearly with dialogue automatically amplified so you don't miss a word.
- Simplified 5.1ch Dolby Atmos Setup: Enjoy immersive 4D sound with real Dolby Atmos and 5.1-channel audio. Five built-in speakers, including two side-firing drivers, create wide surround without rear speakers. Precision DSP ensures
- Voice Clarity Enhancement: VoiceMX technology uses advanced DSP algorithms to isolate and enhance vocal frequencies in real time. Dialogue remains crisp and easy to follow by separating speech from background effects and music, even at low volumes or during intense scenes.
- 300W Output with 6-Driver System: Featuring five precision-tuned full-range drivers and a dedicated wired wooden subwoofer, the system delivers up to 300W of peak power for bold, room-filling sound. With a frequency response of 45 Hz–18 kHz and a maximum SPL of 99 dB, it reproduces everything from subtle nuances to explosive cinematic effects.
- 18 mm High-Excursion Driver: Powered by BassMX technology, the wired wooden subwoofer features a 18 mm high-excursion driver, a 5.3L tuned cabinet, and a high-density magnetic circuit. This design delivers deeper, tighter bass with greater air displacement and enhanced low-frequency performance—bringing more realism to every scene.
- HDMI eARC for True Dolby Atmos: HDMI eARC supports up to 37 Mbps of bandwidth, unlocking the full potential of lossless Dolby Atmos 5.1-channel audio. Compared to standard ARC, eARC delivers richer surround effects and greater detail. CEC integration allows the TV and soundbar to work together with unified control.
- All-In-One Design: Built-in dual speakers, a 3-inch subwoofer, and side-firing bass ports delivers deeper lows and expand surround effects. The 2.1ch sounds offer you a superior audio experience and involve you in the joy of watching movies, listening to music, or playing games.
- Great Sound in Compact Size: Ultimea exclusive BassMX enhances low frequencies with adjustable bass. The compact design fits on a stand, cabinet, under the TV, or wall-mounted.
- Ultimea Smart App Control: Ultimea smart App of this tv sound bar can switch multiple EQ, adjust bands and matrix. Regular OTA updates keep your Poseidon M20 Pro soundbar optimized for a seamless, premium audio experience.
- 121 Preset EQ Matrices: The Ultimea App caters to the ultimate audio enthusiast with 121 preset equalizer matrices, tailored for four distinct sonic preferences: Bass, Pop, Classical, and Rock. Precise tuning and dynamic adjustments enable your ideal sound for a finely-tuned listening experience.
- 10-Band Equalizer Settings: Enhance your audio experience with 6 tailored EQ modes—Movie, Music, Voice, Sport, Game, and Night. For ultimate control, use the Ultimea App's "Customize" feature to fine-tune your perfect sound, matching both your personal taste and environment.
- DTS VIRTUAL:X: Expand your listening experience; DTS Virtual: X creates spacious 3D sound putting you at the center of the action for an elevated and immersive home theater experience
- SUBWOOFER INCLUDED: Get that big boom with our included subwoofer; Bring home intense sound with rich, powerful bass; Elevate the action and take things to the next level
- BASS BOOST: Bass you can boost with a tap; Feel the depth of distant thunder as your listening experience is taken to another level; Tap the button Feel the power
- ADAPTIVE SOUND LITE: Enjoy all your favorite video content with dynamically optimized audio and enhanced voice clarity so you can follow along with action packed games and blockbuster films
- GAME MODE: Optimize your gaming experience with perfectly synced directional audio that moves with the onscreen action; Game Mode eliminates distractions so you can hear better and play harder
- HEAR YOUR TV BETTER: Designed with simplicity in mind, the Bose TV Speaker is an all-in-one soundbar that clarifies speech and is a simple fix for better TV sound
- WIDE, NATURAL SOUND: 2 angled full-range drivers deliver a more realistic, spatial audio experience for overall better TV sound from a small soundbar
- ENHANCED DIALOGUE: This sound bar for smart tv is designed to specifically focus on clarifying and elevating vocals and pronunciation
- BLUETOOTH TV SPEAKER: Pair your device to this Bluetooth soundbar to wirelessly stream your favorite music and podcasts. Connect up to 3 devices through the inputs (HDMI, Optical in, and AUX in); the first powered on device will automatically connect
- SIMPLE SETUP: A single connection from this compact soundbar to the TV via an optical audio cable (included) or an HDMI cable (sold separately) has you up and running in minutes
- Amp up your audio - Fire TV Soundbar enhances TV audio with dual speakers for fuller sound, clearer dialogue, and deeper bass—all in a compact design.
- Immersive sound - Enjoy a three-dimensional virtual surround sound experience with DTS Virtual:X and more detail with Dolby Audio.
- Easy setup - Just plug in the included HDMI cable to the HDMI eARC/ARC port on your TV to instantly enjoy audio that's always in sync.
- Compact design - With a length of 24“ and a height of just 2.5", Fire TV Soundbar fits most entertainment consoles and TV stands.
- Stream audio with Bluetooth - Connect your phone or tablet via Bluetooth to fill the room with your favorite music.
- 【Hearing Every Word】 Say goodbye to muffled dialogue and hello to our soundbar that brings words to life, making you feel like you're part of the conversation.
- 【Compact yet Suitable】At a little over 2.5 inches in height, our sound bar is compact enough to fit in most spaces. You can easily mount it on the wall or place it in front of your TV without worrying about it blocking the bottom edge or IR remote sensor.
- 【DSP&Three Sound Effects】With DSP, sound bar offers three sound modes or presets that cater to different program types, such as movies, music, news. These profiles can optimize the audio settings to suit the specific genre, enhancing your listening experience based on your preferences.
- 【Compatible with Fire TV Remote】Soundbar is compatible with Fire TV remote control. Additional remotes compatible with Roku box or Roku TVs can be provided as per your request.
- 【Hassle-free Installation】We've made the installation steps for the soundbar much simple. Plus, a special vibrant, easy-to-follow installation instructions has been included in the package. In case you still encounter any issues during the sound bar installation process, our dedicated after-sales team is always available to assist you!
- Straight from the theater to your home: easy set-up, built-in tweeter, 2-ch speaker with simple Bluetooth connection
- Deep sound with Bass Reflex speaker
- High power with a slim design that matches any room and is perfect for small living spaces
- Voice enhancement feature is great for TV content with hushed dialogue, or to make conference call participants easier to hear
- Easy TV set up with HDMI ARC
- Enhanced Deep Bass with 5-inch Wired Subwoofer: Experience deeper, more powerful bass with a large-size woofer and spacious cabinet design. Perfect for movies, games and music, delivering richer and more detailed sound
- Powerful Sound from Dual Large Speakers: The tv speakers Features two large full-range speakers for balanced treble and mid-range performance. Each speaker delivers 20 W peak power, combined with a 40 W subwoofer, providing high volume that's perfect for any setting
- Versatile Connectivity: The tv speakers sound bar supports Bluetooth 5.3, Optical, ARC, AUX, and USB connections. Compatible with smart TVs, 4K and traditional TVs, computers, projectors, phones, tablets, and more. (please watch the video for optical connection settings)
- DSP with 3 EQ Modes: TV sound bar built-in DSP ensures stable audio performance. Choose from Music Mode for balanced sound, Movie Mode for cinematic surround effects, and News Mode for clearer vocals—so you never miss a detail
- 16 Inch Ultra-Slim Soundbar: With a compact design at just 2.9 inches tall, the small sound bar fits easily in front of your TV—perfect for living room, homes theater and other small spaces
Last update on 2026-03-26
