The 9 Best Soundbar for Projector

Projectors typically have built-in speakers that don’t have the best stability or quality. They’re feeble compared to more complicated sound systems or audio devices, particularly when dealing with lower-range sounds that require a subwoofer of some sort or just better speakers with bass.

You can use a soundbar in order to add an external sound source without going to the full bells and whistles of an audio system. You can also find out quality choices on a given value or price point. What’s the Best Soundbar for a Projector? Keep on reading to find out.

Top 9 Speaker Systems for Projectors

Here are the top 9 best soundbars you can use in tandem with a projector for a better viewing experience.

Klipsch Cinema 600 Sound Bar 3.1 Home Theater System with HDMI-ARC for Easy Set-Up, Black

The Klipsch Cinema 600 Sound Bar or Soundbar 3.1 is a home theater system centered on a powerful soundbar with an HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel). For our money, its main claim to fame is the fact that it’s so easy to setup care of its HDMI ARC technology. Just hook it up and you’re good to go.

 

Must Buy and Here’s Why

The Klipsch Cinema 600 is a must-buy soundbar because you don’t need to go into pairing mode to wirelessly connect it via Bluetooth or find the right A/V or component connection on your projector in order to properly make the connection.

You only need one cable or wire in order to enjoy the clean HD connection of the HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC) that minimizes cable clutter and allows things like connecting your media source to your projector by using your speaker as the middleman.

Notable Features

• 600 watts at peak power.
• A 45-inch 3.1 channel soundbar.
• Aesthetically pleasing sleek black design.
• It comes with an 8-inch wireless subwoofer.
• 1 Decoding for Virtualized Surround Sound.
• Thundering bass, expansive sound field, and crisp dialog.
• To control the soundbar, you have to use a smartphone app or the remote.
• It’s a single-cable setup with single remote control care of the HDMI ARC tech.

JBL Bar 2.1 – Channel Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer

The JBL Bar 2.1 makes your movies come alive in terms of immersion. It’s not as powerful as Klipsch in terms of power (600 watts vs. 300 watts) but in terms of speaker size, JBL is better (40-inch soundbar vs. 45-inch soundbar).

 

It Raises the Bar for Soundbars in Cost-Effectiveness

The home theater starter system gives you quality listening pleasure at a quarter of the price of Klipsch. Another notable thing about JBL is that it has a propriety SoundShift system you won’t find in the much more expensive Klipsch.

SoundShift allows you to instantly shift between audio inputs from your projector to your HDTV or to your mobile devices like smartphone and tablet. It can act as an HDMI switcher at no extra cost switcher on top of having wireless and app-based control.

Notable Features

• 300 watts of power.
• SoundShift allows device switching.
• A 40-inch soundbar with 300 watts of power.
• The 6.5-inch wireless subwoofer offers rich and deep bass.
• It works with Bluetooth, HDMI, USB, optical, and analog connections.
• Quality Bluetooth that streams lossless audio without cables or wiring.
• The TV or projector remote control can also work well with the JBL Bar 2.1.
• Bluetooth tech allows you to do wireless music and audio streaming for your projector.

Bose Smart Soundbar 300 Bluetooth Connectivity with Alexa

The Bose Smart Soundbar is a wireless soundbar with mostly Bluetooth connectivity as well as Wi-Fi and HDMI. It’s able to stand out from the rest with its voice control. You can use voice prompts by Alexa or Google Assistant to control the soundbar or facilitate connections to other smart devices.

 

The Epitome of Wireless Hands-Free Control

It also works for various other devices and purposes. Imagine this. With the Bose Smart Soundbar on hand, you can freely use your projector to play games, watch TV shows, view movies, or just chill while listening to music.

Why? It has a hands-free function. Just use voice commands or prompts to adjust the settings of the audio or switch from device to device.

Notable Features

• Black matte design with seamless metal grille.
• Built-in Alexa and Google Assistant voice control.
• 5 full-range drivers offer clear, wide, and hi-fi sounds.
• The seamless metal grill ensures the clarity of audio delivery.
• The bass is rich, the dialog is clear, and the volume is voluminous.
• The voice control allows you to adjust settings by “talking” to the soundbar.
• It works for projectors and TVs for viewing movies, listening to music, and playing games.

Sonos Arc – The Premium Smart Soundbar for TV, Movies, Music, Gaming, and More

The Sonos Arc – The Premium Smart Soundbar is characterized by its cinematic sound that should coincide superbly in tandem with the cinematic presentation of any decent projector out there. Additionally, this long, black soundbar has a chic sleekness to it that’s simply divine to see.

The Sonos Arc is highly rated for a reason. The sound quality on compatible projectors, computers, and TVs from this soundbar is incomparable.

Sonorous Sounds with HDMI ARC Dependability

Like the Klipsch Cinema 600, the Sonos Arc uses an HDMI ARC connection. You can thusly connect the space-saving Sonos Arc directly to your projector, indirectly to your projector by instead connecting to the source media like thee cable box or BD player, or daisy-chain it between both devices.

Any setup will result in audio feedback from the Audio Return Channel tech. If your projector lacks an ARC connection, use the optical to HDMI adapter included with the Arc. If your TV is made from 2016 or earlier, it won’t read the Dolby Atmos signal.

Notable Features

• Stream music and podcasts.
• Play games with surround sound.
• Immersive 3D sound thanks to Dolby.
• TruePlay tuning for acoustic adjustment.
• Your TV or projector remote works with this speaker.
• It has Dolby Atmos support on top of HDMI ARC a la Klispch.
• Alexa voice control comparable to that of the Bose Smart Soundbar.
• You can use Apple AirPlay 2 or the Sonos app to control the speaker as well.
• Brilliantly realistic sound using high-bandwidth HDMI ARC technology mixed with Dolby Atmos support.

Polk Audio Signa S2 Ultra-Slim TV Sound Bar

The Polk Audio Signa S2 Ultra-Slim TV Sound Bar is a jack-of-all-trades kind of soundbar. For one thing, it delivers excellent sound and value from such an ultra-slim soundbar. For another thing, it comes with a wireless subwoofer for deep bass on those HD or 4K videos as well as podcasts and radio music.

 

Jack-of-All-Trades Kind of Soundbar

The premium-grade ultra-slim soundbar with subwoofer has 5 full-range drivers included a la Bose Smart Soundbar. It also has almost universal compatibility with all sorts of projector types, TVs, and monitors with its optical and HDMI cables.

It even does wireless connections via Wi-Fi for smart projectors and Bluetooth for Bluetooth-enabled projectors. This way, when used with the right projector, you’ll get to enjoy a deep base and beautifully rich sound. The device even comes with voice adjust tech and Dolby Digital Decoding.

Notable Features

• 5 full-range drivers.
• Easy setup in mere minutes.
• Realistic, multi-range sound.
• Performance-tuned surround sound.
• Wireless function via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
• It upgrades your home theater experience sound-wise.
• It works with both 4K and HD projectors as well as HDTVs.
• All cables included, like HDMI and optical cables as well as AUX.
• Universal compatibility with 4K and HD projectors as well as PCs and HDTVs.

TaoTronics Mode Audio Speaker for TV

The Mode Audio Speaker for TV by TaoTronics is also for projector use. It’s a wired and wireless stereo soundbar with standard audio connections for optical and analog. It’s wall-mountable, supports PCM, and offers stereo sound. It even comes with remote control.

 

A Wired and Wireless Wonder

The TaoTronics Mode Audio can easily connect with most any projector because, like most projectors, they cover all the audio connection standards both wired and wireless. It uses lossless Bluetooth 5.0 signals as well as RCA, optical, and AUX.

The TV or projector audio output should be set to PCM (a form of digital signal that’s used to represent analog data). It might be smaller than others at 32 inches but it’s economically designed to save valuable space. It has 3 equalizer modes as well—game mode, music mode, and movie mode.

Notable Features

• 3 equalizer modes.
• Room-filling, realistic sound.
• In-wall or wall-mountable speaker or soundbar.
• It delivers a high-end, surround-sound stereo experience.
• It’s controlled by remote control (included in the package).
• It’s made for TV but supports projectors and PC monitor displays.
• Bluetooth 5.0 provides a lossless wireless audio connection across a wide area.
• It’s universally compatible with various devices with its Bluetooth, optical, and AUX connections.

VIZIO 29” Surround Sound System Sound Bar

The VIZIO 29” Surround Sound System Sound Bar or Soundbar is made for TV but supports projectors. It got Amazon’s Choice in Home Audio Sound Bars by VIZIO. It’s a mostly DTS type of soundbar to boost your projector or TV audio significantly.

Be warned though that its Bluetooth performance will vary from device to device. Some Bluetooth-compatible projectors might unleash only part of its full capabilities, especially the older ones.

 

A Purely Wireless and Affordable Soundbar

The less-than-$200 VIZIO SB2920-C6 is like Bose in that it’s wireless and Bluetooth. It’s unlike Bose in that it’s a purely wireless device connectivity-wise. This premium audio soundbar significantly reduces your cable clutter and spaghetti wiring by fully embracing lossless Bluetooth streaming tech.

That’s not all. It also has full-range speakers that boost your built-in projector speaker through DTS tech. Because it supports DTS Studio Sound, DTS TruVolume, and DTS TruSurround, you’ll get the full realistically immersive experience of Dolby’s chief sound tech rival. It’s easy to setup to boot.

Notable Features

• Easy setup.
• Remote control.
• Sleek black design.
• Full-range stereo speakers.
• Lightweight at 4.5 pounds.
• Bluetooth wireless connectivity.
• 0 channel home theater sound system.
• Quite affordable. Probably the affordable one on this list.
• The DTS technologies enable you to enjoy surround sound simulation.
• It has DTS Studio Sound, DTS TruVolume, and DTS TruSurround support.

Sony HT-S350 Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer

The Sony HT-S350 Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer lives up to the Sony legacy by offering all the standard features found in all the soundbars on this list like having a powerful wireless subwoofer, Bluetooth streaming features, 2.1 amplification channels, and HDMI ARC connectivity.

 

Trusted Name Delivers Trusted Product

As expected of Sony, it delivers a decent budget soundbar or speaker solution for your projector and projection needs. What this means is that aside from fulfilling the bare necessities of what makes for an excellent projector and TV soundbar, the HT-350 also offers propriety features unique to it.

For example, you can choose between 7 sound modes such as Standard Audio Mode, Sports Mode, News Mode, Game Mode, Music Mode, Cinema Mode, and Auto Sound Mode. It also has voice enhancement abilities to isolate and amplifies voices to ensure dialog clarity.

Notable Features

• 320-watt soundbar.
• 1 amplifier channels.
• Standard sleek, black design.
• Voice enhancement features.
• Made by the ever-reputable Sony.
• It features connectivity with HDMI ARC and Bluetooth.
• 7 sound modes, voice enhancement, and Bluetooth streaming.
• Surround-sound home theater speaker system for projector and TV.
• It focuses mostly in deliver the richest, deepest bass among all soundbar types.

LG SL5Y 2.1 Channel High-Resolution Sound Bar

Last but not least is the LG SL5Y 2.1 Channel High-Resolution Sound Bar. It’s not the least because the soundbar with the lowest Amazon rating on this list is the TaoTronics Mode Audio Speaker for TV (which is still a decent soundbar regardless).

 

One of LG’s Finest Home Audio Soundbars

We know that customers rate the LG SL5Y as one of the finest, if not the finest, of all the company’s home audio soundbars. Why? It’s because it got awarded Amazon’s Choice in Home Audio Sound Bars by LG. Why did it get such a prestigious title?

It’s because it delivers 80 more watts than its Sony counterpart. It supports both Dolby Digital and DTS Virtual:X sound technologies. It’s on the lower end of the price range but its premium-grade specs don’t reflect it.

Notable Features

• About $200.
• 1 amplifier channels.
• 400 watts of total power.
• Standard sleek black design.
• Wireless Bluetooth soundbar.
• High-fidelity, high-definition audio.
• High-resolution audio at 24bit/96kHz.
• Wireless rear speaker ready (sold separately).
• It supports DTS Virtual:X sound and Dolby Digital.
• Compatible with all LG TVs and projectors (like CineBeam).

Comparison Chart

External Soundbars	Sound System Type	Connections Available	How many items in the set?
Klipsch Cinema 600 Sound Bar	3.1 channel and  5.1 decoding for surround sound home theater system	HDMI ARC	1 soundbar, 1 remote, and 1 wireless subwoofer
JBL Bar 2.1 – Channel Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer	2.1 channel surround sound soundbar audio system	Bluetooth, HDMI, 1 Analog, 1 Optical, USB	1 soundbar, 1 remote, and 1 wireless subwoofer
Bose Smart Soundbar 300 Bluetooth Connectivity with Alexa Voice Control Built-In	Smart soundbar with 5 full-range drivers and voice control	HDMI , Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Alexa or Google Assistant voice control	1 soundbar and 1 remote
Sonos Arc – The Premium Smart Soundbar	Premium-grade smart soundbar with Dolby Atmos support and voice control	HDMI ARC and Alexa voice control	1 soundbar
Polk Audio Signa S2 Ultra-Slim TV Sound Bar	Ultra-slim soundbar with subwoofer, wireless streaming, and Dolby Digital Decoding	HDMI ARC, optical input, AUX, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth	1 soundbar and 1 wireless subwoofer
TaoTronics Mode Audio Speaker for TV	Audio speaker or soundbar with wired and wireless connections	Bluetooth 5.0, AUX, optical input, RCA, and PCM	1 soundbar and 1 remote
VIZIO 29” Surround Sound System Sound Bar	2.0 channel soundbar with DTS Studio Sound, DTS TruVolume, and DTS TruSurround support	Bluetooth	1 soundbar and 1 remote
Sony HT-S350 Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer	2.1 channel, 320-watt virtual surround sound home theater speaker system	HDMI ARC and Bluetooth	1 soundbar and 1 wireless subwoofer
LG SL5Y 2.1 Channel High-Resolution Sound Bar	2.1-channel wireless soundbar with DTS Virtual:X and Dolby Digital support	Bluetooth	1 soundbar and 1 wireless subwoofer  (wireless rear speaker ready)

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Here are the most frequently asked questions about soundbars used for projectors.

Can you use a soundbar with a projector?

Yes. As long as the projector supports HDMI ARC, HDMI, optical connections, and/or AUX (3.5mm phone jack), it should work fine. Usually, to broadcast video, you need to connect the HDMI output port on the device and the HDMI input port on the projector.

For the audio, connect the HDMI ARC output port on the projector to the HDMI ARC port on your soundbar. Now you’re good to go.

What is the best sound system for a projector?

The best sound system for projector use should have 5.0 and above (until 7.1) 2-channel Dolby Atmos or Dolby Digital support. The most expensive projectors around should cost about $1,500. However, you can get something decent for $200 to $500.

You can go for wired or wireless soundbars to serve as your replacement for multi-speaker and amp setups. Typically, the soundbar can come with its own subwoofer, but to save money a soundbar alone is enough.

Can you connect a Bose Soundbar to a projector?

Yes. The Bose Smart Soundbar featured on this guide works with HDMI, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Alexa or Google Assistant voice control. Of course, it’s a smart device, so it should easily interface and interact with any compatible smart device.

Other Bose devices work with HDMI ARC as well as optical and even AUX ports available for the more common optical TOSLINK or SPDIF cables and the universal 3.5mm audio phone jack.

Can you hook up surround sound to a projector?

Yes. You can plug in an external surround-sound soundbar to give your projector that surround-sound feel. If you wish for something more complicated than a 5.0 soundbar and subwoofer setup, then get an A/V or AV receiver.

The receiver allows you to separate audio and video like a splitter in case your projector or source media lacks a HDMI ARC type of port. The receiver will serve as your middleman for audio and video connections, particularly audio systems with amps, stereos, and the whole nine yards.

How do you get sound from a projector to speakers?

In order to get sound from a projector speaker, you need to establish an audio connection between both device using either HDMI ARC or wireless Bluetooth/Wi-Fi. Otherwise, you need an AV receiver to manage the connections (as mentioned above).

Related: How to Get Sound from Computer to Projecto : Your Options for Home Theater Stereo

To connect your soundbar speaker to your projector, turn both devices off then assemble all components. Afterwards, look for the audio output jack on your projector, and insert cable into the projector and speakers (or receiver).

Now you can turn on the devices and check if the audio signal has been established.

Where Do You Go From Here?

The soundbar is a conservative method for adding external devices to the projector compared to whole audio systems with A/V receivers and whatnot. Use this guide in order to find quality soundbars at every price point or value tier. Just remember to establish your sound requirements first.

From there, you can canvas soundbar choices in accordance to what you can afford then pick the ones that best fit your established requirements. With that said, according to user ratings, the best soundbar of the bunch is Sonos Arc – The Premium Smart Soundbar.

Share this post: on Twitter on Facebook on Google+