When I bought a flat-panel TV for my new apartment, I threw in a soundbar and subwoofer as a matter of course. It made sense to have better amplification, a broad soundstage, and a sleek, wireless solution with a tidy footprint for my audio devices. What was not to like?

That was until I found myself in my office watching Foundation on Apple TV. In there were my powered monitor speakers, which project sound across a broad frequency spectrum, with every syllable, sound effect, and orchestral swell reproduced with crisp, precise accuracy. It suddenly became clear that the soundbar wasn’t the upgrade I had hoped for. It was simply a boxy reminder that convenience usually comes at the cost of quality.

Disappointing sound and software trickery

The promise of big sound in a small package vs. the reality

Soundbars deserve credit where it’s due for being a necessary upgrade to your TV’s tinny built-in speakers. Larger speakers can project sound at higher volumes without distortion and handle lower frequencies more effectively, and this is where a soundbar (and, ideally, a companion subwoofer) comes into its own. However, louder and deeper doesn’t necessarily equal better. I found that with my (admittedly mid-range) setup, lower frequencies were muffled, voices lacked warmth, spatial cues felt artificial, and musical scores fell flat.

Like many soundbars, mine relies heavily on software trickery to create the illusion of surround sound. They achieve this by bouncing audio off walls, adjusting timing, and utilizing psychoacoustics to deceive your ears. While this is all a marvel of modern acoustic engineering, you can’t beat physics. You’ll never achieve the same level of accurate sound separation as multiple speakers placed around a room. My soundbar’s “surround” effect muddied dialogue, while, no matter how much I tweaked my settings, my subwoofer dominated most of my sonic real estate.

Teething troubles and a fundamental issue

Compatibility, calibration, and the superiority of authentic surround sound

Soundbars aren’t necessarily as straightforward as they appear. For starters, HDMI-ARC, the supposed one-cable solution, was initially finicky. It didn’t switch on automatically on more than one occasion, and I experienced compatibility issues after performing a firmware update. I had to try a few workarounds to improve the sound, and even then, I still have to tinker with my EQ settings to suit various media.

Soundbars sell the idea that good sound can be plug-and-play. However, the best sound is spatial; it delivers context and creates atmosphere. Cramming multiple channels into a single unit is like trying to illuminate an entire barn with a single lightbulb. No matter how bright it is, numerous lightbulbs will always create a fuller effect. It is this realization that sold me on the idea that a soundbar will never replace an AV receiver and multiple speakers with true 5.1 surround sound or higher.

Pros and cons of modern soundbars

The argument that modern soundbars are better than ever

It is true that some brands, such as Bose, Sonos, Sennheiser, and Klipsch, have made significant strides in soundbar development. Take the Sennheiser Ambeo (pictured), for instance, which can accurately mimic spatial audio using room calibration and a process called beamforming. Even with a cheaper setup, the difference from any TV speakers will be night and day, and the lack of cable clutter, small footprint, and sleek aesthetics are enough to sell a soundbar and subwoofer setup. There’s no denying the convenience factor, and for casual viewing, they can sound impressive enough.

However, even with premium models, the fundamental problem persists. The illusion of surround sound — no matter how advanced the technology — is still an illusion. You are not hearing the sound behind you; you are hearing the sound bounced toward you. These subtle differences, once heard, cannot be unheard. Furthermore, when I researched alternatives, I found that I can buy an entry-level home theater setup for the price of a mid-range soundbar, which offers superior performance and can be easily upgraded. In hindsight, I wish I had opted for authentic sound reproduction over sleek aesthetics.

Lessons learned from a shallow sound

Buying a soundbar wasn’t a complete failure. It looks great, and the installation couldn’t have been easier once I had optimized it for my open-plan living room. It is still a massive upgrade to my TV’s built-in speakers; however, I don’t feel like I was getting the best bang for my buck in terms of its basic purpose. As I learned, when it comes to audio, simplicity equals compromise. That sleekness of profile and wireless magic simply cannot replace multidimensional, authentic surround sound.

My advice to anyone considering a soundbar over a home theater setup is straightforward. It’s a case of weighing cost and convenience versus sound quality and immersion. As I discovered, even my pair of high-quality bookshelf speakers will outperform the flashiest soundbar and would look great on any TV stand. Ah, the benefit of hindsight.