When selecting the correct soundbar, the various connection options are equally vital. After all, certain functionalities can only be accessed through specific interfaces. So, from the outset, consider how you want to connect your soundbar to the TV and which other devices should be linked to it.
The HDMI 2.1 port is a development of HDMI 2.0 that often includes eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel): Because of the huge increase in data transmission rate, audio signals no longer need to be reduced before being delivered to the music system. This significantly improves audio quality.
A larger bandwidth of data may be sent in less time using the HDMI 2.1 interface. Furthermore, when connected between a player and a TV, HDMI 2.1 soundbars can simply transfer 4K video. Below are several soundbars that include the new HDMI port.
If you are interested in these models, keep reading our 3 Best Soundbar with HDMI 2.1 review for more information below.
Our Top Pick: Sony HT-A7000 7.1.2ch 500W Dolby Atmos Sound Bar
Description: The Sony HT-A7000 has a high price tag, but it has a long shelf life owing to two HDMI 2.1 connectors and compatibility for all main spatial audio codecs.
Features: We wish it came with the surround and subwoofer units at this price, but those with rich wallets may add them for a few hundred extras.
If you are looking for the 3 Best Soundbar with HDMI 2.1, you should give this one a chance. This is probably one of the best 3 Best Soundbar with HDMI 2.1 you can find. The Sony HT-A7000 has a proven track record. It is the successor of the Sony HT-ST5000 as the company’s new de facto flagship soundbar, and it exudes distinction.
The HT-inbuilt A7000’s up-firing speakers allow it to accommodate genuine Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, with a sprinkle of Sony’s new 360 Reality Audio format tossed in for good measure.
The HT-A7000 is a somewhat large ‘bar,’ measuring around 51 inches long and three inches tall. It’s the perfect size to go beneath a Sony X95J TV or one of Sony’s new OLED TVs, but it could easily obscure the IR sensor on other TVs or clash with the legs.
Pros
- Dialogue that is really clear
- Atmos, DTS: X, and 360 Reality Audio are supported by two HDMI 2.1 connections
Cons
- Channels with a limited height
- Subwoofers and surround speakers are not included
Runner Up: JBL BAR5.0 5-Channel Multibeam Soundbar
Description: The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam is a 2021 small 5.0 configuration. It has JBL MultiBeam Technology, which is claimed as helping to create a larger soundstage by bouncing sound off your walls
Features: It boasts a boxy sound profile with room correction that adds punch and boom to your mixes but struggles to reproduce deep low bass. It also supports Virtual Dolby Atmos, which means it can only play Atmos material when downmixed to surround content, which isn’t as immersive.
If you are looking for the 3 Best Soundbar with HDMI 2.1, you should give this one a chance. This is probably one of the best 3 Best Soundbar with HDMI 2.1 you can find.
The JBL Bar 5.0 is adequate for dialogue-heavy programming like TV shows. Voices are rendered clearly and precisely thanks to its dedicated center channel and balanced mid-range.
It also has a plethora of wireless playback options, allowing you to stream podcasts and audiobooks from your phone to the bar. It has an auto-volume option to assist balance the volume between shows, however, it lacks a conversation enhancement feature.
The JBL Bar 5.0 is adequate for watching movies. It features a boxy sound profile out of the box, which provides a bit additional punch and boom to your favorite movies.
However, it suffers to capture low bass, so you don’t get a sense of the deep rumble in action sequences. It supports surround content, although its performance isn’t really spectacular.
Pros
- Feature for adjusting the bass
- It gets rather loud
Cons
- Low-bass is lacking
- There is no conversation improvement function
Best for Budget: LG SP8YA Sound Bar w/Subwoofer
Description: The SP8YA has the same black brushed metallic finish as the more costly versions in the line, but with rounded edges for a less bulky appearance.
Features: The style is quite basic, but at 106cm long, it lacks the overwhelming presence of the massive SP11RA.
The front and sides are encased in a tight black metal grille that suggests drivers on the far ends, but below are only the typical left, center, and right channels, each with a 20mm silk dome tweeter and a 10 x 4cm racetrack driver.
If you are looking for the 3 Best Soundbar with HDMI 2.1, you should give this one a chance. This is probably one of the best 3 Best Soundbar with HDMI 2.1 you can find.
The wireless subwoofer boasts a front-facing 18cm bass driver and a rear port that is enveloped in velvety black fabric on three sides.
While it may be ‘wireless’ in terms of audio transmission, it still requires power and should be placed near a plug socket, ideally as close to the main bar as feasible – however, as always with bass, experiment with placing to find what works best for your environment.
The touch buttons, simple remote, and app provide easy access to a full variety of connectivity choices. Along with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, there’s Chromecast and Apple Airplay 2 for streaming.
Pros
- A large number of features
- Surrounding soundscape
- Surrounds can easily be added
Cons
- Submissive in terms of definition and impact
- Height accuracy is lacking
Buyer’s Guide for 3 Best Soundbar with HDMI 2.1
There are a few things to consider before making a purchase. Consider the dimensions of your TV to determine the size of your new soundbar.
You don’t want it to be dwarfed by the screen, but pairing a big bar with a little TV could appear odd, like a tiny head placed above too broad shoulders. Look up the specs and compare the width of the bar to the width of your TV.
Check the height as well; if you need to set the soundbar in front of your TV, you don’t want it to obscure half of the image, and upward-firing drivers require a clean line of sight to your ceiling to be effective.
What is the best way to connect a soundbar?
Various connections are available for connecting the soundbar to a TV. The ideal method is to use the HDMI connection, which is available on virtually every soundbar and TV nowadays. The HDMI connection can deliver the greatest data speeds.
Is it preferable to connect through optical or HDMI?
In certain ways, an HDMI connection is preferable to an optical connection and hence superior overall. HDMI can transport data at significantly greater rates, but the optical link rapidly hits its limits. Dolby Atmos is a revolutionary 3D sound format.
Do you wish to switch between sources using your soundbar?
If so, ensure that it has at least two HDMI inputs, as well as an optical input for a component that does not support HDMI. If you’ve upgraded to a 4K HDR TV, ensure sure the soundbar includes a pass-through capability that feeds 4K HDR video signals to the TV.
Are new immersive audio formats like Dolby Atmos significant?
Many soundbars feature multichannel audio, but some newer models now support Dolby Atmos and/or DTS:X, the two most recent surround-sound formats. Both are “object-based” audio technologies, which let sound professionals put sounds practically anywhere in a listener’s environment while recording and mixing.
Additional Speakers
A number of soundbars have back speakers to provide a complete surround-sound experience. These speakers frequently link to a wireless subwoofer or amplifier through cables, so they aren’t totally wireless, but they don’t require wires going from the soundbar to the rear of a room. Many, but not all, subwoofers are powered by built-in amps and must be connected to an electrical outlet. A powered subwoofer usually gives you more control over the bass.
Conclusion: 3 Best Soundbar with HDMI 2.1 [2022 Review]
There will always be a striking disparity between a modern flat screen’s brilliant visual clarity and its dismal sound performance, no matter how thin, punchy, and bright smart TVs get.
This is due to the fact that practically all new televisions, regardless of size, have substandard speakers tucked away in increasingly small frames.
However, adding a soundbar to your setup is a simple way to have a more engaged, clear, and delightful viewing experience. We hope you liked our 3 Best Soundbar with HDMI 2.1 review and it was helpful.