Soundbars are an absolute necessity if you want to fully cherish an immersive and cinematic home theater experience. Purchasing a soundbar can be fun but the technical jargons may come off as confusing to beginners. Most people might not understand the difference between 2.1 and a 3.1 soundbar. Which should you opt for? Read this article to find out.
Soundbar Channel Configuration Explained
When buying a soundbar, you will notice some numbers attached to their names: 2.1, 7.1.2, 9.1 and so on. So what’s with the strange prefixes before the soundbar models?
The specifications for a soundbar often include two to three numbers. These numbers are an indication of the type of sound system that the soundbar will support. It is used to identify the number of speakers integrated in the soundbar.
The first number in the sequence is an indication of how many channels the soundbar has. This means that if the first number in the sequence is two, i.e. 2.1, then the soundbar has two channels or speakers- one in the left and the other in the right. The second number in the sequence suggests whether or not the soundbar comes with a subwoofer. This number is always one, not more than that. For instance, if you have a soundbar with a 3.1 configuration, your system will include three speakers and one subwoofer channel. The third number in the sequence is not very common. This number represents the number of upward firing speakers in the system. So if your soundbar has a 5.1.2 configuration, there are two upward firing speakers integrated in the system.
The table below summarizes all the different types of soundbar channels and their meaning:
| Number in soundbar | What it means |
|---|---|
| 2 channel | One left and one right speaker |
| 3 channel | Left, center and right speaker |
| 5 channel | Left, center, right and two rear speakers |
| 7 channel | Left, center, right and four rear speakers |
| Dolby Atmos | Number of front firing speakers |
Differences between 2.1 and 3.1 soundbar
As discussed earlier, the primary difference between the 2.1 and 3.1 soundbars is the number of channels that they have.
In case off 2.1 soundbar, there are two channels- one left and one right and a subwoofer integrated into the system. On the other hand, the 3.1 soundbar has three channels- one left, one right and one at the center with one subwoofer in the system.
But this is not the only difference. Whether your home theater should include a 2.1 channel soundbar or a 3.1 channel soundbar depends on how effectively it can perform. These two types of soundbars have differences in the way they look, their setup, connectivity and most importantly their audio performance. Let’s discuss the differences in these features in details.
Design
The design of a soundbar is not only its exterior appearance but also includes the build quality, weight, and dimensions- all of which are essential for the successful setup in your home theater.
Both 2.1 and 3.1 soundbars are quite slim and lightweight. However, because of the extra speaker integrated in the 3.1 channel soundbar, it is a little bigger than the 2.1 soundbars. Both speakers, nevertheless, do come with a large external subwoofer which can take up space in the room.
If you have a room that is spacious, a 3.1 channel soundbar should be a good option. However, not all rooms can accommodate a big soundbar along with the subwoofer. Hence, 2.1 channel soundbars are more appropriate for smaller rooms. Nevertheless, soundbars themselves are designed to blend in seamlessly with your home theater setup, so it shouldn’t be that much of a big deal in placement.
Audio quality
With an extra speaker added to the structure of the soundbar, it is of no doubt that the 3.1 channel soundbar will have some advantage in terms of audio performance when compared to the 2.1 channel soundbar. In fact, after further comparing and examining the audio performance of the two type of soundbar, we found out that 3.1 soundbars offer more dynamic sound than 2.1 channel soundbars.
This is perhaps the results of the center speaker integrated into the 3.1 channel soundbar. Because of the speaker positioned in the center, there is an overall clarity in the dialogue and detailed audio response.
Since the center speaker is absent in the 2.1 channel soundbar, the audio comes from the left and right rear speakers. Hence the speech is not as clear and the details in the audio go missing.
Because the 3.1 channel soundbar includes a channel in the center, it means that the other two speakers- the one in the left and the one in the right- do not have extra pressure on them in producing the sound. This allows all three of the speakers to stand out individually and do their work meticulously, thus providing cleaner, more powerful audio.
Nevertheless, the number of channels individually is not a great determinant of the audio quality. There are other factors that should be kept in mind. In fact, a 2.1 channel soundbar incorporated with Dolby Digital or DTS can perform surprisingly as well as a 5.1 soundbar on its own.
Connectivity
Regardless of the difference in the number of channels, both soundbars can offer the same type of connectivity options. Some recommended connections include optical and HDMI inputs because they allow high quality audio.
Both 2.1 and 3.1 soundbars come with built in Bluetooth. This option can be used to wirelessly connect and stream content from other devices. Soundbars also enable Wi-Fi connection.
Both soundbars have standard connectivity options, however the connectivity can differ from model to model.
Price
There is a difference in the price of the soundbars because they have different number of channels integrated in them. Both the soundbars have a left and right channel but the 3.1 soundbars have an additional center channel in its system. Because of this additional channel which has dialogue enhancing features, the price for the 3.1 channel soundbar is higher than that of the 2.1 channel soundbar.
Other additional features such as voice control and Bluetooth can determine the price of the soundbars.
Advantages of 2.1 soundbar
2.1 channel soundbars have the following advantages:
- These soundbars are generally cheaper compared to the 3.1 channel soundbars.
- The 2.1 channel soundbars are smaller in size and can easily be moved for different set up.
- 1 soundbars allow HDMI connectivity for better listening.
- These soundbars can offer Bluetooth connectivity.
- 1 channel soundbars either have built in or external subwoofers paired with them.
Advantages of 3.1 soundbar
The advantages of 3.1 channel soundbar are as follows:
- The 3.1 soundbar includes a center channel which increases dialogue clarity.
- The overall audio performance for 3.1 channel soundbar is much better than that of 2.1 channel soundbar.
- 1 channel soundbars have built in or external subwoofer with them for better bass response.
- These soundbars can support HDMI for better audio response.
- 1 channel soundbars can offer Bluetooth connectivitiy.
Top five picks for 2.1 soundbar
If you’re looking for 2.1 soundbars, here are our five best picks:
Table could not be displayed.Top five picks for 3.1 soundbar
Here are five of the top 3.1 soundbars that we have picked out for your sound system:
Table could not be displayed.Why should you get a soundbar?
A sounbar can transform your home theater completely and give you the most cinematic experience of your life. Here are some of the reasons why you should get a soundbar right away:
Amazing sound quality
If you’ve got an Ultra 4k television, you would need to match the audio quality to the image quality to fully enjoy your time watching the television. Purchasing a soundbar would be the perfect step to improve the audio quality of your home theater system. A soundbar would ensure dialogue clarity and enhance stereo imaging for an immersive audio projection.
Aesthetics
I think we can all admit that a soundbar can be very sleek and stylish. If you want to impress the guests coming over to your house with your modern and stylish home theater system, getting a soundbar is a must. There are a lot of modern designs to choose from that will complete your entire TV setting.
Saving space
Getting a soundbar for your home theater is not only stylish for your system, but it also saves a lot of space. Instead of getting a lot of different audio devices to set up your TV system, a sleek and minimal soundbar with all the features integrated in it will ensure that you have enough space in your room to relax and watch the movie you’ve been wanting to. The soundbar fits quite nicely under the television and it can also be wall mounted for convenience.
Cost effective
Getting a complete sound system can be quite costly- there are so many different components and devices to pair up together. Instead, a soundbar will have everything integrated in it for an immersive audio experience. There is no need to spend extra amount of money on different audio systems. In fact a lot of good soundbars can be bought under 100 dollars. So this is a very easy and effective option for audiophiles wanting a sound system in budget.
Built-in or external subwoofer
Most soundbars will come with a subwoofer integrated in the system. Some of the soundbars also are paired up with a complementary external subwoofer. Subwoofers can enhance the entire audio performance of the system since they focus on the bass. With lower and rumbling bass, your audio experience will feel more natural and realistic.
What to look for in a soundbar?
So you want to get a soundbar to connect with your TV to enjoy a cinema experience at home, but do not know where to start? Here are some factors that you should consider for getting the perfect soundbar for your TV.
Placement
Before getting a soundbar you have to keep in mind the positioning of it in your room. A soundbar is not a device which you can put anywhere you want, it needs to be placed right above or below the TV for the best possible results. It is a pro tip to always take measurements of the TV and the soundbar before getting one so that the soundbar does not block the TV. If you want to mount your soundbar on the wall, make sure that it comes with the necessary components such i.e. brackets.
Number of channels
The number of channels that a soundbar has will determine its audio performance. A 2 channel soundbar will offer two speakers and in a 3 channel one you will have a speaker added to the center. There are up to 7 channels available. It is usually advised to go for a 3 channel soundbar if you are on budget. Nevertheless, a 5 or 7 channel soundbar would ensure a cinematic home theater experience.
Is a subwoofer necessary?
Most of the time a soundbar might not produce enoughlow frequencies for your audio to have the perfect bass. If you want to feel the thumping bass in your favorite movies or music, it is suggested that you go for a soundbar that comes with a subwoofer or one that allows you to add an optional subwoofer with it.
Active or passive soundbar
There are two kinds of soundbar: an active soundbar and a passive one. Whilst the active soundbar includes internal power amplifiers, you would require adding a separate receiver to your passive soundbar. Passive soundbars are a little expensive but the audio quality makes up for it. To avoid the hassle of getting a separate receiver, you should opt for active soundbars with internal amplifiers.
What kind of connections should you consider?
It is also better to choose a model that supports a variety of connectivity options. When looking for a soundbar, look for the ones that support Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, HDMI ARC for flexibility. The more connectivity options the soundbar has, the better it is. The optical interface supports stereo, Dolby Digital and DTS audio formats. An HDMI interface is better since in addition to these, it supports DTS: X, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos and Dolby True audio formats.
Conclusion
Soundbars can be excellent audio equipment to enhance your overall sound system. There are so many different types of soundbar to choose from, with the different number of channels and subwoofers that come with them. Whilst a 3.1 soundbar can seem a more attractive option, there are a lot of 2.1 channel soundbars with advanced technology such as Dolby Digital and DTS that can perform similar to 3.1 soundbars. The trick is to always look at the specifications and the features before getting the right soundbar for your amazing home theater experience.
Freelance tech journalist & author soundboxlab.com Read More