In most cases whenever we see a photo of a soundbar there is a subwoofer somewhere in the picture. So, does that mean that every soundbar needs a subwoofer in order to work properly?
The answer to this question is no. Your soundbar will work just fine without a subwoofer. Subwoofers are responsible for the bass and low frequencies. The soundbar on the other hand uses speakers to deliver stereo or surround sound.
Soundbar: What is it?
If we need to describe the soundbar we can say that it is a group of speakers packed together in one rectangular housing. They are designed to be compact and to give the effect of stereo or surround sound. We normally connect them to our gaming consoles, TVs, DVD and Bu-ray players.
If you want to improve the audio quality of the sound coming from your TV speakers, a soundbar is an excellent solution. At the same time, they are excellent for small or medium rooms.
They are capable of creating a virtual surround sound experience and this is another reason why they are so popular, except of being very compact and well designed.
Subwoofer: What is it?
Subwoofers on the other hand are mainly used for bass and low audio frequencies. They can’t be used as standalone speakers, but they greatly improve the listening experience when combined with a set of speakers or a soundbar.
The Best Place to Position Your Subwoofer?
The best position for your subwoofer depends on several different factors. One of the reasons is the subwoofer’s length or the strength of the wireless signal. This is the reason why most people decide to place the subwoofer next to the TV or TV stand.
Besides this most frequent placement you can also place the subwoofer in the corner of your room, behind the main seating position and you can raise it a little.
The corner of the room is excellent because it will improve the surround sound listening experience.
Positioning the subwoofer behind the main seating area is not usually seen but it is an option if you don’t want to place the subwoofer next to the TV.
You can also raise it a little or mount it above the head level and point it to the listener to improve the projection of sounds delivered by the soundbar.
How to Connect the Subwoofer to the Soundbar?
In order to connect the subwoofer to the soundbar you can use a wired or wireless connection. Depending on the manufacturer the wired connection can be a bit different between models but generally the appropriate cable is given by the manufacturer.
If you want to connect them wirelessly you can use a Bluetooth connection. It is an excellent and pretty convenient way to connect two devices. In most cases you won’t have any problems pairing the subwoofer and the soundbar and this usually works out of the box.
What Can Happen If the Subwoofer Isn’t Connected to A Soundbar?
In case the soundbar you won doesn’t have a subwoofer or it isn’t connected to one, there are several things that may happen. First of all, it will continue to work as before but you will notice that there are no low tones and bass. Well, you will notice them a little but the difference will be significant.
The second thing you can expect to happen is to notice an error or notification that will tell you that there is no subwoofer. The message can appear on the soundbar or on the TV screen if the soundbar is connected to it. Ignoring this message is easy but it is not a solution.
And finally, the soundbar won’t work. If you disconnect the subwoofer and you notice that there is no audio at all you will need to reconnect everything to be able to listen to the audio again.
When to Use a Subwoofer With a Soundbar?
Having a subwoofer as an add-on to your soundbar is pretty useful when watching movies, playing video games or listening to music.
Video games use audio and the wide range of available frequencies so a good quality subwoofer will bring your gaming experience to a completely new level, especially if you are into first- or third-person shooting games or racing.
Some movies are simply designed to sound awesome when your soundbar has a subwoofer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a receiver necessary if you want to use a soundbar?
In order to use the soundbar it is not necessary to have a receiver. The soundbar can be connected directly to the TV or some other device.
Is it normal to hear sounds from the subwoofer?
The answer to this question is – Yes. Bass and other low frequency sounds are meant to come out from the subwoofer. For example, when we are watching a movie, and there is a scene with thunders or a motor engine running, we should hear the rumbling coming from the subwoofer.
If no sound comes from the subwoofer it is important to check whether it is turned on, whether it is properly connected and is the volume up. In some cases, the subwoofer will need some fine tuning and for that reason it is important to consult your user’s manual if you notice that there is no sound coming from your subwoofer.
Are Soundbars Good?
Generally speaking, soundbars are good devices because they drastically improve the audio coming from the TV speakers and this boosts your movie watching experience. They are generally much better than any built-in speakers, no matter how high-quality the TV is.
Today the flat TVs are becoming thinner and thinner and because of that the TV is simply too small for some high-quality speakers. Because of that although soundbars have their flaws, they are a much better option when it comes to improving your TV audio.
At the End
As a final answer to the question we can say that your soundbar doesn’t need a subwoofer in order to work properly. It is possible that you won’t connect a subwoofer when you buy the soundbar. However, if you decide to add a subwoofer to the soundbar you can expect excellent improvement in your listening experience. The good news here is that there are soundbars with a built-in subwoofer so it is good to check these too before purchase.
