If you've ever wanted a fuller, richer sound from your TV, you've probably considered buying a soundbar. The sound will be better than what your TV offers, but does everyone really need them? And can they even compete with a proper home cinema sound system?

TVs are getting wider and thinner at the same time, leaving little space for the kind of speakers you need for a full sound. Soundbars are the best option to get really rich audio for films and TV shows.

"Because as good as the picture is, the sound leaves something to be desired with almost all TV sets," says hi-fi specialist Sebastien Bonset.

Compared to a home cinema setup, a soundbar doesn't need as many cables and boxes. Instead you have three speakers (left, right, and centre) in one housing, which is placed directly under the television.

TV expert Klaus Laumann, who reviews new units for specialist publications, sees this simplicity as the main reason for the popularity of soundbars.

Even if there are other boxes and a subwoofer involved, they usually connect to each other via WiFi and only need a power cable. The connection between the soundbar and the television is via HDMI.

Soundbars are also usually cheaper than home cinema systems. Entry-level models range between roughly US$100 and US$500 . However, one shouldn't expect too much from cheaper devices. Very high-quality solutions cost US$1,000 or more.

The conventional soundbar is called a 2.1 system - it has left and right speakers and a subwoofer for the bass. With a 3.1 system, a centre speaker is also added.

A 3.0 or 2.0 system, on the other hand, doesn't have a subwoofer. A 2.0 system is ideal for linear television and can also play music well, Laumann says. "You could also put two stereo boxes next to the television."

Bonset advises getting a system with an external subwoofer if you want surround sound. A soundbar with a digital signal processor will also help to make the sound seem more spatial.

Some manufacturers are already trying to bring even more surround sound into soundbars and offer 4.1, 5.1, or even so-called 3D systems.

Some of them project sound onto ceilings and walls or come with extra boxes that are placed at the back of the room. This is aimed at reinforcing the spatial impression.

"Individual sound waves are sent against the walls or ceiling, and the reflection creates the impression that the sound is also coming from behind or from above," explains hi-fi expert Nico Jurran.

In general, square rooms are more suitable for this than elongated ones. Ideally, the soundbar is placed in such a way that the distance to the left and right wall is the same.

However, these systems don't work so well with open plan rooms where it's difficult to get a clean sound reflection.

"With loudspeakers, on the other hand, it shouldn't be a problem to get a decent 3D sound," Jurran says.

If you can, you should test a soundbar before you buy it, as it may sound completely different when you try it later in your own home. It's also important to check what connection options both the soundbar and your TV have.

Finally, the width of the soundbar should match the width of the television "so that the sound extends to the outer edge of the picture," Jurran says.

 - dpa