Over the last few years, televisions have improved on a number of fronts, including picture quality, size, and even thickness. However, there is one aspect of the audio experience and sound quality that has not been enhanced. An interior speaker system simply cannot compete with a sound system from outside. Looking for a new Soundbar on a budget? Take a look at our selection of the top Xiaomi soundbars.
Best Xiaomi Soundbar
1. Xiaomi Mi Soundbar
The Mi Soundbar features a simple yet elegant appearance that immediately impresses when you take it out of the box. It’s only available in white, with a grey fabric covering the front mesh, which gives it a Google Home-like vibe. When compared to soundbars from manufacturers like F&D and Portronics, it’s certainly the best-looking in its class. To keep the white hue from fading over time, make sure you clean up after yourself on a regular basis.
It features a smooth finish and finely rounded corners that can fit into any room setting, despite being built of inferior grade plastic. It’s neither too little nor too big, and at 87mm height, it’s modest enough to fit beneath most TVs without obstructing the screen. Even if it doesn’t, you can always hang it on the wall. It’s relatively light, weighing roughly 2 kg, making it easy to move from one room to another.
It has a nice design with body-colored function buttons and LEDs on top, cleverly positioned connectivity ports on the inner rear, and rubber legs on the bottom. The rubber dampens vibrations and keeps the device stable.
The design is unquestionably the greatest for the money, and Xiaomi also includes a white colored power cable and an SPDIF cable with the soundbar.
Pros
- Sleek, subtle design
- Wall mount available
- Has all basic connectivity options
- Respectable performance for the price
Cons
- Bluetooth pairing is done one at a time. There is no remote controller.
2. Xiaomi Soundbar 3.1-channel
The Xiaomi Sound Bar 3.1-channel raises the bar in home audio with its crisp, immersive sound owing to Dolby Audio / DTS Virtual: X, 7 unique drivers, a separate 6.5-inch woofer, and 430W of peak power.
The new Xiaomi Sound Bar improves sound localisation and clarity in three-dimensional and multi-layered videos with 3.1 channels, resulting in remarkable audio-visual effects. With three full-range speakers, three tweeters, and a separate woofer, it also pushes the frontiers of acoustic design.
Even when tiny changes occur, the outcome is accurate and responsive audio output. The Xiaomi Soundbar 3.1ch will transport you to any location, whether you’re listening to music or viewing a movie. You’ll be able to hear everything properly thanks to the 430 W overall power (180 W bar + 250 W woofer).
Pros:
- The price-to-performance ratio is excellent.
- Exceptional craftsmanship
- Adjustable bass, treble, and other settings
- HDMI and optical ports are among the many options for connecting.
Cons:
- Instructions for use are inadequate, with no explanation of individual parameters.
- The bass reflex hole on the back of the subwoofer is less practical.
How to Connect your Soundbar to a TV Using HDMI
So, how do I connect my soundbar to a TV with HDMI?
Plug one end of your HDMI cable into the ARC or eARC connector on your TV and the other end into the OUT port on your soundbar to connect your soundbar to your TV. For an ARC connection, use an HDMI 1.4 cable; for an eARC connection, use an HDMI 2.1 cable.
The IN ports on your soundbar can be used to connect additional devices such as game consoles, Blu-ray players, and more if your soundbar has more than one HDMI port. This eliminates the need to connect all of your gadgets to your TV directly, making it easier to detach wires, especially if your TV is mounted.
You may need to adjust the audio settings on your TV after connecting your soundbar. While most TVs will identify a soundbar when it is connected in, you may need to alter the audio on your TV to the appropriate external speaker option. In some circumstances, you may need to download an app to your smartphone to control various soundbar capabilities.
HDMI ARC vs Digital Optical: Which is Better?
For some, getting audio from your TV to external speakers might be a difficult chore. There may be only one or many types of audio connections available to you, depending on the model of TV and external speakers you have. Perhaps your TV supports both HDMI ARC and digital optical audio, which are both excellent choices. So, which is the superior option? Is it better to use HDMI ARC or digital optical audio?
A better choice is HDMI ARC. While Digital Optical only supports Dolby Digital and up to 5.1 channels of uncompressed audio, it supports Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos, and up to 7.1 channels of uncompressed audio. HDMI ARC also has CEC, which allows you to adjust the volume settings of a connected soundbar or A/V receiver using your TV remote.
How to Connect your Soundbar to a TV Using an Optical Cable
So, how do I connect my sound bar to a TV using an optical cable?
Plug one end of the optical cable into the optical OUT connection on your TV to connect your soundbar to a TV. Then connect the other end to your soundbar’s optical IN port. This connection may be named Digital Audio Optical Output depending on your TV and soundbar.
After you’ve connected the optical cable to the proper ports, check your soundbar’s handbook to see what steps you need to take to activate your soundbar.
How to Connect your Soundbar to a TV Via Bluetooth Connection
Refer to the manuals for your devices to connect your soundbar to your TV via Bluetooth. However, most soundbars contain a Bluetooth button on the remote control or on the device itself. To begin pairing the soundbar with your TV, simply press either of these buttons while the soundbar is turned on.
The Bluetooth switch on your TV is normally discovered by scrolling through the menu system. To navigate through all of the choices, simply use the remote. If your TV doesn’t have Bluetooth, you’ll need to purchase a Bluetooth adaptor that you can plug into one of your TV’s ports, but this may not work with all models.
Why is HDMI ARC a Better Option than Digital Optical?
When compared to digital optical audio, HDMI ARC is usually the preferable alternative. Why?
Better sound quality is possible using HDMI ARC. It also comes with CEC (consumer electronics control). It allows you to adjust the level and power of both the TV and the external speaker system with a single remote controller.
HDMI ARC has the unique capability of allowing numerous devices to be used as audio sources. The TV, for example, only has to be connected to one soundbar through one HDMI cable. The TV in this case includes four HDMI inputs, including one for a Playstation 5, one for a Blu-ray player, and one for an Apple TV. All three devices do not need to be connected to the soundbar; instead, they must be connected to the TV, which then sends the audio to the soundbar over HDMI ARC!
The only drawback in this circumstance is that HDMI ARC eliminates one of the TV’s HDMI inputs. If your TV only has three HDMI ports, one of which is an HDMI ARC connector, you only have two HDMI inputs.
How to Buy a Soundbar: Five Features to Compare
Despite the fact that soundbars appear to be the same, there are considerable differences across models. Here are eight things to consider when purchasing a soundbar.Despite the fact that soundbars appear to be the same, there are considerable differences across models. Here are eight things to consider when purchasing a soundbar.
1. Subwoofer
A subwoofer is a type of loudspeaker that produces low audio frequencies, sometimes known as bass. Although most soundbars lack a dedicated subwoofer, you can find ones that do, either built-in or as an extra speaker.
- Soundbars without subwoofers are frequently less expensive. The difference in audio quality, on the other hand, is usually audible.
- A soundbar with a built-in subwoofer is ideal if you want all of your audio to come from one source. Built-in subwoofers are similarly comparable to standalone models in terms of performance.
- A soundbar with a separate subwoofer is an excellent alternative if you want to experiment with placement and don’t mind having another speaker in the room. It’s worth mentioning that many subwoofers are wireless, making them easy to hide.
2. Connectivity
The majority of soundbars connect to a television using an HDMI wire. Simply connect your input devices to your television, followed by the soundbar. Soundbars and televisions can also be connected using optical connections. You may also connect devices directly to the speaker, but you’ll need a soundbar with additional HDMI ports. This is a fantastic alternative if your television doesn’t have many input ports.
3. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
Wireless connectivity is available on several soundbars. This is essential if you want to be able to play music directly from your phone or computer. This can be done over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
Bluetooth is acceptable for the majority of jobs, although it must be used within a 30 foot range. Depending on the size of your home, Wi-Fi may be more handy. You may also use Wi-Fi to play music in multiple rooms at the same time.
4. Channels
You might have noticed that each soundbar has a set number of channels. This merely refers to the quantity of people who will be speaking. Even if a soundbar with only two channels sounds better than your television, a soundbar with more channels is preferable.
- Two Channels: There are two speakers on this soundbar, one on each side.
- Three Speakers (Left, Right, and Center): This soundbar has three speakers (left, right, and center).
- Five Speakers (Left, Right, Center, and Two Rear): This soundbar has five speakers: left, right, center, and two rear speakers.
- Seven Speakers: This soundbar features seven speakers. It’s a five-channel soundbar with the exception that the two back channels have been halved, leaving you with four.
Three numerals are used to describe some soundbars. The first number specifies the number of channels, the second whether a subwoofer is included, and the third the number of upward-facing speakers.
5. Active or Passive
The vast majority of soundbars are active soundbars. This means they feature a built-in amplifier and can function without the use of any other audio equipment. Active soundbars are more popular because they don’t require any additional purchases or connections.
However, passive soundbars are also readily accessible. There is no amplifier in a passive soundbar. As a result, you’ll need to invest in an amplifier or a receiver. Passive soundbars have better speakers and give you more flexibility in terms of what you connect them to.
Conclusion
Well that’s it for the best Xiaomi soundbar. You can choose from our recommendation to decide on the best one for you. With the best Xiaomi soundbar, your sound localisation will be improved.