The best

Soundbars under 500 Dollars

compared

The Sony HT-G700 is a soundbar that was primarily designed for movies. Dolby AtmosDolby Atmos is a 3D sound format that adds sounds from above to surround sound systems and can also assign additional information to sounds so that they can be reproduced even more realistically. and DTS:XJust like Dolby Atmos, DTS:X is also a 3D sound format, with which the surround sound is expanded by height speakers. In addition, it is also an object-based sound format, whereby additional information is assigned to sounds, making them sound even more realistic. in combination with Sony’s Vertical Surround Engine create a convincing, virtual 3D surround sound which cannot fully utilize everything Dolby Atmos has to offer, but still delivers an incomparable atmosphere in this price range. The HT-G700 is also well suited for music and dialogue-heavy content, although the sound is a bit too bass-heavy – but the equalizer presets can correct this to some extent.

However, you have to cut back on the smart features with the Sony soundbar, since it has neither Wi-Fi nor an Ethernet connection. Therefore, controlling it via smartphone app is not possible. However, it can be controlled with the TV’s remote, since it has a fully functional HDMI ARCAudio Return Chanel: With the HDMI ARC connection, the higher bandwidth allows data to be both sent and received over one HDMI cable, saving additional cables in many setups. port with CECConsumer Electronics Control: HDMI CEC makes it possible to control various consumer electronics devices with just one remote control.. Furthermore, there is a night mode, through which the volume of different programs is kept at the same level.

The LG SP8YA is a 3.1.2 setup with an external subwoofer and a total power of 440W. It features an HDMI 2.1 connection with eARCEnhanced Audio Return Chanel: A significant increase in the data transfer rate, which means that audio signals no longer need to be compressed before being transmitted to the music system. This noticeably increases audio quality. and supports 3D sound formats like Dolby AtmosDolby Atmos is a 3D sound format that adds sounds from above to surround sound systems and can also assign additional information to sounds so that they can be reproduced even more realistically. and DTS:XJust like Dolby Atmos, DTS:X is also a 3D sound format, with which the surround sound is expanded by height speakers. In addition, it is also an object-based sound format, whereby additional information is assigned to sounds, making them sound even more realistic., which are reproduced using its two up-firingThese speakers are positioned diagonally upwards so that the reflection of the sound from the ceiling reaches the viewers from above. They are mainly used for 3D sound formats like Dolby Atmos or DTS:X. speakers. Moreover, the setup includes a center speaker that ensures clear conversations and voices. 

The sound profile of the system is quite bass-heavy. Together with the high maximal volume, the low bass can impress and really fill up your living room. However, the reproduction of surround content leaves room for improvement. That is because the soundbar mixes surround content down to stereo, which does not sound very immersive. 

The SP8YA has a lot to offer for fans of music streaming: It features a Bluetooth connection along with Apple’s Airplay and has Chromecast built-in. If you want to integrate the soundbar into your smart home, you won’t be disappointed either, as it is compatible with any voice assistant thanks to the Wi-Fi connection.