10 Best SoundBars for Open Floor Plans in 2022
By Robert Jones · 2021-07-20
The loudest soundbar is an ideal one for the open floor plan.
## Soundbars for Open-Plan Living: My Top Picks Right, so you've got one of these lovely open-plan spaces, eh? Kitchen flowing into the dining room, then into the living area. Looks cracking, doesn't it? But with getting decent sound, it can be a right pain. I've been testing speakers and kit for over twenty years now, and open-plan setups are always a challenge. You need something with a bit of grunt, something that can really fill a big space without sounding thin or lost. I've had countless folks ask me what to do about their sound in these sorts of rooms. The usual answer is a proper surround sound system, but honestly, who wants cables trailing everywhere in a sleek, modern open-plan home? Nah, most people want something neat, something that just works. That's where a good soundbar comes in. Now, I've put a fair few soundbars through their paces in various open-plan rooms. My own workshop, for instance, isn't exactly open-plan, but it's a big, cavernous space with high ceilings, so it gives me a good idea of how a soundbar will cope with pushing sound around. I've also set them up in friends' and family's actual open-plan houses, seeing how they handle everything from movie nights to background music during a dinner party. It's not just about raw volume, mind you. You need clarity, you want to hear dialogue properly over the clatter of pots and pans or kids playing. And a bit of bass helps to make everything feel full and real, not just tinny whispers bouncing off the walls. So, let's talk about which soundbars I reckon are up to the job. ### The All-Rounder: Sonos Arc I've been a fan of Sonos for years, and the Arc is a cracking piece of kit. It's not cheap, but then good sound rarely is, is it? I've had one of these set up in my sister's new extension, which is a fairly huge open-plan affair, and it really fills the room. She uses it for everything – Netflix, Spotify, even the radio while she's cooking. Never misses a beat. It's got Dolby Atmos, which, if you've got a compatible TV and some decent content, does make a noticeable difference in how immersive the sound is. The sound seems to come from all around you, even without dedicated rear speakers. Dialogue is always clear, which is a big win in a noisy open space. Sure, you can add a Sub and some One SLs for a proper surround system, and if you've got the cash, go for it. But even on its own, the Arc does a hell of a job. Placement is important though; try to keep it clear of obstructions so those up-firing drivers can do their thing. **Pros:** * Excellent sound quality for music and movies * Great for open spaces, good room-filling sound * Dolby Atmos support for immersive audio * Easy to set up and integrate with other Sonos kit **Cons:** * Quite expensive * Needs careful placement to get the most out of Atmos ### Big Sound, Small Package: Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Bose has always had a knack for making small speakers sound much bigger than they are, and the 900 is no exception. I had one of these kicking around my test bench for a few weeks, and I was genuinely impressed with how much sound it could chuck out. It's a good option if you don't want a massive bar dominating your TV setup, but still need something with a bit of clout. It also handles Dolby Atmos quite well, using its own proprietary tech to create a wide soundstage. I found it created a decent sense of height and width when watching action films. Music playback is good too; nice and balanced, not too boomy. One thing I always appreciate with Bose is how user-friendly their stuff is. Setup is a doddle, and the app is pretty intuitive. If you're already in the Bose ecosystem, it's an obvious choice. If not, it's still worth a look for its compact size and powerful performance. **Pros:** * Compact size, ideal if space is limited * Surprisingly powerful and clear soundstage * Dolby Atmos support * Simple setup and user experience **Cons:** * Still fairly pricey * Bass can be a little lacking without an optional subwoofer ### The Budget-Friendly Bass Monster: Sony HT-G700 Alright, so maybe you don't want to spend an absolute fortune, but you still want some oomph. That's where the Sony HT-G700 comes in. I recommended this one to a mate who'd just moved into a new build with a big open-plan kitchen-diner-lounge, and he's chuffed to bits with it. It comes with a wireless subwoofer, which is key for getting that deep, room-filling bass that often goes missing in open spaces. It uses Sony's Vertical Surround Engine to simulate surround sound and Atmos, and while it's not quite as convincing as the Sonos Arc or Bose 900, it still does a decent job for the money. You get a good sense of immersion, and dialogue is clear thanks to a dedicated centre speaker. For movies, it's a significant step up from TV speakers. Don't expect miracles with music, though. It's fine, perfectly listenable, but it won't blow you away like some of the more premium options. But for bringing movies to life in a large room without breaking the bank, it's a solid contender. **Pros:** * Includes a wireless subwoofer for powerful bass * Good value for money * Decent virtual surround sound for movies * Clear dialogue **Cons:** * Music performance is only average * Virtual surround isn't as convincing as true Atmos setups ### The Sound Projector: Yamaha YSP-2700 Now, this is a bit different. Yamaha has been making "sound projectors" for ages, and they work by bouncing sound off your walls to create a true, discrete surround sound field. I had an older Yamaha sound projector years ago, before I had kids and decided cables were a bad idea, and it was seriously impressive. I recently tried the YSP-2700 in a fairly regular rectangular living room, and the effect was spot on. In an open-plan room, you'd need to make sure you have solid walls for the beams to bounce off, but if you do, it can create a much more convincing surround experience than most virtual systems. It comes with its own wireless subwoofer too, which is always a bonus. It's not for everyone, mind – you need the right room geometry for it to really shine. But if you've got a long, open room with parallel walls, this could be a fantastic option for proper surround sound without loads of speakers dotted about. **Pros:** * Creates true, discrete surround sound by bouncing audio off walls * Includes a wireless subwoofer * Excellent for movies and immersive experiences **Cons:** * Requires specific room geometry to work effectively * Can be tricky to set up perfectly ### Proper Punch: Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Right, if money is no object and you want the absolute best soundbar experience for a huge, open room, then the Sennheiser Ambeo is the one. I had one of these in for review for a couple of weeks, and it absolutely blew me away. It's huge, it's heavy, and it's eye-wateringly expensive, but by golly, it sounds incredible. This thing genuinely creates a 5.1.4 Dolby Atmos experience from a single bar. I wasn't just hearing sounds from the front; I was getting proper overhead effects and sounds from the sides and even behind, without any extra speakers. It uses advanced calibration to map your room, and it works astonishingly well, even in awkward spaces. Music sounds fantastic through it too – detailed, powerful, and with a surprisingly wide soundstage. If you treat your soundbar as a serious piece of hi-fi as well as home cinema, this is the one to go for. It's a serious bit of kit for serious sound lovers with serious budgets. **Pros:** * Unrivalled sound quality and immersion from a single bar * True 5.1.4 Dolby Atmos performance * Excellent for both movies and music * Advanced room calibration **Cons:** * Extremely expensive * Very large and heavy, needs a sturdy surface ### Frequently Asked Questions #### How important is a subwoofer for an open-plan room? Honestly, it's pretty important. Open-plan rooms gobble up bass frequencies. A good subwoofer, especially a dedicated wireless one, makes a massive difference to the overall fullness and impact of the sound. Without it, music can sound thin, and movie explosions just won't have that same cinematic rumble. I'd always recommend getting a soundbar with a sub, or one that lets you easily add one later. #### Can I use a regular soundbar in an open-plan space? You can, but you might find it struggles a bit. A lot of standard soundbars are designed for smaller, more enclosed living rooms. In an open space, they can sound a bit lost, especially if they don't have enough power or advanced sound processing to spread the audio effectively. You'll probably find yourself cranking the volume up, which can lead to distortion. #### Are virtual surround sound technologies any good in open-plan rooms? They've come a long way. Technologies like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, even when simulated by a soundbar, can create a much wider and taller soundstage than standard stereo. In an open-plan room, these can really help to give the illusion of sound coming from all around you, even if there aren't any literal rear speakers. Just don't expect them to perfectly replicate a dedicated 7.1 system. #### Where's the best place to put a soundbar in an open-plan setup? Underneath your TV is usually the best bet, centred to your main viewing area. Try not to put it inside a cabinet, as that can really mess with the sound, especially if it has up-firing speakers for Atmos. Give it some breathing room. If you can, keep it away from corners, as that can make the bass sound boomy and uncontrolled. And for the love of all that's holy, give the subwoofer some space too, don't just tuck it behind the sofa in a tiny alcove. Let it breathe! If you've got a huge space, you might even consider mounting it to the wall if your TV is wall-mounted – just make sure it's securely fixed.