Where Should A Soundbar Be Placed? 7 Ideas
By Robert Jones · 2021-07-31
Right, let's talk soundbars. Everyone's got one, but so many folk just plonk it down and wonder why it sounds a bit off. Placement is key for proper sound, so let's sort it out.
Right then, let's talk soundbars. Everyone's got one these days, haven't they? Or at least, they're thinking about getting one. Slim TVs look great on the wall, but their sound is usually tinny rubbish. A soundbar sorts that right out, but you'd be surprised how many folk just plonk it down and wonder why it still sounds a bit… off. Placement, you see, is key. It's not just about getting the thing to work; it's about getting the *best* sound out of it. And that, my friends, takes a bit of thought. Over my twenty-odd years fiddling with speakers, I've seen all sorts – good, bad, and downright daft. So, let's get stuck into where you should actually put the blasted thing. **Quick Verdict: Get it directly below your TV, at ear height if possible, for the best sound.** ### Why Soundbar Placement Matters (It Really Does!) Look, I know it sounds a bit pedantic, doesn't it? "Just put the speaker in front of the TV, Robert, what's the fuss?" But honestly, it makes a world of difference. Your soundbar isn't just making noise; it's trying to create a soundstage, trick your ears into thinking sounds are coming from specific places. If it's tucked away in a cabinet or shoved up high, that illusion just crumbles. You lose detail, dialogue gets muffled, and those big explosions just don't have the same oomph. Think about it: when you're at the cinema, the screen and the main speakers are all in the same general area, aren't they? The sound is *coming from* the action. That's what we're trying to replicate, albeit on a much smaller scale, in your living room. ### The Golden Rule: Below the TV, Centred This is your absolute go-to, your default, your starting point. If you do nothing else, just stick to this. Your soundbar should sit directly below your television, as close to the screen as possible without blocking any of the picture or the TV's remote sensor. And it needs to be centred, obviously. We want the sound to look like it's coming from the middle of the screen, matching the visuals. Now, for most folk, this means it'll be sitting on your TV stand, directly in front of the TV. Simple as that. It keeps the sound image tied to the picture, which is crucial for dialogue and on-screen action. You want the actor's voice to seem like it's coming from their mouth, not from a foot below or to the side. #### The Height Factor: Ear Level is Best This is where things get a bit more nuanced. Ideally, the tweeters (those smaller drivers that handle the high notes) in your soundbar should be roughly at your ear height when you're sitting in your usual viewing spot. Now, for most living rooms, this means sitting it on the TV unit. If your TV is wall-mounted, you've got a bit more flexibility, which we'll get to. If the soundbar is too low, say on a really low console or even on the floor, the sound can feel "disconnected" from the screen. Dialogue might sound like it's coming from the floor, not the people talking. Too high, and it can feel like the sound is floating above the action. It's not the end of the world if it's not *exactly* ear height, but aim for it. It's all about immersion. ### Where Can You Put It, Then? My Top 7 Spots Alright, let's break down the practicalities. Not every room is the same, and not everyone's got the same gear. Here are the main options you've got, and what I think about each. #### 1. On the TV Stand/Cabinet (My Personal Go-To) *This is the most common, and often the best, spot for your soundbar.* It's simple, it works. Most soundbars are designed with this in mind. They'll sit snugly in front of your TV, usually without blocking the screen or the remote sensor (though always double-check measurements!). **Pros:** * Easy to set up. * Keeps sound visually aligned with the TV. * Often at a good height for most sofas. * No drilling, no fuss. **Cons:** * Might block the bottom of your TV screen if the TV's legs are very low or the soundbar is particularly tall. * Can look a bit cluttered on a smaller stand. *Robert's Take:* Honestly, this is where mine lives when I'm not testing something new. My old Yamaha YSP-2700 has sat on the stand in front of my Panasonic OLED for years, and it just works. It's unobtrusive, and the sound is right where I want it. If your soundbar is a chunky one, like some of the older Bose models, make sure it doesn't block your TV's IR receiver. Nothing more annoying than having to crane your neck to change the volume! #### 2. Wall-Mounted Directly Below the TV If your TV is wall-mounted, this is the natural partner. Get a dedicated soundbar wall bracket, or use the keyhole slots some soundbars come with. This keeps the sleek, minimalist look of a wall-mounted TV and, crucially, keeps the sound precisely aligned with the picture. **Pros:** * Excellent visual and acoustic alignment with a wall-mounted TV. * Frees up space on your TV stand. * Looks very neat and tidy. **Cons:** * Requires drilling into walls. * Can be a bit trickier to hide cables. * Might be at a higher height than ideal if your TV is mounted very high. *Robert's Take:* I've helped more mates than I can count wall-mount their TVs and soundbars. It always looks brilliant when it's done right. Cable management is the biggest headache here. Don't just leave them dangling; get some trunking or chase them into the wall if you're feeling brave. A particular bugbear of mine is when people mount the soundbar *way* too high with their TV. Your eyes might be at the top of the screen, but your ears are usually lower. Aim for the soundbar to be roughly level with the bottom third of the TV screen, or your seated ear height, whichever is lower. #### 3. Inside an Open TV Unit Shelf Sometimes, you've got a TV unit with a nice, open shelf, just begging for a soundbar. This can work, but you need to be careful. The key word here is "open." If the shelf has a back and sides that are too restrictive, you'll be in trouble. **Pros:** * Keeps things tidy and integrated. * Protects the soundbar from dust or accidental knocks. **Cons:** * Can significantly degrade sound quality if not enough space (echoes, muffled sound). * Sound will likely be too low compared to the TV screen. * Heat dissipation can be an issue if enclosed. *Robert's Take:* I had a customer once who crammed a Q Acoustics M4 into a shelf barely wider than the soundbar itself. Sounded like it was speaking from inside a cardboard box. All that lovely stereo imaging was lost. If you go for this, make sure there's at least 10-15cm of clear space above and to the sides of the soundbar. And absolutely no closed-off cabinets. Just don't. You'll regret it. #### 4. On a Dedicated Soundbar Stand These are less common but can be useful. Some brands, like Sonos, offer stands that integrate the soundbar for a sleek look, especially for rear surrounds. Others are universal and can lift your soundbar up if your TV stand is too low or your TV's feet are too short to clear the soundbar. **Pros:** * Can achieve optimal height if your TV stand is too low. * Can be a design feature. **Cons:** * Another piece of furniture. * Can be expensive for a decent one. *Robert's Take:* I've seen these used effectively in minimalist setups where the TV is on a very low bench. They can work a treat for getting the soundbar up to a sensible height without wall-mounting. Just make sure it's stable and doesn't wobble when the bass kicks in. #### 5. On the Floor (Generally Not Recommended!) I see this more often than I'd like. The soundbar ends up on the floor because there's no room on the TV stand, or the TV is wall-mounted too high. Just don't do it unless you have absolutely no other option, and even then, I'd question your choices. **Pros:** * It's technically "out of the way" (though not really). **Cons:** * Sound quality will be severely compromised (muffled, disconnected). * Dialogue will seem to come from your feet. * Prone to getting kicked, dusty, or covered by pets/kids. * Looks messy. *Robert's Take:* This is a last resort. If your soundbar is on the floor, you've pretty much negated most of the reasons you bought it in the first place. You'll lose all sense of spatial awareness in the sound, and you'll constantly be wondering why the actors sound like they're speaking from under the rug. Save yourself the grief and find a proper spot. #### 6. Above the TV (Only if Absolutely Necessary) Sometimes, there's genuinely no space below the TV. Maybe there's a fireplace, or a piece of furniture that absolutely cannot move. In these rare cases, mounting the soundbar above the TV is an option. It's not ideal, but it's better than the floor. **Pros:** * Keeps sound visually connected to the TV (unlike the floor). * Frees up space below the TV. **Cons:** * Sound will feel like it's coming from above the picture, which can be unnatural. * Might require specific mounting solutions. *Robert's Take:* If you *have* to do this, try to angle the soundbar downwards slightly. Some soundbars come with keyhole mounts that let you do this. It helps to direct the sound towards your listening position, rather than firing it over your head. It's a compromise, for sure, but sometimes compromises are necessary in tricky rooms. #### 7. Behind the TV (Definitely Not!) This one crops up now and again, usually from folks trying to make their setup super invisible. Just no. Please. You're buying a sound-emitting device; putting it behind another object, especially one as large and flat as a TV, is just asking for awful sound. **Pros:** * "Invisible" setup (if that's what you're after). **Cons:** * Sound will be muffled, distorted, and generally terrible. * Blocks IR remote signals. * Traps heat. *Robert's Take:* I was once asked to troubleshoot a "faulty" soundbar that a chap had ingeniously Velcro-ed to the *back* of his TV. He complained it sounded "a bit quiet and woolly." No kidding! The TV was essentially acting as a giant baffle, blocking all the sound. Don't be that person. Your soundbar needs to breathe and project sound forward. ### Other Bits to Consider Beyond the primary location, there are a few other things that'll affect your soundbar's performance. #### Room Acoustics This is a big one. Hard surfaces like bare walls, wooden floors, and glass can cause echoes and reflections, making the sound harsh or unclear. Soft furnishings – curtains, rugs, sofas, cushions – absorb sound and help to tame those reflections. If your room is very "live" (lots of hard surfaces), you might find your soundbar sounds a bit shrill or muddy. Adding a rug or some thick curtains can make a surprising difference. #### Subwoofer Placement If your soundbar came with a wireless subwoofer (and many do, like the excellent Denon Home Sound Bar 550 or the pricier Bose Soundbar 900), where you put *that* matters too. Generally, bass is less directional, so you've got more flexibility. A common starting point is near the soundbar, but sometimes tucking it into a corner can boost the bass (though sometimes it can make it too boomy). Try moving it around your room, even just a foot or two at a time, and listen to the difference. The "subwoofer crawl" is a classic trick: put the sub in your main listening spot, play some bassy music, and then crawl around the room listening for where the bass sounds best. That's where you put your sub. Sounds daft, but it works! #### Calibration Many modern soundbars, especially the better ones, come with some form of automatic room calibration. Systems like Sonos Trueplay or Samsung's SpaceFit Sound use microphones (either built-in or via a smartphone app) to measure your room's acoustics and adjust the soundbar's output accordingly. *Use them!* They really do help to optimise the sound for your specific space. Don't skip this step, it's like tuning an instrument. #### Cable Management This isn't just for looks; it's for safety and longevity. Tidy cables are less likely to get snagged, damaged, or tripped over. Use cable ties, Velcro straps, or trunking. If you're wall-mounting, consider running cables inside the wall for the cleanest look (though this is a bigger job, obviously). ### Comparison of Common Soundbar Placement Scenarios Let's sum up the best and worst for typical setups: | Placement Scenario | TV Type | Ideal For: | Pros | Cons | Robert's Rating (Out of 5) | | :------------------------------ | :------------------ | :----------------------------------------- | :---------------------------------------------------------------------- | :---------------------------------------------------------------- | :------------------------ | | **On TV Stand** | Stand-mounted | Most living rooms, easy setup | Excellent alignment, simple, common | Can block TV IR/screen, clutter | ★★★★★ | | **Wall-Mounted Below TV** | Wall-mounted | Clean, minimalist setups | Superb alignment, aesthetic, frees surface space | Drilling required, cable management needed, height can be an issue | ★★★★★ | | **Inside Open TV Shelf** | Stand-mounted | Integrated look, tidy | Out of sight, protected | Can muffle sound, bass issues, heat, often too low | ★★☆☆☆ | | **On Dedicated Soundbar Stand** | Stand-mounted/Low TV | Achieving optimal height for low furniture | Adjusts height effectively, specific aesthetic | Another item to buy, can look bulky | ★★★★☆ | | **On the Floor** | Any | Desperate situations, temporary | "Out of the way" (briefly) | Terrible sound, disconnected dialogue, prone to damage, looks awful | ★☆☆☆☆ | | **Above the TV** | Any | No space below TV | Keeps sound connected to screen (unlike floor) | Unnatural sound direction, dialogue can seem high, tricky to mount | ★★☆☆☆ | | **Behind the TV** | Any | Never (seriously) | None (other than making it "invisible" for a brief, misguided moment) | Catastrophic sound, blocks signals, heat issues, just don't | ☆☆☆☆☆ | ### Who This Is For * Anyone who's just bought a new soundbar and wants to get the best out of it. * Folks with a soundbar already who think it could sound better. * Anyone considering a soundbar and wants to plan their setup properly. * Those struggling with muffled dialogue or a disconnected sound experience. ### Who Should Skip It * If you're genuinely happy with your TV's built-in speakers (bless your cotton socks). * If you're building a full, separates home cinema system with floorstanders and an AV receiver – you're in a different league entirely. * If you plan to put your soundbar behind the TV (you won't listen anyway, will you?).  *Where Should A Soundbar Be Placed? 7 Ideas — tested in the SpeakersMag workshop.* ## FAQ: Your Soundbar Placement Questions Answered #### Q: Can I put my soundbar behind my TV? A: No, definitely not! This will completely block the sound, making it muffled and terrible. Your soundbar needs to be able to project sound forwards into the room, unobstructed. #### Q: How high should a soundbar be? A: Ideally, the tweeters of your soundbar should be at roughly your ear height when you're sitting in your main viewing position. If that's not possible, aim for it to be as close to the bottom of your TV screen as you can get it, ensuring it doesn't block the picture or remote sensor. #### Q: Does soundbar placement affect bass? A: Yes, it can, especially with its own internal bass drivers or if it interacts poorly with surfaces. More importantly, if you have a separate subwoofer, its placement significantly impacts bass. Corners often boost bass, but can also make it boomy. Experimentation is key for subwoofers. #### Q: My soundbar blocks my TV's remote sensor, what can I do? A: This is a common nuisance! First, check if your soundbar came with an IR repeater cable – some do, and you just plug it in and stick the little emitter somewhere visible. If not, you might need to raise your TV slightly using risers under its feet, or consider a dedicated soundbar stand or wall-mounting the soundbar below the TV if your TV is on a stand. Failing all that, some soundbars are low-profile enough not to cause this problem in the first place, so always check dimensions before buying. #### Q: Is it okay to put the soundbar in an enclosed cabinet? A: Absolutely not. Enclosing a soundbar, especially in a cabinet with a door, will severely muffle the sound, create unwanted resonances, and can even cause the unit to overheat. Soundbars need open space to project their sound properly. An open shelf with plenty of clearance might work, but fully enclosed is a no-go. ## Final Word Getting your soundbar placement right isn't rocket science, but it's a critical step that too many people overlook. It's the difference between "okay" sound and truly enjoyable, immersive sound. You've spent your hard-earned cash on the thing, so take a few extra minutes to make sure it's singing its best. Whether it's on the stand, on the wall, or carefully positioned on a shelf, the goal is always the same: keep that sound tied to the picture and at a decent height for your ears. Don't just plonk it and forget it. Tinker. Listen. Move it a bit. You'll be surprised at the improvement a few inches or a better height can make. Happy listening, folks!