Most of today's TVs look incredible. Most of them also sound thin. Flat screens leave very little room for speakers, so dialogue gets lost, explosions fall flat, and many people end up riding the volume button through every movie.
A well-chosen soundbar is the simplest way to fix that. At Aura Design, the two names we recommend most often are Sonos and Devialet. Both deliver a big step up in sound without filling the room with boxes and wires, and both fit nicely into a smart home.
Here is how we think about them, where they work best, and how we tie them into Control4 and Lutron so movie night starts with a single touch.
Why a Soundbar Still Makes Sense
Not every room needs a full surround system with speakers in the walls and an equipment rack in the basement. In a family room or open-concept living space, a soundbar is often the right answer:
- One clean piece under or below the TV, with no visible speaker cables
- Much clearer dialogue, which is the number one complaint we hear about TV sound
- Room-filling sound for movies, sports and music
- A simple connection to the TV, so the TV remote or your Control4 remote just works
The key is choosing the right model for the room and setting it up properly, which is where a professional install makes a difference.
