Home Theater Sound With Sonos or Devialet Soundbars

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.

Sonos: Flexible and Easy to Grow

Sonos is a great fit for families who want strong home theater sound and music throughout the house.

A Sonos soundbar can start on its own and grow over time. You can add a wireless subwoofer for deeper bass and a pair of rear speakers for true surround sound, without running new wires across the room. The same Sonos app also plays music in the kitchen, the deck or the basement, so the soundbar becomes part of a whole-home audio system.

Sonos also works well with Control4 and Lutron, which makes it an easy choice when a home already has, or is planning, a smart home system.

Devialet: Premium Sound in a Single Piece

Devialet is for clients who want something special. The Devialet Dione is a sculptural soundbar with remarkably powerful, room-filling sound for a single piece, including Dolby Atmos for movies.

It suits living rooms where design matters as much as performance, and where you would rather not add a subwoofer or rear speakers. It looks as good turned off as it sounds turned on.

Living Room or Dedicated Theater Room?

The right setup depends on how the room is used.

In a living room or family room, a soundbar is usually the best balance. It keeps the space clean, sounds great for everyday TV and movies, and does not take over the room. We look at TV size, seating distance, wall or furniture mounting, and where a subwoofer could sit out of sight.

In a dedicated theater room, a soundbar can be a smart starting point, especially in a basement media room or a space that does double duty. For a true cinema experience, we often recommend going further with in-wall or in-ceiling speakers, acoustic treatment and a projector and screen. Either way, we design around the room first and the equipment second.

One-Touch Movie Scenes With Control4 and Lutron

This is where a soundbar becomes part of a real smart home.

With Control4, a single "Watch a Movie" button on a remote, keypad or touchscreen can:

• Turn on the TV or projector and switch to the right source
• Set the soundbar to the right input and a comfortable volume
• Dim the Lutron lights to a movie level, with soft step or path lighting left on
• Lower the motorized shades to cut the glare

When the movie ends, another button brings the lights back up and turns everything off. No hunting for four remotes, no guessing which input is which. Your whole family can use it, including grandparents and babysitters.

Same Price as the Big-Box Stores

Many people assume that buying through a professional integrator costs more. With Aura Design, it does not.

Our pricing always matches the big retailers. You pay the same price you would at a big-box store, and you also get professional design, clean installation, integration with your smart home, and local support from people who know your system. If something needs attention later, you call us, not a 1-800 number.

Ready for Better Sound?

A great soundbar, properly installed and tied into your lighting and controls, can transform the way you watch movies at home.

If you are thinking about upgrading your TV sound, planning a media room or adding a one-touch movie scene, our team would be happy to help. Book a consultation with Aura Design or visit our Control4 certified showroom to hear the difference for yourself.