Written By:
Table of Contents_
If you are new to the world of advanced home audio, you may look to compare HDMI vs Bluetooth for a soundbar. Some of the best speakers, after all, are quality soundbars and modern iterations are often wireless via Bluetooth. So what are the main differences, and which is best for your entertainment setup? Keep reading to find out.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
The primary difference is that Bluetooth soundbars are not wired, and HDMI soundbars are, which is important if you are learning what HDMI ARC means. Bluetooth soundbars cut down on clutter and are considered some of the best wireless speaker solutions. However, HDMI soundbars have broader integration possibilities, which you’ll discover if you are comparing, say, a 2.1 soundbar vs a 5.1 soundbar.
Insider Tip
Make sure you have enough space above or below your TV to successfully place a soundbar.
Both options are good for beefing up your television’s audio, which is true when also comparing optical soundbars vs HDMI. Here are more contrasts between these two types, though none quite as stark as when comparing Bluetooth vs WiFi speakers.
Cables and wires are considered a necessary evil when setting up an audio system. However, that is slowly changing. Modern Bluetooth soundbars eliminate the need for a physical connection to the TV, though they will have to plug into a power source. In other words, there will be one less cable cluttering up your entertainment system. That right there is enough for most consumers. If cables don’t bug you, though, HDMI soundbars do offer some significant advantages.
HDMI ARC technology is incredibly advanced and complex, allowing for real-time audio that sounds, in a word, delicious. The difference may only be noticeable to hardcore audiophiles, but general consensus places HDMI soundbars ahead of Bluetooth models when it comes to the actual sound. Bluetooth, by its very design, introduces some lag into the system. This lag is imperceptible, so it won’t cause your video and audio to fall out of sync, but the drivers must downgrade some of the audio to handle it.
STAT: Altec Lansing introduced a multichannel soundbar in 1998 called the Voice Of The Digital Theatre or the ADA106. (source)
If the soundbar is just one part of a larger audio system, you may have some trouble getting Bluetooth versions to play nice with your other gear. In other words, if you are looking to set up a surround sound 5.1 system, or something similar, you are better off going with a cabled HDMI soundbar. However, technology is ever-advancing, and some modern surround sound systems also use Bluetooth.
