A sound bar has several speakers and the electronics to power them in one thin enclosure that you connect to your TV—no need for a receiver. Some have a separate subwoofer, usually wireless, and a few have rear speakers to create a full surround-sound system.

Are soundbars receivers?

Passive sound bars dont have an amplifier so they need to be connected to one – alas, a receiver. Interestingly, passive sound bars, even though they dont have an amplifier, tend to be at the higher end of the price range for sound bars.

Do you need a receiver for a sound system?

Simply put, you need an A/V receiver--also commonly referred to as a home theater receiver--to enjoy movie soundtracks in all their glory. A/V receivers offer at least five channels of audio amplification, enough to power two front speakers, two rear speakers, and a center speaker.

Can you connect speakers to a soundbar?

For starters, soundbars rarely support audio output, theyre mostly input devices, which means you cant directly connect other speakers to soundbars. Having said that, if youre experienced with electronics, it may be possible to rewire and configure the internal circuitry of your soundbar to create an output signal.

Are receivers worth it?

For traditional speakers, a receiver is highly recommended, almost always required. For active Soundbars with wireless or satellite speakers, a receiver is not needed. Passive Soundbars will require the use of a receiver.

Can you connect a receiver to a sound bar?

You can connect the soundbar to a receiver by an optical cable. Connect one end to the digital optical out port on the receiver, and to the optical in port on the soundbar. The receiver will, of course, need a digital optical out port.

Can you get surround sound from a sound bar?

*Newer sound bars do offer surround sound options, including the Cinema 600 Sound Bar + Wireless subwoofer. This sound bar and wireless subwoofer combo also comes with a set of Surround 3 speakers to create an immersive, high-quality home theater experience.

How much does a receiver affect sound quality?

Receivers allow you to manage the audio across more speakers, taking advantage of 5.1 and 7.2 channel audio options, while also amplifying that sound, and even performing single room correction on the signal, all of which improve sound quality.

Can you use an amplifier with a soundbar?

You can technically connect a soundbar to an amplifier, but it doesnt make a lot of sense since the amplifier is already built-in. Most soundbars are all-in-one home theatre setups that are meant to provide everything you need in one package.