Wanting to push your soundbar’s audio to the next level?
Connecting two soundbars allows you to build a more enveloping sound system with wider stereo imaging and added power.
Let’s explore the methods, ideal configurations, placement tips, and limitations of connecting multiple soundbars.
Can You Connect Two Soundbars?
The quick answer is yes, you can absolutely connect two soundbars together if your specific models allow it. This lets you build expanded stereo or multi-channel surround sound systems with greater audio separation and increased overall output.
However, achieving a balanced, immersive result takes some effort in terms of setup and configuration. There are also inherent limitations and potential issues to be aware of.
Let’s explore connecting two soundbars further, covering ideal implementation methods, optimized placements, and some of the challenges you may face.
Why Connect Two Soundbars?
While a single soundbar can significantly enhance your TV’s audio quality compared to built-in speakers, connecting two standalone soundbars provides some unique benefits.
The most obvious advantage is the ability to create a much wider, more immersive soundstage in your room that better simulates a true home theater experience.
Having two separate soundbars allows for dedicated left and right channels spaced apart to project audio into the entire space. This helps eliminate the “sounding small” pitfall of soundbars generally directing audio in one mono-like direction.
It also opens up the possibility of adding surround satellites and a subwoofer for real multi-channel Dolby Atmos or DTS:X surround configurations.
Additionally, connecting two soundbars gives users extra audio output capabilities ideal for filling larger rooms or open floor plans.
By doubling up on speakers and amp power, you can achieve louder, more room-filling sound than a single soundbar may provide even at maximum volume. Connecting two soundbars isn’t very common but is pursued by some for these enhanced advantages.
Methods For Connecting Soundbars
There are essentially two main methods available for connecting two soundbars together with each offering wired and wireless options:
Wired Connections
The first and most reliable approach involves making a wired connection between two soundbars using analog or digital audio cables.
You’ll first need to designate one soundbar as the “main” unit which will receive the main audio signal input from your TV, media player etc.
The second soundbar will function as a sort of “slave” unit that receives its audio from the first soundbar. Cables like standard RCA analog, Optical digital, or HDMI connections can facilitate this setup.
Some form of audio splitting will be required to send the full signal from the source to both soundbars.
Wireless Connections
Alternatively, you can connect two soundbars using wireless technologies like Bluetooth, WiFi, or proprietary multi-room audio protocols if supported by your specific soundbar models.
Some soundbars come with built-in wireless connectivity allowing you to directly pair the two as a stereo setup without wires.
Others may require additional wireless transmitter accessories which can stream the audio from a wired main soundbar to a secondary wireless one placed elsewhere.
Technologies like WiSA, NFC, AirPlay, and Chromecast also facilitate wireless soundbar-to-soundbar music streaming.
Ideal Soundbar Configurations
When attempting to connect two soundbars together, the ideal configuration is to use matching soundbar models from the same brand and series.
This ensures compatible connection abilities, channel counts, power outputs, and audio tuning are in sync between your two soundbar units.
The most common and straightforward setup pairs two matching front stereo soundbars as the left and right channels calibrated for separation and balance between the two.
Some multi-channel soundbars like 5.1 Dolby Atmos enabled models can also accommodate wireless surround speakers and wireless subwoofers.
Connecting these creates a full surround system with dedicated front left, front right, surround left, surround right, and subwoofer channels.
But mismatched setups using different soundbars or surround systems often leads to configuration headaches or imbalanced audio so it’s best to stick with matching hardware if possible.
Placement And Setup Tips
Physically placing two soundbars connected as a stereo pair properly is key to getting the most out of your setup.
Since each soundbar acts as a dedicated left or right channel, position them equidistant from the main seating area and tweaked for proper stereo separation.
Use features like DSP room correction or manually configure things like crossover settings, stereo width adjustments, and distance measurements for left and right placement.
Most importantly, carefully calibrate and adjust the volume levels coming from each connected soundbar until balanced for your specific space.
Even matched soundbar pairs can have slight variations in output which may cause undesirable audio leaning towards one side or the other.
Work on making adjustments gradually using test tones, music, and movie clips until you achieve clarity, separation, and balance between the two audio sources.
Limitations And Challenges
While connecting soundbars can create a superior home audio experience, there are some inherent limitations and challenges that may arise, even with perfectly matched soundbars:
Mismatches in features like channel counts, speaker driver size, power ratings, and audio tuning preferences between two different soundbar models will make balanced configuration difficult or impossible.
Brands may tune their models differently so mixing is not recommended.
Wireless connectivity also presents potential challenges like line-of-sight interference, sync issues, and dropouts that can disrupt consistent audio playback across two soundbars.
Hardwired connections are more reliable but introduce cable clutter and room placement restrictions.
Additionally, running two “dumb” soundbars requires more manual configuration and tweaking compared to a single integrated soundbar with auto-calibration and room correction capabilities out of the box. So there’s a level of added complexity involved.
Lastly, not all soundbars may support daisy-chaining together additional units wirelessly or offer designated left/right channel designation options. So carefully research compatibility before purchasing two soundbars expecting to pair them.
Overall running two connected soundbars allows for expanded stereo imaging and higher output capabilities. But it does come with tradeoffs versus the simplicity and balanced tuning of high-quality single integrated soundbars.
Properly managing these challenges requires effort but opens new possibilities sonically if executed correctly.
Conclusion
While connecting two soundbars can create an expanded, more immersive audio experience, it does introduce added complexity and potential issues.
Properly matching soundbar models, managing stereo separation, achieving volume balance, and dealing with wireless connectivity challenges all require effort.
For many, a single high-quality integrated soundbar may provide a simpler, plug-and-play option more easily optimized for consistent room-filling sound.
But for enthusiasts seeking the widest soundstage or those with unique space requirements, connecting two capable soundbars creatively opens up expanded sonic possibilities when executed thoughtfully.