Thinking of getting a sidefiring soundbar for your semi-open plan room? Find out how well they perform without walls to bounce off.
Summary
- Sidefiring soundbars offer directional audio but may not mimic a true side channel.
- Users experience varying results based on room acoustics and soundbar capabilities.
- HRTF technology in some soundbars can enhance the perceived side sound.
User Experiences
Some users find that sidefiring soundbars, despite not having walls to reflect sound, still provide a sense of directionality. According to Caleb-CM, even without the ideal setup, specific video tests revealed a noticeable difference in sound direction:
“It’s probably not as good as having a wall to bounce off, but you can hear a sound from that direction which doesn’t feel like it’s coming straight at you from the front.”
On the other hand, dwolfe127 expresses skepticism about the effectiveness of sidefiring soundbars in open spaces. He notes that without walls, the sound from side channels tends to merge with the left and right channels:
“Some bars can do some HRTF tricks, which help, but it does not actually sound like a real side channel if you have experienced it.”
Considering these varied responses, the performance of a sidefiring soundbar in an open-plan room may depend on individual preferences and the specific model’s features. While some users appreciate the directional aspect despite the lack of walls, others feel that the sound integration falls short of replicating a true side sound experience.