What Size Room is needed for a 5.1 soundbar? A Clear Answer

Fitting high-quality audio into most modern living spaces can be quite difficult.

As Ideally, you want at least a 5.1 surround sound system or soundbar for immersive audio.

5.1 soundbars in particular have emerged as a popular choice for their ability to deliver a cinematic sound experience without the complexity of a traditional multi-speaker setup.

But what size room is needed for a 5.1 soundbar?

Generally, for optimal performance, a mid-sized room of around 150 to 300 square feet is recommended for a 5.1 soundbar.

Consider room acoustics, layout, and seating arrangement to ensure the soundbar’s immersive capabilities are fully realized.

Bedrooms and small living rooms are great options for a 5.1 soundbar.

I live in a small bedroom in a condo that is just under 1,000 square feet and I choose to use the Sonos Beam. I truly believe it is one of if not the best soundbars for most living situations. It isn’t a traditional 5.1 but it is a Dolby Atmos soundbar that delivers high-performance sound at an affordable price. I can’t recommend it enough.

I will go more in-depth on why small rooms are the best options for 5.1 soundbars below.

Beyond the beam there are several high-quality soundbars that work well in small rooms, you can skip here to see them.

A 5.1 Soundbar is Best For a Small Room

If you’re looking for a soundbar for your bedroom or small living room, then a 5.1 soundbar is the perfect choice for you.

A 5.1 soundbar has five speakers built in and comes with a external subwoofer, which is enough to deliver a great audio experience in a small room.

The five main drivers on the soundbar are the front left, front right, center, side-firing left, and side-firing right speakers.

A Subwoofer which comes with a 5.1 setup is responsible for delivering low-frequency sounds, which will enhance your overall audio experience.

A 5.1 soundbar will provide you with a surround sound experience that is a huge upgrade over listening to audio through your TV speakers.

However, if you plan to get a soundbar for a bigger area like a large living room, then a 7.1 or above is recommended.

As a 5.1 will struggle to fill a large room most of the time.

A bigger room will require more speakers/drivers in the soundbar to deliver a great audio experience.

This is especially the case with a large room with high ceilings.

Understanding 5.1 Soundbar Setup

When it comes to setting up a 5.1 soundbar, there are a few things you need to take into consideration.

First and foremost, you need to ensure that the soundbar is compatible with your TV.

Most soundbars come with either an HDMI or an optical cable, so you need to make sure that your TV has the right input for the soundbar.

If you intend to get a Dolby Atmos soundbar you need to verify your TV and the media you will be watching support that.

Typically if you have an eARC connection on your TV you will be able to get Dolby Atmos.

Just make sure you have a high-quality HDMI cable to go with the soundbar. You want the best video and audio quality, and this will ensure that.

Any 4K HDMI cable at Best Buy will do, audioquest or Rocketfish are good brands. I recommend the following 4k HDMI cable.

Once you have connected the soundbar to your TV, you need to think about placement.

You want to place the soundbar in front of your TV, mounted to the wall so that no audio distortion is present.

This is what I choose to do as mounting the soundbar to a wall improves sound quality.

Make sure that the soundbar is at ear level when you are seated in your viewing position.

Additional Factors to Consider When Choosing Your 5.1 Soundbar

When choosing your 5.1 soundbar, there are several factors to consider to ensure you make the best purchase for your living situation and room size.

Here are some factors that you should keep in mind:

Budget

Your budget is another important factor to consider when choosing a soundbar.

Soundbars are available at different price points, and you should choose one that fits within your budget.

Keep in mind that more expensive soundbars usually offer better performance and features, but you can still find a good soundbar that fits your budget.

Generally speaking, you can get a really good 5.1 soundbar for less than $600.

The absolute best budget 5.1 soundbar is the Vizio V series without a doubt. It comes with rear speakers and a subwoofer for less of a price than most individual soundbars. The V series does not offer Dolby Atmos or more high-fidelity audio formats which is expected as it’s such a cheap price. If you want a full surround sound experience for the cheapest price you will not find anything better.

Content

Consider the type of content you will be using your soundbar for.

If you plan to watch 4k Blu-ray discs or stream high-quality content, you should choose a soundbar that supports high-quality audio formats such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.

Dolby Atmos soundbars typically get up there in price but this is not always the case.

You can still get one for an affordable price.

The Vizio M series definitely comes to mind.

It is one of the most affordable Dolby Atmos Soundbars on the market.

Performance

The performance of the soundbar is another important factor to consider.

Look for a soundbar that offers immersive sound and clear audio output.

You should also consider the frequency response of the soundbar to ensure that it can reproduce low and high frequencies accurately.

Unfortunately, this can be difficult as soundbars can struggle with bass response oftentimes.

Another important factor to consider is the power of the soundbar.

A soundbar with a higher wattage will generally produce better sound quality than a soundbar with a lower wattage.

However, keep in mind that a higher wattage also means a higher price tag.

If you want a true Dolby Atmos experience make sure to get a soundbar with upward-firing drivers like the Vizio Elevate.

You cannot get true Atmos unless you have height channels, a higher-performance soundbar like this is necessary.

The Elevate is a top-of-its-class 5.1.4 soundbar with 4 rotating upfiring speakers for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X content.

Like many soundbars, it comes with an option to pair it with an external subwoofer and 2 satellite speakers.

If you want a more immersive and wider soundstage but are only looking for a 5.1 soundbar, this is the best option for the price.

Just keep in mind that a soundbar like this could be overkill for something like a bedroom. I’d recommend a larger living space for this beast.

Room Layout

Consider the layout of your room when choosing a soundbar. If your room is small, you may want to choose a compact soundbar that can fit on your TV stand.

You also want to get a soundbar that will not overpower your room.

I use the Sonos Beam for my bedroom and it does a great job providing an immersive experience just from the soundbar.

The Beam is the best soundbar for most living situations and room sizes in my opinion.

Technically it is considered a 5.0 soundbar. I guess, you can just add a Sonos sub to it and get a 5.1 though.

The Beam is what I tell everyone to buy for a cost-effective high-performance soundbar for a bedroom or small living room.

If you have a large room, you may want to consider a soundbar with rear speakers to ensure full coverage of the room.

Also, make sure the bass response is adequate. A good soundbar to fill up large rooms without breaking the bank is the Polk Magnifi Max Ax Sr.

I heavily considered getting this soundbar for my bedroom instead of the Beam Gen 2 but opted not to because this thing is so high-powered.

It can fill up rather large rooms and has a thunderous bass response that made me worry I would disturb my neighbors.

Technically this is a 7.1 soundbar, so if none of the other 5.1’s float your boat I’d go with this one.

Brand

There are several brands of soundbars available on the market, and you should choose one that has a good reputation for quality and performance.

Some popular brands include Samsung, Sonos, Vizio, LG, and Polk.