Stiftung Warentest put a total of 20 soundbars to the test. Two models emerged victorious from the test – and they surprise. Because it shows that the price is not the decisive factor for the quality.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Surprising verdict from Stiftung Warentest
Weighting of the test
Devaluation for energy wasters
Best sound rating for soundbars in the test
2 The two soundbar test winners in detail
JBL Bar 5.0 Multibeam
Teufel Cinebar 11 2.1 set
3 Stiftung Warentest proves: The most expensive soundbar in the test is not necessarily the best
With the mass of soundbars on the market, it is all the more important that they are put through their paces. Stiftung Warentest has put a total of 20 soundbars in the test in two categories. First, ten one-piece models and ten products with a separate subwoofer.
SURPRISING VERDICT FROM STIFTUNG WARENTEST
A total of three soundbar models for around 900 euros were found in the test by Stiftung Warentest . It is surprising, however, that none of the three devices achieved a rating of “good”. The Teufel Cinebar Lux scored best among the expensive devices with a quality rating of “satisfactory (2.6)”. The test winner of the one-piece soundbar is the JBL Bar 5.0 Multibeam , which can be purchased for 399 euros. The Teufel Cinebar 11 2.1 set , which is already available for just under 450 euros, secured the throne in the category of soundbars with a separate bass box .
According to Stiftung Warentest, the greatest influence on the overall rating was the sound quality, which made up around 65 percent of the overall rating. Other criteria that were directly included in the rating were the handling of the devices and their power consumption. Stiftung Warentest also checked to what extent the basic protection of personal data was maintained by the devices. In the case of data protection, the evaluation did not flow directly into the overall grade, but only led to a corresponding devaluation of the overall grade if there were deficiencies.
In fact, Stiftung Warentest found four soundbars in the test with inadequate data protection : Among them the Bose 300, Canton, LG DSN7CY and the Samsung HW-Q800A. According to the experts, both the Android apps from LG and Samsung and the Canton device make it easier for hackers to access user data. For example, the General Data Protection Regulation was only partially observed in the apps and the LG app did not even provide a German-language version at the time of the test. The main problem with the Bose app was the app’s weak password policy, which makes it vulnerable.
Devaluation for energy wasters
An additional devaluation of the test result occurred if the devices consumed too much power . A total of seven of the 20 soundbars in the test in network standby exceeded the limit that was legally stipulated at two watts. The biggest polluters in this category were the LG DSN8YG and the Samsung HW-Q800A. The model with the lowest power consumption also came from Samsung: namely the Samsung HW-T4000.
Best sound rating for soundbars in the test
The test winners also did well in terms of sound quality. However, if you only look at the sound feature alone in the test, there were devices that received a better rating. The test winner, the JBL Bar 5.0 Multibeam, with a tone rating of “Good (2.5)”, performed just as well as the Canton Smart Soundbar 10, which achieved a “Good (2.4)”. On the other hand, the Canton Smart Soundbar 10 is more than twice as expensive as the test winner of the comparison with its almost 900 euros – and also attracted negative attention due to the aforementioned deficiencies in data protection.
In the category of soundbars with separate bass box, the price range between the test winner Teufel Cinebar 11 2.1 Set with a sound rating of “Satisfactory (2.7)” and the LG DSN8YG with a sound rating of “Good (2.2)” is lower the end. The LG DSN8YG, at just under 475 euros, is not much more expensive than the Teufel soundbar, which is available from 450 euros.
THE TWO SOUNDBAR TEST WINNERS IN DETAIL
JBL Bar 5.0 Multibeam
In addition to the sound quality, this soundbar mainly waits in the test thanks to its support for Bluetooth and WLANand LAN on. In contrast to the Teufel Cinebar, it can also be operated via the app, but this requires the creation of a user account. The HDMI connections that the model has, also have ARC and eARC support. “ARC” stands for Audio Return Channel and thus designates the audio return channel. In short, this means that the television forwards the sound to the loudspeakers via HDMI cable and switches off its own loudspeakers. In contrast to ARC, eARC can also transmit surround sound formats such as Dolby Atmos. However, in order for these functions to be usable, a suitable HDMI cable must be connected, as not all cables are capable of this. The annual power consumption of the soundbar can also be seen at around 8.47 euros.
Teufel Cinebar 11 2.1 set
The Teufel Cinebar not only scored with sound optimization in the sound check, but also with its low power consumption. With an average daily operation of 4 hours, annual costs of around 7.92 euros are to be expected. Operating the soundbar hardly hurts your wallet. Since it cannot be operated via an app, you will not encounter any data protection problems here. To do this, however, you have to use the remote control to use the device. Since it only supports Bluetooth, it cannot be connected via WLAN or LAN. A big plus point of the soundbar in the test was the good handling of the system. In comparison, it was easier to put into operation than the competition and has good operating instructions that make it easier to set up.Connect TV .
STIFTUNG WARENTEST PROVES: THE MOST EXPENSIVE SOUNDBAR IN THE TEST IS NOT NECESSARILY THE BEST
In conclusion, it can be concluded that the soundbar that is the most expensive is not necessarily the best performer. The test winners of the comparison are less than half as expensive as the most expensive models that were used for the comparison. So if you want to invest in a soundbar, you shouldn’t be lured by the price alone. It is important to take a closer look at the performance and features of the device.
