Test method

How we test soundbars

The uses we score and the tests we run on every soundbar: Hindi films, news dialogue, cricket, music, peak volume, lip-sync and Bluetooth range.

Soundbars reviews

Every soundbar we review goes through the same uses and tests below, in a real living room or bedroom, with the kinds of TVs and set-top boxes people in India use, on the unit we bought or borrowed. That is what makes results comparable: a peak-volume figure or a dialogue result means the same thing for every soundbar on the site.

We judge sound by listening to the content people actually watch, not by the wattage printed on the box, which is often a total figure rather than RMS. Each test result in a review links back to the matching test on this page.

What we score

Movies and web series
How well it carries Hindi films and streaming shows with loud background scores: dialogue above the music, bass weight in action scenes and any surround effect.
TV dialogue and news
How distinct voices stay on news debates with several people talking at once, and whether everyday TV needs a speech mode or extra volume to follow.
Cricket and sport
How full crowd noise and commentary sound on cricket and IPL matches, and whether the commentary stays clear over the crowd roar.
Music
How songs sound, including Bollywood tracks with heavy dhol or synth bass: natural tone, controlled bass and no harshness at higher volume.
Late-night, low-volume listening
Whether dialogue stays clear and the subwoofer stays tame at low volume, so you can watch late without disturbing family or neighbours.

The tests

  1. Peak volume at 2 m

    Measured in dB Higher is better

    We play film and cricket content at the highest volume setting and measure the peak sound level 2 m from the soundbar at seated ear height, with a phone-based SPL meter, in the living room or hall where we test it. We also note where distortion starts.

  2. Dialogue clarity

    We play Hindi films with loud background scores and news debates with overlapping voices at moderate and low volume, and try each sound mode or EQ preset. We report how clear voices are at the default setting and which setting, if any, they need.

  3. Lip-sync on HDMI ARC and optical

    We connect the soundbar to the TV by HDMI ARC with HDMI-CEC on, then by optical, and watch dialogue-heavy scenes and news to judge whether speech stays in sync with lips. We also check that the TV remote controls the soundbar volume over ARC.

  4. Bluetooth range through one wall

    Measured in m Higher is better

    We pair a phone, play music and walk into the next room with one wall between the phone and the soundbar, and record the farthest distance at which playback holds without drop-outs.

  5. Plays through a 190 V brownout

    While the soundbar plays, we lower the supply to about 190 V with a voltage variator, as in many Indian homes on summer evenings. Pass means the bar and subwoofer keep playing without shutting off; we note any hum.