Some of the best soundbars on the market are surround sound systems, with the likes of Samsung, Sonos and JBL serving as notable names in the market. These mean you can get truly immersive Dolby Atmos at home, without relying on virtual Atmos from smaller soundbars or having to resort to dedicated height speakers – the soundbar delivers expansive sound across the front, a subwoofer kicks in the bass, and the rear speaker complete the surround experience.
I recently tested one of these soundbar systems: the Yamaha True X Surround 90A. It’s a premium piece of gear, priced at $3,499 / £2,116, so I expected mind-blowing performance. And while I got it in some areas, one stuck out as lackluster: the rear speakers – and got us talking on the TechRadar team about how it’s often the smaller parts of a package that make the whole thing come together perfectly.
Yamaha surround speakers lack the punch
The Yamaha True X Surround 90A demonstrated truly brilliant sound, especially when it came to power and accuracy. The Batmobile scene from The Batman was spectacular, with the Surround 90A accurately delivering the huge rumble of the Batmobile’s engine. I also found when watching The Mask that the Surround 90A mapped the Mask’s whirlwind sound effects as he tornadoes around a room, plus capturing the cartoon-y sound effects of hammers, clocks and punches.
But it was The Mask that also revealed the Surround 90A’s weakness in its rear speakers. While The Mask got up to his antics, I found that portions of the sound field – more subtle effects and music – were notably muted compared to the Samsung HW-Q990C I’d used for testing the 4K disc are part of my Blu-ray Bounty feature.
Another surprising omission was the Yamaha’s rear speakers’ lack of a height speaker. Other flagship brands, such as Samsung and Sonos, have included height channels in their rear speakers, which helps deliver more effective height effects for Dolby Atmos.
Rear speakers – the unsung heroes
While rear speakers may be the smallest component of a lot of surround sound systems, they are pivotal – and it’s a let-down if they don’t match the rest of the system.
While the front channels may handle major sound effects relating to what’s on-screen and speech and the subwoofer handles bass, the rear channels will handle more subtle sound effects, some dramatic circular or front-to-back motion, and sometimes the score depending on the soundtrack’s mix: all extremely important for creating the immersive sound.
One major example where I found this was during my testing of Chungking Express as part of the Blu-ray Bounty. The movie’s 5.1 DTS-HD mix sounded fantastic through our reference Samsung HW-Q990C soundbar system in our setup and I noticed just how much one market scene relied on the rear speakers.
The clanking of plates, ringing bells and shouting stall owners all came through the rear speakers, and these sound effects are what made the scene feel so alive.
Another scene I have used for testing soundbars is the Death Star attack run from Star Wars IV: A New Hope. Again, the rear speakers were crucial for delivering a balanced, immersive experience by handling the pursuing TIE Fighter’s infamous groans, laser fire and even John William’s iconic score. If these elements are lost in the mix, the scene doesn’t have the same thrilling impact.
Rear speakers that succeed
Some of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars come from some of the big names I’ve mentioned already: Samsung, Sonos and JBL. These are just three examples of brands whose big, flagship soundbar systems deliver on all areas, including the rear channels.
Samsung’s flagship soundbar, most recently of which is the Samsung HW-Q990F, have delivered strong, immersive sound for years and the Q990F is no different. Big power, excellent control and of course, detailed and punchy rear speakers. As these rear speakers also include a height speaker, you really get the full surround sound experience, great for movies like Top Gun: Maverick that have a lot of different sound effects.
Sonos takes its rear speaker setup approach differently. As speakers can be grouped and added and removed as users want to, there are a couple of different options, namely the Sonos Era 300 and the Sonos Era 100. The Era 300 is the beefier, more dynamic sounding of the two, with upfiring speakers. Pairing the Era 300 with the Sonos Arc Ultra and the Sonos Sub Gen 4 will give you a mighty surround sound system where the rear speakers really feel like a crucial part of the impressive sound signature.
The JBL Bar 1300MK2 is a flagship soundbar that adds a twist on the rear speakers: they’re battery powered, and can be stored on the front soundbar itself for charging. This means space-saving without having the effort. They performed well during our testing as well, again demonstrating excellent clarity and impact without overshadowing other elements in the mix. The Mask once again served as an excellent tool for showing what the rears could do.
Being pricier doesn’t automatically mean better
At $3,499 / £2,116, the Yamaha Surround 90A is a premium soundbar. Some of its rivals I mentioned are cheaper: the Samsung HW-Q990F ($1,699 / £1,499) and JBL Bar 1300MK2 ($1,699 / £1,299). Even a full Sonos surround system with its top-tier products is significantly cheaper in the US, priced at $2,399. It’s pricier in the UK at £2,499, but it’s a more powerful system than the Yamaha overall.
While the Yamaha thrived in so many areas, it’s such a shame that Yamaha overlooked the depth needed for this crucial component. It’s made me appreciate rear speakers more, and is a reminder – whether you’re building a soundbar system or a dedicated home theater setup with separates – that you can’t take any element for granted.
Don’t spend all your money on big front speakers and thing cutting corners on the rears is a good investment if you’re buying individual speakers at home; and the exact same advice goes if you work for a soundbar company.
The best soundbars for all budgets
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james.davidson@futurenet.com (James Davidson)
