Alexa embedded in a soundbar is meant to add a level of convenience. But can you imagine how inconvenient it is to have this perk yet not have Alexa recognize your voice due to a lack of microphone sensitivity? To give you a hand, our experts have carried out testing to determine the best Alexa soundbars.
Reviews of the Best Soundbars With Alexa
1. Yamaha YAS-209BL Soundbar
The YAS-209BL soundbar is one with a larger profile that fits well with TVs 40 inches and over. It comes with its own external subwoofer to punctuate all the deep bass beats.
It also excels in sound performance. Equipped with Clear Voice mode for enhanced dialogue and DTS Virtual:X Virtual 3D surround sound for enveloping lifelike audio, the YAS 209-BL soundbar brings the cinema home.
Alexa is built into the Yamaha soundbar and can perform tasks such as finding and playing a specific song with only the command of your voice.
Pros
- Fits well with larger TVs
- Clear Voice mode
- DTS Virtual:X Virtual 3D surround sound
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth equipped
- HDMI and optical cable connection
- Automatic subwoofer connection
- Works with the controller app
Cons
- Needs a larger space
- Turns on slowly
2. Sonos Arc Premium Smart Soundbar Set
The Sonos Arc soundbar is one with a beautiful design and an innovative shape with your choice of two different colors to complement your interiors. The complete 5.1.2 set gives users true surround sound with an added subwoofer and two rear speakers.
Complete with Dolby Atmos incorporated in the soundbar, the Sonos Arc will turn previously flat sound into enhanced lifelike multi-dimensional audio.
Amazon Alexa comes with the soundbar so you can check the news, enjoy your favorite music, and get your questions answered with just the sound of your voice.
Check out our comparison of Sonos Play 5 speaker and Play 3, both have built-in Amazon Alexa assistant.
Pros
- Specially tuned by Oscar-winning sound engineers
- Dolby Atmos surround sound
- 5.1.2 system
- Black and white colors
- Beautiful and sleek design
- Trueplay tuning technology
Cons
- No Bluetooth pairing
- Only has 1 HDMI port
3. Sonos Beam Soundbar
The Sonos Beam is a smaller and more compact soundbar that will upgrade your living room appearance with its sleek design and choice of white and black colors. Measuring at only 25 inches, the Sonos Beam can fit into smaller spaces and is easily wall-mounted.
Even for a small soundbar, the Beam can expel high definition sound that fills the room. Tuned by Oscar-winning sound engineers, the soundbar is programmed to emphasize the sound of human voices to produce clearer dialogue.
Amazon Alexa is also built-in for virtual assistance that can be done completely hands-free. It is also possible to build a Sonos 5.1 home theater system with the Beam.
Pros
- Specially tuned by Oscar-winning engineers
- Small and compact size
- 2 color options
- Emphasizes speech
- Flexible placement
- Buildable system
- Night mode
Cons
- No Bluetooth
- No external subwoofer
Alexa Compatible Soundbars Buyer’s Guide
Our audio professionals have put together a list of factors that will lead you to the best Alexa soundbar.
Voice Control (Alexa & Other Voice Assistants)
Alexa and other voice assistants in a soundbar are responsible for easy hands-free control and the performance of basic tasks. Other than that, some virtual helpers can connect your entire home system together.
Microphone Quality
Our experts stress the importance of sensitive, noise-canceling multi-array microphones that can detect your speech from greater distances and determine your voice even with background noise.
Design
The design of your soundbar should be sleek and slim. Ideally, the soundbar should only be a few inches shorter than your TV at most. Look for ones that are closer to the length of your flat screen.
Sound Quality
The sound quality of the best Alexa soundbar should be crystal clear and fill the room. To ensure high audio quality, soundbars should have at least 5 channels without advanced audio technologies [1].
Alexa Multiroom
Some Amazon Alexa soundbars including the Soundtouch 300 and Soundtouch 130 can be connected to multiple devices such as external speakers to become a multi-room streaming home system. With the Alexa multi-room capability, you can enjoy your favorite content in high definition from every room of the house.
Price
The price of the soundbar should be reasonable, even with the additional feature of Amazon Alexa. The Sonos Arc is a premium design that features a whole home theater system, which is what contributes to the high price.
If you are short on cash and space, the Sonos Beam is much more affordable compared to the Arc, and still comes with the benefits of Alexa.
Subwoofer
A subwoofer is necessary for audiophiles and cinephiles that crave a deep and thumping bass. Subwoofers can be built into the soundbar, but they won’t be as powerful as external options.
Updates
There will be occasional software updates whenever Amazon comes out with an Alexa upgrade. It’s important to keep your Amazon Alexa soundbar up-to-date to function efficiently and to pair seamlessly with your other Alexa enabled products.
Alexa Soundbar Setup
Alexa is there for convenience. The setup of Alexa on your soundbar should be as simple as pairing two devices.
As for connecting the soundbar to your TV, HDMI cable connection is one of the easiest ways to set up the two devices. It only requires a single cable connection and is a plug-and-play design.
Wondering whether any of these made it to the top soundbars your money can buy? Check our roundup, next!
FAQ
1. What sound bar works with Alexa?
The Yamaha YAS-209BL, Sonos Beam and Sonos Arc soundbars work with Alexa. Any soundbar that has Alexa built-in or can work with Alexa devices are compatible with this virtual assistant.
2. Can Alexa control my sound bar?
Yes, Alexa can control your soundbar. It can perform basic tasks such as checking the weather or finding your favorite song. Alexa does this by detecting your voice through the microphone.
3. How do I connect my soundbar to my Alexa soundbar?
You can connect your soundbar to your Alexa soundbar by enabling pairing mode. Open the Amazon Alexa app on your external device, select the wireless connectivity option, and locate your soundbar on the list to pair them together.
Our Top Pick For the Best Alexa Enabled Soundbar: Yamaha YAS-209BL
Our experts found the Yamaha YAS-209BL to be the best Alexa soundbar in terms of sound and convenience.
Complete with DTS Virtual:X Virtual 3D surround sound, the Yamaha YAS-209BL will fill the room with theater-quality realistic audio that will transport you to the middle of the action. Besides built-in Amazon Alexa, the added Bluetooth and Wi-Fi will allow you to stream your favorite content from your external devices.
Want to connect your audio device of choice to your computer? Check the best soundbars for PC, next!
The post What is the Best Alexa Soundbar? appeared first on The Product Analyst.
from The Product Analyst https://theproductanalyst.com/soundbar/best-alexa/
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