The best soundstages in the UK 2023

Today's TVs offer premium picture quality. But the sound quality is rarely up to par, forcing the purchase of audio equipment. For those who lack the space for multiple speakers, the sound tray comes in handy. Discreet, it sits under the TV and delivers immersive sound. To choose, follow this guide.

Sony HT-RT3 1
9/10

Best value for money

Sony HT-RT3

The best soundstage in 2021

This soundstage has well thought out features. You'll enjoy cinema-quality sound for all your favorite movies, TV shows, sporting events, video games and music.

See price

The installation of this sound tray is very simple. Everything is well marked and the instructions are very well done. No specific tool required and all cables are provided. On the handling side, everything has been simplified for the great happiness of the user. The connection with the television is done automatically, no need to search in the menus. The same goes for Bluetooth connectivity, which is very simple.

The sound quality is there and remains pleasant even in a large room of 50 m². This is a piece of equipment that you're sure to love! Your movies will be sublimated and your video games too! In short, we can only recommend you this beautiful and technically accomplished equipment from the great brand Sony!

Nedis SPSB430BK 2
7/10

Best value for money

Nedis SPSB430BK

The best entry-level soundstage

If you're looking for an inexpensive but quality soundstage, the Nedis is for you! Easy to install and to use, it offers a satisfactory connection, a rich and deep sound, for a new home cinema experience.

See the price

To avoid the clutter caused by cables, the Nedis soundstage can be connected to your TV by Bluetooth wireless link or by USB. This does not prevent you from using its 3.5 mm jack, RCA and coaxial audio inputs with an S/PDIF optical cable supplied with the sound system. With a power of 210 W, its subwoofer and 2.1 speakers offer a remarkable sound quality from a smartphone or when watching movies.

Apart from that, the Nedis comes with a remote control and a Euro/Type C power cable for easy remote control. This Nedis soundstage is also capable of supporting up to 50 kg of TV screen above it.

Sonos Playbase 3
7/10

Best value for money

Sonos Playbase

The best high-end soundstage

This soundstage diffuses a very deep bass and allows a well felt immersion thanks to a very nice feeling of proximity and an almost pure sound. It's enough to make you feel like you're in a movie theater!

See the price

The Sonos Playbase soundstage is made up of 10 amplified internal speakers including 6 midrange, 3 tweeters, and 1 woofer. It can support a television of 35Kg maximum. The connectivity is quite simple: an input for power supply, an RJ45 port and an optical input while the wireless is provided by Wi-Fi.

The Playbase is mainly used to connect a TV set or a TV box. It is compact and discreet because its cables are hidden once the tray is installed. Thanks to its impeccable sound quality, the Playbase can become the heart of a 5.1 wireless home theater system with the addition of a SUB and 2 Sonos speakers. It is controllable via a smartphone via Wi-Fi connection and through the Sonos Controler app which can be updated from time to time.

Canton 03560 DM-75 4
8/10

A great choice

Canton 03560 DM-75

For home theater with ease!

Enjoy cinema-like sound via the 3 presets available on the DM-75, depending on the acoustics of your room. The LipSync function allows you to synchronize the sound to the image if a lag is felt.

391 £ on Cdiscount

The DM-75 is a 200 W sound stage with a discreet design that can support a TV of up to 40 kg thanks to its aluminum chassis. It features an RCA stereo analog input, an optical input, a coaxial input and a subwoofer output. It also offers Bluetooth 3.0 wireless connection with support for the Apt-X codec.

Composed of 4 woofers for low frequencies of 100 mm, 2 speakers for midrange of 50 mm and 2 tweeters of 19 mm for high frequencies, this tray offers a virtualization system of spatialization in 5.1. It also offers incredible 2.1 sound reproduction through Dolby Digital and DTS TruSurround decoding. All in all, all these features make the DM-75 an excellent investment choice!

Buying guide • November 2023

Best sound stage

Any specific needs?

The best soundstage in 2021

The best entry-level soundstage

The best high-end soundstage

For home theater with ease!

Your guide : Samuel

Rate this buying guide :
4.9/54 votes

By rating this buying guide, you are helping us to reward our best writers. Thank you!

Comparison table of the best soundstages

TOP OF THE TOP CHEAP TOP OF THE LINE EXCELLENT
Sony HT-RT3 5
9/10
Nedis SPSB430BK 6
7/10
Sonos Playbase 7
7/10
Canton 03560 DM-75 8
8/10
OUR SELECTION
Sony HT-RT3
Nedis SPSB430BK
Sonos Playbase
Canton 03560 DM-75
This soundstage has well thought out features. You'll enjoy cinema-quality sound for all your favorite movies, TV shows, sporting events, video games and music.
If you're looking for an inexpensive but quality soundstage, the Nedis is for you! Easy to install and to use, it offers a satisfactory connection, a rich and deep sound, for a new home cinema experience.
This soundstage diffuses a very deep bass and allows a well felt immersion thanks to a very nice feeling of proximity and an almost pure sound. It's enough to make you feel like you're in a movie theater!
Enjoy cinema-like sound via the 3 presets available on the DM-75, depending on the acoustics of your room. The LipSync function allows you to synchronize the sound to the image if a lag is felt.
Cons
No Wi-Fi, slightly noisy fan
No Wi-Fi connection
No HDMI, no analog input, no Bluetooth, heavy reliance on smartphone to control soundstage
No HDMI input, no 3.5 mm auxiliary input
Supported TV weight
34 kg
50 kg
35 kg
40 kg
Wireless connection
Bluetooth
Bluetooth
Wi-Fi
Bluetooth
Power
600 W
210 W
-
200 W
Sound quality

Help us improve this table:
Report an error, request the addition of a feature to the table, or suggest another product. Thank you for your kindness!

Buying guide - sound stage

Primary Item (H2)Sub Item 1 (H3)

Why can you trust us?

Why you can trust us
Our mission
How to support us
We do NOT accept any sponsored posts or advertising.

We spend thousands of hours each year studying the major specialized websites, analyzing products of hundreds of brands and reading user feedback to advise you on the best products.

Our mission is to simplify your purchasing decisions.

We are a product review company with a single mission: to simplify your buying decisions. Our research and testing helps millions of people every year find the best products for their personal needs and budget.

We are a small team of geeks and enthusiasts.

To support us you can: use our links to make your purchases (which often earns us a small commission), share our articles on social networks, or recommend our site on your blog. Thanks in advance for your support!

How to choose your sound stage

To be able to afford the luxury of a home cinema at home, here are the elements not to be neglected when choosing your sound system.

#1 - The power

Knowing the power offered by your sound system is important when you want to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of a film or series. Soundstages offer a maximum power of 350 W. For a room of 10 m² for example, choose a soundstage of 100 W while a power of 300 W is enough for a room of 40 m².

#2 - With or without subwoofer

The soundstage allows in fact to lighten to the maximum the presence of speakers and cables in the room which welcomes it. Because of this compactness, it lacks a bit of bass. If you want to improve the audio quality of your soundstage, it would be wise to add a subwoofer and choose a wireless soundstage that can connect directly to the subwoofer so as not to compromise the style of your room.

#3 - Spatialization

If you're not too demanding in terms of sound spatialization, turn to soundstages that offer a 2-in-1 system characterized by two midrange speakers and a woofer that offers the stereo effect. On the other hand, if you are rather strict on the quality of this three-dimensional effect, choose models that have a surround virtualization system taking into account the shape and space of your room as well as the layout of the furniture to give you the impression of being in a movie theater.

#4 - Connections

In

general, soundtrays are composed of two cables, the first of which is used for powering on the mains while the second is used to connect to a screen. If your TV has an optical connection, use it to couple the set with the screen to minimize clutter from wires. For this purpose, you can opt for rechargeable battery-powered soundstages that are both portable and self-contained. Also choose from HDMI, RCA or jack connection types depending on what your TV can offer. Next, the Bluetooth option will be a plus for your sound tray in case you want to play music from your smartphone. Finally, make your selection from soundtrays that have Wi-Fi or DLNA connectivity to allow you to connect to the local network and transfer audio files directly from your PC to the tray.

#5 - The dimensions and the supported weight

As the soundstage sits underneath the TV, it must support the weight of the TV. With that in mind, look for models that can support a weight greater than or equal to your TV screen if it has a single center stand. However, since some screens have two legs, the weight that the soundboard can support will not be an important criterion. You should rather think about its dimensions and check if it can easily slide under your TV and be used as a support.

What is a subwoofer used for?

Also called subwoofer, the subwoofer is used to give a boost to the sound of the speakers of your hi-fi system, your home cinema or your sound stage. Using the LFE (Low Frequency Effect) channel of HD soundtracks, it ensures a good reproduction of low and infragrade frequencies (below 120 Hz) and thus brings punch to the impacts, rumbles and other sensational effects when you watch your favorite movies and series.

It's important to note that you should only use one type of connection to connect your subwoofer, to avoid conflicts, and it's also best not to place it in a corner to minimize unpleasant sound resonance throughout the room.

Good to know

A soundstage has larger speakers and usually offers high power. The more channels, the better the sound quality.

Sound tray or sound bar?

Sound stage

The sound tray fits under the TV and is more compact than the sound bar. Thanks to this compactness, this device offers, in most cases, a deeper bass, especially if you use subwoofers. However, the power of the sound tray is more limited than that of the sound bar, but the audio quality is still better.

Sound bar

The sound bar is generally a kind of box in the form of a rectangle that is placed in front of the TV or through the wall in the case of a wall screen. On the market, they offer several ranges of power and sizes that can be integrated into the TV cabinet. However, when installing it, the sound bar must not obscure the sensor or the red light of the TV, as this could interfere with the remote control.

Verdict

In conclusion, the choice between a sound tray and a sound bar will depend mainly on the size of the room where it will be installed, as this will allow you to enjoy a quality sound. If your room is small, turn to a sound tray that is discreet and less bulky while providing satisfactory sound power. On the other hand, if you're looking for sound power suitable for a larger room, opt for a sound bar.

Tips

Cleaning the soundboard

After dusting with a feather duster, microfiber, or particle vacuum, clean the soundstage with a soft cloth dampened with light degreasing lotion. This will remove fingerprints from the body of the unit. However, cleaning also depends on the material that makes up the outer surface of the soundboard. For a natural wood platter, it is recommended to use a nourishing product that is rich in vegetable wax. Finally, vinyl coverings should never be treated with products that are too abrasive.

Add a few years to your device

Simple gestures can extend the life of your soundboard while preserving its performance. When the range of its remote control starts to decrease, replace the batteries and avoid exerting too much pressure on the buttons. Also remember to clean your device regularly following the procedures already indicated above.

Cleaning products to avoid

When

cleaning your soundboard, avoid using aerosol or solvent-based cleaning products. You should also not use cleaners containing ammonia, alcohol or abrasive substances. Also, make sure that liquid does not get into the openings of your equipment to prevent short circuits or electrical shocks.

Protect your soundstage

Equip yourself with

electrical protection devices such as a voltage stabilizer and inverter to prevent power surges and sudden power outages, as these can damage your soundstage. Also put in a lightning plug if you live in a stormy area.

FAQ

What is the best sound stage?

The best soundstage depends on your needs and your budget. Read our buying guide to find out which products are the best at the moment.

Why is there no sound from my soundstage via HDMI?

Turn off your TV and sound system. Then check that the cables between these two devices are properly connected, with both ends of the HDMI cable connected to the HDMI out on the soundstage and the HDMI in on the TV.

The volume of my sound tray is low, what can I do?

The soundboards come with a remote control on which you can adjust the volume in addition to the buttons on their body. If the volume of your sound is low, adjust it with the remote control. If the problem persists, increase the volume from the buttons on the body of the sound tray. Finally, for maximum level, turn up the audio volume on your TV.

There is no sound from the subwoofer or surround speaker, what can I do?

First, make sure the subwoofer is turned on. Then, increase the volume of the subwoofer using the remote control of your sound system. Check that the LED light is a good connection to the audio source. Unplug the power cable from the subwoofer and plug it back in after one minute. If the problem persists, reset the device or consult a technician.

The surface of my soundboard is scratched, what can I do?

Soundboards with a lacquered or varnished wood finish can be polished with a polish to reduce surface scratches.

Sources

Note: Below are some of the sources we have consulted in writing this article. Links to other sites are not continuously updated. It is therefore possible that a link may not be found. Please use a search engine to find the desired information.
  1. , blog.cobrason.com
  2. , lesnumeriques.com
  3. , quechoisir.org
  4. , lemondenumerique.ouest-france.fr
  5. , enceintesetmusiques.com
  6. , darty.com
  7. , zinfos974.com
  8. , allo-reparateurs.fr
  9. , svsound.com
  10. , lemeilleuravis.com
  11. , cobra.fr
  12. , teufelaudio.fr
  13. , boulanger.com
  14. , top-enceintes.fr
  15. , materiel.net
  16. , amazon.co.uk
  17. , top-enceintes.fr
  18. , idealo.fr
  19. , lesnumeriques.com
  20. , cdiscount.com
  21. , forum.lesnumeriques.com
  22. , cabasse.com
  23. , cobra.fr
  24. , produit-comparaison.fr
  25. , presse-citron.net
  26. , boulanger.com
  27. , amazon.co.uk
  28. , audiocasque.fr
  29. , qobuz.com
  30. , 01net.com
  31. , mensup.fr
  32. , sonos.com
  33. , audiocasque.fr
See more

Updates

March 2022 : Translation of this buying guide from our partner meilleurtest.fr

See more
Our selection
Sony HT-RT3 9
Sony HT-RT3
Nedis SPSB430BK 10
Nedis SPSB430BK
Sonos Playbase 11
Sonos Playbase
Canton 03560 DM-75 12
Canton 03560 DM-75

Lecteurs

Every month we help more than 1 000 000 people buy better and smarter.

Copyright © 2022 - Made with by buyingbetter.co.uk

Your reviews and buying guides 0% advertising, 100% independent!