t1oNe Aug. 5, 2024, 3:52 p.m.

Best soundbar for high ceilings? help a newbie out!

Hey everyone, Just moved into a new place with really high ceilings (about 20 feet in the living room). My old soundbar sounds weak in here. The room is pretty big too, maybe 20x30 feet. I'm looking for something that can handle action movies and make my PS5 games sound awesome.

Don't want to go crazy, but I can spend up to $1000. Should I be looking at ones with upward-firing speakers? Or maybe with a separate subwoofer?

Any suggestions would be great. Thanks!

Sunbeam189 Aug. 7, 2024, 3 p.m.

Samsung's not bad, but have you checked out the sonos arc? It's been a game-changer in my living room. Great for movies, music, you name it. Plus, it plays nice with other sonos stuff if you want to expand later.

Super Master Aug. 5, 2024, 11:27 p.m.

High ceilings, huh? Bet your echo is having a field day! For big spaces, you'll want something with upward-firing speakers. They bounce sound off the ceiling, giving you more immersion.

dhjrfyk Aug. 6, 2024, 12:35 p.m.

Have you looked into the Samsung HW-Q990B? It`s the best soundbar for high ceilings I've tried. Bit pricey, but man, the sound is incredible.

Sunbeam189 Aug. 7, 2024, 3 p.m.

Samsung's not bad, but have you checked out the sonos arc? It's been a game-changer in my living room. Great for movies, music, you name it. Plus, it plays nice with other sonos stuff if you want to expand later.

Discog Aug. 6, 2024, 8:19 p.m.

Make sure it has a good subwoofer. High ceilings eat bass for breakfast.

bin_go777 Aug. 8, 2024, 11:42 a.m.

True that. My first soundbar in a high-ceiling room sounded like a squeaky mouse. Now I've got one with a sub, and it's like the mouse hit the gym!

toni 2 Aug. 7, 2024, 7:09 p.m.

Guys, before recommending products, maybe ask about room layout? OP, where's your seating in relation to the TV? That can make a big difference in what'll work best.

vfvf1703 Aug. 8, 2024, 9:43 p.m.

Check out the guide on bose.com about how to choose a soundbar for your space. They break down the tech without getting too nerdy about it.

angel22 Aug. 9, 2024, 10:29 a.m.

Have you considered going beyond a soundbar? With that budget and room size, you might get better results from a proper home theater setup.

Kadi Aug. 9, 2024, 6:54 p.m.

Easy there, audiophile! Not everyone wants to turn their living room into a Best Buy showroom. xD Soundbars have come a long way, you know.

ВВС Aug. 10, 2024, 1:36 p.m.

You know, there's something to be said for thinking outside the soundbar. t1oNe, have you considered a full 5.1 system? For the price of a high-end soundbar, you might get a more immersive setup. Just food for thought if you're willing to deal with a bit more complexity.

luckyboy Aug. 11, 2024, 5:22 p.m.

For the best sound bar for high ceilings, look at the specs. You want at least 5.1.2 channels in a room that size. Those upward-firing speakers are crucial for tall spaces.

ghjdthrf Aug. 12, 2024, 12:07 a.m.

Hey, don't forget about the room itself! My buddy got a fancy soundbar and it still sounded like crap in his empty living room. Threw in some rugs, curtains, and a big comfy couch, and bam - way better sound. Sometimes it's not just about the gear, you know?

bad max Aug. 13, 2024, 11:05 a.m.

All this talk about high ceilings... Anyone else picturing t1oNe watching TV in a cathedral? LOL But seriously, good luck with your search. High ceilings are a blessing and a curse for audio!

kings robot Aug. 15, 2024, 10:58 p.m.

don't just slap the soundbar wherever and call it a day. Spent a whole weekend moving mine around by inches until it sounded just right. Pain in the butt? Yeah. Worth it? Totally. Your ears will thank you for taking the time to get it right.

dween Feb. 3, 2025, 2:32 p.m.

Measured room acoustics - RT60 decay time hitting 2.8s in those high ceilings. you need minimum 600W RMS + dedicated sub to fill this space properly

777ivp Feb. 17, 2025, 10:57 p.m.

Quick tip: high frequency drivers need like 15° tilt in rooms this tall. spent 3 months figuring this out the hard way fr

TTW March 1, 2025, 7:23 p.m.

Imagine dropping a rack on a soundbar when proper acoustic treatment would do more for your sound than any speaker upgrade 💀

Skidrow March 15, 2025, 11:10 p.m.

bro said he needs it for PS5... my guy about to spend $1k just to hear "git gud" in dolby atmos 🎮

9-region April 18, 2025, 12:04 a.m.

Anybody actually testing frequency response curves or we just out here buying whatever looks shiniest?

7775 June 15, 2025, 7:19 p.m.

Renovated 1920s factory loft into living space, kept original 18ft ceilings because "character." Sound bounces around like racquetball on steroids. Tried four different audio solutions before admitting defeat and hiring actual acoustics consultant. Pride expensive, turns out

haxk Aug. 28, 2025, 9:50 a.m.

Meditation practice teaches patience. Good thing because configuring soundbar settings for cathedral ceilings tested every ounce of zen I've cultivated. Boyfriend kept suggesting "just turn it up" like volume solves physics. We're working through things in couples therapy separately now

DARK ASSASIN Oct. 7, 2025, 8:10 p.m.

High ceilings incredible for plant shelves, terrible for audio apparently. My 47 houseplants don't care but guests definitely notice echoey Star Wars dialogue. Priorities shift when you're emotionally invested in ficus propagation over home theater optimization tbh