How We Test

We design our tests around how and where people actually listen. Every soundbar is evaluated inside our Room Profiles—Apartment Night, Family Room, Gaming Den, and Projector Loft—so results map directly to your space and gear.

Test Environment and Tools

• Rooms: Controlled apartment‑sized room (shared walls), mid‑sized family room (open plan), dedicated gaming setup (low‑latency path), and projector loft (long HDMI runs).
• Sources: Streaming apps (Atmos/5.1 where supported), Blu‑ray, broadcast, consoles, and PCs.
• Instruments: SPL meter, UMIK‑1 microphone, impulse/latency tools, and HDMI protocol analyzers for ARC/eARC/CEC.

Core Scores (What We Measure)

• Dialogue Clarity at Low Volume: Speech intelligibility at 55–65 dB using film and TV dialogue scenes; checks against compression and dialogue boost modes.
• Gaming Latency: End‑to‑end audio lag and 4K/120 passthrough behavior; chat/game balance and mode presets.
• Night‑Mode Effectiveness: Dynamic range reduction, auto volume leveling, and impact on intelligibility during quiet hours.
• Bass Containment for Shared Walls: Low‑frequency energy measured at the listening position and through walls; presets for neighbor‑friendly profiles.
• HDMI/eARC Reliability: Handshake stability, format negotiation (DD+, TrueHD, DTS), CEC power/input switching, and lip‑sync variance.

Fit‑First Evaluation

We match each bar to room size, seating distance, and mounting height. We verify whether it blocks TV IR, supports wall mounting, and routes cables cleanly. We check upgrade paths (adding surrounds/sub) and firmware roadmaps.

Setup Playbooks

Each review includes a fast‑start guide: which port to use (ARC vs eARC), placement diagrams, auto‑calibration steps, optimal presets, and CEC settings for one‑remote operation. We document projector‑friendly HDMI switch/ARC extractor paths where needed.

Repeatability and Updates

We test on current firmware, note version numbers, and retest after major updates. If a unit shows instability, we run extended reliability checks (multi‑day CEC and Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth tests).

Limitations and Transparency

Room acoustics vary. We report both measurements and what you’re likely to hear in each Room Profile. If we could not verify a claim (e.g., DTS:X over eARC on a specific TV), we say so and provide a workaround when possible.