Best Sound Bars With Speech Clarity For Hearing Impaired 2023 - 2024

Written By Nathan
Last Updated on February 24, 2024 by Simon

We independently research each product thoroughly in order to produce this in-depth review - our process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made using our links below, however it does not influence our recommendation.

Editor's Choice
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Sound Bar
Value for Money
SHARP HT-SBW110 2.1 Soundbar
Denon Home 550 Compact Sound Bar
Product Name
Product Name
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Sound Bar
SHARP HT-SBW110 2.1 Soundbar
Denon Home 550 Compact Sound Bar
Speaker Type
Speaker Type
Soundbar
Stereo
Soundbar
Brand
Brand
JBL
Sharp
Denon
Recommended Usage
Recommended Usage
For Music Players
For Music Players
For Music Players
Mounting Type
Mounting Type
Tabletop
Wall Mount, Tabletop
Tabletop
Surround-Sound Channel Configuration
Surround-Sound Channel Configuration
5.1
2.1
Dolby Atmos & DTS:X
Audio Output Mode
Audio Output Mode
Surround
-
Surround
Max. Output Power
Max. Output Power
550 Watts
180 Watts
-
Special Features
Special Features
Chromecast and Airplay capabilities, HDMI 4K pass-through,Wi-Fi and USB inputs, MultiBeam Technology and a slim design, Soundbar system with wireless subwoofer
Powerful bass for a cinema-style sound, Bluetooth connectivity, With a pre-set equaliser for different sound modes, Easy control with the TV remote via HDMI ARC/CEC
Easily connect via WLAN, AirPlay 2 or Bluetooth, With support for 4K TVs, Dolby Vision and HDR10, Voice control with Alexa Built-in
Product Dimension
Product Dimension
109 x 38 x 58 cm
6 x 80 x 6 cm
79.5 x 19.7 x 17.5 cm
Product Weight
Product Weight
13.5 kg
4 kg
3.5 kg

The Best Sound Bars For Hearing Impaired Reviews & Buying Guide

Short On Time?

Our Recommended The Best Sound Bars For Hearing Impaired Is The JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Sound Bar!

Editor's Choice
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Sound Bar - in-home entertainment system, with streaming capabilities and subwoofer
  • Turn your living room into your favourite entertainment destination with the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround speaker with an inconspicuous design, JBL sound, and streaming capabilities for the perfect night in
  • Bring the theatre home: with JBL specialised deep bass and the additional subwoofer you reach a new level of entertainment, designed to add action to your movies and emotion to your music
  • Don't let your speakers take over your space, with MultiBeam Technology and a slim design, this bar is discreet while still delivering cinema-quality sound
  • Stream your favourite music right from your speaker, with Chromecast and Airplay capabilities you can stream all your favourites right from your sound bar
  • Items delivered: 1x JBL Bar 5.1 Surround sound bar and subwoofer with HDMI 4K pass-through,Wi-Fi and USB inputs, with streaming capabilities, in black

If you suffer from hearing loss and struggle to hear the TV, investing in a soundbar can be a great option to help you hear dialogue clearer and get the same enjoyment out of your TV as you did before. 

The best sound bars for hearing impaired people typically have three channels to project audio in all areas of a room, sometimes they even have special dialogue settings which project voice audio and make it even clearer.

We have hand-picked some of the best soundbars on the market for the hearing impaired below and reviewed them one by one to find the right soundbar for you. 

Our Number One Soundbar For Hearing Impaired -

The JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Sound Bar (Editor's Choice)

This JBL 5.1 surround sound sound bar features a JBL deep bass with an additional subwoofer for even better 3D sound. 

Best Sound Bars For Hearing Impaired Reviews JBL Bar 5 1

Top specs of the JBL sound bar are its five different speaker channels which have 550W output power and multi-beam technology to produce panoramic sound. In terms of connections the sound bar has HDMI and optical cable ports, it can also be used with wireless connection WiFi to Airplay, Bluetooth or Chromecast. 

Best Sound Bars For Hearing Impaired Reviews JBL Bar 5 2

For the design, this JBL 5.1 surround sound bar subwoofer come in at 10-inches for its diameter and is made to fit neatly under your TV due to its slim and portable design. 

Conclusion

Overall, the JBL BAR 5.1 model is a great choice for hearing impaired people thanks to its larger range of 5 channels, allowing audio to reach all areas of your room. 

Best Sound Bars For Hearing Impaired Reviews JBL Bar 5 3

The sound bar also is super easy to set up and has great modes such as cinema or sport to get the most out of your TV. 

Best Sound Bars For Hearing Impaired Reviews JBL Bar 5 4

Pros 

  • Additional subwoofer. 
  • Five speakers. 
  • Portable. 
  • Sound modes. 
  • HDMI & optical. 
  • Wireless connections. 
Best Sound Bars For Hearing Impaired Reviews JBL Bar 5 6

JBL sound and streaming capabilities for the perfect night in

JBL specialised deep bass and the additional subwoofer designed to add action to your movies and emotion to your music

MultiBeam Technology and a slim design

With Chromecast and Airplay capabilities you can stream all your favourites right from your sound bar

Our Second Choice - The Denon Home 550 Compact Sound Bar

If you are looking for a reliable mid-priced sound bar to help you hear audio then this Denon sound bar might be worth checking out. 

Best Sound Bars For Hearing Impaired Reviews Denon Home 1

Feature-wise the Denon sound bar comes with three-dimensional sound from Dolby Atmos and DTS:X and has support for 4K TVs, Dolby Vision and HDR10. Connection-wise you can link to wireless speakers WLAN or airplay and stream music. 

Best Sound Bars For Hearing Impaired Reviews Denon Home 2

Other notable specs of this soundbar are its built-in Alexa and the option to connect the soundbar with rear speakers or a wireless subwoofer. The soundbars full range drivers include passive radiators for bass, it also has a 65cm footprint to keep it compact and save space. 

Conclusion

To conclude, the Denon compact soundbar is an excellent model to choose if your after a powerful audio device that helps with voice clarity and gives excellent 3D stereo sound right from your TV. 

Best Sound Bars For Hearing Impaired Reviews Denon Home 3

Its design is simple to function and even pairs with your TV remote for convenience. 

Best Sound Bars For Hearing Impaired Reviews Denon Home 5

Downfalls of the sound bar are its display which shows limited information. The speaker is also reported to have no off button which can make it difficult to use. 

Pros

  • Dolby Atmos & DTS:X. 
  • Three dimensional sound. 
  • Connect wirelessly. 
  • Passive radiators. 
  • Small footprint.
  • Built-in Alexa. 
Best Sound Bars For Hearing Impaired Reviews Denon Home 6

Cons 

  • Display shows limited information.
  • No off button.

With Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks from a single, compact sound bar

Featuring advanced acoustic hardware, expertly tuned digital signal processing and premium drivers

Easily connect the wireless speaker via WLAN, AirPlay 2 or Bluetooth and listen to your favourite songs

With support for 4K TVs, Dolby Vision and HDR10.

Clean, simple industrial design

Voice control with ALEXA built-in

SHARP HT-SBW110 2.1 Soundbar

For people who are on a budget, this sound bar TV speaker from SHARP is an excellent choice. 

Best Sound Bars For Hearing Impaired Reviews Sharp Soundbar 1

Important specs of the lightweight soundbar are its 2 stereo channels and 180W output sound power. It also has a wired subwoofer to boost speaker volume plus 4 EQ presets for different sound modes, you can connect the bar up to Bluetooth or smart devices too. 

Best Sound Bars For Hearing Impaired Reviews Sharp Soundbar 2

The soundbar from SHARP additionally comes with its remote control, HDMI connectivity and AUX input. It can be mounted on the wall or used on a tabletop. 

Conclusion 

To conclude, this SHARP 2.1 soundbar is one of the best low price soundbars we have on our list if you are after a soundbar with high power and easy to function basic features. 

Best Sound Bars For Hearing Impaired Reviews Sharp Soundbar 3

It has exceptional clarity for its price and is a compact sound bar that fits seamlessly with a variety of TV.

Best Sound Bars For Hearing Impaired Reviews Sharp Soundbar 4

Downfalls of the SHARP soundbar are its controls, for example, there is no option to control the bass manually on the compact soundbar, the audio cable on the bass is also said to be of low quality. 

Pros 

  • Two stereo channels. 
  • 180W power output. 
  • 4 EQ presets. 
  • Bluetooth connection. 
  • Own remote control. 
  • Easy to function. 
  • Affordable.
Best Sound Bars For Hearing Impaired Reviews Sharp Soundbar 5

Cons 

  • Bass cannot be adjusted manually. 
  • Audio cable is of low quality. 

SHARP 180 watt soundbar with Bluetooth & external subwoofer

The external wired subwoofer delivers powerful bass for a cinema-style sound, and can be positioned discreetly away from the soundbar

Aux in option: As well as Bluetooth connectivity, this soundbar allows you to easily connect smart devices or laptops

Ideal for TV, movies, music and gaming: With a pre-set equaliser for different sound modes

Home cinema experience: With 4 EQ pre-sets for every occasion. Easily operate the stylish soundbar through your existing TV remote

LG Soundbar SN4 2.1 ch 300W

The LG soundbar model features 2 stereo speakers with an output power of 300W for high audio quality and is perfect for use with LG TV.

Important specs of this soundbar for the hearing impaired are its adaptive audio which changes according to what you are watching and wireless subwoofer for effective sound during bass notes. The bar can be connected via HDMI, optical and Bluetooth. 

Best Sound Bars For Hearing Impaired Reviews LG Soundbar 2

For the design, it is slim and black, measures 171mm and can be table top-mounted for ease of use. 

Conclusion

Overall, the LG soundbar has great electronic sound quality and is great value for money if you after a high-quality soundbar. 

Best Sound Bars For Hearing Impaired Reviews LG Soundbar 3

The sound settings included with the soundbar are great for people with hearing issues as they give a crystal-clear sound even in dialogues. 

Best Sound Bars For Hearing Impaired Reviews LG Soundbar 4

Drawbacks of the LG soundbar are its design, for example, the power connector is said to be on top of the bar which can make the speaker look untidy. It is also reported to come without a bracket for wall mounting. 

Pros 

  • Great value for money. 
  • 2 stereo speakers. 
  • HDMI/Bluetooth connection. 
  • Subwoofer. 
  • 300W output power. 
  • Slim design.
  • Sound modes.
Best Sound Bars For Hearing Impaired Reviews LG Soundbar 5

Cons 

  • Comes with no mounting bracket. 
  • Power connector on top of the bar. 

Crisp sound quality (300W 3 channels)

HDMI and Bluetooth connectivity

Ideal match with LG TVs

Sophisticated wireless sub-woofer

JBL Bar 2.0 All-in-One Sound Bar

The JBL soundbar has an 80W output with two stereo speakers for detailed sound, 

Best Sound Bars For Hearing Impaired Reviews JBL Bar 2 Soundbar 1

Top specs of the soundbar are its connectivity which allows you to use Bluetooth as well as HDMI and optical options. For a cinema experience, it has Dolby Atmos quality with deep bass and can even be controlled via a phone app for convenience. 

Best Sound Bars For Hearing Impaired Reviews JBL Bar 2 Soundbar 2

The design comes in slim black size and has USB inputs, it can be mounted via tabletop under your TV discreetly. 

Conclusion

Overall, this JBL all-in-one soundbar has simple audio settings to help you hear audio and get experience rich movies even with impaired hearing. 

Best Sound Bars For Hearing Impaired Reviews JBL Bar 2 Soundbar 3

It is one of the best bars on our list for a low budget and still packs top specs with Dolby Atmos sound quality. 

Best Sound Bars For Hearing Impaired Reviews JBL Bar 2 Soundbar 4

Negatives of the JBL sound bar are its remote which can be hard to adjust settings with, some have also said the treble to be weak and bass to be too strong.

Pros 

  • Dolby Atmos. 
  • 80W output. 
  • Compact size. 
  • Bluetooth and HDMI.
  • Phone app. 
  • Two stereo speakers.
Best Sound Bars For Hearing Impaired Reviews JBL Bar 2 Soundbar 1

Cons 

  • Hard to adjust settings with remote. 
  • Treble is said to be weak and bass too strong.

JBL sound and streaming capabilities

JBL specialised deep bass you reach a new level of the entertainment experience

With a compact and slim design

With bluetooth capabilities

Which Is The Best Sound Bar For Hearing Impairments?

To round up our reviews, the best sound bar on our list for people with hearing impairments has to be the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Sound Bar. 

Best Sound Bars For Hearing Impaired Reviews JBL Bar 5 1

We rate this soundbar as our favourite thanks to its great range of channel speakers, strong wireless subwoofer and dialogue enhancement which all helps to improve the clarity of movies or general audio from your TV.

As a runner up, we would also recommend The Denon Home 550 Compact Sound Bar, this Denon model has detailed sound due to its Dolby Atmos and DTS:X system plus is a slim cabinet model which sits nice and discreetly under your TV. 

We didn't place this sound bar as our number one because of its LCD which shows limited information. 

Best Sound Bars For Hearing Impaired Reviews Denon Home 1

What To Look For In The Best Sound Bar For People With Hearing Impairment (Our Buying Guide)

Now we have rounded up and reviewed the best sound bars for people with hearing impairment, you might be wondering how to choose the best model for people with hearing loss. 

In our buying guide below we will cover the benefits of getting a sound bar if you struggle with hearing, as well as the important features to make sure your sound bar has if you want it to help people with hearing loss. 

So without further chat, let's get into it! 

Benefits Of a Soundbar For Hearing Impaired 

If you are on the edge about whether or not to invest in a soundbar to help you with your hearing, we have listed out some of the benefits you can get from buying one below to help with your decision. 

  • Compact size - Soundbars are a great device due to the fact they do not take up a lot of space, they are designed in fact to seamlessly fit with your TV, unlike huge traditional speakers which need a dedicated set-up space. 
  • Include subwoofers - Some of the best soundbars will even include a subwoofer, this helps for hearing low bass notes and gives cinematic sound levels in the comfort of your own home.
  • Sound modes - Many sound bars have sound modes or sound effects for different audios, for example, if you are watching a movie you can choose a dialogue mode that separates speech from the background sound of a movie to help you hear better. 
  • Helps you hear full coverage - If you buy a sound bar with a good range of channels you will be able to hear human voice easier in all corners of your room due to audio being bounced and reflected via the soundbars, multiple speakers.
  • Adjustable - Hearing loss is different for everyone, thanks to the variety of settings and modes soundbars have, you change and manipulate your device according to what feels best for you and your hearing.
  • Easy to use - Sound bars are simple to use nowadays, with remote controls and apps for ease of use. 
  • Great connectivity - Whether you want to connect via HDMI, optical or Bluetooth, a sound bar has it all.

Top Features To Look For In a Soundbar For Hearing Impaired

Looking for a high-quality soundbar to help with hearing can be a task, most people want incredible home theater sound to enhance audio and modes for making dialog clearer in movies. 

To help you out, we have listed the essentials to watch out for in your new soundbar below. 

  • Channels - One of the most important features to look for in your soundbar is the channels as this controls the virtual surround sound. Always try and buy a sound bar with three channels for high definition sound, the more channels the better audible sound ranges.
  • Power - Your soundbar will come with a power output wattage, this controls the power of your experience rich audio, the higher the wattage the better the power. 
  • Subwoofer - Some models might come with a subwoofer, this is important for a boost of sound on low notes and van produce an incredible home theater sound like a cinema, some subwoofers might be wired to your soundbar while others are wireless. 
  • Sound modes - Your sound bar must come with different modes if you want crisp dialog audio, many have a sports mode, movie mode, dialog mode and even a gaming mode to help with hearing in different situations.
  • Audio quality - The best speakers house Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio quality as a standard for televisions.
  • Connections - Always ensure your soundbar has a wider range of connections, some to note are Bluetooth, WiFi, HDMI, optical and compatibility with a device such as Amazon Alexa or Google Home.
  • Design - Check the size of your sound bar in advance and make sure it is not too small or too big for your TV, the design should be slim and portable.
  • Ease of use - Make sure your sound bar is easy to set up and control, most come with their own remote or can connect easily to your TV's so as you can control the soundbar at a distance.
Value for Money
SHARP HT-SBW110 2.1 Soundbar, 180W Slim Wireless Bluetooth Soundbar with Wired Subwoofer for TV with HDMI ARC /CEC, Aux and Digital Optical-In, Wall Mount or Table Top Sound Bar
  • SHARP 180 watt soundbar with Bluetooth & external subwoofer: The cinematic sound provides a powerful and truly immersive experience in your home
  • Subwoofer included: The external wired subwoofer delivers powerful bass for a cinema-style sound, and can be positioned discreetly away from the soundbar
  • Aux in option: As well as Bluetooth connectivity, this soundbar allows you to easily connect smart devices or laptops to stream songs and podcasts too
  • Ideal for TV, movies, music and gaming: With a pre-set equaliser for different sound modes, your SHARP audio device creates a spatial sound experience in any room
  • Home cinema experience: With 4 EQ pre-sets for every occasion. Easily operate the stylish soundbar through your existing TV remote

FAQs About The Best Soundbar For Hearing Impaired

How do I improve the clarity of dialogue with a soundbar? 

Make sure your sound bar is set on human voice mode or dialogue mode, position yourself closer to the device and set your TV audio properly to get the most out of your bar.

Are there soundbars with a built-in subwoofer? 

Soundbars can never actually have a built-in subwoofer as they are too small to house one, instead, they have passive radiators which help to create a deep bass sound from low notes. 

What is Dolby Digital sound? 

Dolby Digital is a digital coding technique, it simplifies audio data to help reduce background noise and produce high definition sound.

Is a sound base or sound bar better for hearing loss? 

Sound bars are better than sound bases for hearing loss as they have different modes and connectivity options to help with virtual surround sound, sound bases tend to be better for general amplification and producing bass.

Do I need external speakers for my sound bar? 

Some sound bars can be used with external speakers for a better range of audio.

Where do you put the separate subwoofer for a soundbar? 

You can put your subwoofer anywhere, some people prefer to have them as cabinet-style speakers while others like the subwoofer under their seat. Just ensure the bass is not too overpowering for the dialogue.

How much do budget soundbars cost? 

Budget soundbars can cost around £100, these are often limited to two channels, however.

Our #1 Soundbar With The Best Audio For Hearing Impaired 

Our number one soundbar for helping people who are hearing impaired is the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Sound Bar due to the large range of speakers and high-quality sound which gives a great level of voice boost to audio, helping you hear better. 

We suggested checking out the Denon Home 550 Compact Sound Bar too as it has a range of sound modes, with Dolby Atmos quality and a variety of connection options. 

 

Editor's Choice
JBL Bar 5.1 Surround Sound Bar - in-home entertainment system, with streaming capabilities and subwoofer
  • Turn your living room into your favourite entertainment destination with the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround speaker with an inconspicuous design, JBL sound, and streaming capabilities for the perfect night in
  • Bring the theatre home: with JBL specialised deep bass and the additional subwoofer you reach a new level of entertainment, designed to add action to your movies and emotion to your music
  • Don't let your speakers take over your space, with MultiBeam Technology and a slim design, this bar is discreet while still delivering cinema-quality sound
  • Stream your favourite music right from your speaker, with Chromecast and Airplay capabilities you can stream all your favourites right from your sound bar
  • Items delivered: 1x JBL Bar 5.1 Surround sound bar and subwoofer with HDMI 4K pass-through,Wi-Fi and USB inputs, with streaming capabilities, in black

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