Read this before acting on anything you find here. It matters more on a site about equipment than on most.
General information only
Everything on AtmosWise is general information about home theater sound. It is not a substitute for the manufacturer documentation supplied with your specific model, and it is not professional advice for your particular situation.
Equipment differs between models, revisions, and regions. A procedure that is correct for one soundbar can be wrong for another that looks nearly identical.
Electrical safety
Home theater equipment puts mains electricity within reach whenever you are working behind a TV, inside an AV receiver, or rewiring a rack. Always unplug a unit before opening the case or disconnecting internal wiring. If you are not confident working around mains power, stop and call a qualified electrician.
Never open a sealed mains powered amplifier module or a subwoofer’s internal power supply. Those units are sealed for a reason and are not user serviceable.
Wall mounting and physical safety
A soundbar, a surround speaker, or a subwoofer mounted on a wall is a falling hazard if the fixings are wrong for the wall type or the weight of the unit. Check the manufacturer’s maximum load rating, use fixings rated for the actual wall material behind the plasterboard, and never rely on adhesive strips for anything heavier than a small satellite speaker.
The same caution applies to a TV bracket carrying a soundbar shelf or a centre channel speaker mounted underneath it. Confirm the combined weight against the bracket’s stated rating before you drill anything.
Hearing safety
Sustained high sound pressure levels cause real and permanent hearing damage, and a system calibrated for cinema level playback can produce those levels for hours at a stretch. Where a guide describes a reference level or a loud test tone, treat it as an occasional check, not a nightly setting.
Calibrate to a comfortable level for regular viewing and reserve reference level playback for short sessions with breaks. If your ears are ringing after a movie, the system was too loud and the volume needs to come down, not the guide.
Firmware and factory resets
A firmware update that fails partway through, or a factory reset triggered from the wrong menu, can leave a soundbar, receiver, or TV unresponsive until it is serviced, and in some cases permanently. Read a firmware guide in full before starting, keep the unit on stable power throughout, and do not interrupt the update once it begins.
Where a guide recommends an update or a reset, it says so because the alternative is worse, not because the outcome is guaranteed. If your unit is still under warranty, check the manufacturer’s support line before attempting either.
Accuracy and currency
We take accuracy seriously and cite sources where a claim needs support. Even so, prices change, models are discontinued, and specifications are revised. A figure that was right when a guide was published may not be right today.
Guides carry a publish date and a modified date. Check both. If you find something wrong, tell us and it gets corrected.
No affiliation with manufacturers
AtmosWise is an independent publication and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or connected to any TV or audio equipment manufacturer or retailer.
AtmosWise is also not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Dolby Laboratories, DTS, the HDMI Licensing Administrator, or any TV or audio manufacturer. Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, HDMI, and every other product or brand name mentioned in a guide are the trademarks of their respective owners and are used purely for identification and description.
We do not use manufacturer logos, marketing images, or brand assets.
External links
We link to manufacturer documentation, Dolby and DTS specifications, HDMI specifications, and similar sources. We do not control those sites and are not responsible for their content or accuracy.
Limitation
By using this site you accept that AtmosWise is not liable for any loss or damage, including damage to equipment, hearing damage, or property damage, arising from your use of the information here. See our terms and conditions.