It seems like a sick joke, at first. You just spent hundreds, possibly a thousand bucks on that brand-new 4K TV in your living room, and your home theater-nerd friends are already telling you that you need to spend a more on a soundbar and subwoofer? Need is a strong word, but your friends are right—you really should buy a soundbar. Your TV has tiny, tinny speakers and you’ll notice the difference immediately.

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