The soundbar question we hear most often isn't "should I get a soundbar?" — it's "what do I do with it after I mount my TV?" A TV on a wall with a soundbar on a shelf below it looks fine. A TV on a wall with a soundbar also wall mounted below it looks finished. The difference is about 45 minutes of additional work and it's worth it.
Here's everything you need to know about wall mounting a soundbar, from the right position to the specific hardware.
Why Wall Mount the Soundbar?
Visual cohesion. A floating TV with a soundbar that sits on furniture creates a visual disconnect — the TV is on the wall but the soundbar is part of the furniture world. Mounting the soundbar creates a single unified wall unit.
It frees up surface space. A soundbar on a shelf or media console occupies the prime real estate on that surface. Moved to the wall, it frees up the entire top surface of your console.
Cable management becomes easier. When both the TV and soundbar are on the wall, the cable path is clean and direct — optical cable or HDMI ARC runs from the back of the soundbar straight up to the back of the TV, concealed behind the wall or along a short raceway.
It stays put. A soundbar on a shelf can be bumped, moved, or knocked off. Wall-mounted, it's fixed.
Position: Where Does the Soundbar Go?
Below the TV (Standard)
The vast majority of soundbar installs are below the TV. The soundbar mounts to the wall approximately 4 to 6 inches below the TV — enough clearance to see the full front face of both the TV and the soundbar, but close enough that they read as a single unit.
Most soundbar manufacturers publish the correct mounting height in their manual. As a general rule: center the soundbar at approximately 24 to 30 inches from the floor when the TV center is at 48 inches or higher. When the TV is at lower heights (bedroom TVs, lower living room mounts), scale the soundbar position proportionally.
Above the TV
Some soundbars are designed to sit above the TV — usually because the design has upward-firing drivers that reflect off the ceiling for simulated surround sound. If your soundbar manual specifies an above-TV position, follow it. Otherwise, below is correct.
On the Same Mount as the TV
Some TV mounts include integrated soundbar brackets. These hold the soundbar directly below the TV on the same mounting system. They work, but they have a drawback: when you tilt or swivel the TV, the soundbar moves with it, which often puts the soundbar in an awkward position.
We prefer independent wall mounting for both TV and soundbar — each in the exact right position, independently.
The Hardware
Most soundbars include a wall mount kit in the box. It's usually a keyhole bracket system — two metal brackets that screw into the back of the soundbar, which then hang on two screws driven into the wall.
The problem with included hardware: The wall screws that come in the box are often too short (1 inch or less) and are designed to go into a stud. In NYC apartments with metal studs or concrete walls, they won't work. We always bring our own hardware to soundbar installs.
What actually holds a soundbar to the wall:
- Into wood studs: 2.5-inch wood screws, directly into the stud
- Into metal studs: toggle bolts sized appropriately for the soundbar weight (most soundbars are 5 to 20 pounds, which is light — a small toggle bolt handles this easily)
- Into concrete: 3/16-inch Tapcon screws, properly anchored
Soundbars are light enough that a single properly installed fastener per side is sufficient. Two per side (the standard keyhole mount configuration) is more than adequate.
Soundbars Specifically Worth Noting
Sonos Arc, Beam, and Ray
Sonos soundbars all include wall mount kits. The Arc and Beam mount with a keyhole system on the back. One important note with Sonos: these soundbars have bottom-firing bass ports and do not sit flush against the wall when mounted — there is intentional standoff spacing. This is by design, not an installation error. The gap is typically 1 to 1.5 inches.
Samsung HW Series
Samsung soundbars use a slim bracket system that allows very close wall clearance — some configurations place the soundbar within a quarter inch of the wall. The bracket attaches to the wall first, and the soundbar clips onto it. Clean and secure.
Bose Soundbar 900 / 700
These mount with a proprietary bracket that Bose sells separately. The brackets are clean and the result is almost flush to the wall. If you have a Bose soundbar and the wall mount bracket, these are straightforward installs.
Sonos Playbase / Playbar
These older Sonos products are not designed for wall mounting — they sit on furniture. Don't try to wall mount a Playbase.
Soundbar Cable Management
The connection from soundbar to TV is typically one of three things:
HDMI ARC/eARC: A single HDMI cable runs between the TV's ARC port and the soundbar's HDMI input. This carries both audio and control signals — one cable for everything.
Optical (Toslink): A thin optical cable carries digital audio. It's more delicate than HDMI and requires a specific right-angle optical cable to route cleanly when the soundbar is mounted close to the wall.
Bluetooth: Some soundbars connect wirelessly. Zero cables between TV and soundbar.
For wall-mounted soundbars, the ideal is HDMI ARC run through a very short cable path inside the wall or through the back of a raceway. We cut the cable to exact length on soundbar installs so there's no excess coiled behind the unit.
Power cable: The soundbar power cable is often the hardest to hide because the power socket is sometimes at an inconvenient location on the soundbar body. If the power socket faces down, a right-angle plug adapter routes the cable cleanly upward into a raceway or wall.
Soundbar Mounting With the TV Mount — Our Standard Approach
When we mount a TV, we route all cables as the last step before hanging the TV. For soundbar installs, we add the soundbar to the workflow:
- Mount the TV bracket into the wall (studs or masonry)
- Install the soundbar brackets at the correct position below the TV
- Hang the TV
- Hang the soundbar
- Run the HDMI ARC or optical cable between the two — either inside the wall via the same cable cavity as the TV, or in a short raceway section between soundbar and TV
- Connect and test audio output
Total additional time for a soundbar add-on to a TV mounting appointment: 20 to 30 minutes.
What It Costs
Our TV mounting service covers the TV mount itself. Soundbar mounting is an add-on we handle as part of the same appointment. We include soundbar mounting in our standard pricing — there's no separate line item for most soundbar installations.
If you're booking a TV mount and have a soundbar, mention it when you book so we bring the right hardware. Book your appointment here.
When Wall Mounting Doesn't Work
Very large soundbars in small rooms: A 5-foot soundbar in a 10-foot wide room leaves only 2.5 feet of wall on each side. Centering the TV above it becomes visually tight. In this case, keeping the soundbar on the console may actually look better.
Wireless rear speakers: If your system has wireless rear speakers on floor stands, the soundbar still wall-mounts fine — the rear units just stay on their stands.
Renter who wants zero wall marks: A soundbar on a furniture surface is a completely valid choice. Wall mounting is cleaner but not mandatory. If you need to leave zero trace in a rental, keep the soundbar on the console.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the soundbar have to be centered under the TV?
Yes, for the cleanest result and for proper stereo imaging. A soundbar offset to one side creates an audible imbalance and looks awkward. Center it on the wall directly below the TV center.
How far below the TV should the soundbar be?
4 to 6 inches of clearance between the bottom of the TV and the top of the soundbar is the practical standard. This ensures the TV remote sensor (usually at the bottom edge of the TV) has line of sight to the room, and the soundbar's indicator lights are visible without being obstructed by the TV.
My soundbar didn't come with a wall mount kit. Can I still mount it?
Yes. Universal soundbar wall mount brackets are available and work with most soundbars that have a standard bottom mounting pattern. The challenge is ensuring the bracket supports the specific weight and width of your soundbar. Bring us the make and model when you book and we'll confirm the right hardware.
Will wall mounting affect the sound quality?
Not negatively, and in some cases it improves it. A soundbar that sits on a resonant shelf can pick up sympathetic vibrations from the furniture surface. Wall-mounted, it's isolated. The main audio consideration is ensuring the soundbar isn't mounted flat against a wall that creates a reflection — the standoff spacing built into most mount brackets handles this automatically.