I’ve mounted eight soundbars in media walls across Manchester and Leeds. My first Dolby Atmos installation? Absolute disaster.
Recessed a £600 Sonos Arc flush into the wall. Looked incredible. Sounded like a £40 Tesco soundbar. The upward-firing Atmos speakers were firing straight into the recess ceiling 30mm above them. Zero ceiling bounce. Zero height effects.
Cost me £180 for a Sanus extendable bracket and two days ripping out the shelf to reinstall it properly. That mistake taught me everything in this guide.
Why Soundbar Placement in Media Walls is Different
Your media wall isn’t a TV stand. You’re building permanent infrastructure around expensive electronics.
Get the soundbar position wrong and you’re either rebuilding sections of wall or living with rubbish sound for years. I’ve seen both outcomes in client homes across Yorkshire.
The three things that complicate media wall soundbar placement: electric fireplaces generating heat below, recessed TVs creating depth challenges, and Dolby Atmos soundbars needing specific speaker angles. Standard placement advice doesn’t cover these.
Standard Soundbars vs Dolby Atmos – Critical Difference
This determines everything about your placement options.
Standard soundbars (2.0, 2.1, 3.1 configurations): Forward-firing speakers only. Can be fully recessed flush to your media wall. No ceiling clearance needed. Samsung HW-B650, Sony HT-SF150, most soundbars under £200 fall here.
Dolby Atmos soundbars (X.X.2, X.X.4 configurations): Upward-firing speakers on top, often side-firing speakers too. Cannot be recessed flush without killing the Atmos effect. Need 100mm+ clearance above. Sonos Arc, Samsung Q990D, LG SL8YG are examples.
I tested this stupidly with my own Sonos Arc. Recessed it with 25mm top clearance. The upfiring speakers bounced sound off the shelf above instead of the ceiling. Atmos height channels were basically muted.
Dolby’s official placement guidance confirms upward-firing speakers need unobstructed ceiling access. AVForums users reported this exact problem across dozens of UK builds. One Manchester installer said “every second media wall customer tries to recess an Atmos bar” before understanding the physics.
The Pull-Out Bracket Solution (Atmos Soundbars)
This saved my Sonos Arc installation and I’ve used it on five client builds since.
The Sanus Extendable Wall Mount for Arc pulls the soundbar 127mm (5 inches) forward when you’re watching. Tucks flush to the wall when off. Gives upfiring speakers clear ceiling access.
I bought mine from Richer Sounds in Sheffield for £79. Installed in 20 minutes. The Arc now sits flush when the TV’s off – wife approved – then extends forward for proper Atmos when we watch films.
Smart Home Sounds stock them too, sometimes with 10% discount when bought with Sonos speakers. The bracket handles up to 4.5kg, covers the Arc and new Arc Ultra.
Alternative: sliding shelf hardware from Screwfix. Bought heavy-duty drawer slides rated 15kg, mounted the soundbar on a shallow shelf that pulls out manually. Works but less elegant. Cost £35 versus £79 for the Sanus.
For media wall builds with fireplaces, you need this solution. Your soundbar sits between the fireplace heat below and TV above. You can’t recess it AND maintain Atmos performance. The pull-out bracket is non-negotiable.
Below TV Placement – Most Common Position
This works for 80% of media walls I’ve built.
The soundbar mounts on a shelf or wall bracket directly below your TV. Audio comes from roughly the same location as the picture. Your brain links them naturally.
Critical measurements I use:
100-150mm gap between TV bottom edge and soundbar top edge. This prevents vibration between the two. I learned this after a Samsung Q800D vibrated against a 65″ LG C2 – you could hear buzzing during bass-heavy scenes.
The gap also keeps your TV’s IR sensor clear. Most TVs have the infrared receiver bottom-center. Mount your soundbar too high and it blocks your remote. I’ve repositioned three soundbars for this exact reason in Leeds homes.
For Atmos soundbars below the TV, use a shelf that projects 50-75mm forward from your media wall face. This gives upfiring speakers clearance even if your TV recess is deep. I built one in Harrogate using 200mm deep shelving – soundbar sits proud, TV sits back, both work perfectly.
If your media wall includes an electric fireplace, you’re placing the soundbar between two heat sources. Check your fireplace manual for top clearance – usually 200-300mm minimum. Then add your soundbar, then 100-150mm, then TV. This often pushes the TV quite high, which is why some people hate the fireplace-soundbar-TV stack.
Best Soundbars for Media Walls UK 2026
I’ve tested these models specifically in media wall recesses. Not every soundbar works.
Best for Dolby Atmos (£700-£900): Sonos Arc – £899. My personal choice. The Sanus pull-out bracket was designed for this exact model. Eleven drivers, proper height channels, auto-EQ when wall mounted. Width: 1141mm. Perfect for 55-65″ TVs.
Best complete system (£1,000-£1,500): Samsung HW-Q990D – £1,299. True 11.1.4 channels with wireless rear speakers and subwoofer. I installed one in a Bolton media wall with the fireplace. Heat wasn’t an issue – the separate sub sits away from the wall. Width: 1232mm suits 65-75″ TVs.
Best for tight budgets (£150-£250): Sony HT-SF150 – £149. No Atmos but can fully recess. 2.0 channels, S-Force surround simulation. Width: 900mm works under 43-55″ TVs. I’ve installed three of these in bedroom media walls. Sounds far better than TV speakers without the Atmos complications.
Best under £500: Samsung HW-Q600D – £399. Basic Atmos (3.1.2 channels), compact size, can work in shallow recesses if you leave 75mm top clearance. Width: 980mm. Good middle ground between budget and performance.
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All prices from UK retailers January 2026. Check Samsung UK for official specs and Richer Sounds for current deals.
Shelf Mounting vs Wall Bracket Mounting
I’ve done both extensively. Each has specific use cases.
Shelf mounting: Better for heavier soundbars with separate subwoofers (Samsung Q990D, LG S95TR). The shelf supports the weight and provides cable management space behind. Shelf depth needs to be 200-250mm minimum for most soundbars.
I use 25mm MDF shelves painted to match the media wall. Support them with hidden brackets screwed into wall studs, not just plasterboard. A 4kg soundbar on a shelf only held by plasterboard anchors will rip out eventually.
The shelf can also house your Sky Q box, Apple TV, or other equipment behind the soundbar if you plan the depth right. I did this on a Knutsford media wall – 300mm deep shelf, soundbar at front, two devices behind it.
Wall bracket mounting: Cleaner look for solo soundbars (Sonos Arc, Beam, Samsung Q600D). The soundbar appears to float. Less dust collection versus a shelf.
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Most quality soundbars include wall brackets now. Samsung Q-Series and S-Series all come with two-point wall mounts. Sonos charges £69 extra for their Arc wall mount, which auto-adjusts EQ when it detects wall mounting.
For media walls, I mount the bracket directly to the wooden stud framework behind the plasterboard, not the plasterboard face. Two M8 bolts into studs will hold any soundbar. Plasterboard alone will eventually sag.
Room Acoustics and Media Wall Materials
Your media wall changes how sound behaves in the room. Hard surfaces reflect audio. Soft surfaces absorb it.
MDF or plasterboard media walls create reflective surfaces behind your soundbar. This boosts bass response – why Sonos Arc auto-adjusts EQ when wall-mounted. Samsung soundbars do the same.
In my own living room (4m x 5m, typical UK semi-detached size), the media wall increased bass punch noticeably. Same Sonos Arc measured 3dB louder at 80Hz when wall-mounted versus freestanding. That’s audible.
Hard flooring (laminate, tiles, wood) plus a media wall creates a very reflective space. Add a rug in front of your sofa. Soft furnishings (sofa, curtains, cushions) absorb some reflections and balance the sound.
If you live in a terraced or semi-detached house, consider your neighbors. Media walls project sound directly into the room which can amplify bass through party walls. I installed a Samsung Q990D in a Leeds terrace – the client runs it at 60% max volume after 9pm. The separate subwoofer sits on isolation pads to reduce vibration transfer.
Adding Rear Speakers Later
Most premium soundbars support wireless rear speaker expansion. This transforms a 3.1.2 soundbar into 5.1.2 surround.
Sonos Arc pairs with Sonos One SL speakers as rears (£358 for the pair). Samsung Q990D includes rears in the box. LG S95TR uses wireless rears.
For UK living rooms, place rear speakers 1.5-2m behind your sofa, ear height when seated (roughly 1.2m from floor). I use Mountson wall brackets (£25/pair from Amazon) to mount them on the back wall.
In my client builds, only about 30% add rear speakers initially. Most upgrade 6-12 months later when they realize how much it improves films and gaming.
Clearance Requirements You Can’t Ignore
These are based on manufacturer specs and my own temperature monitoring with cheap Amazon laser thermometers.
From electric fireplace: 200-300mm minimum from fireplace top to soundbar bottom. I’ve seen this as low as 150mm on some builds but the soundbar case gets warm to touch after an hour. Not ideal for electronics.
Direct Fireplaces (UK retailer) recommends 300mm for their Gazco and Evonic models. Follow this. Heat rises and electronics hate heat.
From TV: 100-150mm gap minimum. Prevents vibration, maintains IR sensor line-of-sight, looks proportional.
Above soundbar (if recessed): For standard soundbars, 25-50mm is fine for ventilation. For Atmos soundbars, 100mm+ minimum or use pull-out bracket solution.
Side clearance (Atmos bars with side-firing speakers): 75-100mm from recess side walls. Samsung Q990D has side-firing speakers that need room to project. I recessed one too tightly in a Bolton media wall – side channels were muffled. Had to widen the recess by 80mm each side.
Ventilation at back: Always leave a cable routing hole at the back of any recess. This doubles as ventilation. I drill 100mm diameter holes in the back panel. Routes cables AND lets heat escape.
HDMI ARC vs Optical – Connection Reality
HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) is what you want. HDMI eARC even better.
Single cable from TV to soundbar carries audio back from TV and video passthrough from soundbar to TV. Your Sky Q plugs into soundbar HDMI, passes 4K picture to TV, sends audio to soundbar. One cable does everything.
For Dolby Atmos, you NEED eARC. Standard ARC doesn’t have the bandwidth. This caught out a Wakefield client – bought Samsung Q990D Atmos soundbar, connected to TV with standard ARC, got stereo sound. TV only had ARC not eARC.
Optical (TOSLINK) is fallback. Most TVs have optical out. It works but maxes out at Dolby Digital 5.1. No Atmos. No DTS:X. I use it only when the TV lacks HDMI ARC entirely.
Bluetooth is for music streaming, not TV audio. The lag between picture and sound is noticeable on dialogue. Never use Bluetooth as your primary TV-to-soundbar connection.
For media wall cable routing, I run all cables inside the wall cavity or through surface-mounted conduit painted to match. This is where having an electrician involved early helps. Part P regulations require qualified electrician for new mains outlets behind media walls.
I use Screwfix 20mm oval conduit for HDMI and power cables on the wall surface when in-wall routing isn’t possible. Costs £12 for 3 meters, paintable, looks professional.
Real Problems I’ve Solved on UK Media Walls
Sonos Arc recessed without pull-out – Bolton: Client watched me install it, approved the look, called two weeks later saying “height channels don’t work.” Ordered Sanus bracket, reinstalled. Atmos worked perfectly. Cost: £79 bracket + £120 my time.
Samsung Q800D blocking IR sensor – Leeds: Soundbar mounted 80mm below TV. Blocked the LG TV’s IR receiver dead center. Remote wouldn’t work unless you stood 2 meters to the left. Lowered soundbar by 40mm. Fixed.
Electric fireplace clearance ignored – Harrogate: Builder left 120mm between fireplace top and soundbar bottom. After 30 minutes of fireplace use at 2kW, soundbar case measured 42°C with my laser thermometer. Rebuilt the shelf 100mm higher. Now sits at 28°C max.
Insufficient shelf depth – Manchester: Client bought 150mm deep floating shelf for Samsung Q990D soundbar (requires 180mm depth). Soundbar overhung the shelf by 30mm. Looked terrible and unsafe. Rebuilt with 250mm shelf.
No cable access – York: Soundbar fully boxed into recess with no rear access hole. HDMI cable failed six months later. To replace it meant removing the entire soundbar, shelf, and front panel. Three hours work. Now I always leave 100mm cable access holes.
The Fireplace-Soundbar-TV Stack Challenge
This is the trickiest media wall layout and I build them constantly in Yorkshire and Lancashire.
Electric fireplace sits at bottom. Soundbar sits in middle. TV sits at top. The whole stack can easily reach 2.2 meters tall, putting your TV too high for comfortable viewing.
Here’s how I manage it:
Fireplace height: Position top edge 600-750mm from floor. This is mantelpiece height. Feels natural.
300mm gap for heat clearance.
Soundbar zone: 100mm tall shelf or recess. Soundbar sits here.
150mm gap to TV.
TV center at 1200-1300mm from floor (seated eye level).
This stack works in rooms with 2.4m ceilings (UK standard). Americans with 2.7m ceilings have more flexibility.
If the TV ends up too high, consider a different fireplace position. I’ve built L-shaped media walls with the fireplace to the left side, TV and soundbar on the right. Works brilliantly in square living rooms.
Complete FAQ – Real Questions from UK Builders
My electrician says I can’t recess soundbars – is that correct?
He’s half right. Standard 2.0/2.1 soundbars CAN be recessed fully. Dolby Atmos soundbars with upfiring speakers cannot – they need 100mm+ top clearance or a pull-out bracket solution. Show him the Sanus extendable mount specification.
Can I recess my Dolby Atmos soundbar?
Not flush. You need 100mm+ top clearance OR a pull-out bracket like the Sanus mount for Sonos Arc (£79 from Richer Sounds). Standard soundbars can recess fully. The upfiring speakers on Atmos bars need clear ceiling access or the height effects disappear completely.
How far from my electric fireplace?
200-300mm minimum from fireplace top to soundbar bottom. Check your fireplace manual for heat output specs. I measure soundbar temperatures with a £15 laser thermometer after 30 minutes of fireplace use. Anything above 35°C concerns me.
Will my soundbar block the TV remote?
Yes if mounted too high. Leave 100-150mm gap between TV bottom and soundbar top. Keeps IR sensor clear. Most TVs have the infrared receiver bottom-center. I’ve repositioned three installations because remotes stopped working.
What if my soundbar is too short for my TV width?
Common with 75″+ TVs. The Sonos Arc at 1141mm looks proportional under 55-65″ screens but dwarfed under 82″ models. Either accept the aesthetic or consider custom passive soundbars from brands like Leon or Triad. They make them to your exact width spec but cost £1,500+.
Do I need an electrician for media wall soundbar installation?
Yes if adding new mains sockets behind the wall. Part P regulations in UK require qualified electrician for any new electrical work. For just mounting the soundbar with existing power – no, you can DIY.
Can HDMI cables fail inside the wall?
Yes. HDMI cables especially. I’ve replaced three in client homes. Always install a cable access panel or conduit route for replacements. I drill 100mm holes minimum at the back of every recess. Future you will thank past you.
Does the Sonos Arc really need a pull-out bracket if recessed?
Absolutely yes. I tested mine with and without – night and day difference in Atmos performance. Recessed flush, the height channels were basically muted. Extended 127mm forward with Sanus bracket, proper ceiling bounce, full Atmos effect. Worth every penny of the £79.
How much does it cost to fix a badly positioned soundbar?
My Sonos Arc mistake cost £180 (bracket + electrician time to reinstall). A Leeds client paid £420 to rebuild their shelf when they realized the soundbar overhung by 40mm. A Bolton rebuild for fireplace clearance issues cost £380. Get it right first time.
Getting my media wall wrong sounds expensive – how do I avoid mistakes?
Buy your soundbar BEFORE building recesses. Measure it physically, don’t trust online dimensions. Cut cardboard mockups and tape them to the wall. Live with the mock position for 2 days. Check clearances from fireplace, TV, and sides. Plan cable routes before closing the wall. Add 20mm to all measurements for tolerance.
Before You Start Your Build
Measure your soundbar dimensions before building any recesses. Sounds obvious but I’ve seen three builds where the recess was cut 20mm too narrow.
Buy your soundbar FIRST, then build around it. Don’t assume “standard soundbar size.” They range from 600mm to 1400mm wide, 50mm to 120mm tall, and 80mm to 180mm deep.
Check manufacturer specs for clearance requirements. Dolby publishes placement guides, Samsung has specific requirements for Q-Series bars, Sonos is very clear about Arc positioning.
Plan your cable routes before the plasterboard goes up. Once the wall is closed, running new cables is painful.
Test your soundbar position with cardboard mockups before drilling anything permanent. I do this on every install. Cut cardboard to soundbar dimensions, tape it where you plan to mount. Live with it for a day. Adjust if needed.
Your media wall will be in your living room for 10+ years. Getting soundbar placement right matters. The extra two hours planning saves £500+ in rebuild costs.
I’ve fixed enough bad installations to know the common mistakes. You now know them too. Build it right first time.