Best Passive Soundbars Require an AV Receiver
There are high-end brands that offer high-performance passive soundbars targeted to audiophiles that have not and likely never will offer an all-in-one active soundbar.
If you like the idea of a sound bar instead of individual speakers for the front stage but also prefer the increased flexibility of running your surround sound system through a home theater receiver, you should consider a passive sound bar. Several of the passive soundbar models listed below have been on the market for more than a decade!
One major advantage to going the passive sound bar route versus an active sound bar is that you can be selective with the specific rear surround speakers and subwoofer(s) you choose instead of being limited to what just happens to be included or compatible with any specific active soundbar.
You will need to separately supply or buy a surround sound receiver and speaker wire (and also rear surround speakers and a subwoofer if desired)
A List of Passive Soundbar Speakers
Atlantic Technology FS5 Front Stage Loudspeaker 3-channel passive LCR soundbar buy at Amazon
Atlantic Technology 3.1 HSB 3.1-channel passive speaker base with built-in 80-watt powered subwoofer (not sure whether or not a subwoofer cable is included) buy at Amazon
BIC America Formula Series FH56-BAR 5-channel passive soundbar with front and side-firing drivers buy at Amazon
Bloomsbury Lab Liberty Wide Pro 120″ or 102″ diagonal ultra short throw (UST) or long throw projection screen with built-in passive left, center, and right speakers! buy 120″ screen at Amazon
Definitive Technology Mythos 3C Series adjustable width 3-channel passive LCR soundbar (IP66 weather-resistant) buy at Amazon
ELAC Vertex III and Muro Series 3-channel passive LCR soundbar
Episode ES-EXP-SNDBAR-M-BLK expandable 3-channel passive LCR soundbar for 50″-70″ TVs buy at Amazon
Episode 550 Series thin design 3-channel passive LCR soundbar buy at Amazon
GoldenEar SuperCinema 3D Array Series 3-channel passive LCR soundbar
James Loudspeaker by Sonance custom soundbars hand fabricated from aircraft grade aluminum
KEF HTF8003 3-channel Uni-Q passive LCR soundbar buy at Amazon
Klipsch Heritage Theater Bar Custom 3-channel passive LCR soundbar
Klipsch RP-440D SB Reference Premiere designer on-wall 3-channel passive LCR sound bar with pedestal buy at Amazon
MartinLogan Motion SLM X3 3-channel passive LCR soundbar buy at Amazon
Monitor Audio SB Series 3-channel passive LCR soundbar
Paradigm Millenia LP Trio 3-channel passive LCR soundbar
PhaseTech VLS70-LCR Variable Length Soundbar 3-channel passive LCR soundbar designed to fit up to 70″ TVs
PhaseTech VLS100-LCR Variable Length Soundbar 3-channel passive LCR soundbar designed to fit up to 100″ TVs
Russound Cinema Bar 3.0 premium performance 3-channel cinema soundbar
Sonance SB46 Soundbar Series 3-channel passive LCR soundbar
Sonance SPL Series 3-channel passive LCR soundbar
Steinway & Sons Model S Soundbar – 3.1-channel passive sound bar requires purchase of Steinway & Sons’ surround sound processor and 4-channel amplifier
Totem Acoustic KIN Force 3-channel passive LCR soundbar buy at Amazon in Satin White or Satin Black
Page last updated on 11/20/2025.
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