A:Answer The channels indicate the number of speakers in the system. In a 4.1 channel soundbar system, front left and front right are contained in the soundbar. the .1 indicates theres a subwoofer, while the other 2 are for the surround left and surround right. Most soundbar systems are just that, and only the soundbar, while alot have the subwoofer as well.
Just soundbar = 2.0 channel system
Soundbar + Subwoofer = 2.1 channel system. etc.
Hope this helped.