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Soundbars are confusing
- Thread starter Amnixia
- Start date
I have one, it was giving me sound delay problems with my new tv but I played around with settings and it's working and sounding better than it was with the old tv.
It's amazing for the price, makes me wonder how much better the more expensive sound bars would be.
this.
but the sonos playbar is going to sound worlds better than any tv speaker. I like mine, works well and dont have a subwoofer with it. Sonos is just amazing in general though.
just buy a vizio. they are cheap and the sound quality is pretty good.
around 4 years ago, i bought a 5.1 system with five speakers including two rear end speakers that connect to the subwoofer which connects wirelessly to the soundbar and its been pretty amazing.
the only thing i dont like is that the rear speakers connect using long wires to the wireless subwoofer but other than that vizio has the best price to quality ratio. who knows maybe they have made the rear speakers wireless as well.
I have that Sonos soundbar and I was really impressed with the sound. Listen to music on it all the time. The bass is fine for a standard living room. Unless you're trying to have like a bumping house party, a home theater, or you're an audiophile, it gets the job done on it's own.
OP
OP
If I buy a Vizio it'll cost me more since I have to import it. Think they themselves don't ship outside the US
I'm interested as well, I've been eyeing this one for a month or so now and want to pull the trigger.
i see. I'd say find an affordable 5.1 soundbar or dont bother. Dont bother with Sony or LG because they are too expensive. My brother just has a Sony soundbar and it simply isnt as good as mine because it lacks the subwoofer and the rear speakers.
At the very least, get a 3.1 sound bar so you get the center channel along with the right and left channels which will help with the dialogue.
I've heard positive things about the nakamichi line but I wish they'd redesign the actual bar. It's really ugly imo
I dunno, maybe I got a lemon but mine is anything but solid. Mine will randomly lose being able to detect the right audio signal and the only thing I can do is to unplug it and plug it back in. A simple power shut down won't do it, nor will unplugging and replugging in the HDMI. It's functional, but it's certainly not the smooth setup like my main AVR.
OP
OP
I looked at the Sonos Arc but kinda pricey after most likely buying sub and additional speakers for rears.
I ended going with Vizio Elevate. Has rear speakers, takes Atmos and DTX and sound has been good for me.
I ended going with Vizio Elevate. Has rear speakers, takes Atmos and DTX and sound has been good for me.
For the folks recommending speakers, any decent sounding but low profile suggestions?
Currently my setup is 10 year old Onkyo receiver paired with 10 year old VERY BIG floor standing speakers (Polks that probably cost $100/each so nothing special.) My wife thinks they are hideous and I'm not going to disagree. We are shopping for a soundbar partially because it will sit prettily under the TV instead of looking like a rec room circa 1987.
Currently my setup is 10 year old Onkyo receiver paired with 10 year old VERY BIG floor standing speakers (Polks that probably cost $100/each so nothing special.) My wife thinks they are hideous and I'm not going to disagree. We are shopping for a soundbar partially because it will sit prettily under the TV instead of looking like a rec room circa 1987.
OP, you bought a high end TV. Don't skimp on the audio.
That said, don't get the PlayBar. Get the Arc or Beam. If you really want cheaper look at the Yamaha sound bars.
That said, don't get the PlayBar. Get the Arc or Beam. If you really want cheaper look at the Yamaha sound bars.
Honestly, I don't see the point in a soundbar that doesn't come with a sub. Soundbars are about balancing convenience with sacrifices or compromises in audio delivery. It's a good idea to do your research and decide where you want to settle, whether it's 2.1, 5.1, or those 7.1.x systems and up.
Consider what use cases are important to you, or more important, be it music, TV shows, movies or games. Some soundbars are more suited to one than another. You'll want better surround capabilities for immersive cinema and games, obviously.
Be aware of speaker layout. Having 5.1 on a single soundbar is different to having 5.1 on a soundbar that has separate rear speakers, for example, and don't fall for the Dolby Atmos marketing trap. These days, Atmos licencing only means the hardware is licenced to decode Atmos audio and map it to its own speaker layout.
If Atmos is important to you, make sure you choose something with upfiring speakers. And always keep in mind the compromises made for convenience. Soundbars usually rely on either using virtual surround using less speakers, or bouncing some channels off walls. It's a good idea to check what each potential system employs and whether you're happy with the results.
I'm reasonably happy that they fixed most of the other outstanding bugs and issues in the last firmware update, here's hoping LPCM gets fixed in the next one.
Consider what use cases are important to you, or more important, be it music, TV shows, movies or games. Some soundbars are more suited to one than another. You'll want better surround capabilities for immersive cinema and games, obviously.
Be aware of speaker layout. Having 5.1 on a single soundbar is different to having 5.1 on a soundbar that has separate rear speakers, for example, and don't fall for the Dolby Atmos marketing trap. These days, Atmos licencing only means the hardware is licenced to decode Atmos audio and map it to its own speaker layout.
If Atmos is important to you, make sure you choose something with upfiring speakers. And always keep in mind the compromises made for convenience. Soundbars usually rely on either using virtual surround using less speakers, or bouncing some channels off walls. It's a good idea to check what each potential system employs and whether you're happy with the results.
Yeah, having the display at the top is grade A ridiculous. Wrapping the soundbar in fabric isn't the best idea either, although I've found a weekly vacuum keeps dust at bay. Could be a disaster if you have pets though.
I'm reasonably happy that they fixed most of the other outstanding bugs and issues in the last firmware update, here's hoping LPCM gets fixed in the next one.
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I use the Logitech Z960 and am very pleased with it.
Haven't gotten is spread around as a 5.1 set but all speakers below my TV and honestly was a huge upgrade over the Samsung soundbar I was using before.
Haven't gotten is spread around as a 5.1 set but all speakers below my TV and honestly was a huge upgrade over the Samsung soundbar I was using before.
I don't get them, why wouldn't you just get a surround setup? You can buy a 5.1 system with all the speakers included for 500-600 dollars probably which is less than some soundbars go for and you'll get decent sounding true surround. Are they more for smaller rooms or like if you don't want to run some wires?
I'm also thinking about getting a good atmos soundbar this holiday. Currently looking at LG SN11RG and Samsung Q950T. The former is more stable and the latter has better sound it seems. Still can't decide yet.
If you're spending that much and have the space, you're honestly better off buying an AVR and two decent stereo speakers. Don't buy a system in a box - start out with stereo/2.1 and build up as you can afford it.
Sound bars are great when you're tight on space and/or budget.
Sound bars are great when you're tight on space and/or budget.
Any recommendations? I'm afraid of running cables because my cat will certainly chew on them
Purchased one
Something like the Sony STR 1080 will be a good choice if you find a deep discount on black Friday (it's a bit old). I'm afraid I don't know anything about wireless solutions, though.
2.1 is where it's at for me.
Headphone jack>amp>speakers+1sub
Works wonders. Even got a crossover.
I do however, need a new sub at one point. Well not really but it wouldn't hurt lol
My entire system was frankenstein'd and fixed up from items in the trash. But you can still find most items cheap used.
2.1 is the bare minimum for great sound.
Headphone jack>amp>speakers+1sub
Works wonders. Even got a crossover.
I do however, need a new sub at one point. Well not really but it wouldn't hurt lol
My entire system was frankenstein'd and fixed up from items in the trash. But you can still find most items cheap used.
2.1 is the bare minimum for great sound.
So I have the Sonos 5.1 set up, but I moved and only have the Playbar unpacked the sound is fine as is.
I only notice my sub going off if there's loud explosion or bass heavy music
OP
OP
I listen to a bunch of heavy metal bands so bass is pretty important
Well if you decide to get the sub. Wait for the sale. That's how I got mine during Black Friday
Can highly recommend the Sonos Beam. I also bought the 2 wireless rear surrounds (Play:1) for it, which work great. It has more than enough bass already without the separate expensive sub unit. If you are in the Apple ecosystem, it supports Airplay 2 out of the box, which is useful.
That setup worked so well, I ended up replicating it in another room.
As a bonus, you can enable the Alexa voice control (built in) on it and control your setups volume via voice, which is great. It also auto ducks the TV/Console audio when you are communicating with Alexa so the 2 things don't compete for your attention.
That setup worked so well, I ended up replicating it in another room.
As a bonus, you can enable the Alexa voice control (built in) on it and control your setups volume via voice, which is great. It also auto ducks the TV/Console audio when you are communicating with Alexa so the 2 things don't compete for your attention.
I just purchased Vizio 2.1 sound bar for $125 open box. https://www.bestbuy.com/site/vizio-...ystem-with-wireless-subwoofer-black/6416782.p
There are a lot of better options, but I didn't want to spend too much, so this seems like a decent kit.
There are a lot of better options, but I didn't want to spend too much, so this seems like a decent kit.
OP
OP
What's the consensus on Sonos? I remember getting a review unit 10-12 years ago and being really impressed but the cost was prohibitive. I'm eying the soundbar + two speaker set for ~700 USD which seems pricey but still reasonable for a wireless home theater setup.
I just picked up the vizio 5.1 with atmos on Best Buys early black Friday deal and holy shit im blown away. Its my first surround, atmos is the real deal, and for the price is impressive. It is a little finnicky, but quality seems awesome to me.
I've been wanting to a buy a soundbar for a while but I didn't want to spend too much on my first, so I recently bought the Majority Bowfell for $35/ÂŁ30.
The quality of this thing is amazing. It's a 2.1 soundbar (with no external subwoofer) and it has 3.5mm, RCA and optical inputs (personally I have it linked up to a portable monitor that itself is linked to my laptop). The bass isn't too deep but it's clear enough for good music playback, and the stereo separation is wide enough for smaller setups. Overall, this is considerably better than I was expecting compared to other small form factor speakers like the Anker Soundcore range I have heard.
In the future I may opt to upgrade to a wider soundbar along with a 42" TV I'll be buying in the next few months, though I don't see myself spending more than ÂŁ80 to ÂŁ100. This will keep me fine for a long time.
Majority Bowfell Compact 2.1 Bluetooth Soundbar for TV with Optical, Wireless and Wired Options, AUX + RCA USB Playback 50W Ideal for TV/Television, PC/Computer and Gaming, Black: Amazon.co.uk: Hi-Fi & Speakers
Shop Majority Bowfell Compact 2.1 Bluetooth Soundbar for TV with Optical, Wireless and Wired Options, AUX + RCA USB Playback 50W Ideal for TV/Television, PC/Computer and Gaming, Black. Free delivery and returns on eligible orders.
www.amazon.co.uk
The quality of this thing is amazing. It's a 2.1 soundbar (with no external subwoofer) and it has 3.5mm, RCA and optical inputs (personally I have it linked up to a portable monitor that itself is linked to my laptop). The bass isn't too deep but it's clear enough for good music playback, and the stereo separation is wide enough for smaller setups. Overall, this is considerably better than I was expecting compared to other small form factor speakers like the Anker Soundcore range I have heard.
In the future I may opt to upgrade to a wider soundbar along with a 42" TV I'll be buying in the next few months, though I don't see myself spending more than ÂŁ80 to ÂŁ100. This will keep me fine for a long time.
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The only concern there is always space.
I have a cheaper soundbar in my living room which sounds fine and a proper although random part 5.1 in the basement and its night and day
That said tv speakers are trash so a bad soundbar is almost always an improvement
I haven't checked in on them in a bit, but when I was looking for a moderately priced soundbar last year for my partner the Yamaha yas 209 was a great buy. I am sure it is missing out on a bunch of higher end features but the sound quality for the price is great. Plus I like it's anesthetics. Nice and simple so it blends in rather than stands out.
Yeah definitely get one with a subwoofer. That plus the bar aren't too space consuming but it depends on your entertainment center setup, of course. I went with a well reviewed one maybe 6 years ago and I want to say it was $180, Sony. I'm very happy with it and thanks to the subwoofer, I do get power and even rumbling in my house when watching movies with explosions. For some reason when I turn everything on for the day it flips between HDMI inputs for the first 10 seconds without me touching anything. I turned off auto switch on the sound bar as well as my devices but it still does it. It's an annoyance but it didn't always do that, probably started around the 2 year mark.
One time my mother in law was babysitting at my house and when we came home, she had turned the TV on but not the soundbar and subwoofer. the TV's audio... was horrendous. I had the soundbar since day 1 so I've never heard the TV's speakers before, yikes x1000
One time my mother in law was babysitting at my house and when we came home, she had turned the TV on but not the soundbar and subwoofer. the TV's audio... was horrendous. I had the soundbar since day 1 so I've never heard the TV's speakers before, yikes x1000
