Sound bars ?

Pearce · Aug 2, 2017

Looking to get a soundbar what's the latest an greatest at the moment not fussed on make but like to buy the best for my price range which is roughly £600 been looking at one of these as the reveiews seem good wondering if people have one an could reccomed must haves with regards to the tech on them ?

http://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/samsung-hw-ms6500

N0ddie · Aug 3, 2017

Soundbars have come a long way in a short period to a point now I'm now looking at replacing my 5.1 system with one (Primarily as the wife doesn't like the "clutter" of a 5.1 system). To get a good bar though it does look like you have to spend a good bit of money.

We're currently looking at this:

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tv-and...-sound-bar-with-dolby-atmos-10161230-pdt.html

Nipping in a shop and taking a look/listen is the best way to find one you are happy with. Our John Lewis has a sound room where you can check stuff out. Curry's in Braehead are quite happy to let you ramp up the volume on their display units.

Budgie · Aug 3, 2017

With the price of those two, i couldn't look past a Sonos. I am a fanboy though. £650 new, £550 used. So hold their value well too.

Fletcher · Aug 3, 2017

I have a Sonos playbar. Good bit of kit tbh.

Pearce · Aug 3, 2017

I'd have probably given the Sonos more thought it's just I don't have any other speaker in the range so would one that matched my tv ?

Budgie said:
With the price of those two, i couldn't look past a Sonos. I am a fanboy though. £650 new, £550 used. So hold their value well too.

g e

PMac · Aug 3, 2017

Have you got Sky? Anyone looked into their Sky Soundbox?

Pearce · Aug 3, 2017

PMac said:
Have you got Sky? Anyone looked into their Sky Soundbox?

Links ?

Stay Puft · Aug 3, 2017

I thought soundbars were proven to be a gimmick?

TheEvilGiraffe · Aug 3, 2017

Definitely want a sound bar, and not an AV amp & some speakers ?

I got a new Denon 4k AV amp and a pair of second hand British £2k floor standers recently for about your budget, which look and sound absolutely fantastic.

Appreciate for some it might be space or just ease of use..

FatRS · Aug 3, 2017

Another vote for Sonos. Doesn't matter if no other speakers. You're bound to add to it over time and hold on to their money extremely well.

Pearce · Aug 3, 2017

TheEvilGiraffe said:
Definitely want a sound bar, and not an AV amp & some speakers ?

I got a new Denon 4k AV amp and a pair of second hand British £2k floor standers recently for about your budget, which look and sound absolutely fantastic.

Appreciate for some it might be space or just ease of use..

It's space buddy soundbars just sit in front of your tv I've not got the room for anything else

DannyR · Aug 3, 2017

Pearce said:
It's space buddy soundbars just sit in front of your tv I've not got the room for anything else

Amp and in ceiling speakers?

Sound bars are shite, the only good one was one Yamaha made about 10 years ago.

PMac · Aug 3, 2017

Pearce said:
Links ?

http://www.wired.co.uk/article/sky-soundbox-release-date-price-specs-devialet

http://www.sky.com/shop/skysoundbox...MIjfrAv5K81QIV7LDtCh1ZxgpkEAAYASAAEgKC7vD_BwE

PMac · Aug 3, 2017

Forgive me, it's not even out yet

Pearce · Aug 4, 2017

DannyR said:
Amp and in ceiling speakers?

Sound bars are shite, the only good one was one Yamaha made about 10 years ago.

As much as I'd love to have in ceiling speakers I rent so that's not really an option are they really that bad it's only really to boost my TVs shite speakers as I find flatscreens lack in sound

DannyR · Aug 4, 2017

Pearce said:
As much as I'd love to have in ceiling speakers I rent so that's not really an option are they really that bad it's only really to boost my TVs shite speakers as I find flatscreens lack in sound

On wall speakers?

Sonos Playbar is ok, but sound quality is very poor for the money you spend.

Most of the TV manufacturers sound bars are just as thin as the TV's so no real speakers in there, it's just padded out by the wireless sub that comes with it.

Artcoustic do a nice LCR speaker that you can put on to a surround amp and sit on top of a cabinet.

Sunglasses_Ron · Aug 4, 2017

I've got this Panasonic SC-HTB690EBK 350 W Soundbar with Wireless Down Firing Subwoofer https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00TTYOJUA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_LLdHzbNMXZ5RJ

More than adequate for an average size living room

malcolmgt · Aug 4, 2017

Sunglasses_Ron said:
I've got this Panasonic SC-HTB690EBK 350 W Soundbar with Wireless Down Firing Subwoofer https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00TTYOJUA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_LLdHzbNMXZ5RJ

More than adequate for an average size living room

Links don't work for me?

SC03OTT · Aug 4, 2017

I bought a Panasonic sounbase over a sound bar. I'm no audiophile, just wanted a. It more oomph when watching tv.

This is the one I bought and really like it too.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/1b3/Pana...d-Base-Wireless-Multi-Room-Speaker/B00TTYOK2M

Marc. · Aug 4, 2017

I’m thinking about a Sky Soundbox, I have a couple of Sonos speakers though, so unsure if I want to deviate

Goodj · Aug 4, 2017

Vote for legit AV components.
Start with any surround amp and even a pair of bookshelf speakers will be better than a soundbar. (2.0)
Add a sub, another improvement (2.1)
Add centre and rears to taste (5.1)

Looking at the Samsung OP posts. £450 for a bunch of tweeters? It might be better than the kit in a modern flatscreen, but that's not saying much

Goodj · Aug 4, 2017

Just did some pricing-up.
These aren't bottom-of-the-pile figures, although they're not exactly the best either. They're just to keep price points in line with a sound bar
AV Reciever
Front speakers (Actual cheapest listing, mental, these are great)
Sub (optional but totally worth it)

Factor, say, £50, tops for interconnects.
at iro £400 all in, that's a good starter point, with options for expansion if you chose to bite the bullet and full-surround.
If you wanted to go from sound bar to full surround then you'd have a redundant soundbar of X value

N0ddie · Aug 4, 2017

Whats the thoughts on Dolby Atmos? Worth the extra?

Pearce · Aug 4, 2017

Goodj said:
Just did some pricing-up.
These aren't bottom-of-the-pile figures, although they're not exactly the best either. They're just to keep price points in line with a sound bar
AV Reciever
Front speakers (Actual cheapest listing, mental, these are great)
Sub (optional but totally worth it)

Factor, say, £50, tops for interconnects.
at iro £400 all in, that's a good starter point, with options for expansion if you chose to bite the bullet and full-surround.
If you wanted to go from sound bar to full surround then you'd have a redundant soundbar of X value

As much as I'm grateful for you taking the time to link all that it's not something I've got room for ? I'd have no where for the amp to go let along those speakers really if I had the space I'd buy all that for sure I'm off to my local audio centre tomorow to pick there brains see what we can come up with

DannyR · Aug 4, 2017

N0ddie said:
Whats the thoughts on Dolby Atmos? Worth the extra?

What other speakers do you have or plan on having.

... · Aug 5, 2017

Goodj said:
Just did some pricing-up.
These aren't bottom-of-the-pile figures, although they're not exactly the best either. They're just to keep price points in line with a sound bar
AV Reciever
Front speakers (Actual cheapest listing, mental, these are great)
Sub (optional but totally worth it)

Factor, say, £50, tops for interconnects.
at iro £400 all in, that's a good starter point, with options for expansion if you chose to bite the bullet and full-surround.
If you wanted to go from sound bar to full surround then you'd have a redundant soundbar of X value

i would have agreed woth you until a month ago

i currently run a marantz slim amp and a Kef 7.1 system and its absolutely brilliant .
however we have just decorated downstairs and i am tempted to loose the clutter of that many speakers

this is what i have found to be pretty much as good (in a demo lounge granted)

https://www.weybridge-audio.co.uk/s...zRHb6nMDiohqsWPGL1vvZr9ScKOLVzXhoCy3AQAvD_BwE

in fact the upwards firing speakers add another new dimension if the source is correctly encoded

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

N0ddie · Aug 6, 2017

harvsurrey said:
i would have agreed woth you until a month ago

i currently run a marantz slim amp and a Kef 7.1 system and its absolutely brilliant .
however we have just decorated downstairs and i am tempted to loose the clutter of that many speakers

this is what i have found to be pretty much as good (in a demo lounge granted)

https://www.weybridge-audio.co.uk/s...zRHb6nMDiohqsWPGL1vvZr9ScKOLVzXhoCy3AQAvD_BwE

in fact the upwards firing speakers add another new dimension if the source is correctly encoded

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

We have this set coming tomorrow.

Goodj · Aug 7, 2017

harvsurrey said:
i would have agreed woth you until a month ago

i currently run a marantz slim amp and a Kef 7.1 system and its absolutely brilliant .
however we have just decorated downstairs and i am tempted to loose the clutter of that many speakers

this is what i have found to be pretty much as good (in a demo lounge granted)

https://www.weybridge-audio.co.uk/s...zRHb6nMDiohqsWPGL1vvZr9ScKOLVzXhoCy3AQAvD_BwE

in fact the upwards firing speakers add another new dimension if the source is correctly encoded

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Again, it's so you can de-clutter.
I'd imagine £1300 of separates would be as good or better, but it's the space. Especially with Atmos!

Still, looks a bit handy that system, nice one

... · Aug 7, 2017

i agree seperates would be better

i looked at the new marantz 1607 atmos amp as its now wifi and bluetooth as well as atmos

and just add the upwards speakers

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

R3k1355 · Aug 7, 2017

N0ddie said:
Whats the thoughts on Dolby Atmos? Worth the extra?

Unless you're spending serious money on home cinema stuff it's probably not worth bothering about.
Even then the Dolby Atmos you get in home cinema is quite significantly cut down from that in a movie theatre which in effect reduces alot of it's impact.

Darren S · Aug 7, 2017

I'm really wary of 'high end' AV audio kit these days. Unless you've got the ideal detached house or a basement section in which to have your own personal cinema room - they can do little than to f**k your neighbours right off.

The setup that the utter prick upstairs from us uses should be rammed into his cavity sideways. Have you ever thought that no one else likes your shite music? Or the fact that..... guess what...... no one else wants to listen to the film you have just put on at 4.27am Sunday morning???

Granted - the majority of people are sensible and have respect for people just the other side of their walls. But unfortunately, they are far too accessible for the numerous, selfish and arrogant f**k-mops out there. When you start to use decibel readers for logging just how bad it gets, it's little wonder we want out and are aiming to move in the New Year.

Not wanting to do over the thread with kill-joyness - but if you have neighbours, please spare a thought for them. Switch the circumstances around in your head before buying anything unnecessarily loud - how would you and your family like it, if reversed?

Ol’ Tarby · Aug 7, 2017

^^^ I agree. My setup is purely there for show it seems, as it's far too loud/intrusive to be having on and pissing off next door. Even with it on low, the bass from the floorstanders carry all through the house. The only time I have them on is when I know for sure my neighbor is out.

I should sell it really but it probably isn't worth enough to bother with. I may look into getting a sound bar, but won't be spending crazy money on one.

Roll on my next house, which WILL be detached lol

TheEvilGiraffe · Aug 7, 2017

James said:
^^^ I agree. My setup is purely there for show it seems, as it's far too loud/intrusive to be having on and pissing off next door. Even with it on low, the bass from the floorstanders carry all through the house. The only time I have them on is when I know for sure my neighbor is out.

I should sell it really but it probably isn't worth enough to bother with. I may look into getting a sound bar, but won't be spending crazy money on one.

Roll on my next house, which WILL be detached lol

Got bass ports ? Get some foam in there.. kills the bass a decent amount.

Thought I'd fcuked my new speakers a week after I got them.. forgot I'd put the foams in to see what happened. Diiiickhead.

Detached ftw tho. Fcuk having to listen to other people !

Ol’ Tarby · Aug 7, 2017

TheEvilGiraffe said:
Got bass ports ? Get some foam in there.. kills the bass a decent amount.

Thought I'd fcuked my new speakers a week after I got them.. forgot I'd put the foams in to see what happened. Diiiickhead.

Detached ftw tho. Fcuk having to listen to other people !

Yeah there is actually. There's also a bung on the back for filling them with sand, but I don't know what that does lol

DannyR · Aug 7, 2017

Poor advice, actually go next door and see.

I used to live in a semi and when next door was having work done between tenants I went round and turned the volume up LOUD! Could barely hear, was obviously well insulated.

Ol’ Tarby · Aug 7, 2017

DannyR said:
Poor advice, actually go next door and see.

I used to live in a semi and when next door was having work done between tenants I went round and turned the volume up LOUD! Could barely hear, was obviously well insulated.

I can hear her plug her hoover in and switch the plug on. She'll hear my speakers

N0ddie · Aug 7, 2017

So it turn out Dolby Atmos (on the Samsung KW950) is phenomenal. Had a few teething issues getting things to work but a software update remedied these.

I'd definitely recommend this setup (though it is expensive) for those looking for a soundbar setup (that doesn't mind some wireless rear speakers also).

... · Aug 8, 2017

did say it was good

i was very impressed and my setup already sounds good

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Goodj · Aug 8, 2017

TheEvilGiraffe said:
Detached ftw tho. Fucuk having to listen to other people !

Agreed.
Not just their s**t music either, but the arguments, the screamng kids, all that.

Rob G · Mar 8, 2019

I am looking at replacing my current (cheapo) Philips soundbar as the power supply has gone pop.
Getting a bit confused as to how I can connect/control them. My TV has 2 no. HDMI inputs (no ARC) and an Optical Input.
Ideally I would like to control the soundbar via the TV remote as its a PITA having another additional remote! Would this be possible with my TV, and what would I be looking at in a soundbar to enable this?
I only run two devices into the TV (firestick and Xbox), so would ideally need to incorporate both. I am not looking for super high end sound quality as it is not often I actually watch a film at a volume that would warrant this, just want an upgrade from the standard TV speakers.

Sound bars ?

South East - Essex

Absolute wetter.

South East - Essex

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