Of sound bars and stuff

Cobra

Cobra

In Memoriam. TPer Emeritus
Admin
Messages
114,434
Name
The real Chris
Edit My Images
No
Let me set the scene.....
I've had a dolby 5.1 surround system for a fair few years,
and TBH it served me well.
The player however, has been a little temperamental the last year or so
(nothing that a good slap wouldn't sort out)

However the last time I plugged it in, it was throwing an "error message" at me.

It maybe purely coincidental, but me dropping it on its nose,
*may* have been a contributing factor. :thinking:

Time for a blue ray player then.

Having had a good look round, it seems that there are very few 5.1
all in one systems.
These and the "separates" quite frankly are more than I intended to spend.
Plus the fact that I have just decorated through-out
and didn't really want the wires everywhere.
(Yes I know about Blue tooth, but as above, expense)

So fast forward I bought cheap Sony player. (under £80)
I'm impressed apart from the sound quality.

Its OK, and I don't really watch that much TV, DVD's or now Blue rays, etc.
But When I do, I like to enjoy the sound
as well as the pictures.

So, What about them there sound bars?
are they any good?
I've seen them for as little as £50, without the Sub Woofer
Or £100 with the Sub woofer (built in or separate)

If they are, any good, am I going to have to spend a fortune on one anyway?
Or is the 100 quid (+/-) range acceptable.

BTW my living room is "open" to the stairs and landing.
 
I bought a Yamaha one from Richer Sounds for £150. IIRC the model number is 101. Significantly better sound (even Mrs Nod thinks so!) than the telly only speakers. Single optical connector to the TV. Built in sub. Used to have a full 5.1 system but so few films were really improved by it that we decided it wasn't really worth keeping connected.
 
Anythings going to be better than the TV speakers. Me personally watch a fair few rented films and couldnt live without my surround system including big sub-woofer. (Plus, I think, HD channels are 5.1) If you are not bothered about being "enveloped" by the sound then a sound bar may work for you.
For the wires to the rears/sub Ive hidden the most obvious bits in some small conduit stuff I got from home base, pretty tidy.
 
I ditched my Denon amp & Kef 5.1 speakers for a £250 Philips soundbar, I wanted a less cluttered look.

My soundbar is fed from a Sony blu ray player, the surround effect is never going to match the Denon but the speech audio is much clearer & louder.

Anything is going to be an improvement over TV speakers. However a £50 soundbar is going to be just that.
 
Cheers guys I appreciate your thoughts
and advice.

Next question, I noticed that most "bars" are advertised as 2.1

I have found a 4.1 sound bar for £100 in Argos
Is this going to be any better or worse than a 2.1 system?
THIS HERE
It gets pretty good reviews,
and I'm tempted.
 
I wouldnt buy one without having first listened to one somewhere. A mates house or Richer sounds or something.
 
DorsetDude said:
I wouldnt buy one without having first listened to one somewhere. A mates house or Richer sounds or something.
Click to expand...
I have had a listen to a few at PC world / Currys
They had a few wired in and working when I was up there.
I know its not a good test, but there didn't seem to be a lot between them.
To my ears anyway.
 
Mmmmm good idea, ive been having DVD surreound sound problems, cant put my speakers where i want them......

So i think i will also look into a sound bar :)
 
Last edited:
DorsetDude said:
But they did sound better than TV speakers to you? If so then you'll probably be happy.
Click to expand...
200% better TBH.
The TV is a HD 1080 thing, but I don't have sky free-sat or anything like that,
the the normal 100 or so crap channels.
The TV itself has to be at least 5 years old.


DorsetDude said:
But Argos and Bush?! Really? o_O ;)
Click to expand...
I dunno, I'm not up on this type of thing :D

http://www.whathifi.com/news/best-soundbars-to-buy-in-2013

Thanks for the linky, Keith, I'll have a read :thumbs:
 
A sound bar with a separate free standing subwoofer looks like a good compromise. Wasnt clear in the Argos link whether the Bush had that. There were no pictures of one.
 
Nod said:
I bought a Yamaha one from Richer Sounds for £150. IIRC the model number is 101. Significantly better sound (even Mrs Nod thinks so!) than the telly only speakers. Single optical connector to the TV. Built in sub. Used to have a full 5.1 system but so few films were really improved by it that we decided it wasn't really worth keeping connected.
Click to expand...
I have much the same but with two optical inputs so I've got the blu-ray connected as well.
 
DorsetDude said:
A sound bar with a separate free standing subwoofer looks like a good compromise. Wasnt clear in the Argos link whether the Bush had that. There were no pictures of one.
Click to expand...
I thought that I'd linked the picture,
but no, no separate Sub woofer.
(is that a small dog :thinking: :D)
 
Steep said:
I have much the same but with two optical inputs so I've got the blu-ray connected as well.
Click to expand...
The plan is to connect the blu ray,
but then if the Blu ray is connected to the TV via a HDMI
then surly if I connect the bar to the TV via optical,
then they should both play sound through the bar, as the bluray is using the TV sound at present anyway?
(I dunno that was a question for more knowledgeable folk)
 
Should do yes, I have my Humax T2 conected to one input and the blu-ray to the other, I only use the tv tuner on the rare occasion that I'm recording two programs and want to watch another so it's not connected to the soundbar at all. I can't remember offhand which model I've got but it's an LG very slim bar with a mahoosive sub.
 
Looking at that Bush thing, I think their marketing department's got the wrong end of the stick and are calling the 5 separate drivers a "4.1" system while I'll bet that it's simply stereo with a sub (ie 2.1 but with 2 drivers per side on the stereo bit and a separate sub driver).

Chris, that's how ours is set up, the Blu-ray feeds the TV via an HDMI cable (old sky box so uses Scart!) then the TV feeds the sound to the bar via an optical link.
 
Steep said:
Should do yes, I have my Humax T2 conected to one input and the blu-ray to the other, I only use the tv tuner on the rare occasion that I'm recording two programs and want to watch another so it's not connected to the soundbar at all. I can't remember offhand which model I've got but it's an LG very slim bar with a mahoosive sub.
Click to expand...
Nod said:
Looking at that Bush thing, I think their marketing department's got the wrong end of the stick and are calling the 5 separate drivers a "4.1" system while I'll bet that it's simply stereo with a sub (ie 2.1 but with 2 drivers per side on the stereo bit and a separate sub driver).

Chris, that's how ours is set up, the Blu-ray feeds the TV via an HDMI cable (old sky box so uses Scart!) then the TV feeds the sound to the bar via an optical link.
Click to expand...
Thanks again guys Info appreciated and digested :thumbs:
 
Cobra said:
I thought that I'd linked the picture,
but no, no separate Sub woofer.
(is that a small dog :thinking: :D)
Click to expand...

No good unless you get the Dom woofer too. ;)
 
Just bought my dad a jbl at approximately 100 quid from Richer, sounds very good. Sky box goes into via hdmi, optical from TV into sound bar and he can still use the headphone socket out of the TV at te same time, audio comes out of headphones and sound bar simultaneously but with independent volume control.
 
Last edited:
@Steep

Cheers steep.
You won't believe this I went to PC world earlier today for a small item and walked out with that exact bar :D far more than I intended to spend but a quick demo had me hooked :D
So far I'm very impressed with the T.V. sound improvement.
BUT would you Adam and eve it the blu ray player has gone breasts up :( two days old someone is getting an ear'ole bashing in the morning !
 
HI Cobra

Going back to my Blurry thread
...

Sorry I did not post re the Irish purchase

I am back in Somerset and nothing got sorted in Ireland. They are on their 4th solution

I am going to test drive the LG for my own use

Steve
 
Thanks to all for their thoughts and comments its appreciated.
The Sony Blu ray went back to PC / Curry's.

And I walked out with a Samsung (Same as my TV) similar spec.
To the sony and £10 cheaper.
To be fair, 5o them, there were no problems with a refund
or exchange.

I finally got round to watching Avatar on blu ray,
and curiously it was also on TV later.

Well all I can say is WOW!
to the sound bar and Blu ray player !


Hugh Jarse said:
I am going to test drive the LG for my own use
Steve
Click to expand...
I certainly was impressed.
Its definitely worth a "listen" Steve :thumbs:
 
Cobra said:
Thanks to all for their thoughts and comments its appreciated.
The Sony Blu ray went back to PC / Curry's.

And I walked out with a Samsung (Same as my TV) similar spec.
To the sony and £10 cheaper.
To be fair, 5o them, there were no problems with a refund
or exchange.
Click to expand...

I have a Samsung TV and Samsung Bl uRay Player in my home office and a nice combo it is too.

Will go to Currys for a listen but a purchase yedterday of a 6Tb NAS will limit spending as SWMBO was mot overly impressed. Not the price but more Tech!

Steve
 
Hugh Jarse said:
I have a Samsung TV and Samsung Bl uRay Player in my home office and a nice combo it is too.

Will go to Currys for a listen but a purchase yedterday of a 6Tb NAS will limit spending as SWMBO was mot overly impressed. Not the price but more Tech!

Steve
Click to expand...
OUCH! at both the price and techy stuff :D
 
Cobra said:
OUCH! at both the price and techy stuff :D
Click to expand...

The NAS was a bargain... £219.99 for a 2 x 3Tb Lenovo Iomega IX2.

Details in the shopping section.

House is crammed witth Tech. But I am downsizing it and reuse/recycle is main process!

Steve
 
That doesn't sound bad at all then, price wise :thumbs:
 
Cobra said:
That doesn't sound bad at all then, price wise :thumbs:
Click to expand...

I will quote your authorative statement to her.... later.... or tomorrow.... maybe

Steve
 
Boys and toys....*sigh* :lol:
 
viv1969 said:
Boys and toys....*sigh* :lol:
Click to expand...

Women

Best kept locked in the kitchen away from difficult things (anything with a plug). All they need is a potato masher... bliss eh girls? :-P
 
Last edited:
Hugh Jarse said:
Women
Best kept locked in the kitchen away from difficult things (anything with a plug). All they need is a potato masher... bliss eh girls? :p
Click to expand...

I'd love to agree with you there but for the wrath of the OH.
Oh wait a minute, :thinking:
I don't have an OH. :D

Well said Steve, well said :thumbs:
 
I have a potato masher....he's very well behaved :p
 
big soft moose said:
best not tell her you can get a basic NAS for 89 quid :lol:
Click to expand...

Softened the blow by delivering and setting up my old Iomega Limkstation Live 500Gb NAS for her exclusive use, some electric hair straighteners and a stick with a small rubber chicken attached on an elaticated string..... I am deffo on a promise later :-D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top