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are soundbars worth the money?

N

nageov3t

Lifer
so, I'm buying a new tv this week, and I'm debating if I want to add a soundbar into my cart... trying to decide if it's worth the extra expense.

I don't want a full surround-sound system (tbh, I just don't watch movies that would really take advantage of it and my living room doesn't have a great layout for it), but I do use my tv for streaming music when I'm hosting parties and for gaming.
 
The built in speakers for flat screens are nothing short of terrible. So a soundbar will be better for sure. But if you can afford a surround system, you will be much happier. Even if you dont use the surround bit, the sound is just much fuller.
 
If you want a nice clean setup, and don't have or don't want the traditional speaker setup, Yamaha and B&W make some GREAT sound bars.

Here are some of the top sound bars available:

Yamaha YSP-4100

B&W's Panorama 2

You didn't mention a budget either, so I thought I'd just throw out some really nice sound bars. Add a sub (wireless), and you'll be good to go. Will definitely make for a very clean setup.
 
JackBurton said:
If you want a nice clean setup, and don't have or don't want the traditional speaker setup, Yamaha and B&W make some GREAT sound bars.

Here are some of the top sound bars available:

Yamaha YSP-4100

B&W's Panorama 2

You didn't mention a budget either, so I thought I'd just throw out some really nice sound bars. Add a sub (wireless), and you'll be good to go. Will definitely make for a very clean setup.
Click to expand...
should have added, definitely sub-$2-300

thanks to my wacky living room layout, wires generally aren't a problem (I've got a bay window that is pretty much useless as anything but a tv stand, so my tv isn't wall-mounted)

bookshelf speakers are potentially a nice idea. hadn't really thought of them as anything but computer speakers.
 
loki8481 said:
should have added, definitely sub-$2-300

thanks to my wacky living room layout, wires generally aren't a problem (I've got a bay window that is pretty much useless as anything but a tv stand, so my tv isn't wall-mounted)

bookshelf speakers are potentially a nice idea. hadn't really thought of them as anything but computer speakers.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what you can get for <$300, but wall speakers may be another good option for you. But if you are after the best sound quality, bookshelf speaker will be the way to go in your price range.
 
It really depends on your living situation. If you want to spend in the $300 range, I'd look into Audioengine speakers. They're powered so don't require a receiver and are very high quality with leave a small footprint. Mostly, they're used as bookshelves, but I have a friend who attached them to his TV in his apartment and they sound great.

I bought a B&W Panorama 2 last Fall when they came out. Expensive, yes, and I'd have rather spent more and gotten a decent 5.1 system, but I live in a condo and have the WAF. Eventually, I'll get a surround system, but it will require a larger house. For now, the Panorama 2 does just fine and in action movie sequences it is awesome.
 
i got the bic fh-56 bar for my in-laws as an upgrade to tv sound. I like that it doesn't have tiny 3" drivers. sounds pretty good for the price!

http://www.amazon.com/Bic-Watt-Chann.../dp/B002IT1FFU

you can offer a slightly lower price on acousticsounddesign.com or sounddistributors.com and they'll probably match it. IIRC i got mine for $220.
 
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the honest answer is that it depends on how much they are worth to YOU not to other people. go listen to some in a store and see if they are worth the money to you.

i'm pretty sure that for 99.9% of the population out there that my sound system would not be worth it, but to me (and now my wife) it is MORE than worth it.
 
purbeast0 said:
the honest answer is that it depends on how much they are worth to YOU not to other people. go listen to some in a store and see if they are worth the money to you.
Click to expand...
true :thumbsup:

I ended up buying a mid-range bookshelf speaker set today, just because I needed new computer speakers anyways (blew out my old ones a couple weeks ago trying to get the sound to reach from my home office into the bathroom)... if they're good, I might get a second set for the tv.
 
vshah said:
i got the bic fh-56 bar for my in-laws as an upgrade to tv sound. I like that it doesn't have tiny 3" drivers. sounds pretty good for the price!

http://www.amazon.com/Bic-Watt-Chann.../dp/B002IT1FFU

you can offer a slightly lower price on acousticsounddesign.com or sounddistributors.com and they'll probably match it. IIRC i got mine for $220.
Click to expand...

I saw this when it came out and was tempted due to the speaker sizes as you mention. How do you like it? Downsizing and a sound bar might be in order but would hate to give up to much sound im used to with a proper 5.1 set up.
 
Depends on the bar. Physics dictates speakers and cabinets be of a certain size to reproduce lower frequencies. Tiny little cube speakers and bars well always be at a disadvantage. Maybe you can find something with a bar+sub combo that will work okay. Depends on if you just want the speakers to disappear or if you want something meaty. You might be better off look at in wall speakers if you want something that will blend in.
 
loki8481 said:
true :thumbsup:

I ended up buying a mid-range bookshelf speaker set today, just because I needed new computer speakers anyways (blew out my old ones a couple weeks ago trying to get the sound to reach from my home office into the bathroom)... if they're good, I might get a second set for the tv.
Click to expand...

You could always just go 2.1 or 3.1 on the TV. Bookshelf speakers aren't typically known for bass, so the sub might be a nice addition for some "thumpy" music.
 
soulcougher73 said:
I saw this when it came out and was tempted due to the speaker sizes as you mention. How do you like it? Downsizing and a sound bar might be in order but would hate to give up to much sound im used to with a proper 5.1 set up.
Click to expand...

The surround effect isn't as pronounced as they may want you to believe, but it is excellent for dialog. Very heavy and well built. It was for my in laws, I needed to minimize the number of wires all over the place etc. You could get an LCR combo for around the same price for better stereo imaging, but that would be the only benefit IMO.

Note that it is too heavy to be mounted on a bracket above the TV. Needs to be sitting under your TV or wall mounted. I built a custom riser with a bit of MDF and cheap IKEA capita legs. The sound bar fits under it and the TV sits on top.


Remember to do a name your price on WWW.acousticsounddesign.com or WWW.sounddistributors.com ... You can usually get much lower than the advertised price.
 
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