So, I ended up returning the JBL Bar 9.1 because it kept failing to charge the surround speakers even though I left them attached to the soundbar almost all of the time. The soundbar kept yelling at me to charge them when I'd remove the surrounds. In its place, I picked up the Nakamichi Soundwafe 7.1.4. I didn't see a point in paying about $200 more just for an extra subwoofer given the smaller room.
So far, I'm a bit mixed. The Nakamichi does an okay job alleviating one huge issue that I have with soundbars... the lack of HDMI inputs. I currently use
six devices in that setup, and that worked absolutely fine with my Denon AVR X2400H. With the JBL Bar 9.1 (one input) and the Nakamichi Soundwafe 7.1.4 (three inputs), I still have to use a secondary switching device. Although, with the latter, I could probably use a mix of direct inputs and TV inputs (using ARC for audio to the soundbar).
So, I tried out the
TESmart HSW0801A1U and the
Kinivo 550BN, and both of them have had problems. With the TESmart unit, it just refuses to pass Dolby Atmos EDID information, and as a result, my AppleTV wouldn't enable Dolby Atmos. Plugging directly into the sound bar fixed the problem, which made it pretty obvious what was the problem. Also, my PS4 Pro wouldn't allow me to enable HDR while plugged into the TESmart unit. The Kinivo didn't have any of the aforementioned problems; however, it does have a really bad issue with the AppleTV. It will only display content from the AppleTV for about 5-10 seconds before the soundbar reverts back to ARC. Similar to the TESmart, plugging directly into the soundbar fixes this.
There's also one problem that worries me about these soundbars... HDMI port position. The Nakamichi has the ports running parallel to the length of the soundbar and there isn't a very large cutout for them. The problem is that HDMI 2.0/2.1 cables are rather thick and they simply do not plug in straight. It's like there's always this tension on the port, and I'm worried that it'll end up resulting in premature port and/or cable failure.
Man, I have hated HDMI cables since the day they were born because of that, and all other problems with them. It seems like they are the least "grabby" cable ever designed, for all the ways that people make them, their interfaces, and the fact that the port as just never attached. At least design a clip of some sort! But I also tend ot have thick, rigid HDMI cables, so that always makes things worse.
I....and funny you should mention. I posted this in another thread, but I actually sprung for the 9.2.4 on Best Buy's black Friday sale, and just picked it up last night (curbside...holy crap BB is a madhouse yesterday. I didn't know they were still getting that much traffic, even it being first day of 25% capacity, with an outside queue, and like half the parking lot there for curbside pickup @ 6:30, lol. Nuts.)
Anyway, I'm glad you are pointing out these issues, because I didn't really do the research like I normally do with such purchases, because it is just the first part in a potentially long, maybe never completed process (PS5 almost for sure next year; and maybe replacing the TV within a year after that. either LG OLED or springing for whatever $2-3k USTL projector is the hotness at the time). I didn't even think to check if my TV is ARC (...and I didn't even
know what ARC is until recently, because I have absolutely not been staying informed. My current system was basically assembled in 2006, lol...and now I have to unload these Polk R50 floorstanders, CS1 center, Denon, PS10 sub, and junky, busted plasticky wall hanging Polk rears that are even older...like, 1998 old. No joke).
I did like the idea that the bar itself handles all of the sound processing...just further cleaning things up front. I was really looking at the 7.2 but, well, the sale. I was like, whatever. I was pretty much going to get 7.2 at normal price anyway, but BF put the 9.2 at the same normal price for the 7.2
I should be fine with HDMI ports, as I only plan to plug in the TV and, eventually, the PS5. I just have roof antennae > Coax into my TV for OTA content. Rest is streamed via TV apps or rarely, Chromecast. I don't really have plans to get any other sort of box, unless it turns out I eventually need something to supplement crappy options on another TV, or maybe run one of those media server thingies? I dunno, I've barely thought about that. Still, I had already assumed the flat port placement might be a nightmare.
I still don't understand how the wireless signal works in these--is it just RF timing controlled by the soundbar to the remote units? Is it actually over WiFi (that seems like it would have some latency, no? I thought I read that somewhere and it struck me as black magic, and also probably unnecessary?)
I like the systems with teh subs because I don't think you have the charging problem, right? Subs are powered into the wall, and the remote speakers are connected/powered via each sub, I think? Or is it just RCA to the sub...I haven't even read about it yet, and this giant box is sitting in my room.
But I'm also not sure that I want to hook this up yet, because I don't trust the circuit in that outlet. I don't think it's dedicated at all, and it has already lost a Denon for me, a couple of years ago (could have been Denon PSU, maybe, but it kept cutting on and off before it finally died, and then this replacement one does it every once in a while....not sure if it's just general power issues in the area, my house, or this thing). So, I'm somewhat nervous about plugging a 1k W system into the outlet, my LED (though that basically draws nothing, right?), and then eventual PS5. I do have an old Monster Cable 2 outlet "power brick cleaner thingy" that I was suckered into buying back in 2006, when I picked up the plasma. I used to plug my PS3 and TV into that, no problems
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