Sound options for me TV? Sound Bar? Speakers?

ibex333

Diamond Member
Mar 26, 2005
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I have a Vizio M501d-A2R TV and I am looking for some options to get a better, richer sound. I looked at sound bars, but they are very very expensive. I cannot justify spending any more than $150 on something like this. Maybe I should get some speakers and a cheap amp like a Lepai?

Please recommend me something. I don't know much about these things. I don't need crazy power - I live in an apartment building and this is in a living room of a 1 bedroom apartment, so I don't need anything too fancy. Just something that wont break on me in the 1st month of use and has a better sound than the TV by itself.
 

smitbret

Diamond Member
Jul 27, 2006
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If $150 is "expensive" to get quality sound, then I think it's best if your quest for Theater quality audio should end here.

$150 won't get you a good pair of speakers
 

aaksheytalwar

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2012
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For $150 I would rather stick to the speakers in your tv. Until you can afford to spend $300-600+ forget it.
 

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
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Even a $100 soundbar is a huge improvement over the crap that's in most TVs now day.
 

boomhower

Diamond Member
Sep 13, 2007
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For $150 I would rather stick to the speakers in your tv. Until you can afford to spend $300-600+ forget it.

Couldn't disagree more. My first venture into HT was a Sony sound bar that was a massive improvement over the standard speakers. With thin TV's with small bezels but the very nature the speakers are going to suck big time. While I don't have ears on experience with a $100 sound bar I'd wager it's better than TV speakers.