Soundbar Recommendations

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657 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2089302 12-Sep-2018 14:22

MikeAqua:

kryptonjohn:

MikeAqua:

I would suggest you stick with Sony, because you should then be able to control the Soundbar via your TV remote (assuming they are connected via HMDI ARC).

Generic stuff like power/volume should work for any brand HDMI/ARC compatible device?

That's the idea, but not always the reality.

I've always gotten lucky with ARC, but people can have trouble with it.

agreed that there can be issues... but i wouldn't limit it to the same brand because of that. chances are, the shop you're buying the soundbar from have the same tv as yours... you can test it there.

to the OP, i'd look at soundbars that support Dolby Atmos (if within your budget, of course!), because why not? :)

JaseNZ

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#2089303 12-Sep-2018 14:22

I got this to go with our LG oled

https://www.noelleeming.co.nz/shop/audio/home-audio/sound-bars/lg-sk5y-sound-bar-with-wireless-subwoofer/prod163218.html

Pairs perfect with the tv and everything is just controlled with tv remote.

Best thing I ever did was get rid of the mass of speakers surrounding the lounge to this.

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Amosnz

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#2089354 12-Sep-2018 14:59

Blurtie:

He did mention that a cool feature - which was not widely marketed in NZ for some reason - where you can add wireless rear speakers to the system for surround sound. The speakers themselves can be used individually and are pretty pricey - $400 each. But he said they did have clearance sales on them from time to time, so you can pick up for $200 each...

Here is a link that shows the compatible surround sound speaker models.

http://sonyglobal.scene7.com/is/content/gwtvid/pdf/2017/wireless%2Dsurround/WirelessSurround%2DCompatibility%2Dlist.pdf

Speedtest

Blurtie

468 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2089357 12-Sep-2018 15:02

samshells:

Wow, thats good.

Was this the Online store?

Nah, this was at the actual Sony Store in Christchurch.

If you want to get in on the deal, you should ring up your closest Sony Store and just tell em I sent ya! haha

Item

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#2089422 12-Sep-2018 16:54

I was thinking of replacing my 5:1 & reciever with a really good soundbar and maybe adding Wireless speakers and a woofer back in at a later date.

What is stopping me is that I have 3 devices currently running through my receiver and I can't seem to see any decent sound bars with any more than 2 HDMI in! Many only seem to have 1?

Am I missing something here?

kryptonjohn

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#2089427 12-Sep-2018 17:01

I have a Roku and Sky Decoder running into the TV and the TV HDMI-ARC running out to the sound bar. So could add one more device into the TV (such as a bluray player) and that would be the limit.

The sound bar itself only has a single HDMI input.

dafman

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#2089508 12-Sep-2018 19:08

nitro:

to the OP, i'd look at soundbars that support Dolby Atmos (if within your budget, of course!), because why not? :)

The price difference between the CT800 on special at the moment and the equivalent new Sony release with similar specs and Atmos is approx $500.

So if you're happy paying $500 extra at the moment just to add Atmos, go for it. For me, that was a pretty steep premium to pay.

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nitro

657 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2089535 12-Sep-2018 19:45

dafman:
nitro:

to the OP, i'd look at soundbars that support Dolby Atmos (if within your budget, of course!), because why not? :)

The price difference between the CT800 on special at the moment and the equivalent new Sony release with similar specs and Atmos is approx $500.

So if you're happy paying $500 extra at the moment just to add Atmos, go for it. For me, that was a pretty steep premium to pay.

Certainly not something to sneeze at!

Unfortunately for us mere mortals, budget rules a lot of our choices.

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#2089540 12-Sep-2018 20:13

Item:

I was thinking of replacing my 5:1 & reciever with a really good soundbar and maybe adding Wireless speakers and a woofer back in at a later date.

What is stopping me is that I have 3 devices currently running through my receiver and I can't seem to see any decent sound bars with any more than 2 HDMI in! Many only seem to have 1?

Am I missing something here?

Remember, many TV's (particularly older ones) can't output surround sound from any sources that are connected to the TV via HDMI cable... basically, it's an EDID issue as the TV is seen as a 'stereo only' device, so any output (be-it HDMI ARC or optical cable) will be 2-channel only. This means you'd only ever get 'simulated surround sound' (which is typically the front channels piped through the rear speakers but at a volume roughly 30% quieter than the fronts).

Note - streaming off the TV via apps or Freeview will offer surround sound if it's available.

So yeah. Soundbars with multiple HDMI's are generally higher end units, like the top ATMOS bars etc.

Re: soundbar advice.

Typically people buy a soundbar to substitute the crappy speakers in their TV's... which are then made by the same company that made the bad speakers to begin with. Try looking and listening to the speaker / amplifier companies - some of them will blow you away.

Denon / Klipsch / Yamaha / Focal etc.

Jaxson

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#2089542 12-Sep-2018 20:14

@samshells I have a brand new / unopened Klipsch SB 120 sitting on my bed right now that I don’t need.
Wife won it in a competition and they offered the store demo model or wait for a new one to arrive. We opted for a new one and just picked it up today.

Was going to trade me, or give to my dad to go under his lounge TV.

Reviews well and box is pretty massive:
https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-SB-120-Bluetooth-Technology/dp/B00F3JW37G

Jaxson

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#2089543 12-Sep-2018 20:20

Item: I can't seem to see any decent sound bars with any more than 2 HDMI in! Many only seem to have 1?

Am I missing something here?

They’re intended to pair with a TV, so have few input as it just plays whatever is on the TV at the time.

corksta

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#2089564 12-Sep-2018 21:21

I also have the CT800. Fantastic sound bar, had it for almost a year and am very happy with it. Three HDMI imputs which is great too.

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#2089609 12-Sep-2018 22:40

Jaxson: @samshells I have a brand new / unopened Klipsch SB 120 sitting on my bed right now that I don’t need.
Wife won it in a competition and they offered the store demo model or wait for a new one to arrive. We opted for a new one and just picked it up today.

Was going to trade me, or give to my dad to go under his lounge TV.

Reviews well and box is pretty massive:
https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-SB-120-Bluetooth-Technology/dp/B00F3JW37G

Ha!

I was in Manawatu Sound Hub when she picked the prize up this arvo...

Coincidences are somewhat coincidental!

samshells

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2089640 13-Sep-2018 07:35

Blurtie:

samshells:

Wow, thats good.

Was this the Online store?

Nah, this was at the actual Sony Store in Christchurch.

If you want to get in on the deal, you should ring up your closest Sony Store and just tell em I sent ya! haha

So i emailed the CHCH store, they basically said they had them at this price, damaged boxes???, but wouldnt sell me one..

Said it was instore price only...lol. oh well

Jaxson

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#2089687 13-Sep-2018 08:23

Dunnersfella:

Jaxson: @samshells I have a brand new / unopened Klipsch SB 120 sitting on my bed right now that I don’t need.
Wife won it in a competition and they offered the store demo model or wait for a new one to arrive. We opted for a new one and just picked it up today.

Was going to trade me, or give to my dad to go under his lounge TV.

Reviews well and box is pretty massive:
https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-SB-120-Bluetooth-Technology/dp/B00F3JW37G

OT

Ha!

I was in Manawatu Sound Hub when she picked the prize up this arvo...

Coincidences are somewhat coincidental!

Really?!

What a crackup, one of those IRL moments

Were you working or shopping in there?

They've been really cool to deal with so have been impressed with the store.

A little bit of me dies every time I go in there though, as I gave up sounds like that when we had kids

The Klipsch soundbar looks quite good, and at 12kgs and nearly a meter long it's quite solid and substantial.
Being a competition prize we weren't expecting to win, and now need to work out what to do with it!

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