Soundbar recommendation please

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Soundbar recommendation please

1 | 2 | 3

Lizard1977

2060 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#2819805 26-Nov-2021 14:08

Having just purchased a new TV (LG C1 55") for my new house, I'm turning my attention to sound, and specifically soundbars so this thread has been helpful. I was browsing the offerings at JB Hifi the other day and absent-mindedly turned on the Sonos Beam gen 2 and was almost literally blown away. It was turned up pretty loud, but the soundstage was like nothing I had experienced outside of a theatre. I was seriously impressed. I also like the ability to easily add components (surrounds, sub) along the way.

How does it stack up against something like the Samsung HW-Q900A? It's on sale for Black Friday at $1098, but that includes a sub. The comparable components from Sonos would be $2100, so there is a big price difference. Is there a corresponding performance difference? The Samsung also comes with wall mounting brackets, whilst the Sonos seems to need a proprietary bracket for additional cost. Is there an advantage by staying in the Sonos ecosystem if I want to add speakers to other rooms (thinking of the kitchen or the garage)?

alasta

6703 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#2819813 26-Nov-2021 14:13

I would imagine that they're probably both fine for TV viewing but you would want the Sonos if you intend to listen to music. I doubt that the Samsung would have sufficient fidelity to accurately reproduce musical instruments.

bendud

313 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#2819815 26-Nov-2021 14:16

I think so, yes. Scaleability is inherent in the Sonos ecosystem and as funds allow you can upgrade. There are also some really good deals out there for upgraders (especially if you know someone with old Sonos kit as you can get 30% off using the SNs from old gear - my old Sonos connect snagged me 30% off the price of an Arc, and a Play:1 I still use in the bathroom got me 15% off the sub).

There is more info on the Sonos website and the SoundStore site.

The Sonos Trade-Up program works as follows:

Sonos bridge can only be traded up to a Sonos Boost at 30% of RRP.
Any other eligible Sonos Item ie, the ZP80, ZP90, ZP100, ZP120, Connect (Manufactured 2011-2015), Connect:Amp (Manufactured 2011-2015) and Play:5 (Gen 1) will give you a 30% discount off RRP on any item in the Sonos range. For Example, if you have 2 x Play 5 gen 1's, you will have 2 discount tickets to purchase any other 2 Sonos items i.e. could be a Sonos Arc and Sonos Sub at RRP less 30%.
The Sonos Play: 1 and Play: 3 are eligible for a 15% discount off RRP
The Sonos Connect and Sonos Connect Amp post manufacture 2015 is also eligible although they do have the new chipset going forward for software released after May 2020. Ie you don't have to Trade them Up but could take advantage of new features etc in replacement models at 30% off RRP.
You need to provide us with the serial number on the item and or items you wish to trade up (preferably a photo of the tag) or bring the unit or units in to us.
We will provide you with a 30% discount off the RRP on the units you wish to replace them with. If the units were brought in to us, we will ecycle them responsibly.
You can also carry on using the old units on S1 App.

HTH

[edit: correction of discount]

From the Antarctic Riviera

lxsw20

3552 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#2819816 26-Nov-2021 14:16

I have the Q950A with my C1 and love it - you'll find plenty of positive reviews on youtube too. I looked at going Sonos, but as you've found it soon adds up if you want the sub/surround.

Lizard1977

2060 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#2819817 26-Nov-2021 14:17

It will probably be about 80% TV and movie viewing, with an emphasis on dialogue - I've taken to having captions on nearly permanently, as its becoming increasingly harder to hear dialogue in shows and movies (I'm not yet prepared to concede that this could be age-related!) But something that can still chuck out good sounds for music would be nice.

eracode

Smpl Mnmlst
8846 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#2819821 26-Nov-2021 14:24

@Lizard1977 Your new C1 will deliver Dolby Atmos via the Sonos Beam Gen 2 (original Beam doesn't do that). Some here would say 'quasi-Atmos' because, unlike the Sonos Arc, there's no up-firing speaker in the Beam.

We have an Arc and a Beam Gen 2 - the Arc is amazing and the Beam is pretty darned good.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

alasta

6703 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#2819843 26-Nov-2021 15:14

Has anyone tested the Sonos Beam Gen II against the Bose Soundbar 500? I'm really curious as to how they compare.

Equinox IT

Cloud spending continues to surge globally, but most organisations haven’t made the changes necessary to maximise the value and cost-efficiency benefits of their cloud investments. Download the whitepaper From Overspend to Advantage now.

Lizard1977

2060 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#2820341 27-Nov-2021 21:12

I've checked out some reviews on Youtube and elsewhere between the Samsung HW-S950A (a step up from the 900A) and the Sonos Arc + Sub. It seems like a reasonably close fight, with positives on both sides and the conclusion that either setup would be a fantastic system. I'm hoping to get in store on Sunday to try and listen to the Samsung setup to compare.

However, there is still an astonishing price gap to bridge. Sonos Arc + Sub comes in at about $3k (I can save a little by going for the Beam gen 2, but presumably it's also a step down in performance - and it's still over $2k) whereas the Samsung Q950A is on sale at HN for $1368. If the Samsung really is comparable to the Arc then it really is a no-brainer to go for the Samsung and put the saved money elsewhere. And yet it feels strange that a general company like Samsung produces something to rival a more specialised company like Sonos. I read in another thread about looking for soundbars from traditional audio manufacturers (e.g. Klipsch, Denon, Yamaha, etc) and that makes sense. Plus, a part of me covets something like Sonos. Yet the logical, practical part says I'd be a fool not to get the Samsung.

I guess it will have to come down to an in-store demo, and hopefully I'll be as blown away by it as I was by the Sonos.

jonathan18

7413 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#2820405 28-Nov-2021 07:48

My sister was quizzing me about soundbars this week and, while I did mention the Sonos as an option, I knew she’d be put off by the additional cost of the sub (let alone surrounds). Equally I could never recommend a sub-free system (especially for someone who was replacing a system based around a receiver with a sub attached), so that ruled out the Sonos in her case.

They bought the Samsung on Friday, and seem really happy with it. Looks like stock is fairly low or nonexistent with many retailers but at that point JB had it available.

Personally, I’d want to be sure the Sonos was substantially better than the Samsung before spending twice the cost, and that’s despite also having been brought up with that same message of avoiding audio products from such manufacturers.

@Lizard1977: have you checked out the respective Rtings reviews of these two soundbars? (I assume you mean HW-Q950A rather than S950A?) https://www.rtings.com/soundbar/reviews/best/soundbar

Lizard1977

2060 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#2820422 28-Nov-2021 09:15

@jonathan18 My thoughts exactly. For a grand more, I would want the Sonos to be head and shoulders above the Samsung. From what I can see on rtings.com and in other reviews, it's a close race. Sonos has the edge in a few areas, but it doesn't seem like it's bolting ahead. One reviewer also made the very good point that - while you can spot the differences when comparing systems side by side, once you have purchased it and it's in your home, you have no other point of reference except what you owned before. So you will quickly adjust (and rationalise) to your new purchase and enjoy what it brings.

1 | 2 | 3