Soundbar?

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SomePostman

139 posts

Master Geek

#128850 26-Aug-2013 10:04

Hi all, I'm trying to think of the best way to have better audio with my 4 year old Panasonic 46" plasma. I love the thought of a separate amp and a couple of decent bookshelf speakers, but with two young girls I'll never have the budget to stretch more than a a 'few hundred' dollars.

I thought about one of the cheap HTIB options, but as I have a ps4 on preorder to replace my PS3 that was stolen, I dont plan on needing another BD player. Id make my ps4 the main media source. And I just don't see how I could arrange the speakers in my cluttered little lounge! Which brings me to a soundbar. It seems like a good option as i just sits under the TV, and although nothing like surround sound, should at least have a decent sound stage. Does anyone have any experience with them?

Two that have caught my eye are:

Panasonic Home Theatre Soundbar HTB170

Pros: Being a panasonic means I should be able to control it through my TV remote? Or is viera link not as useful as I'm giving it credit for Dialogue control - I HATE it when the conversations are so quiet that you crank your sound, then the first loud action scene is WAY too loud.
Cons: It's actually kinda ugly. Or at least a little retro (and not cool retro) Integrated subwoofer? I'm skeptical

SAMSUNG 2.1 Channel Sound Bar HW-F450

Pros: Separate wireless active sub Looks nicer More powerful 280W vs 110W
Cons: Doesn't have dialogue control? Separate remote?

So I have some questions, for anyone willing to help or speculate!
1/ Would a sound bar in general be a decent investment for me?
2/ Given that I can hardly ever 'crank' the sound (TV is against a wall shared with the kids bedroom) is 110W enough? Or will I miss the extra grunt for the times I can use it?
3/ I'm confused about ARC and the HDMI input. Can you only use the HDMI input if your TV has an ARC HDMI port?
4/ Would I still hook up my Ps4 via HDMI and use the optical out from the TV to the soundbar?
Thanks in advance for your help :)

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#884490 26-Aug-2013 10:17

Polk N1 Surround Bar. Not only designed for next gen console gaming but also music and movies. USD$299 pre order from Amazon.

Do whatever you want to do man.

SomePostman

139 posts

Master Geek

#884494 26-Aug-2013 10:22

I take it you're based in the USA? Thanks for the suggestion, but unfortunately, that is not of much use to me in NZ.

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

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#884522 26-Aug-2013 10:33

The Yamaha's seem nice, you can normalise the audio to stop the bone jarring MASSIVE highs and lows of some movies (quiet dialogue then LOUD gun shots and explosions) and you can also boost dialogue if required. Look a little odd, but the feet can be removed, so that's something.
I'm of the opinion that TV companies make poor speakers / HTIB setups... Personally, I leave it to audio companies and go with my ears from there.

The cool thing about most of the major brands is that they allow you to train the soundbar volume to be controlled by the TV remote, meaning Viera Link won't necessarily be a major factor. Plus you can simply plug a 3.5mm plug into your headphone port of the TV and use the soundbar exclusively :-)

billgates

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#884631 26-Aug-2013 12:51

SomePostman: I take it you're based in the USA? Thanks for the suggestion, but unfortunately, that is not of much use to me in NZ.

Nope. In NZ. Amazon is happy to ship the Polk N1 to NZ for $20 shipping.

The problem that you describe about dialouge/music volume is exactly what the N1 is so good at delivering. Nice read of a preview that Forbes wrote with theri hands on at E3. This will work with your PS4 btw too.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonevangelho/2013/06/17/first-impressions-polk-audio-n1-surroundbar-for-xbox-one/

Do whatever you want to do man.

SomePostman

139 posts

Master Geek

#884643 26-Aug-2013 13:07

Interesting. Does that mean it works with 110-240v? What happens with warranty repairs etc?

And is that a placeholder date for release?

billgates

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#884704 26-Aug-2013 14:20

Release date is sometime in November. I wrote an email to Polk and that is what their CSR told me. Amazon is good with warranty repairs. I believe they credit you up to $20 to $30 for shipping the item back to them to get it repaired/replaced. Depeding on the CSR, they might even replace it without asking for it back although I doubted for such an expensive item.

Polk also mentioned that it is indeed 110-240V because they let anyone from any country pre-order/purchase products from their website directly.

I am either looking at purchasing the N1 Surround bar or the 4Shot headset for Xbox One or maby even both :D

Do whatever you want to do man.

SomePostman

139 posts

Master Geek

#884726 26-Aug-2013 14:52

billgates: Release date is sometime in November. I wrote an email to Polk and that is what their CSR told me. Amazon is good with warranty repairs. I believe they credit you up to $20 to $30 for shipping the item back to them to get it repaired/replaced. Depeding on the CSR, they might even replace it without asking for it back although I doubted for such an expensive item.

Polk also mentioned that it is indeed 110-240V because they let anyone from any country pre-order/purchase products from their website directly.

I am either looking at purchasing the N1 Surround bar or the 4Shot headset for Xbox One or maby even both :D

It does look really interesting. But $320 NZ = $410 on todays exhange rate. Not bad. But it will attract duty and fees of about another NZ$110 at the border, putting the whole thing at $520. Still worth it?

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Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

billgates

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#884810 26-Aug-2013 16:06

Could wait for Amazon to put it on special or ship it via YouShop and hope that you do not get stung with GST.

Do whatever you want to do man.

Dunnersfella

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#884871 26-Aug-2013 17:26

$520 may be a good deal... of course, if it's available locally you'd want to double check the price here before committing. There is a local importer, and Polk is stocked everywhere from Sony Style to specialist hifi stores to H/Norman's. As it's audio equipment, I'd always encourage you to listen to it prior to laying out any cash...

SomePostman

139 posts

Master Geek

#885218 27-Aug-2013 13:10

Just a general musing...

For someone like me, who is far from an audiophile, is it likely I can notice the difference in sound from a $350 panasonic/samsung/general electronics brand unit and a $500 yamaha/polk audio/other audio company unit?

I know you get what you pay for, and I have regretted spending too little at various stages, but I just don't know how big the gap - if anything- would be for me?

billgates

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#885241 27-Aug-2013 13:33

How much are you getting the Samsung and Panasonic for?

Do whatever you want to do man.

Shoes2468

785 posts

Ultimate Geek

#885244 27-Aug-2013 13:34

SomePostman: Just a general musing...

For someone like me, who is far from an audiophile, is it likely I can notice the difference in sound from a $350 panasonic/samsung/general electronics brand unit and a $500 yamaha/polk audio/other audio company unit?

I know you get what you pay for, and I have regretted spending too little at various stages, but I just don't know how big the gap - if anything- would be for me?

I have been watching this thread with interest as I am looking at getting one, but not looking at spending that $500 more interested in the $350 price range

SomePostman

139 posts

Master Geek

#885259 27-Aug-2013 13:51

billgates: How much are you getting the Samsung and Panasonic for?

Farmers have them both on sale at the moment for $330

SomePostman

139 posts

Master Geek

#885274 27-Aug-2013 14:14

Dunnersfella: $520 may be a good deal... of course, if it's available locally you'd want to double check the price here before committing. There is a local importer, and Polk is stocked everywhere from Sony Style to specialist hifi stores to H/Norman's. As it's audio equipment, I'd always encourage you to listen to it prior to laying out any cash...

On this note about having a local retailer, it seems like having an importer as a middleman really cranks up the price. Either that or they just love to charge more because it has a 'premium audio' name attached to it. Here is an example comparing the first two polk audio produts on the Harvey Norman page with what you can get them from on Amazon.com

TSi400 floor standing speaker pair:
Harvey Norman - NZ$1,388
Amazon.com – US $499 or NZ$640 with an additional powered sub!

TSi100 bookshelf speaker pair:
Harvey Norman- NZ$497
Amazon.com – US$149 or NZ$192

How much we are forced to pay here compared to the USA seems to be borderline disgusting.

Batman

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#885280 27-Aug-2013 14:26

what's your max budget? if you want good sound get a cheap amp from trademe, 2 cheap speakers from trademe, and if you're really lucky, cheap sub from trademe, and it should still sound better than your sound bar ... if you got the correct cheap stuff

a bit of work a bit of waiting a bit of luck but possible

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