Hey there

My in-laws are looking for something to spruce up the sound of their TV and give them some sort of audio capacity. They’re certainly not audio-focused, so will be hard to convince to spend the sort of money that would be needed for something of quality. Their needs will be: something unobtrusive, simple to operate (critical!), easy to install (I really think this rules out rear speakers, well at least ones with cables), and a product with various connection options (eg including Bluetooth as well as connecting a few other components, eg Blu-ray and gaming device).

I had suggested to them a sound bar, given the ease of install etc, but have read on other threads here they tend to be more limited for music (whereas for TV viewers will tend to sit in the sweet spot anyway). Given they won’t want to spend too much money (say under $1k), and really wouldn’t be worried about the best sound, what are their best options? Are there any equivalent products to sound bars that come with built-in amplification and component inputs/switching but provide separate L and R speakers? (ie, a 3.1 arrangement with the amp built into the centre.) I guess they could go down the HTIAB route, but they don’t need the source, and I’m assuming there’s not much good in this price bracket!

Any ideas and specific recommendations (at or below $1k ideally, though I may be able to convince them to spend a bit more) would be gratefully received, including what the best outcome for this kind of budget (and purpose) would be. Happy to also hear recommendations of soundbars, given this may still meet their needs (saw this one for example http://www.rapalloav.co.nz/sound-bars/onkyo-ls-b50-envisioncinema-soundbar-system.html).

 

 

 

Thanks

 

Jonathan