I'm planning on mounting the TV to the wall and swapping to a soundbar mounted below the TV using the main TV bracket, so I'm looking for a flat (not curved) black soundbar.
I initially looked at the Samsung HW-H750 (supposedly the valves added a richer sound) only to find that it is EoL (End of Line) and only available in silver (not ideal as my TV is black). Side Note: Samsung appears to use H/J in the name to signify the year and the last digit to signify the colour e.g. F750 = 2013 model in black, H751 = 2014 model in silver.
I then looked at the newer 2015 range (which sadly doesn't include the H750) and tried for the HW-J650.....only to be told these too were unavailable in black (HW-J651) even though they (and companies selling Samsung) list the J650.
When I got in contact with Samsung they indicated that "We have no intention of brining [sic] in a black 4.1 soundbar to NZ, at all (including the K750). Your only option is the J450 (2.1 black soundbar) if you want to buy locally. The J650 is only available overseas." This has resulted in a bit of head scratching for me.
1. Am I being too fussy? Is the J450 still a good sound system? I wanted to get a system such as 4.1 to make sure the voices vs. explosions in moves aren't swallowed up (or the volume doesn't need to be adjusted up/down constantly to avoid annoying the neighbours).
2. I was looking at the Samsung range as I had hoped to take advantage of the CEC/AnyNet ability to pass through commands (especially turning on/off when the TV turns on/off - including a little Rasplex media server)...but are other brands out there that integrate as smoothly?
3. Samsung indicated the J650 was available overseas. Is there any advice regarding who/where to look when importing? Personally I was leaning towards Australia due to (hopefully lower) shipping cost and identical plugs etc.
4. Side question....are grey TVs really that overwhelmingly popular that black is no longer wanted by anyone? I've never been fashionable but I must admit that trend escaped me completely. (Yes, I also thought about getting a grey soundbar and attempting to paint it black but... with the inbuilt screen in the soundbar and my complete inexperience this sounded like the start of a warning/horror tale told to others in hushed tones).
Thanks for any suggestions/ideas.
