Soundbar for about $300

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Soundbar for about $300 - advice?

invisibleman18

1352 posts

Uber Geek

#245088 18-Jan-2019 09:44

Am looking at getting a soundbar for a smallish lounge. Budget is up to $300. Noel Leeming have 20% off them this weekend, any recommendations on models at this price or below?

rp1790

735 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2162961 18-Jan-2019 10:07

If you're in Wellington area you can have a Panasonic one (free) I have sitting unused in my shed. Comes with a sub and is actually pretty good.

GoodSync

GoodSync. Easily back up and sync your files with GoodSync. Simple and secure file backup and synchronisation software will ensure that your files are never lost (affiliate link).

Coil

6614 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#2162996 18-Jan-2019 10:15

rp1790:

If you're in Wellington area you can have a Panasonic one (free) I have sitting unused in my shed. Comes with a sub and is actually pretty good.

I'd take this offer if you are in WLG.

Otherwise the best deals I found at PB Tech, Had a decent LG one we got for under $500 and it was $800 originally, I think its been superseded since.

rp1790

735 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2162998 18-Jan-2019 10:17

Coil:

rp1790:

If you're in Wellington area you can have a Panasonic one (free) I have sitting unused in my shed. Comes with a sub and is actually pretty good.

I'd take this offer if you are in WLG.

Otherwise the best deals I found at PB Tech, Had a decent LG one we got for under $500 and it was $800 originally, I think its been superseded since.

I am in Wellington, Titahi Bay specifically. If you want it, PM me and we can arrange a pickup.

ren1316

136 posts

Master Geek

Trusted

#2163000 18-Jan-2019 10:20

I will take it off ya. I am in Wellington. I can pickup in the weekend.

John

gehenna

8431 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2163001 18-Jan-2019 10:20

LG's SJ series is good. I have an SJ5 but it was outside your budget. The SJ3 might suit

invisibleman18

1352 posts

Uber Geek

#2163007 18-Jan-2019 10:27

Thanks, LG SJ4 looks like one option, as it's $299.99 at Noel Leeming this weekend, $100 cheaper than PB Tech. It's not necessary to match with your TV brand for best performance is it?

Am in Wellington actually, but looks like someone else got in first. Thanks for that offer though!

Coil

6614 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#2163010 18-Jan-2019 10:35

invisibleman18: Thanks, LG SJ4 looks like one option, as it's $299.99 at Noel Leeming this weekend. It's not necessary to match with your TV brand for best performance is it?

Am in Wellington actually, but looks like someone else got in first. Thanks for that offer though!

Doesn't matter about TV AFAIK, I do believe my Dads one is using optical and the TV knows what it is and works with it perfectly. Stick to Samsung and LG I have heard.

gehenna

8431 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2163014 18-Jan-2019 10:53

It has LG sync features so it can sync remote control and can be used wirelessly with LG tv's but it's not necessary. Any device with HDMI out or Optical will work. Includes bluetooth which is cool as my Alexa is able to switch to it when I want to do that.

scuwp

3873 posts

Uber Geek

#2163051 18-Jan-2019 11:45

Forget ARC/HDMI, can be temperamental, go with optical connection. Our LG is great although is a more expensive model. For $300 looks pretty good.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

Handsomedan

7155 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#2163055 18-Jan-2019 11:59

I bought one of these last year..Sony HTCT-290 Soundbar

It's been awesome and to be honest, at $300 currently, it's a steal...I got mine for around that on sale last year, reduced from somewhere in the region of $500...

Integrates well with my Sony TV & Blu-Ray player, too.

Handsome Dan Has Spoken.
Handsome Dan needs to stop adding three dots to every sentence...

Handsome Dan does not currently have a side hustle as the mascot for Yale

*Gladly accepting donations...

gehenna

8431 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2163056 18-Jan-2019 12:01

scuwp: Forget ARC/HDMI, can be temperamental

Rock solid here, YMMV I guess.

ajobbins

5052 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#2163058 18-Jan-2019 12:13

Handsomedan:

I bought one of these last year..Sony HTCT-290 Soundbar

It's been awesome and to be honest, at $300 currently, it's a steal...I got mine for around that on sale last year, reduced from somewhere in the region of $500...

I have this one too, but I have been pretty underwhelmed. Sure it's better than the sound straight out of my 7 year old TV, but the range is pretty flat (especially at any volume) and I barely hear anything out of the sub woofer unless I basically put my head against it (despite being on max)

Twitter: ajobbins

dt

1152 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#2163086 18-Jan-2019 12:37

HDMI is actually far better tech for audio than optical

invisibleman18

1352 posts

Uber Geek

#2163877 19-Jan-2019 21:40

Thanks for the tips. Managed to demo a few in store and ended up getting the LG SK5Y for $355 at Noel Leeming which was slightly more than we intended to spend but seemed a good deal compared to $446 at JB Hi-fi and $499 at PB Tech.

Dial111

972 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2163909 20-Jan-2019 07:52

gehenna:
scuwp: Forget ARC/HDMI, can be temperamental

Rock solid here, YMMV I guess.

Same here, no issues in 2 years with ARC