Soundbar for about $300

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

invisibleman18

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#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

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#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.

Coil

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best deals I found at PB Tech, Had a decent LG one we got for under $500 and it was $800 originally, I think its been superseded since.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

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best deals I found at PB Tech, Had a decent LG one we got for under $500 and it was $800 originally, I think its been superseded since.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

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#2163000 18-Jan-2019 10:20

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

John

gehenna

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#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

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#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!

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Coil

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#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

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#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

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#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.

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Handsomedan

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#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.

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gehenna

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#2163056 18-Jan-2019 12:01

scuwp: Forget ARC/HDMI, can be temperamental

Rock solid here, YMMV I guess.

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ajobbins

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#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)

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dt

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#2163086 18-Jan-2019 12:37

HDMI is actually far better tech for audio than optical

invisibleman18

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#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

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#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