Sound bar- Wireless rear speakers?

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benfolds

32 posts

Geek

#253098 25-Jul-2019 16:31

Any advice much appreciated!

I'm basically after a set of speakers to connect to a TV. I ideally want some rear speakers which are wireless. I currently have a 10yr old home theatre 5.1 with 4 big tall wired speakers and a cd/dvd/FM player. I want something with much smaller speakers and i do wish to get some rear speakers (preferably wireless).

I'm thinking about a sound bar which can connect (or has) wireless rear speakers and then get a cheap CD player to hook up (although i now have most of my music digital).

The other device i see is a Panasonic HC2020 Micro System (link below). Anyone had any experience of this? I'm not sure if a rear set of speakers can be connected to it.

https://www.panasonic.com/nz/consumer/home-entertainment/audio/micro-systems/sc-hc2020gnk.html

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931 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#2283638 25-Jul-2019 17:50

I’m still using my olderpanny home theatre in a box with wireless rears, seems to work well although I’m aiming to upgrade in the next year to a proper amp etc setup.
My brother has last years top model n950 Samsung soundbar with wireless rears and rates it quite highly, there is a new model out with all the flash whiz bang bits (Atmos, hdmi passthrough etc) that has them as well. Although best to wait til one of the retailers knocks them out on special.

sqishy

470 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2283657 25-Jul-2019 18:34

I got the Samsung Sound bar

https://www.samsung.com/nz/audio-video/hw-r450/

For rear speakers I got below NB: The main unit is mains powered, connects by Bluetooth to main Sound bar, the rear speakers connect by cable to rear unit. Albeit not fully wireless they don;t need cable run across floor to rear.

https://www.samsung.com/nz/audio-video/wireless-rear-speaker-swa-8500s/

Disrespective

1926 posts

Uber Geek

#2283679 25-Jul-2019 19:50

FYI I have the Bose Soundbar 700 and whilst is has wireless rear speakers, it's cantankerous with my Samsung TV and the ARC HDMI port so do your research with your tv model.

It sounds the business though so I can't complain when it does work.

apm45

63 posts

Master Geek

#2283687 25-Jul-2019 20:35

I bought the LG SK6Y a few weeks ago at the PB Tech sale. I also got the SP8 rear speakers. I'm really happy with the setup.

The LG soundbar come with chromecast built in, and the newer more expensive ones come with Google assistant as well.
Any sound bars with a Y at the end of their name will work with the rear speakers. It was a seamless experience getting it all working. I've connected it to the ARC HDMI port on my TV.

I've replaced my 5.1 receiver setup with this, partly to avoid having to run speaker wires around my room, and also to tidy up the area around my TV. Note the rear speakers still have wires which go to a unit which needs power. I'd say the sound isn't quite as good as my old system and surround sound effect not quite as pronounced, but still very good, and much neater

Overall I'd recommend the LG system.

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#2283688 25-Jul-2019 20:48

There's a lot of options...

However the Panasonic unit you linked to is a no go.

'Wireless rear speakers' are common with soundbars these days - seldom are they actually wireless (Philips were the first to do so, but battery longevity / issues did cause problems) and almost always have to be plugged into power or a wireless receiver box.

It all depends on your budget.

If you're moving from a component surround sound system and moving to a budget soundbar + 'wireless rears' then you may be disappointed.

You still have to spend the $'s to get good results.

eracode

Smpl Mnmlst
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#2283691 25-Jul-2019 20:52

What is your budget and when you say wireless rear speakers, do you mean literally no wires at all - or would mains powered rears be okay? i.e. no cables between front and rear.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

benfolds

32 posts

Geek

#2283880 26-Jul-2019 10:02

I don't want cables from the front to the back but it would be happy for the rear speakers to be plugged into a power source and be connected wirelessly to the main unit. It looks like this is how most of the "wireless" rear speakers work.

Ideally i don't want to spend more than $500 or so and i'm not hugely fussed by the sound quality as long as it isn't crappy. That's why that panasonic system HC2020 appeals as it is compact and includes cd player etc. I will have to go look at one as not entirely sure you can connect additional speakers to it.

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lchiu7

6478 posts

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#2285197 29-Jul-2019 14:48

I saw these recently. https://www.jbhifi.co.nz/headphones-speakers-audio/jbl/jbl-bar-5-1-4k-ultra-hd-soundbar-with-true-wireless-surround-speakers/339000/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwj_XpBRCCARIsAItJiuTa1ekVaeWQ-XOPYH95TmfVctcf9MhAUXkg8UQl3EEpx4COBLOiGpEaAgeOEALw_wcB. Truly wireless since the rears are wireless and fun on batteries.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

jonathan18

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#2285321 29-Jul-2019 18:38

lchiu7: I saw these recently. https://www.jbhifi.co.nz/headphones-speakers-audio/jbl/jbl-bar-5-1-4k-ultra-hd-soundbar-with-true-wireless-surround-speakers/339000/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwj_XpBRCCARIsAItJiuTa1ekVaeWQ-XOPYH95TmfVctcf9MhAUXkg8UQl3EEpx4COBLOiGpEaAgeOEALw_wcB. Truly wireless since the rears are wireless and fun on batteries.

My in-laws have a Philips system they bought a few years back that works on the same principle (this model here); the rear speakers are certainly better than nothing, and certainly provide a type of surround sound, but the size of them means they'll never produce a full sound. The JBLs seem to be a similar size so I'd expect something similar. (Part of the problem is that there's a wider sound field behind than there is in front.)

empacher48

368 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2285340 29-Jul-2019 19:29

I’ve got a Panasonic All70T soundbar with two All2 speakers as rear speakers. Got the lot from JB hi-if, works well for what we use it for. Was $400 for the soundbar and about $100 each for the ALL2 speakers.

lchiu7

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#2285346 29-Jul-2019 19:35

jonathan18:

lchiu7: I saw these recently. https://www.jbhifi.co.nz/headphones-speakers-audio/jbl/jbl-bar-5-1-4k-ultra-hd-soundbar-with-true-wireless-surround-speakers/339000/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwj_XpBRCCARIsAItJiuTa1ekVaeWQ-XOPYH95TmfVctcf9MhAUXkg8UQl3EEpx4COBLOiGpEaAgeOEALw_wcB. Truly wireless since the rears are wireless and fun on batteries.

My in-laws have a Philips system they bought a few years back that works on the same principle (this model here); the rear speakers are certainly better than nothing, and certainly provide a type of surround sound, but the size of them means they'll never produce a full sound. The JBLs seem to be a similar size so I'd expect something similar. (Part of the problem is that there's a wider sound field behind than there is in front.)

I actually bought a set of these

https://www.samsung.com/nz/audio-video/hw-q70r/' target='_blank'>https://www.samsung.com/nz/audio-video/hw-q70r/

The wireless rears are optional but I have eschewed them because one of the reasons I bought the soundbar was to replace a full 5.1 system in my family room. We had the house painted and had to remove the rear speakers from the wall and all the cabling (it was tidy and in slimline conduit) but once the painting was done, I didn't want to put everything back again (and there was pressure for me not to :-( ) Going to a soundbar that emulates Atmos audio via 3.1.2 seemed good enough when I can now remove my large woofer, centre speaker and two fronts. It's not a big loss since I have a full 5.1.2 Atmos system in my family room anyway if I want the full Atmos experience.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

benfolds

32 posts

Geek

#2285779 30-Jul-2019 14:35

What about the Sono Beam.....does anyone have any experience of this? It seems to be able to connect wirelessly with additional speakers.

apm45

63 posts

Master Geek

#2285782 30-Jul-2019 14:40

Sonos Beam gets good reviews, and additional Sonos speakers can be added, but you said your budget was around $500. You're getting up towards triple your budget for the Beam and two Sonos Ones. Note the wall mount bracket for the Beam is an extra $100.

benfolds

32 posts

Geek

#2285783 30-Jul-2019 14:41

Sorry about the newbie questions but do you need to pay a subscription for Alexa on a compatible device like the Beam? Or is the app free to download and use.

benfolds

32 posts

Geek

#2285786 30-Jul-2019 14:44

apm45: Sonos Beam gets good reviews, and additional Sonos speakers can be added, but you said your budget was around $500. You're getting up towards triple your budget for the Beam and two Sonos Ones. Note the wall mount bracket for the Beam is an extra $100.

The Beam itself is $699 which i could stretch to and just purchase the additional speakers and a wall mount at a later date I guess.

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