Replacing a receiver-based 5.1 system with a soundbar or alternative options?

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Replacing a receiver-based 5.1 system with a soundbar or alternative options?

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Dunnersfella

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#2908065 28-Apr-2022 22:46

Did you manage to hear the Samsung bar in surround sound mode? I have heard reports of dialogue leaking to the surrounds... interested to know if it's true, or even if people buying a sound bar are concerned about that or if they 'just want to hear the back speakers going'?

Geektastic

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#2908115 29-Apr-2022 08:59

We bought a Samsung unit with our TV a couple of years ago. It was at the time the highest available. Has a sub but no rears because I never added them.

It’s much better than the TV. Atmos is hit and miss. Sometimes surprisingly good and other times not. It’s not a perfect solution but it’s not set up perfectly either because there are other devices on the rack shelf beneath the TV that probably get in the way.

jonathan18

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#2909170 2-May-2022 09:19

Dunnersfella:

Did you manage to hear the Samsung bar in surround sound mode? I have heard reports of dialogue leaking to the surrounds... interested to know if it's true, or even if people buying a sound bar are concerned about that or if they 'just want to hear the back speakers going'?

Yeah, I heard the Atmos demo tracks at least; the second time I went in I checked carefully for any leaking dialogue in the surrounds and there was none. That said, IME this can be source-dependent: I'll occasionally hear a bit of such leakage on TV programmes with non-discrete audio on my main set-up (Marantz receiver); this tends to primarily affect the opening micro-seconds of dialogue only, and can be irritating.

Anyway, it looks like we'll just wait for the HW-Q990B to be released here and for it to come down to a decent price (no visibility in NZ yet, though showing up on HN Aus as 'coming'), and in the interim replace the TV and stick with the Kefs.

Thanks all for your advice on this thread.

Gemini

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#2909679 3-May-2022 15:20

Have you considered B&W VM1 speakers, similar width as your KEFs but 4x as tall so bigger enclosures and more bass.
By coincidence I have some for sale!

jonathan18

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#2910611 5-May-2022 15:58

Yeah, we have made the call to move away from receiver/separate speakers, but thanks for the offer!

In regards to the Samsung Q950A soundbar, three retailers now have it for just under $1500, which may be a sign it's on run-out (given the replacement model's available in some other countries); the replacement Q990B is only listed on one NZ site that I can see, and that's NL's for $2300 which is a shiteload of money for a soundbar ($200 more than the cost of the Q950A when first released), but I assume it'll be discounted from that fairly quickly.

bendud

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#2912882 12-May-2022 11:56

Sonos Ray now officially unveiled but not yet available - not a bad price for Sonos though. Small soundbar connects via optical. No Atmos.

B

From the Antarctic Riviera

jonathan18

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#2950017 3-Aug-2022 09:40

Finally purchased a new system for the lounge, after having had enough of the hassle of the new TV not playing nicely with the old (non-CEC) Yamaha receiver (whereas it had worked perfectly with the previous LG TV).

We went with the Q990B soundbar, and a pair of the Mounting Dream stands from Amazon as per this thread (which, while pricy for what they are, are excellent for this purpose). It's been a weird experience setting up a soundbar after only ever having used receivers, in particular not having a GUI on the TV (all done via an app). Only installed it yesterday and, overall, happy with what I've heard thus far. As expected, Atmos won't blow us away thanks to the 3m stud, but it certainly benefits from having the rears. It's also allowed for a much tidier and compact set-up:

One benefit I wasn't aware of was built-in Chromecasting for audio, which makes that particular room's CC Audio redundant (will keep for spares when one of our others breaks!), but a shame it doesn't have CC for video as neither do Panasonic TVs.

I'm thinking of moving the sub over to the right-hand side of the door so as to reduce the impact of it being in a corner - one thing this system doesn't need is more bass...

Advice please: But I am unsure about the best height and angle for the rears, given I have little flexibility about placement - ie they need to sit fairly close to and parallel with the back of the couch. I have them slightly above ear height and currently facing directly forward; I'm wondering if, given the position, they should be angled towards the centre slightly - how would others advise they be angled, and what would be the recommended height? Thanks!

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