Budget soundbar or similar
Discussion
Apologies for anyone in the BF thread elsewhere but I figured I'd get more responses in here.
I've got two separate issues that I thought could be solved by buying a sound bar or similar sound setup. It doesn't need to be a soundbar specifically but I know FA about home cinema sound. Budget £100...I could creep up to £120, but absolutely no more.
1. TV sound. I've got an ageing Panasonic TXP42G10 bought donkeys ago when it was considered the best thing since sliced bread. I still like it. But music/action scenes are too loud, speech is too quiet. I'd like to do something to make the speech clearer and overall volume a bit more balanced.
2. I've got an Echo Dot but the sound quality when playing music is rubbish and it won't hold Bluetooth connection to my Anker SoundCore 2 speaker - the quality of which is good enough for me.
Initial plan was to carry on ignoring the TV sound issue and wait until I can justify a new TV purchase, and buy either an Echo or Echo Plus for the second issue. But I wondered if a soundbar or sound system with Bluetooth would solve both issues.
Firstly, does it sound like a sensible solution?
Secondly, what sound setup should I look for? If there are a few models I can stick into CamelCamelCamel and keep an eye out for on Black Friday then I was hoping I'll get lucky.
I've got two separate issues that I thought could be solved by buying a sound bar or similar sound setup. It doesn't need to be a soundbar specifically but I know FA about home cinema sound. Budget £100...I could creep up to £120, but absolutely no more.
1. TV sound. I've got an ageing Panasonic TXP42G10 bought donkeys ago when it was considered the best thing since sliced bread. I still like it. But music/action scenes are too loud, speech is too quiet. I'd like to do something to make the speech clearer and overall volume a bit more balanced.
2. I've got an Echo Dot but the sound quality when playing music is rubbish and it won't hold Bluetooth connection to my Anker SoundCore 2 speaker - the quality of which is good enough for me.
Initial plan was to carry on ignoring the TV sound issue and wait until I can justify a new TV purchase, and buy either an Echo or Echo Plus for the second issue. But I wondered if a soundbar or sound system with Bluetooth would solve both issues.
Firstly, does it sound like a sensible solution?
Secondly, what sound setup should I look for? If there are a few models I can stick into CamelCamelCamel and keep an eye out for on Black Friday then I was hoping I'll get lucky.
Edited by tenohfive on Tuesday 21st November 12:08
For 1) you'll need something that limits dynamic range - you're TV is doing exactly what it's supposed to - volume set at a level where speech is fine then hell breaks out during action scenes. I get that's not ideal for some people or situations. Most sound bars and AV amps come with this DL or ALC function.
there is a lengthy thread about these, somewhere on here
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Goodmans-Channel-Soundbar...
I bought one last January and am very happy with it, I see that this model is out of stock but it was only £80.00 ish and now I can hear everything.
I'm no audiophile but it just seems to boost everything and enhance just enough.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Goodmans-Channel-Soundbar...
I bought one last January and am very happy with it, I see that this model is out of stock but it was only £80.00 ish and now I can hear everything.
I'm no audiophile but it just seems to boost everything and enhance just enough.
I bought a Goodmans sound base last year on a recommendation from here, Maplins still doing for them for £75, easy to set up, decent sound and has Bluetooth.
https://www.maplin.co.uk/p/goodmans-base-42-channe...
http://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/goodmans-bas...
edit: Beaten to it!
https://www.maplin.co.uk/p/goodmans-base-42-channe...
http://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/goodmans-bas...
edit: Beaten to it!
Afraid not.
Just got a soundbar myself to replace all my AV stuff and it's decent enough (not on a par with separates naturally) and it offers dynamic compression (ALC) but that was £300 (reduced from £650) - bit of a bargain for 'top' soundbars but three times your budget. And it really needs a sub to sound its best although if you're used to soundbars it's probably fine at lower reaches.
However, it is huge for what it is - not much narrower than a 55" tv.
The other option is 'formally loved' used gear on various forums but that gets you back into pages of searching Google.
https://www.avforums.com/threads/arcam-solo-soundb...
Just got a soundbar myself to replace all my AV stuff and it's decent enough (not on a par with separates naturally) and it offers dynamic compression (ALC) but that was £300 (reduced from £650) - bit of a bargain for 'top' soundbars but three times your budget. And it really needs a sub to sound its best although if you're used to soundbars it's probably fine at lower reaches.
However, it is huge for what it is - not much narrower than a 55" tv.
The other option is 'formally loved' used gear on various forums but that gets you back into pages of searching Google.
https://www.avforums.com/threads/arcam-solo-soundb...
If I'm honest I'm not keen on trawling through used stuff.
That Goodmans Base looks good, but nowhere is selling it new. Maplins shows the price but it's not in stock and the only ones for sale I've found are used.
ETA:
I think a sound base is out of the equation anyway - I've just measured the space I've got for it and I think I'm going to be limited to a sound bar. Shame, as I was talking myself into the Cambridge Audio TV2 V2 for £150.
That Goodmans Base looks good, but nowhere is selling it new. Maplins shows the price but it's not in stock and the only ones for sale I've found are used.
ETA:
I think a sound base is out of the equation anyway - I've just measured the space I've got for it and I think I'm going to be limited to a sound bar. Shame, as I was talking myself into the Cambridge Audio TV2 V2 for £150.
Edited by tenohfive on Friday 24th November 12:47
tedmus said:
Yeah I saw that, but this might sound silly but when it's been priced at £65 buying one of the last ones available at £80 - and not even new - irks me.(I know I'm being picky when I really don't have the budget to be.)
tenohfive said:
Yeah I saw that, but this might sound silly but when it's been priced at £65 buying one of the last ones available at £80 - and not even new - irks me.
(I know I'm being picky when I really don't have the budget to be.)
I know what you mean, I'd probably feel the same!(I know I'm being picky when I really don't have the budget to be.)
There's this on Amazon, similar type of thing, looks to have decent reviews.
tedmus said:
I know what you mean, I'd probably feel the same!
There's this on Amazon, similar type of thing, looks to have decent reviews.
I'd have probably pulled the trigger on that, but it's going to sit on a shelf below the TV and it's just too deep. 220mm max unfortunately, ruling out most if not all sound bases. Shame.There's this on Amazon, similar type of thing, looks to have decent reviews.
Right, I'm fannying around and need to make a decision. Right now this is the main contender for £129:
http://www.steljesaudio.co.uk/docs/products/Erato....
2 HDMI inputs plus an ARC, Bluetooth, 3.5mm jack (which - if I continue to have BT connection issues with the Dot - could prove handy.) I can't find any reviews but the little-brother Calliope gets a decent review.
Are Steljes any good as a general rule? I'm assuming Richer Sounds should be pretty good for any warranty issues.
http://www.steljesaudio.co.uk/docs/products/Erato....
2 HDMI inputs plus an ARC, Bluetooth, 3.5mm jack (which - if I continue to have BT connection issues with the Dot - could prove handy.) I can't find any reviews but the little-brother Calliope gets a decent review.
Are Steljes any good as a general rule? I'm assuming Richer Sounds should be pretty good for any warranty issues.
I got the Stelje Erato in the end and it seems to be what I was looking for.
One issue I'm having though - I've connected two HDMI inputs (Tivo and Fire Stick) and I'm using the HDMI out/ARC to feed into the TV (the TV doesn't support ARC anyway, and it's a standard HDMI cable (and by standard, I have no idea what is standard any more - so take it to mean, 'cheap' if relevant.
The Fire TV Stick all seems to work - Youtube, iPlayer etc I get normal sound. With Netflix I get no sound and instead more machine-gun/static. If I plug the Fire TV Stick into an HDMI port on the TV and use line in I get an error message on Netflix.
Any ideas what's going on?
One issue I'm having though - I've connected two HDMI inputs (Tivo and Fire Stick) and I'm using the HDMI out/ARC to feed into the TV (the TV doesn't support ARC anyway, and it's a standard HDMI cable (and by standard, I have no idea what is standard any more - so take it to mean, 'cheap' if relevant.
The Fire TV Stick all seems to work - Youtube, iPlayer etc I get normal sound. With Netflix I get no sound and instead more machine-gun/static. If I plug the Fire TV Stick into an HDMI port on the TV and use line in I get an error message on Netflix.
Any ideas what's going on?
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