Budget Home Cinema - Bluetooth Speakers or Soundbar ?

[Pot Odds]

Hi

I recently upgraded my 15 year old projector to an Epson TW650 and a Sony BDP S6700 blu-ray player. Its all being done at the budget end of the spectrum but is a massive upgrade from the previous setup.

I specifically went for the the Sony as it is able to output audio via bluetooth - I'm currently trialling this via an old phillips bluetooth speaker / iPod dock.The sound outputs fine in the sense that I get no breakup but i am noticing that a couple of the films i have watched seem to have a noticeable volume differential between dialogue and action/music. In some cases I've found that I'm turning up the volume during dialogue and then having to turn down so not to wake the kids during action/music (the phillips speaker has no variable audio settings just a volume control). Ive read that bluetooth only supports stereo ??? is this likely to be an issue with the audio from the bluray being in 5.1 or is it probably just that my current bluetooth speaker is a bit poo ?

Im quite happy to upgrade the audio but this would again be to a budget (no more that £200 and preferably half that). I also want to keep it bluetooth just for ease and to avoid having wires hanging over or around my fireplace where the speaker will located under my screen. Are soundbars better than getting just a bluetooth speaker such as a bose sound link mini speaker. Id prefer something like the mini speaker as it would then be versatile to use in the garden etc. Has anyone any experience of using bluetooth speakers / soundbars for their home cinema setup......

Thanks for any comments / advice

Pot Odds

[Camelot1971]

With the budget you have/want to spend, there are going to be big compromises. Downmixing audio from 5.1 to stereo isn't a problem but you just can't get an immersive audio experience with 2 speakers.

For 'bang for your buck', have a look for an Arcam Solobar plus - Richer Sounds have a refurb one for £125. They were originally £700 and have brilliant sound quality for the money. You can add a Arcam Sub for added bass at some point too.

[Pot Odds]

Camelot1971 said:

With the budget you have/want to spend, there are going to be big compromises. Downmixing audio from 5.1 to stereo isn't a problem but you just can't get an immersive audio experience with 2 speakers.

For 'bang for your buck', have a look for an Arcam Solobar plus - Richer Sounds have a refurb one for £125. They were originally £700 and have brilliant sound quality for the money. You can add a Arcam Sub for added bass at some point too.

Thanks for the reply - it was always gonna be a compromise not just due to budget but don't really want lots of speakers all over the lounge (I already consider myself fortunate that the management don't object to the ceiling mounted projector).

Have you a link to that refurb soundbar - i couldn't find it on richer sounds

[MissChief]

If you know someone that's been with Sky for over 8 years (or maybe you have) you can get a Sky Soundbox for £199 and they're very well regarded.

[Camelot1971]

https://www.richersounds.com/arcam-solobar-plus.ht...

looks like it sold overnight

They pop up on Ebay, Amazon and the like quite regularly.

[Pot Odds]

Camelot1971 said:

https://www.richersounds.com/arcam-solobar-plus.ht...

looks like it sold overnight

They pop up on Ebay, Amazon and the like quite regularly.

Thanks for posting back - it musta sold in the half hour following your original post as I found the page you linked last night and it wasn't available then.

[BlueHave]

Are the £50 Hitachi and JVC Soundbars from Currys a pile of rubbish. I know Bose will be a hell of a lot better but spunking £500 isn't an option.

[MiniMan64]

BlueHave said:

Are the £50 Hitachi and JVC Soundbars from Currys a pile of rubbish. I know Bose will be a hell of a lot better but spunking £500 isn't an option.

I'd be interested to know that too. There was Bluetooth 2.1 Blaupunkt Bar/Subwoofer job in Sainsbury's the other day for £60.

I'm not after a big surround sound, blow your ears out system but an upgrade on the built int TV stuff would be good

[bingybongy]

Don't know if this is of any interest but I have been using a Goodmans soundbase for the last 18 months, cost around £80 from Amazon, it has bluetooth, optical and HDMI inputs.
I'm happy with it but I'm not what you'd call an audiophile.
It has bass and lifts the volume nicely.

[MiniMan64]

MiniMan64 said:

BlueHave said:

Are the £50 Hitachi and JVC Soundbars from Currys a pile of rubbish. I know Bose will be a hell of a lot better but spunking £500 isn't an option.

I'd be interested to know that too. There was Bluetooth 2.1 Blaupunkt Bar/Subwoofer job in Sainsbury's the other day for £60.

I'm not after a big surround sound, blow your ears out system but an upgrade on the built int TV stuff would be good

I bought it in the end, £50 and it sounds very good, nice to have a little bass and as it can connected BT we use it as speakers for music too.

Had to connect it via an audio optical cable mind, it’s got an HDMI slot but that wasn’t going to work with our Virgin box and PS3 already connected to the TV

[HannsG]

We have a Goodmans Base.

https://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/goodmans-ba...

I gotta say for £60 the sound is ridiculously good. I do however think they discontinued them now.

Edited by HannsG on Saturday 24th November 08:39