Bother with a soundbar or not?

[Dick Dastardly]

I was about to buy a nice big new Samsung TV on Currys and they offered a 1/2 price sound bar (the Q60T). £250 instead of £500.

I've never had one before so wondered how much of a difference these make?

If they do make a big difference and are a must have, should I go for this Q60T, or find a better one?

Thanks!

[Big Pants]

Massive difference to sound quality. Can't comment on the Samsung model but the difference with/without soundbar on my Panasonic is night & day.

[jimmytheone]

It makes a massive difference IME - TV speakers are generally pants.

The question you need to ask is soundbar or 5.1 (or similar) - soundbar tends to be neater and more unobtrusive but a decent 5.1/even a 2.1 would be even better.

[Sheepshanks]

I couldn't get on with the sound of our new Sony telly after years of a Panny Plasma being absolutely fine (for everyday telly watching). Got a Sonos Beam and very happy with it.

It was updating itself the other day and it switched back to TV sound and I couldn't believe how bad it was.

Even though I got it for £300 in a sale I do feel miffed at having to buy something I'd managed perfectly well without for years. I wonder if they make the standard sound bad on purpose.

[jimmytheone]

Sheepshanks said:

I couldn't get on with the sound of our new Sony telly after years of a Panny Plasma being absolutely fine (for everyday telly watching). Got a Sonos Beam and very happy with it.

It was updating itself the other day and it switched back to TV sound and I couldn't believe how bad it was.

Even though I got it for £300 in a sale I do feel miffed at having to buy something I'd managed perfectly well without for years. I wonder if they make the standard sound bad on purpose.

I think its to do with the depth/ packaging of flatscreen TV - there's just nowhere to put decent speaks with sufficient space to get decent oomf out of them.

[CeramicMX5ND2]

Wouldn't be without my Q Acoustics M2 Soundbase - Is my default sound setting for my ancient 1080p Sony TV

[Sheepshanks]

jimmytheone said:

I think its to do with the depth/ packaging of flatscreen TV - there's just nowhere to put decent speaks with sufficient space to get decent oomf out of them.

I think the Sony has speakers (which as you say must be small) firing down and through ports angled forwards under the screen. It's just massivley muddled - listening to dialogue is awful, not helped by lip-sync often seeming to be a tiny bit out.

We did buy one TV, a cheapy branded Toshiba but made by Vestel, that had speakers at the front - almost like it had a built in soundbar under the screen - and that sounded fine. But the screen developed a line and Toshiba/Vestel simply ordered AO to collect it and refund. That style had been dropped and no-one seems to have anything similar.

Edited by Sheepshanks on Friday 12th March 11:57

[Brainpox]

Built in speakers on new TVs are there as the bare minimum to qualify as being a television imo. A soundbar is the least you need for any kind of fulfilling experience. Even a cheap one will be a considerable upgrade.

[Roaringopenfire]

I have a Q70 and it is excellent, particularly as it was half price with a TV. Samsung own Harmon Kardon so while you might not think of Samsung for high quality audio, with Harmon Kardon you do. I do not know if they are all made on the same production line but logic says they will share design engineers and parts etc.

[911newbie]

As per everyone else, soundbar is pretty much required. Full blown 5.1 or 7.1 or whatver - yeah go nuts !

I got a Cambridge Audio TVB2 soundbar + woofer and it is excellent.
Seems not to be available at Richer Sounds anymore....

I would go for a separate woofer and soundbar.
Polk and JBL options at Richer Sounds, both would be good bets I'd assume

I'm sure surround sound would be even better.

[Dick Dastardly]

Thanks everyone. Tv with a sound bar ordered.