r/Soundbars

Hi everyone!

I'm wall mounting my 75" Samsung at my new house - it's a townhouse so the living space is by the front door, so as you walk in the wall where the tv will be is flush on the left and the 'living room' is approx 3 metres deep to the right.

We currently have an LG SN4, but in keeping everything clean we want to mount the soundbar and the PS to the wall - obviously this doesn't really work for the subwoofer.

Are there any solid options for a soundbar with built-in subwoofer? Relative to the SN4 we currently have, any upgrade in the process would be fantastic as well.

Thanks!

Howdy howdy! Our JBL Bar 2.1 Deep Bass decided to just stop working after about three years, up until then we were very satisfied with it. I tried all the tricks to get it to work but based on my research either the power supply unit or motherboard kicked the bucket and I don't think it's worth trying to repair, so we've decided to invest in a new one. Neither of us are big audiophiles so I'm not looking for anything tippy top tier, just much better than the TV speakers. We watch YouTube, anime, and movies, and play lots of games on the TV, and I would like to stay under $400 and preferably not something that's going to fry out after three years. Any help would be greatly appreciated, as I've done some of my own research but I still feel kind of lost. Thank you!

My wife and I just bought a new Samsung QN80H, knowing full well the speakers were not great and that we would need a soundbar to improve things. We know we don't need a monster sound system, as the room is only about 10x14 feet (3x4.3 m).

The TV's audio out is 2.0 and we want to keep the soundbar cost relatively low, given the small we will need to fill. We were also given the strong push at Best Buy about how we "absolutely need Atmos to get the best experience." Any recommendations or feedback would be greatly appreciated. So far we are considering

• Polk S4
• Yamaha SR-B30A
• Klipsch Flexus CORE 200 3.1.2
• Samsung Q600F 3.1.2
• JBL Bar 300MK2
• Samsung S60D
• Sony S100F
• Sont Bravia Theater Bar 5

I know these are all over the place, but I'm new to sound bars and need some help.

EDIT: i remeasured the length and its 14 feet, not 18

Hi,
Im looking into:
Sony Bar9 + SA-SW9
or
Bose ultra lifestyle + lifestyle bass module

Im guessing these are kinda their current flagship soundbar and bass module lineup?

I listen to a lot of sub heavy music like drum and bass..which sub delivers deep bass without being boomy?

I was leaning on the ultra lifestyle at first bc it has a larger 10” cone. But im also reading SA-SW9 might be better?

Any opinions?

My wife and I have had her old Vizio SB3821-C6 since it was purchased new (2015).

I’ve been on the (passive) hunt for an upgrade since purchasing our LG C3 65” a couple years ago. I jumped on a Woot deal for a new Samsung Q990F a couple of weeks ago for <$1,000.

I failed to consult my wife prior to purchasing. So far, we have compromised and I have moved the rear speakers to the front of the room where they are no longer visible. Those were one of the two problems. The second is the size and heft of the soundbar. It takes up a good chunk of our mantle, which is (apparently) problematic. I don’t really want to mount it to the TV stand because it’s a moveable TV stand and just all around doesn’t seem like a good idea.

It’s likely it will end up getting returned. I really enjoy the upgrade over the old Vizio now that I’ve had a taste of it.

What soundbar + subwoofer options would you recommend that resolve the aforementioned complaints? Looking for great sound quality in a small(er) package, essentially. Soundbar doesn’t have to be mountable, as long as it just takes up less real estate. Thank you!

https://preview.redd.it/2x0ajokvg9bh1.png?width=1552&format=png&auto=webp&s=201fb5a6a0c6fb3127b423a869b17fedcbe39cca

Hello, I would like to hear some opinions about which system should I go with for my new apartment.
I am between Sony Bravia Theater Quad with an additional sub or Sonos Arc Ultra with in-ceiling speakers as surrounds and a sub mini.
The apartment has an open plan which hosts the kitchen, the living room and the dinning area. I want to go with a system which will not draw a lot of attention to it.
The main use will be for watching movies and listening to music.
Finally, if i go with the Sonos approach the in-ceiling speakers will be mounted behind the couch but if I go with the Quad approach I don't know where would be a good place to put the rear speakers

Hi everyone,

I have two offers:

• Samsung Q990F – ₹67,000 (~US$705)
• Samsung Q990H – ₹80,000 (~US$840)

My setup:

• LG C5 OLED (55")
• PS5
• 10 × 16 ft room
• 50% Movies, 30% Gaming, 20% Music/YouTube
• I mostly listen at low to medium volume and value dialogue clarity and Atmos immersion.

Is the Q990H really worth paying an extra ₹13K (~US$135), or should I save the money and buy the Q990F?

I'd appreciate opinions from anyone who has used or compared both. Thanks!

Hi. This is my first soundbar purchase ever. I'm not really into audio and I just want something that just sounds good for the price.

I have these two as options since they are the same price in my country and they are good for my budget.

I watch movies, play on my PS5 and watch football.

Which one would be the best? Thanks :)

What in the flying shit is going on with these updates? Just roll out a patch for these bars that are affected. Are you telling me you can’t fix via future updates? People have to get their bars serviced because the firmware is so awful it fucks the whole thing up to the point you need to replace internal hardware? This is pretty insane if you ask me.

Currently offers are running on Amazon India where some soundbars are on sale at discount.

LG s75qtr : Rs 28000

JBL 800Pro : Rs 45000

LG s95tr : Rs 56000

I am leaning towards the LG s75qtr because of the lower cost. But I am not sure if I am making the right choice. Can anyone advise which to choose?

Was pretty much confused between:

1. Samsung HW-B67EF/XL
2. SONY HT-S20R
3. Samsung HW-B650F/XL

Budget within 15k.
Requirements: Voice Clarity for movie/music with a 5.1 surround system. Not Bass heavy.
Is this deal worth it?
Any other recommendation?

With the latest sale, I bought the Sony Trio + Rear 9’s + Sub 9 and the Sony Quads. 

Coming from a Sonos Immersive Ultra Set with the Era 300’s (traded the set for Custom Built PC (5080/98003xd with 64RAM G Skill Trident/6TBSSD - felt like I made out nicely). Wanted something that felt more like an AVR Surround type -  I just lack the ideal spacing for it so need something wireless that can get as close as possible. 

Have had both for a week. Thought I’d share my experience and see what others experienced. I have 60 days to return one of them. 

Pricing I got 
Quads Open Box Excellent $1520 + $599 Sub 9 - $2120 pretax

Sony Trio $1599 + $599 Sub 9 + $550 Rear 9’s - all new - $2750 pretax 

I figure I’d get the 4 year warranty on the Quads if I end up keeping those for 215

Tested both with 

4K Blu-Rays
Blade Runner 2049, Dunkirk, Mad Max Fury Road, HEAT, Ready Player One, 2001, Inception 

Netflix Streaming - Unbroken, 1917 

Apple Library - Mission Impossible Fallout, No Time to Die, F1, Top Gun 1 + 2

HBO Streaming - Sopranos, Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings 

Streaming World Cup Games 

Gaming on ps5

Tv is A95L

Impressions 

Sony Quads + Sub 9  AND Sony Trio and Rear 9’s and Sub 9

I lack the knowledge to properly explain the nuances here but I’ll try my best. The first few days, I used the phantom center - which is impressive. Now having a center channel was a bit jarring at first compared to the Arc Ultra - but it somehow manages to work. There is a space bubble immersion quality to all - like you are inside the sound. I adapted to it after a few days and the Quads do a pretty magical job of just making sound appear in places where their aren’t any speakers - the throwing of sound if you will just manages to create a level of immersion that wasn’t there with the Sonos. But there were times I did miss the dedicated center when I use the Phantom version.

I hooked up the Acoustic Center Sync to the Sony TV and it took some tinkering but it definitely balances the missing center channel out - and i felt myself preferring the ACS option to the phantom center. The front 2 speakers do a good job at blending the sound with the TV - and it never feels like the system over powers the TV which is what I thought would happen. Even when I watched the Sopranos - it sounded damn good. 

I toyed with the 360 sound the default option comes with and the DSV. I stuck with the 360 option. I also turned on the Auto Volume Option on since the system initially felt a little quiet and that seemed to make the speakers pop a little more. I set the Sub to -2 and the rears to +2. I haven’t really changed any other settings. I have read what others do but so far the 360 option seems to be working for me.

The Sony Trio System feels like a mini AVR. I didn’t change too many options as there isn’t much to customize which is disappointing. The Front Stage Sound really reminded me of Sonos if it had a 3 speaker front - it’s hyper clear and loud and does a great job at separating sound without too much bleed in. A core difference tho is I felt the Trio’s volume needed to be pumped up to at least 10+ difference
In some situations compared to the Quads when streaming. I toyed with DSV and the 360 sound and the DSV seemed to make the subwoofer 50% louder during the same scenes. When I was watching some of the Nolan movies like Dunkirk or inception, I didn’t notice too much of a difference outside of the sub being much more loud in the same scenes when I use DSV.

During the Ready Player One Race Sequence, the best way to really describe the quads is as if you are in the sound. The separation as the Gorilla chases after them is really good but some of the details are a little muddy and less precise compared to the Trio’s setup - where you really get a sense of him stomping around the entire scene - the isolation is anchored to the 5 speakers and its more noticable when mapping his path on the screen - the Trio gives you pretty distinct separation and the Quads make it feel more immersive. I also have the Quads much wider in the Rear’s than the Sony’s. The Trio’s are on the wall behind the couch (not too much clearance only a few feet) - where as the Quads are to the left and right of the couch. If I had to guess the distance between the rear quads, I’d say right around 12 feet. The front quads are probably around 10 feet and distance.

It’s a similar experience in Mad Max Fury Road. It’s a wave of sound vs complete channel separation and vocal presence. When Furiosa is initially escaping Immoratan Joe, the Trio is awesome - it’s front stage heavy but man the booming voices here really stand out - and when the rig gets chased - it feels like a solid 5.1 setup. The biggest difference between the 2 is the front stage - Having the Sonos Immersive Set for a year - its easy to think this is what the Sonos could have been if they have 3 separate front speakers. The Quads drown you in sound - it’s like everything is everywhere. I had the ACS on here too - which makes up a lot of ground to the trio compared to the phantom center - but where the Trio is front stage heavy and I think handles the details much better the Quads feel more immersive with the wind sounds or the ghost whispers. 

For gaming, I liked the Quads better. I played the Last of Us Part 2 & Red Dead Redemption 2. I liked the immersion much better on the Quads during gameplay but the Trio handled the cutscenes better even with the ACS on the Quads. The forest segment in TLOU2 on the quads are freaking awesome. I mainly game with a headset but the quads are pretty fun for gaming. 

For the World Cup games - I tended to use the Trio - but the Quads are good and the crowd noise is 1000000% better on the Quads - happened to be watching the Mexico game in the first knockout stage and when they scored and it felt surreal . 

The one weird thing on the Trio tho, is at times, it felt like the center channel was no different than the Quads ACS. But this was rare - This happened during the opening of Unbroken streaming on Netflix and during some segments of Saving Private Ryan. No clue if it was the sound mix or what as I had read this was a common issue - for the most part I didn’t have any issue with the Trio center. It’s loud and clear and having the Arc Ultra for a year, i kept comparing it to that as far as dialogue clarity. 

I’m leaning towards keeping the Quads since I’d save a bit of money even with the 4 year warranty - 2100 for the quads and Sub feels solid. With the ACS as a center it brings much better clarity to the dialogue-  but the more I use the Trio, the more I’m appreciating the precise separation. We’ll see in a few more weeks - but you can’t go wrong with either one of these systems. I’d have been fine had I just bought one and not been a mad man.