RE: Best soundbars you've heard.

Posted by Ross (A) on November 17, 2024 at 11:12:36

In Reply to: Best soundbars you've heard. posted by sk on November 14, 2024 at 06:17:31:

Not the best but adequate for my needs:

I use a ROKU soundbar in our vacation house. This is a better than average soundbar and processer with an integrated ROKU streamer. Accepts HDMI ARC, ethernet, external USB, and has wifi.

Sound is better than I expected. Vocals and midrange sound natural. Bass is processed to sound more extended, and treble is subtly rolled off. I can stream to the bar, use external USB storage, and stream from ROKU apps.

Primary HT set up is 5.1. B&W 685 S2 (r-L), and B&W CC using the same drivers for the front. This setup delivers extremely accurate vocal and music reproduction. Best adjective is natural.

Were I to create another HT system I would focus on the quality of R/C/L speakers, and let everything else fall into place.

I read an editorial in Fi magazine a long time ago. General statement was that the audio objectives of HT are different than the audio objectives of 2ch stereo. The former is intended to reproduce an artificial and unnatural event. The later is designed to reproduce real musicians playing instruments in real space. Made a lot sense then and still does. With that in mind, choose a soundbar (or R/L/C system) based upon what sounds best for *music* and vocal reproduction. You will likely find that video audio performance will be better than you expect.

Several companies market their stand mount speakers as front speakers for HT- with an option to purchase a single speaker for the center channel. KEF comes to mine with their LS series. Triangle, PSB and Polk also, and I think B&W may. But you can also generally find single speakers on Ebay if you are so inclined.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Best soundbars you've heard. - sk 06:17:31 11/14/24 (38)

RE: Best soundbars you've heard. - howard 09:55:02 11/21/24 (2)

I saw that the Ultra is out.... - AbeCollins 19:30:48 11/21/24 (0)

Anything you don't like...... - sk 09:58:13 11/21/24 (0)

RE: Best soundbars you've heard. - Ross 11:12:36 11/17/24 (0)

Likely the best I haven't heard - Doublej 18:37:42 11/15/24 (2)

Those look the business...-. - Ozzy 15:11:32 11/16/24 (1)

RE: Those look the business...-. - Doublej 15:21:16 11/16/24 (0)

Nah, go with 2.1 - Jon L 17:17:01 11/15/24 (0)

I have 2. - Kal Rubinson 13:37:50 11/15/24 (0)

We have a ZVOX soundbar. - srdavis2000 09:49:48 11/15/24 (1)

RE: We have a ZVOX soundbar. - hahax@verizon.net 20:39:03 11/16/24 (0)

Is there such a thing? - jedrider 09:20:01 11/14/24 (10)

Absolutely. Have you tried a soundbar for TV/Movies ? - AbeCollins 09:34:39 11/14/24 (9)

Soundbars are important to video gamers - Luminator 17:19:37 11/14/24 (0)

There are ways around - E-Stat 09:45:06 11/14/24 (7)

RE: There are ways around - AbeCollins 12:29:36 11/14/24 (6)

The HT system has always - E-Stat 12:35:49 11/14/24 (5)

RE: The HT system has always - AbeCollins 12:48:17 11/14/24 (4)

RE: The HT system has always - E-Stat 13:49:48 11/14/24 (3)

RE: The HT system has always - Inmate51 15:35:01 11/14/24 (2)

Yeah - E-Stat 15:43:23 11/14/24 (1)

Where is Lumi when you need him? - Ozzie 18:12:59 11/14/24 (0)

RE: Best soundbars you've heard. - AbeCollins 06:50:17 11/14/24 (15)

Why - Ozzie 18:28:45 11/14/24 (2)

What I found works best - E-Stat 07:55:04 11/15/24 (0)

RE: Why - AbeCollins 18:44:23 11/14/24 (0)

RE: Best soundbars you've heard. - Goober58 18:21:43 11/14/24 (1)

RE: Best soundbars you've heard. - AbeCollins 18:45:55 11/14/24 (0)

Why don't you use your 2ch system for tv? - oldmkvi 07:30:24 11/14/24 (9)

Don't use a TV in my....... - sk 07:48:33 11/14/24 (6)

RE: Don't use a TV in my....... - AbeCollins 07:53:15 11/14/24 (5)

RE: Don't use a TV in my....... - sk 07:58:44 11/14/24 (4)

RE: Don't use a TV in my....... - dbphd 09:30:16 11/14/24 (0)

RE: Don't use a TV in my....... - AbeCollins 09:25:27 11/14/24 (2)

RE: Don't use a TV in my....... - sk 11:18:32 11/14/24 (1)

RE: Don't use a TV in my....... - AbeCollins 11:46:48 11/14/24 (0)

Soundbar sounds much better for movies - AbeCollins 07:47:10 11/14/24 (1)

Right, I should have thought of that! - oldmkvi 08:52:34 11/14/24 (0)

Follow Ups

RE: Best soundbars you've heard. - Ross 11:12:36 11/17/24 (0)

RE: Best soundbars you've heard.

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