Are soundbars any good? (for LCD TV)

wba31

Fifer wrote: »

I'm sure B&O aren't top spec either. I was just making the point that you don't have to buy expensive (overpriced) 'lifestyle' gear to get a decent sound.


But it does have a 'normal' setting which I understand switches off all 'spacial' processing and delivers plain stereo sound. That's the setting I'd advise the OP to use.

In my living room, on my orbitsound bar, the wider setting sounds clearer and better than the normal setting, that sounds a bit flat...

almillar

Mark, your mate at work is half right, soundbars will sometimes try to create surround sound without the 5 speakers and 1 subwoofer that you would usually have, but you're not really concerned with the surround sound element - you'll get much improved sound from what you would get on your TV, and that's what you're after. I got a bargain Sony TV stand that sounds great in the 2nd room, not sure if they do them any more, cost me £140 or something instead of £400!

MarkBargain

Thanks for the latest postings. Money is an object, so I don't want to pay much more than £100. I really just want to get rid of the vibration really; I don't listen to that much music for example and I am not looking for a surround-sound solution.

Looking at my LG TV it has an Optical Digital Audio Out socket and a standard headphone socket. I guess a soundbar would use one of these. Does it make any difference to the sound quality or anything else which one is used?

MarkBargain

I read on the internet:

"Coaxial Digital Output and Optical Digital Output - These outputs provide the highest quality audio. They send six channels of digital sound information (for six separate speakers: front left, front center, front right, rear left, rear right, and subwoofer) to the receiver for decoding. "

On the Richer Sounds website it states that the six-speaker Sharp HTSB250 "Simply connect it to the TV's headphone socket and you'll maintain the TV's existing remote volume control. A further analogue input means that you can connect the audio output from other sources, such as an MP3 player, too.". So how can it work from the headphone socket using six channels? Are jack cables good enough for this? Shouldn't it use Optical Digital Audit Out?

Toxteth_OGrady

The optical out on most TVs is only stereo even if the broadcast source is 5.1.

Andrew1472

MarkBargain wrote: »

six-speaker Sharp HTSB250 So how can it work from the headphone socket using six channels?

You are confusing 6 speakers with 6 channels. The Sharp is a 2.1 soundbar. i.e. stereo. It has left and right speakers plus 4 sub woofers which just add the missing bass to the left and right speakers.

Any surround sound claims it makes are an illusion created by extra processing, and, as others have said, you will almost certainly have that switched off as the overall sound quality will suffer.

NeverAgain_2

Mark,

Buy the Sharp sound bar, it will do exactly as you want, a substantial improvement without blowing the ruddy doors off.

Connection via the headphone jack will be fine.

Fit and forget, and get on with watching your favourite programmes.

Although I expect you will like the sound of the bar so much you will use it all the time.

MarkBargain

Many thanks for all the helpful comments. I will buy a Sharp soundbar as suggested.

almillar

If you haven't already bought it, I'd look for one with an optical digital in, some TVs don't have great headphone outputs, and keeping it digital further should give better quality anyway.

MarkBargain

Can you suggest one to go for? I was thinking of getting the Sharp HTSB250 which uses the headphone socket.

https://www.sharpdirect.co.uk/home-cinema/htsb250-21-channel-sound-bar-system/invt/htsb250/

https://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/4-/19312117/Sharp-Aquos-HT-SB250-21-Channel-Sound-Bar-Av-Speakers/Product.html?_%24ja=tsid:11518|cat:19312117|prd:19312117