Looking at a few soundbars on a budget. Struggling to choose.

JustAnotherSaver

Struggling based on i don't actually know what's decent and what's not.


What i want to achieve:

basically an improvement on the TV speakers. A good improvement. I don't expect to achieve cinematic surround sound.


Budget:
£150 at the tops. None of the 'if you just stretch' because £150 is me stretching to £150 from £100. I understand i'm at the bottom end and so i don't expect premium goods. Likewish i want to avoid buying absolute tosh.


I've had a look at soundbases and it's a soundbar i want. I'd also prefer to not have a sub simply due to space, although i wont rule it out as you'll see in a bit.


I'm not limited to the 3 shown, these are just the ones i've been looking at.


https://www.richersounds.com/tv-home-cinema/soundbars/jbl-bar-studio-black.html That one was recommended to me as a soundbar on a budget
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/8056472 That one was recommended by someone else as one on a budget
https://www.johnlewis.com/panasonic-sc-htb488-bluetooth-sound-bar-with-wireless-subwoofer/p3185973 That's one i looked up myself. I know it has a sub and i know what i said. I just wondered what was available at the upper end of my budget.






Like i say, i'm not limited to these three. I don't know what's better and what isn't. I read that you can't just take the wattage as a rule and besides, i'm not wanting the family at the top of the street to hear what i'm watching. So to me the only difference is a) the price of course b) the size and shape c) the brand d) the fact one has a sub


So over to those in the know.


Oh and as an extra - this will be bought online. I have an Argos locally but the other two for example are a bit of a distance away.

debitcardmayhem

Have you got a stereo system in the same room? If so cables may be your answer

WaywardDriver

The JBL one is a Which Don't Buy. 2nd link doesn't work but Panasonic SC-HTB8 is another Don't Buy. All Which Best Buys under £200 have sub-woofers.

harz99

With your budget and usage I would have looked more favourably at a sound base, why do you prefer bar over base?

RumRat

At that budget they are all going to show some deficit in the sound quality in way or another.

This
(https://www.amazon.co.uk/LG-SJ2-Soundbar-Channel-Speaker/dp/B0719J5BDB?!!!!!soundbar200-productspy-21
Is a bargain right now, so may be worth you grabbing...
I'll leave you to google any reviews, but, the one I've listened to sounded decent enough.
Only drawback would be no 4K pass through, so unless you are planning on that.....:)

JustAnotherSaver

debitcardmayhem wrote: »

Have you got a stereo system in the same room? If so cables may be your answer

No, no stereo system.


I should've added that it would be nice to have bluetooth option too.

WaywardDriver wrote: »

The JBL one is a Which Don't Buy. 2nd link doesn't work but Panasonic SC-HTB8 is another Don't Buy. All Which Best Buys under £200 have sub-woofers.

Wow really? When i googled them they seemed to get decent reviews.
Surprised the second link doesn't work also. I've just clicked it & it works fine.

harz99 wrote: »

With your budget and usage I would have looked more favourably at a sound base, why do you prefer bar over base?

Ahh i knew this question would come :rotfl:I thought it'd be in the first reply to be fair.


Why do you suggest a base over a bar?

RumRat wrote: »

At that budget they are all going to show some deficit in the sound quality in way or another.

This
(https://www.amazon.co.uk/LG-SJ2-Soundbar-Channel-Speaker/dp/B0719J5BDB?!!!!!soundbar200-productspy-21
Is a bargain right now, so may be worth you grabbing...
I'll leave you to google any reviews, but, the one I've listened to sounded decent enough.
Only drawback would be no 4K pass through, so unless you are planning on that.....:)

'deficit in one way or another' .... compared to what?


Compared to the TV? Because if so then that's no good & therefore pointless.

Compared to a £5k home cinema set up? Well that i expect.


I don't even know what a 4k pass through is. There'll be a lot of terms in this topic that will be way over my head.


Anyway thanks for the link. Seems good

JustAnotherSaver

WaywardDriver wrote: »

The JBL one is a Which Don't Buy.

I'm not saying you're right or wrong. Just posting this...


https://www.whathifi.com/jbl/bar-studio/review

Verdict

If you want it all – infallible performance whether for TV, film or music – there seems to be a starting price. And it's more than this.
But while £150 might be too cheap for a true all-rounder, the JBL Bar Studio is proof that there are some fine performers to be had. For a confident, full-bodied upgrade to your telly’s speakers, you can’t go far wrong.

harz99

Soundbase fits easily under TV, definitely no separate sub, and if you look around (Amazon uk) there are some from decent manufacturers at very reasonable prices. I have the Panasonic one currently listed at £99 which does a very good job of improving TV sound in our open plan ground floor living area. Also has good sound for our pvr/DVD/cd combi which is hooked up as well.

WaywardDriver

WaywardDriver wrote: »

The JBL one is a Which Don't Buy. 2nd link doesn't work but Panasonic SC-HTB8 is another Don't Buy. All Which Best Buys under £200 have sub-woofers.

JustAnotherSaver wrote: »

Wow really? When i googled them they seemed to get decent reviews.
Surprised the second link doesn't work also. I've just clicked it & it works fine.

Both 2nd and 3rd links come up with "... website redirect.moneysavingexpert.com cannot be found" - maybe something to do with my anti-virus.
Simple statement of facts - both JBL and Panasonic are Which Don't Buys, the Sony one is rated poor as well - interpret as you wish.

getmore4less

What TV are you matching this up with?

You may be better getting a second hand sound system(people almost give them away).

keep your 150 so you can add to it and get something much better later.

getmore4less

Also look at the ebay outlets
Panasonic have plenty on their site.

Got my OLED from there been great.

http://www.ebaystores.co.uk/panasonicofficialoutlet/home-cinema-&-sound-bars-/_i.html?_fsub=23769625014&_sid=1198999454