The television manufacturers are working diligently to improve their products, and continue to launch better products from year to year. Except for one point: the sound quality. In a world where flatter is better, there is no room to incorporate good quality speakers. The simplest and most elegant solution to issues regarding audio is a …
Our clear soundbar favourite to date has been the Samsung HW-K960. It impresses with Dolby Atmos, with a total of four speaker drivers pointing upward and also wireless rear speakers to surround us with a dome of sound. K960 has only one drawback, besides not supporting Dolby Atmos via the Audio Return Channel (ARC), namely …
Yamaha is the mother of all soundbars, and was first out with soundbars where a whole bunch of speaker drivers used the ceilings and walls to reflect the sound from behind the back channels, so the sound actually hit the listener from behind. The surround sound is thereby not virtual, but genuine. The YSP-2700 utilises …
Like the Sonos and Yamaha YAS-306, Bluesound lacks HDMI inputs. Instead, the TV must be connected using optical cable. Bluesound’s multi-room system works very similar to Sonos and Heos, and connecting to the wireless network is a piece of cake. Bluesound supports high-definition audio, which is worth noting for those interested in hi-fi. The interface …
Sonos has spent a long time on PlayBase in order to offer one of the best sound bases on the market. In the meantime, many competitors have scrapped theirs, due to faltering sales. Sonos thus come to a market where other producers have previously tried and failed. Can PlayBase still be a success? The idea …
Sony’s soundbar should be on the table with the front facing diagonally upwards. We have seen this principle in other soundbars before, and with mixed results. But on the Sony soundbar, the speaker drivers are inset in such a way that they point pretty much forward, so they don’t play up into the air but …
With one HDMI input and output, it is natural to connect Samsung’s soundbar to the TV’s audio return channel, if you have more than one video source to connect to. The soundbar is relatively easy to connect to the wireless network, but in the manual it tells only how to do this if you have …
This Yamaha soundbar has a built-in subwoofer and does not need an external subwoofer. It is very convenient for those who do not have enough space for one or if, for example, you live in a block and don’t want to bother the neighbours with too much deep bass. With such a solution, the manufacturer …
The Philips soundbar came in a somewhat suspiciously small box, which we thought could only have room for a subwoofer. It turned out that the soundbar comes in three parts that must be assembled. It is the thinnest of the test, so if you find a place to hide the wireless subwoofer, there is little …
SoundTouch 300 is the latest addition to Bose’s multi-room family, an easy-to-use soundbar, where one can also purchase a wireless subwoofer if you want, and even supplement with wireless back speakers. But it also works well on its own. The SoundTouch 300 has a HDMI output, but interestingly enough no corresponding input. This is because …
The look is rough and masculine, with a length that best matches TVs at 46 inches and up. The soundbar has an HDMI input that supports HDCP 2.2 and hence all the latest video resolutions. However, it lacks a display, so you need to get close in order to see the input and sound modes. …
With its 10 inch down-firing subwoofer, clearly the biggest in this test and in its price range, the JBL Bar 3.1 is not to be overlooked. The soundbar not only has one but three HDMI inputs, which all support HDCP 2.2 and thereby 4K-video from Blu-Ray. It has a large and clear display in the front, …
LG SJ8 is the widest of the test and looks great with big TVs. It is sleek and elegant and is user-friendly with a clear and straightforward display in the front. Besides the HDMI input that supports all video formats, SJ8 has both wireless and wired network functionality. Spotify customers can enjoy direct streaming with …
HW-N660 supports 4K-video from Blu-ray through the HDMI input, and it also extends the sound in height in order to give an additional dimension. Unlike Sony there is no decoding of 360 audio formats such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Instead, Samsung scales the volume in height from regular two-dimensional audio formats. The usability is …
The Panasonic SC-HTB250 is a narrow soundbar, which fits with small TVs. The wireless slim subwoofer fits under the couch, and you can hear and feel the bass even at low volume. Good for neighbourly relationships among flat residents! As for connections, there is an optical digital input and an HDMI output with audio return …