Soundbars/Soundbases

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John Archer  |  Mar 05, 2021  |  0 comments
John Archer samples the 9.1.4-channel theatrics of Samsung's flagship soundbar

While I love most things about Samsung's HW-Q950T soundbar, there is one thing about it that's so incredibly dumb I have to get it off my chest right away: its LED display is on its top edge.

John Archer  |  Dec 12, 2022  |  0 comments
hccbestbuybadgev3For its range-topping 2022 sound system, Samsung has adopted an 'evolution not revolution' approach. John Archer appreciates the new-found sense of refinement

The first thing to point out about Samsung's HW-Q990B soundbar is actually something it doesn't do, which is add any new sound channels. It sticks with the 11.1.4 configuration introduced by last year's Q950A (HCC #324), bringing to an end a proud Samsung tradition of steadily increasing channel counts in its sound systems.

John Archer  |  Feb 11, 2014  |  0 comments

Every now and then a product comes our way that makes us wonder how its maker can possibly be earning any money on it. The Sandstrom S47S13 is one of those products.

Steve May  |  Sep 25, 2019  |  0 comments
In this premium, feature-packed home cinema soundbar, proprietary Sennheiser processing makes Dolby Atmos even more immersive
Danny Phillips  |  Jul 09, 2012  |  0 comments

One of a trio of soundbars in Sharp’s latest lineup, the £120 HT-SL50 purports to be the world’s slimmest, at just an astonishing 26mm high. I don’t have a tape measure to hand and access to every other ‘bar on the planet, so I’ll have to take its word for it.

Steve May  |  Jun 03, 2013  |  0 comments

Having effectively modernised hi-fi, the wireless titan that is Sonos has set its sights on the booming soundbar business, and seemingly almost by default, finds itself a home cinema player, too. But can the brand really replicate its audio success in the world of TV and multichannel audio?

John Archer  |  Jan 28, 2022  |  0 comments
hcchighreccomendIf you're looking for high-performance home cinema and music sound from a single box, John Archer thinks the HT-A7000 could be just the job

Some soundbars prioritise convenience and price, while others prioritise sound quality, features and versatility. Sony's new HT-A7000 is very much one of the latter.

Mark Craven  |  Mar 23, 2016  |  0 comments

The Sony HT-RT5 soundbar is a bit of an odd one. It's a soundbar accompanied not only by a subwoofer but also two wireless surround speakers. The huge success of soundbars has been based on people's distaste for multiple boxes – those who fell out of love with all-in-one systems. Now the clutter is piling up again. I, for one, couldn't be happier.

Adrian Justins  |  Feb 01, 2014  |  0 comments

If square speaker drivers existed then Sony would have certainly used them for the HT-ST7, a soundbar that’s got more hard edges than Jason Statham and more angles than a protractor factory. Even the remote control is a perfect oblong with triangular shaped buttons. And with substantial dimensions and considerable heft to both bar and subwoofer (not pictured) there is nothing subtle about the HT-ST7’s look.

Steve May  |  Jul 15, 2020  |  0 comments
hcc_recommendedIt may lack upfiring drivers, but this affordable Dolby Atmos system compensates with unbridled chutzpah, says Steve May

The SONY HT-X8500 is proof that you don't need to spend big for a truly entertaining Dolby Atmos-enabled soundbar. Modestly priced (given that you can easily spend twice as much for a rival system), it's surprisingly compact and compatible with both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.

Steve May  |  Sep 21, 2018  |  0 comments
The very idea seems preposterous. 
A 3.1-channel Dolby Atmos soundbar system that lacks upfiring speakers? But that’s exactly what Sony offers here...
Steve May  |  Oct 11, 2013  |  0 comments

The soundbar market is making quite a noise these days. The compact convenience of these sonic slivers has proved a big hit with telly addicts eager to compensate for the rubbish audio offered by most superslim TVs. The latest maker to sound off with one is specialty hi-fi outfit SpeakerCraft, better known for its high-performance in-wall architectural loudspeakers. Only the brand’s CS3 isn’t exactly a sound bar, it’s more an audio pedestal. 

Steve May  |  Jun 11, 2019  |  0 comments
Unboxing Teufel's Cinebar Pro is akin to discovering dinosaurs grazing in Jurassic Park. If you're hoping for sonic evolution you'll be disappointed. This throwback soundbar eschews fashionable immersive sound codecs in favour of conventional 2.1, but still has wow factor.
Adrian Justins  |  Jul 26, 2013  |  0 comments

Dinkier than a corgi dog and looking less refined than a crate of raw sugar beet, in soundbar country the SBM1W is more Margate than Monte Carlo – and with just 40W of power, plus the 20W wired subwoofer, in home cinema terms the SB1MW is almost an irrelevance. But many of us have second screens that need a sonic supplement, a role well suited to the SBM1, especially as it manages to exceed expectations. For a start, unlike models costing twice as much (eg from Orbitsound and Samsung), it has both optical and coaxial digital inputs, making it well suited for hooking up, say, a screen and a Blu-ray deck. And, in addition to stereo phonos and a 3.5mm line-in, it can accept compressed audio wirelessly streamed over Bluetooth.

Danny Phillips  |  May 14, 2015  |  0 comments

Not only is the SRT-1000 Yamaha’s first soundbase, but it’s also the first to promise ‘true’ surround sound, using technology found on the company’s high-end digital sound projectors.

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