29 Oct
Blog

Bose Smart Soundbar 300 review: Sonos Beam-beater

Bose Smart Soundbar 300

"Packed with features and great sound, it's an investment you won't regret."

  • Expansive and rich sound

  • Either Alexa or Google Assistant

  • Elegant, minimalist design

  • Listen to private headphones

  • AirPlay 2

  • Expensive for a small soundbar

  • Some music services are not supported

  • No Chromecast option for Android

Bose has gradually expanded its portfolio of smart soundbars and its $ 400 Smart soundbar 300 is the newest addition. It's the smallest and most affordable product in the range, but it has most of the features of its more expensive siblings, the Soundbar 500 for $ 550 and the Soundbar 700 for $ 800.

It might be the perfect choice for those with smaller rooms (or just smaller budgets). Is it right for you Let's try it out.

What's in the box?

In a mostly recyclable box (with some foam inserts that you may need to throw away), you get the Smart Soundbar 300, a power cable, an optical cable, a remote control and a quick start guide.

design

Bose Smart Soundbar 300Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Bose's soundbar design philosophy is one that I fully support: these speakers should be heard, not seen. The Smart Soundbar 300 is almost invisible with its completely matt black housing and its extremely flat shape.

It will look like home when I'm in front of virtually every television I can think of.

At just 2.25 inches tall and 27.5 inches wide, it won't block the bottom of your screen and (depending on the design of your TV) you might even be able to place it under the screen between your legs.

But it's also elegant. With clean lines, a button-free exterior, and a wraparound metal grille, it will look like home sitting in front of virtually every television I can think of. The $ 400 Sonos Beam – Bose's closest competitor – is a bit narrower, but also a bit bigger.

In the upper left corner, a small multi-colored LED light strip gives you visual feedback on the status of the speaker. Two white bars indicate a break, a single blue bar indicates Bluetooth and a small red point means mute. It would be cool if Bose used it to display the volume, but unfortunately not that lucky.

If you'd like to mount it on the wall, an optional bracket is available for $ 40.

The connection ports, which include an HDMI-ARC, an optical input, an Ethernet port, an infrared expansion port and a subwoofer output, are located on the rear. We'll discuss how these can be used in a moment.

Setup and connections

Bose Smart Soundbar 300Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

As with the Soundbar 500 and 700, the Smart Soundbar 300 is not just a TV speaker, it's also a wireless smart speaker that can be added to other Bose wireless speakers for a whole house audio solution. For this reason, the Bose Music app is required to set up (and use the non-TV features) (free on iOS and Android). Today, most people likely have a phone or tablet that can run the app. If you don't, consider one of the many soundbar systems that aren't based on Wi-Fi or app control.

The music app makes setup effortless. In a few minutes the soundbar will be connected to your wireless network and you can configure the soundbar 300 with either Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, or just skip this step (you can always change it later if you change your mind).

The advantage of connecting the speaker to your TV using the supplied optical cable is that you don't use any of your HDMI connections, which depending on the TV set can be scarce. Since the Soundbar 300 is not compatible with advanced audio formats like Dolby Atmos or DTS: X (which require HDMI ARC), an optical connection is really all you need.

Usually, using an optical connection means missing out on the HDMI enabled TV control features. Thanks to the infrared heater of the Soundbar 300, you can still use Alexa or Google Assistant to operate TV functions without HDMI. This is a neat trick that the Sonos Beam can't.

Oddly enough, Bose recommends using an HDMI cable, which is more reliable than using infrared. It's not included in the box, however, as most people already have an extra HDMI cable, while optical cables tend to be harder to come by.

The bass connector for wiring a subwoofer is proprietary, so it cannot be used with another company's subwoofer. However, if you're not a fan of cables, it makes more sense to upgrade the low-end of the Soundbar 300 to include Bose wireless subwoofers, which cost $ 400 Bass module 500and the $ 700 Bass module 700. If you want to create a more immersive surround sound atmosphere, the soundbar is compatible with the $ 299 wireless device too Bose surround speakers or $ 500 Bose surround speaker 700.

Streaming music from the Bose Music app over WiFi provides the best sound quality for Android users, but it's not a great music management app (more on this below). Instead, Apple users will be happiest with AirPlay 2, which gives every app on your phone or tablet a direct Wi-Fi connection to the speaker. Spotify subscribers can use the Spotify Connect feature to connect to the speaker from any Spotify app. There is also bluetooth on board which will be the best option for Android users.

Speaking of Bluetooth: The Soundbar 300 has the same Bose SimpleSync technology as the more expensive Soundbar 500 and 700. With SimpleSync you can pair a set of Bose Bluetooth headphones or a Bluetooth speaker with the soundbar and control the volume for the two devices independently of each other . It may work with third party headphones – I tried one set Bowers and Wilkins PX5 Headphones and it worked, if a little out of sync. However, your mileage may vary: The Sony WH-1000XM4 was not recognized by the soundbar.

Sound quality

Bose Smart Soundbar 300Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

If you're looking for room-filling sound, look no further. The Bose Smart Soundbar 300 delivers the goods, whether it's bigger, better sound for movies and TV shows, or just listening to your favorite music.

By default, the speaker's EQ is comfortably neutral and has a good frequency balance that works well with a wide variety of music genres and TV content. Given that soundbars are usually the tool of choice for those looking for a simple home theater upgrade, it's a good thing that you can dramatically increase the bass response using the Music app.

Don't get me wrong, the Soundbar 300 can't deliver the kind of bone-jarring bass a dedicated subwoofer can, but in a smaller space, like a bedroom, it has more than enough oomph to bring even the biggest blockbusters to life .

Not that it has to be confined to a small room – the soundbar can get very loud and does so without distortion.

The result is an impressive feeling that the Sonos Beam cannot quite keep up with.

For voice-heavy music or TV dialogues, the soundbar offers flawless, clear playback. Higher frequencies work freely and have both structure and airiness – an unusual combination, even with more expensive speakers.

I was particularly impressed by the sound stage width of the Soundbar 300. The angled full-range drivers impressively reflect the sound from your side walls in the direction of the display / listening zone and create an impressive feeling that the Sonos Beam cannot quite keep up with. The beam feels warmer and has more resonance when it comes to string instruments like bass or cello, but it's also a more reserved sound. The soundbar 300's dispersion pattern feels much more open.

Dialog enhancement mode is essentially a one-click EQ adjustment that brings higher frequencies to the fore and forces other bands to fade into the background. It's not a substitute for something as specific as the Zvox AV157 TV speaker, but it does go a long way in making cloudy speech easier to spot.

Multiroom audio and music sources

Bose Smart Soundbar 300 and Sonos Beam "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn2.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/bose-smart-soundbar-300-00012- 640x640 .jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAABose Smart Soundbar 300 (front) and Sonos Beam Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Bose Smart Soundbar 300 and Sonos Beam "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn3.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/bose-smart-soundbar-300-00014- 640x640 .jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAABose Smart Soundbar 300 (right) and Sonos Beam Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Bose Smart Soundbar 300 and Sonos Beam "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn4.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/bose-smart-soundbar-300-00013- 640x640 .jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAABose Smart Soundbar 300 (right) and Sonos Beam Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Bose Music app provides an easy way to manage multiple Bose wireless speakers in your home, including the ability to group them for shared or separate playback. It's not perfect – you can't pair stereo speakers or use them as surround to upgrade a soundbar like the 300 – but for most people it provides very good control.

However, this control does not extend very far into streaming music. The app supports a decent selection of music services including Apple Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, and SiriusXM. However, there is no consistency. Some services are searchable, others are not, and each has its own interface. There is no way to create playlists with the app. You are therefore dependent on the tools of each service. You can save playlists, albums, and songs as presets, but the app only gives you six presets to work with.

Not only is the Sonos system better, it's orders of magnitude better, with universal search, unlimited favorites, multi-source playlists, and support for every streaming service under the sun.

remote control

Bose Smart Soundbar 300 remote controlSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Smart Soundbar 300 comes with a small and simple infrared remote control. It covers the basics: volume, mute, play / pause, power, and source selection (music, TV, bluetooth). The rubberized surface and the curved back make it easy to hold and use.

The only unusual aspect of this remote control is the ability to use the music app to synchronize the power button function with your TV and / or cable box. When you do this, pressing the power button turns the soundbar and these two other devices on and off.

Voice assistants

Bose Smart Soundbar 300Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

With the Soundbar 300 you can choose Alexa or Google Assistant as your voice. A.I. You can change your mind at any time, but just like a Sonos smart speaker, you can't do both at the same time.

Regardless of which A.I. If you choose, the soundbar's microphones are great at picking up the wake-up words and commands.

The feature you choose determines which features you can use. Here you will find an overview of the advantages of the individual systems. One important consideration for those who want to use their music to control their music: the service you want to control must be supported by the Bose Music app as well as the voice assistant you choose. Otherwise it won't work.

Bose Smart Soundbar 300 appAlthough the Google Assistant works well with YouTube Music, you won't be able to bring up YouTube Music tracks on the soundbar 300 (or currently with Bose smart speakers).

Regardless of which A.I. If you choose, the soundbar's microphones are also great at picking up wake-up words and commands from across the room – no shouting required. A tap on the microphone button gives you complete privacy. I especially like the fact that the LED light strip responds to let you know your wake word has been heard. The Sonos Beam can also confirm wake-up words, but instead uses an audio chirp, which I find more intrusive.

Those who set up Alexa in the soundbar can use Bose's Voice4Video technology, which extends the control and control of Alexa to your TV and cable box – even if those devices are not directly compatible with Alexa. Once configured, you can ask Alexa to turn on the TV and even switch to a specific channel.

I found this feature to be a bit successful. Basic commands like “Alexa, turn on the TV” worked fine, but channel changes were found to be more inconsistent. When I asked Alexa to switch to channel 33, I sometimes saw "333" on the screen. At other times the channel request would be correct, but the channel change itself was not performed. And sometimes it just worked.

It is possible that these glitches are related to my particular TV and cable box combination. However, since I was using HDMI rather than optical, I would have expected more consistency.

Our opinion

The Bose Smart Soundbar 300 is an excellent choice for music and movies in small to medium-sized rooms with an expansive sound and some really innovative additional features.

Is there a better alternative?

If you're looking to build a whole house audio system, the $ 400 Sonos Beam is a better choice. It sounds great and its software platform remains the best in the business for those who want complete control over their music and speakers.

However, if you're really looking for a soundbar that can drastically improve the audio performance of your TV for movies and shows, and do an equally good job with your favorite music, the Bose Smart Soundbar 300 sounds better in my opinion.

How long it will take?

The Bose Smart Soundbar 300 comes with a one-year warranty. Bose has an excellent reputation for making quality products, and I trust the Soundbar 300 will last as long as you need it to be.

Should you buy it?

Yes. While the Bose Smart Soundbar 300 is expensive compared to many other TV speakers, its sound quality, customization, additional features, voice control, and expandability make it an investment you won't regret.

Editor's recommendations




24 Jul
Blog

LG SN7Y Soundbar Review: Affordable, Quality Dolby Atmos

LG SN7Y soundbar

"The LG SN7Y is nailing Dolby Atmos at an affordable price of $ 500."

  • Sleek design

  • Easy setup

  • Solid overall sound quality

  • Impressive Dolby Atmos

Of all the sound bars in LG's 2020 range, the SN7Y is possibly the most fascinating. It's a 3.1.2-channel soundbar system with support for a variety of audio formats – including Dolby Atmos and DTS: X Chief – that offers a much cheaper entry fee than the company's flagship models.

The system lacks the rear speakers for real surround sound and there is strong competition from Samsung, Vizio and Sony. After spending a lot of time with this bar, one thing is clear: without a doubt, the $ 500 SN7Y deserves a place at the table of the affordable Atmos soundbars.

design

After you've reviewed LG's premium SN11RG long before you received the SN7Y, the similarities between the two ends of the spectrum are hard to miss. One is of course much larger; The SN11RG is 57 inches wide compared to the 35-inch SN7Y, which closely matches competitors like the Sony HT-G700 (38.58-inch). Otherwise, the SN7Y is a miniature version of its relatively more expensive relative design with a sleek surface that resembles a much more expensive product.

LG SN7Y soundbarNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The bar itself contains drivers for the front left, middle and right channels as well as a pair of loudspeakers to provide the height channels of the 3.1.2 system. LG has gone into details about the actual drivers again, apart from the fact that they are each powered at 30 watts and the heights are 35 watts each. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean much.

The included wireless subwoofer has a rear opening and weighs around 17 pounds. Again, this is very close compared to Sony's 16-pound radio woofer. There are no rear speakers in this setup. This is a disappointment when you get a full 5.1.2 setup from Vizio for the same price. You can choose to purchase the LG rear speaker kit to complete the system. However, we are talking about another $ 180.

The remote control is almost identical to the accessories that come with the SN11RG, with the exception of a Google Assistant button, which is missing on the remote control for the SN7Y. That's because this bar doesn't have Wi-Fi, a sad fact we'll cover later.

configuration

Possibly the only advantage when there are no rear speakers or WiFi is the added simplicity of setting up this system. There are no cables to connect between rear speakers and subwoofers like a conventional Vizio system, and no app to download and configure the soundbar settings found in a product like the Sonos Beam. It's much slimmer with the SN7Y.

LG SN7Y soundbarNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The soundbar needs power, as does the subwoofer. Once powered on, they are paired wirelessly, as is standard with most wireless sub-setups. The soundbar must of course be connected to your display, and I will go into the various types of connections this bar offers in a moment. Once this connection is established, you can enjoy the system.

Since you don't have to worry about the rear speakers, you can place your subwoofer anywhere in your room. It's no secret that subwoofers have different reactions depending on where they're placed in a room. However, wired rear speaker setups always limit the position of your woofer. Without setbacks and even if you choose the wireless stern kit, LG puts you in the driver's seat to determine the best placement for your submarine.

links

The LG SN7Y has an HDMI HDCP 2.3 input and a corresponding HDMI output that supports 4K, Dolby Vision and HDR10 passages. The number of entries is limited, but not unexpected. The HT-G700 from Sony has the same setup, but supports eARC, while the LG is limited to ARC. The SN7Y also has an optical audio input and a USB input to round off an essentially uneventful series of physical connections. I can't knock LG for this, as many competitors have similar connection options at this price. I just wish we had more ways to connect for $ 500. But judging by general adversity that is changing in this regard (Polk Audio's new soundbar is one of the exceptions), my wishes may be in the minority here.

LG SN7Y soundbar remote controlNick Woodard / Digital Trends

Here's my legitimate concern about the SN7Y connection: Just like the Sony HT-G700, the SN7Y doesn't have Wi-Fi compatibility, which may have been a forgivable sin in the past few years. But it's 2020. It's problematic to bring out a $ 500 audio product that can't connect to Wi-Fi. This is illustrated by the fact that the Vizio and Samsung alternatives both support this.

A typical example: While you can stream to the SN7Y using Bluetooth 4.0 technology, you will inevitably find some connection problems. If you just chill on the couch and listen to music, you will probably be fine. For example, if you are having a dinner in the back yard and forget to leave your phone in the living room, the rest of the house has to endure noise that is constantly interrupted until you are within range. In comparison, Wi-Fi has long been the more reliable streaming option and should be included in all sound bars in this price range.

Sound quality

Like the SN11RG, LG has set up the SN7Y remarkably for most audio tasks. The bar supports high-resolution 24-bit / 192 kHz audio and a list of surround sound formats, including Dolby Atmos, DTS Digital Surround, DTS: X, Dolby Digital Plus, and more. The soundbar can also accept the formats FLAC, WAV and AAC via USB.

LG SN7Y soundbar subwooferNick Woodard / Digital Trends

There are also many preset sound modes to choose from, including AI Sound Pro, Standard, Music, Bass Blast, Bass Blast +, Film (Dolby Surround), DTS: X and Dolby Atmos. Simply put, there are a number of things this system supports and a number of ways to customize the sound of this system.

To be honest, none of this would matter if the bar didn't sound good. LG's partnership with Meridian Technology appears to have been fruitful as both music and movie content about both LG bars that I reviewed this year were exceptional. The SN11RG was far more comfortable, as the price would show, but the SN7Y has a lot to offer for the price.

Listening to music – with samples from Childish Gambinos Me and Your Mama to Midlands Burn Out – provided impressive clarity. Watching films effectively mixed lifelike action sequences and clear dialogues in films like Star Wars: Episode IX – Skywalker's Rise for a cinematic experience that I think most people would be fans of – even without rear speakers. I also appreciated the way different sound modes improved the audio rather than seemingly artificially increasing the frequencies. The film mode sounded better than the standard settings for films, and the same applies to music.

However, I am a little amazed by this LG subwoofer. The submarine for the SN7Y was generally not very convincing. Cult naval battles in the original Pirates of the Caribbean are said to have some weight behind these cannonball shots, and I missed that very much. For what it's worth, I thought the overall sound of the Sony HT-G700 and the LG SN7Y were equivalent, but the low-end detail in this Sony sub definitely outperformed the LG woofer.

Dolby Atmos

I had to assign Atmos a separate category in this test because LG's height channels in this system are more of a heading than a footnote in the audio area. I was already very impressed with the Dolby Atmos capabilities of the LG SN11RG, although it was entirely possible that the SN7Y could have been a completely different story. After all, we work with two channels with a lower height and overall less power.

LG SN7Y soundbarNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The rapid activation of the Dolby Atmos demo mode of the SN7Y, in which an Atmos demo is played by pressing the "F" key on the remote control for five seconds, eliminated all doubts, although I made some selections from our list of the best Have watched Dolby Atmos films for a good degree. The various effects of birds fluttering through the air, raindrops from above and thunder in the sky convinced me that this bar is following in the footsteps of its more expensive siblings in terms of Atmo's skill. Of course not to the same extent, since they are located at opposite ends of the Atmos spectrum. But what the SN7Y can do to add dimension to the sound at this price is impressive.

In this category, I preferred the SN7Y to the Sony HT-G700, which I honestly expected. The HT-G700 only has front-firing drivers and uses sound processing technology to achieve a sufficiently convincing virtual 7.1.2 effect. If you don't do anything unpredictable and have a product at a comparable price with drivers that fire noise towards the ceiling and then return to your listening position, virtual effects are almost certainly surpassed. The SN7Y worked as expected, just as a traditional home theater system with actual height or ceiling speakers would likely outperform the high-powered speakers in a sound bar. With a few exceptions (the Sennheiser Ambeo comes to mind) this is the general order of things.

Our opinion

The LG SN7Y has some flaws that its rivals don't have, but it is still a very good sounding sound bar that Dolby Atmos is nailing for $ 500. A balance between features and price is important, which is why I give this bar a slightly better score than the SN11RG at $ 1,600. The latter is undoubtedly the better system thanks to its superior sound and properties. But value is important, and I honestly believe that the SN7Y offers better value for money.

Is there a better alternative?

In a way yes. In another way, no. The $ 500 Vizio 5.1.2 system gives you Wi-Fi and two rear speakers at exactly the same price, and the $ 500 Sony HT-G700 has a more powerful subwoofer. But the LG has produced some of the best Atmos sounds in this price range. The $ 400 Sonos Beam also deserves to participate in this conversation due to all of its features. However, you'll have to pay significantly more to switch to a full surround setup with Sonos, or jump to $ 800 for the Arc to get Dolby Atmos support.

How long it will take?

The LG SN7Y has a typical one-year warranty, and while I don't necessarily want to drop this soundbar repeatedly or expose it to other forms of abuse, the build quality seems exceptional, and it has plenty of support for formats it should be kept in relevant years to come.

Should you buy it

Yes. Although I wasn't impressed with the subwoofer and I really wished this bar had Wi-Fi, the SN7Y is a bar that you should definitely consider if you want Atmos without breaking the bank.

Editor's recommendations




18 Jul
Blog

Vizio V Series 5.1 Soundbar Review: Putting The “V” In Value

Vizio V series soundbar

Vizio V Series 5.1 soundbar

"Vizio's V-5.1 5.1 soundbar is a cost-effective way to add good surround sound."

  • Easy setup

  • Immersive surround sound

  • Warm music playback

  • The middle channel is a weak link

  • Some lackluster "features"

For more than a decade, Vizio's stance on sound bars has consistently been about delivering tons of value without breaking the bank. If you were on the market to improve the sound of your TV without making a large investment, Vizio was often the best place to look.

Well, although we all live in the wrong world of 2020, at least one thing hasn't changed. Vizio's new $ 250 V-Series 5.1 soundbar system is an affordable surround sound setup – even if a few too many cost-saving measures have been taken this time.

Out of the box

I will always be amazed at how easy it is for Vizio to set up a soundbar. I was in no hurry to plug it in for testing, but if I raced a watch I would bet I could go from unpacking to listening to music in 10 minutes.

Vizio V series soundbarNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The system includes the bar itself, a pair of surround sound speakers, and a wireless subwoofer. Admittedly, there is not a ton here that could slow you down. But it's really just a matter of connecting your bar and your subwoofer to the power supply, making a physical connection between the bar and your display, laying the supplied speaker cable from the surround sound speakers to the subwoofer and turning everything on.

From there, the bar automatically searches for a content-generating entry. Be ready to act quickly and connect your phone via Bluetooth or stream something on your TV as the Vizio voice prompt is out of date after the first announcements that it is looking for an entry.

Apart from this little annoyance, that's all. No WiFi can be configured with this bar – which we'll discuss in more detail later – and there are no other setup frames that you can jump through. It's probably as close to plug and play as a soundbar system.

design

According to Vizio, this year's budgetary system was treated rather inconspicuously, which may be an understatement. The bar itself does not differ significantly from the latest sound bars that were on my media stand: With a length of 36 inches, it is only two inches shorter than the Sony HT-G700 that stood before it.

Vizio V-series soundbar remote controlNick Woodard / DigitalTrends

However, the rear speakers and subwoofer are small. The sub-cabinet houses a 5-inch woofer, and the speakers are slightly outshone by some older Vizio-Rears that I dug up for comparison. The size, frankly, worried me that Vizio might have become too compact (are we making ants home theater?) And sacrificed the sound. But as we will see shortly, the system grabs a punch for its size.

There are three drivers in the bar, one each for the front left, middle and right channel in a 5.1 system. Go to the back of the soundbar and you will encounter multiple connections. There's a retro 3.5mm stereo audio input (the good old red and white inputs) as well as an optical connector, an HDMI ARC connector, a 3.5mm AUX input and a USB connector Vizio says he only supports WAV and MP3 formats.

Would I have liked to see Vizio drop the old school stereo audio inputs in exchange for another HDMI port? Yes. Is this a pretty solid lineup of connections for the price, regardless of that? Also yes. Just keep in mind that certain connections limit your sound format options. The stereo inputs naturally only produce two-channel sound. You can receive surround sound through the digital optical link, but you will miss the DTS Virtual: X format that the V-Series is equipped with.

Vizio's standard soundbar remote control is also updated to be a bit rounder and gentler than its more brick-like older relative. The new remote control also appears to be more functional. With the buttons for EQ, Setup, Level and Effect you can play with the sound settings. I've never been a big fan of these old Vizio remotes, and it seems like Vizio is moving in the right direction with something that reminds me of my Nvidia Shield clicker.

properties

There are some legitimate features built into this bar, but some things that are "technical" are strangely cloaked by Vizio Marketing to be far more important than they really are.

Vizio V series soundbarNick Woodard / Digital Trends

You can stream music – and only Bluetooth. And that's good. The connection was solid and the sound was good. Despite all the advances in Bluetooth technology, Wi-Fi is still the king when it comes to streaming audio, and bars like the Yamaha YAS-209 have proven that it is possible to have this type of function in a budget bar.

The V-Series bar has a useful function called Front Surround Mode for setups where it is not possible to mount surround speakers in the back of the room. This workaround is to attach the rear speakers on either side of the soundbar, move the subwoofer to the front of the room, and then access Front Surround mode using your remote control. According to Vizio, the bar will use DTS Virtual: X to create virtual surround sound in this configuration. The result is acceptable, but there is a reason why speakers in the back of the room are called "ideal setup".

Then there are things like dual stereo mode – an example of a function we have termed “technical” – that sends the same audio to all five speakers. This feature works to be clear, I'm just not sure when this is needed or wanted. Watching movies is generally best in normal surround, where dialogs and actions take place in the front left, center, and right, and the back provides background noise. And listening to music is literally designed for left and right stereo sound. Although the dual stereo mode is functional, there is no ideal time to use it.

Vizio also advertises its soundbar as "Voice Assistant Ready" due to its aux port and Bluetooth connection. This is total marketing: If this soundbar is considered "Voice Assistant Ready" according to this standard, this also applies to every modern loudspeaker, receiver or even television with the same two connection options. Yes, you can connect an Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant device to the soundbar and it sends audio through the system. In fact, "voice assistant should be ready" to have a Wi-Fi connection and offer direct control through these smart devices. With this terminology, Vizio disguises its otherwise standard connections so that they are not.

To be fair to Vizio, there is a feature that allows the voice assistant in the bar to be active, even if the soundbar plays audio from another input, and the bar automatically mutes other sources so that the assistant can be heard. The same applies if you have a phone that is connected via Bluetooth. Unfortunately, you can accidentally transmit TikTok videos through your movie audio.

Audio quality

A few hundred words ago I teased how in love I was with products as small as the Vizio-Sub and the rear speakers that produce such a significant sound – and that's a lot of truth. For a solid week I've been throwing different content on it – from all kinds of music to various Netflix documentaries and TV shows, as well as the occasional Marvel movie and a Hamilton watch (or two) – and I can say that for sure people Those who buy this bar will be completely satisfied with this type and quality of surround sound.

Vizio V-series soundbar surround speakersNick Woodard / Digital Trends

It contains all the basic elements that make for a good surround setup. The front stage effectively captures action scenes, the rear speakers provide adequate immersion, and the sub, although it is only designed for 50 Hz, rumbled enough to elicit a random bark from my previously deeply sleeping dog. I was also pleasantly surprised by listening to the music, as the Vizio bar produced a generally warm sound that was balanced enough to have fun.

Overall, it's the sound you should expect from a $ 250 package. But this bar is certainly not without its quirks. In my experience, the apparently lackluster center channel is the most important among them. When viewing vocal dominant content like Netflix’s comedy series The Degenerates or the Down to Earth documentaries, this wasn’t a big problem. However, when switching to action sequences in Guardians of the Galaxy or the busier areas of Hamilton, the dialogue couldn't keep up with all the other events in the scene.

You can turn up both the center channel and the dialog using the Vizio remote control, which is helpful to a certain extent. However, it is clear that some content simply outperforms the center compared to the rest of the sound produced by the system. Also, I wasn't a big fan of the various EQ presets – including the movie and music options that you can switch between with the remote – as they seemed to bloat the sound. Essentially, these EQ settings turned up all frequencies, making the action a little more booming but much less sophisticated. Listening in direct mode was preferable to me.

DTS Virtual: X is also available in this soundbar. DTS Virtual: X is essentially the less popular alternative to Dolby Atmos and is said to be able to add virtualized 3D sound to any audio sent through the soundbar. It should also work with almost any speaker configuration, and although I had a more immersive experience when I turned it on, my partner could not notice it without pointing it out. This result makes sense because with everything that virtual technologies promise in terms of audio, you can only achieve so much with three front-firing drivers.

In addition to changing the levels of the dialog and center, you can also adjust the bass, treble, subwoofer, surround level and surround balance. Although this sound may have its flaws, it was a smart move by Vizio to make the bar's audio so customizable that it pleases the palate of most people.

Our opinion

Vizio's new 5.1 soundbar system may not be the best way to add surround sound to your setup – which is a traditional home theater, by the way – but it is once again one of the most enjoyable. With the decent characteristics and good sound it throws into the mix, the V-Series is a value for the masses.

Are there any better alternatives?

Frankly, it's hard to find another bar in this price range that offers a full 5.1 system with a subwoofer and rear speakers. The Yamaha YAS-209 is still our favorite bar because of its versatility, features, and sound, but it doesn't have surround speakers and is currently a bit more expensive for $ 300. I prefer the sound of the Sony HT-G700, although I don't prefer the price of almost $ 600.

How long it will take?

Not only are they cheap, the Vizio soundbars also seem to have a knack for durability. They have a standard one-year warranty, but the Vizio system I bought for my parents eight years ago still works. I can't guarantee that this bar will have the same durability, but it should last for a while.

Should you buy it

Yes. At this price, you really can't get real 5.1 sound anywhere else. Even if you need to fine-tune the audio and deal with the lack of meaningful features, the Vizio V Series 5.1 soundbar is undoubtedly a lot.

Editor's recommendations




16 Jul
Blog

The Bluesound Pulse Soundbar 2i is bulky and frustrating

Bluesound Pulse Soundbar 2i Rating 1

"The excellent sound quality is affected by poor design decisions and a poor user experience."

  • Excellent balanced, neutral sound

  • Tons of connection and accessory options

  • Compatible with wireless audio for the whole house

  • Works with Airplay

  • The bulky, high design limits the placement

  • Poor user experience overall

  • Expensive

Bluesound is not a household name, but it is a close competitor to Sonos in the fight for over-connected, intelligent high-fidelity audio. The Pulse Soundbar 2i is the second generation soundbar from the company for the living room and offers serious audio chops.

At $ 900, it's a little more expensive than the Sonos Arc, but doesn't offer Dolby Atmos support like its rival. Does it have other features that could make it a better choice? Let's take a look.

Large drivers, bulky housing

The Pulse Soundbar 2i is not nice. When we review soundbars, we do it from the perspective that they shouldn't draw attention to themselves. The best are slim and compact, and if you have to look at them, they have at least sophisticated lines and a classy finish. The Bose Soundbar 700 is a good example of this.

The Soundbar 2i seems to be the opposite. The Soundbar 2i places more emphasis on sound quality than in a room and is 5.5 inches tall. To put this in perspective: The feet of my 65-inch LED TV from Sony only lift the bottom of the TV a little more than 2.5 inches from the media stand.

That said, if I placed the Soundbar 2i in its optimal position directly under the TV, it would cover about two inches of the bottom of the TV. It's good that the soundbar has an IR receiver in the front, because the IR receiver of my TV is blocked due to its height.

Jaron Schneider | Digital trends

This isn't ideal, and for anyone with a similar living room setup, the Pulse Soundbar 2i will look incredibly large and just as intrusive. However, if you choose to wall-mount your TV, this is less of a problem. Bluesound contains a variety of wall adapters to simplify this.

If the reason why Bluesound made the Soundbar 2i so big is to record the speaker system, it was mainly the sound quality. The technical data of the drivers in this soundbar are impressive. It includes two 1-inch tweeters, two 4-inch woofers, two 2-inch midrange speakers and two 4-inch passive radiators.

Connected, but confusing

If you're looking for a variety of connectivity options and codec support, the Soundbar 2i is flush with these. It not only supports almost every conceivable audio file format, but also a variety of codecs, including aptX via Bluetooth as well as USB, Optical, RCA Line-In, HDMI ARC and eARC. There is also Wi-Fi for direct streaming from a number of services, including Tidal's master tracks.

If your home has it, chances are that the Soundbar 2i can play it. Thanks to Bluesound's impressive list of support devices, you have many options if you want to invest in this system.

If you want a wireless connection to the Soundbar 2i, you can grab a NAD M10 A / V receiver that supports built-in bluesound. If you have an existing home theater system that you want to integrate the Soundbar 2i into, the company's Node 2i connects the Bluesound app interface to this system and integrates everything into the Soundbar 2i for a multiroom setup without you having to create any new ones Gotta buy devices Got it. The number of add-on options is substantial and there is a lot more going on in Bluesound than in its competitor Sonos.

If you're looking for a variety of connectivity options and codec support, the Soundbar 2i is flush with these.

Unfortunately, I'm not the biggest fan of the Bluesound app, which is the control center for all Bluesounds devices, including the Soundbar 2i. Not only is it faulty, it is also not intuitive to use. Sure, there are many options in the app that allow you to fine-tune the type of audio you want to get out of the Soundbar 2i, but finding and using these features is not what I would imagine. In this area, the Sonos app is much more user-friendly.

The Bluesound Soundbar 2i makes me stupid.

In particular, the use of the Soundbar 2i with HDMI ARC has not been explained in the literature supplied or in a guided setup in the app, and the Soundbar is not intelligent enough to use standard HDMI signals and give you audio.

When I connected the soundbar for the first time and set it up via the app, at no time did I have to activate HDMI ARC via the app to get sound pass-through. I had to go to Google and find out how to get sound from the bar. The device has told me so little about how it works.

This is a step that feels like it should just happen and not something that I should tell the soundbar through the app. At least the app should be more open about what the Soundbar 2i is capable of and how the setup can be completed properly.

RIGHT: This is the home screen and you can tap either the top right or left. | MEDIUM: If you tap on the top right, you can choose which output the soundbar should use. This does not allow HDMI pass-through, but only the volume control. | RIGHT: To get an HDMI pass-through, tap HDMI ARC in the top left. This separation is absolutely unintuitive.

The Soundbar 2i does not have the supplied remote control. I'm not sure how that decision was made by anyone at Bluesound, but I can't get it over with.

Firstly, it is a speaker system for the home theater – it requires a remote control. Second, if you don't have an HDMI-ARC on your TV and want to connect via an optical connection, you can easily change the volume of this soundbar. All controls are in the app (more on that in a moment), but using an app to control your soundbar in your own living room feels shaky and disconnected, not to mention slow and boring. You can pick up the Bluesound RC1 IR remote, but that's an additional $ 60 for something that should have been included. We complained that Sonos overcharged for accessories, but Bluesound takes it to a new level.

On a positive note, the Soundbar 2i can work with most IR remote controls that you will find in a household if you set them up with the app. That sounds great, but the app never tells you that this is an option, and neither does the literature that comes with the bar. You almost have to trip over it as a skill. All of this stems from the problem at hand – the user experience is exceptionally poor. Everything about the bluesound experience seems to have been done by an engineer who wanted to pack as much as possible into the product but didn't help anyone massaging the usability in it.

The Soundbar 2i makes me stupid. Sonos guides you superbly through setting up one of its devices and mixes picture clues with specific instructions so you never feel lost. If you work with many different devices that can offer a variety of services, this type of hand holding is an absolute must. It is a shame that Bluesound does not help you as a consumer because the acoustic quality of this soundbar is excellent.

Powerful, pleasant, neutral sound

I mentioned the impressive array of drivers in the Soundbar 2i, and while they're not pretty to look at, they do provide an excellent listening experience. I am very happy with the sound quality of the Soundbar 2i and almost completely fix the above-mentioned problems with the user interface of the product.

The music bar 2i really sings in music.

The bass in the Soundbar 2i does not match the raw performance of a subwoofer, but it offers more than enough rumble for films and adds depth to the music.

I actually preferred the Soundbar 2i as a music speaker to a home theater centerpiece. While movies sound great, they lack a surround sound feel. Achieving this in a single, center-weighted bar is difficult, but not impossible. The Sonos Arc does a better job in this department thanks to its Dolby Atmos support, and The Fives from Klipsch makes me better with first-class cinema sound thanks to the real separation of left and right.

Jaron Schneider | Digital trends

While the cinema isn't the best choice, the Soundbar 2i really sings when playing music.

All of these drivers work together to produce a sound that allows you to disassemble any particular instrument in an orchestra or hear the nuances of the melodies in a rock ballad clearly. Bluesound has set its 2i soundbar to work almost like a reference monitor, with incredible clarity and excellent neutral sound reproduction.

I liked the sound from the Soundbar 2i so much that I moved it away from my TV – since it blocked the bottom of the screen anyway – and put it on my coat so that it was in the best position to play music, while I was reading on the couch. It played the sound in my living room beautifully, and when I enjoyed this beautiful musical experience, I complained about how this wonderful piece of sound hardware was held back by UI decisions that were so easy to avoid.

I tried the Soundbar 2i with the wireless subwoofer from Bluesound, the Pulse Sub, but was not impressed. The submarine was slim and easy to connect, but it offered little change in the way I experienced music or movies. Even at maximum performance, it didn't give me the rumble I was looking for. I think the soundbar does a good job of its own so that you can pass the submarine on for the time being.

Our opinion

The Bluesound Pulse Soundbar 2i is a bit strange in the soundbar. It's better in music than in the cinema, is formatted to work well with wall-mounted TVs in particular, and is heavily dependent on its app. Excellent overall quality helps with redemption, but most users should choose Sonos' more intuitive options.

Is there a better alternative?

The Sonos Arc is the most direct competitor and offers the same promises as a soundbar with multiroom connectivity. As a bonus, the Arc is $ 100 cheaper and supports Dolby Atmos. The Bose Soundbar 700 is also an excellent choice, and The Fives by Klipsch offers everyone the opportunity to fight for their money as real stereo monitors.

How long it will take?

Bluesound offers the standard 1 year warranty but the build quality is excellent and I don't expect this device to fail soon.

Should you buy it

No, it's hard to recommend the Soundbar 2i. Despite the excellent audio quality, it works better as a speaker than a TV soundbar, and the user interface takes a lot of work. That makes it a passport of mine.

Editor's recommendations




09 Jul
Blog

Klipsch The Fives Review: The Soundbar Killer

klipsch the fives review active speaker 6

"The Fives prove that the left and right channels beat most sound bars and look great at the same time."

  • Powerful, balanced, real stereo sound

  • Excellent multimedia audio experience

  • Stellar Phantom Center Canal

  • Beautiful design

  • Multiple connection options

  • May not fit in every home theater setup

The soundbar was designed as a simple plug-and-play solution to provide good audio quality in a simple device that didn't ask you to do a degree in audio design at the local community college. Since then, sound bars have dominated home theater audio and displaced loudspeakers in most households.

But Klipsch disagrees that the sound bar is the best and only option here. It is believed that a soundbar cannot deliver high quality stereo sound because it is limited by a single speaker in the middle. Instead of doing what was popular, Klipsch decided to create The Fives, a $ 799 response to the soundbar craze.

Are you clapping back successfully? Let's go into that.

Jaron Schneider | Digital trends

Stylish and attractive

Sound bars have a consistent problem. They are not the most attractive devices. With rare exceptions like the Bose Soundbar 700, they are generally huge blocks of black plastic. Even in the case of the Bose, which looks pretty good, soundbars rarely work alongside the living room decor. Black is not the dominant color in my particular home setup and can conflict with the white and wood accents in my living room.

Jaron Schneider | Digital trends

Although you can get The Fives in black, I was delighted to see that walnut is also a color option. It's just that my media stand has a walnut veneer and The Fives looks great on it. They fit in so well that they go into my media setup unless you try to notice the speakers.

Overall, the Fives kill it with their aesthetics.

For most active bookshelf style speakers, the device with all controls and cable inputs must be a specific speaker, either the left or the right speaker (in my experience, it is usually the right speaker). While I've set it up with the main speaker as the right speaker, the fives have a switch on the back of the main speaker that allows you to switch between left and right. Where the main controls and cables lead is entirely up to you and your setup.

Jaron Schneider | Digital trends

There are two dials on top of the main speaker, one for tactile volume control (if you wish) and the other for switching connection options. None of these dials are required because all of these functions can be accessed via the infrared remote control. Still, it's nice to have them as an option and they feel good. They have a wide design, a serrated handle and a slightly notched feel, which makes them remarkably satisfactory.

Overall, the Fives kill it with their aesthetics. In my opinion, they look better than any soundbar I've come across.

The five: Connected

The Fives offer easy connectivity to your TV as they are the first stereo bookshelf speakers to offer HDMI ARC compatibility. Setting up is as easy as connecting a soundbar.

Jaron Schneider | Digital trends

In addition to HDMI ARC, The Fives also support optics, Bluetooth, phono, USB and aux via a mini jack. There is also an output socket for an optional subwoofer. Thanks to the numerous options, you can connect your audio-specific device like a turntable. Switching between these devices is very easy using the above-mentioned setting wheel or the remote control.

It is clear that Klipsch is an audio company that is used to catering to the needs of music fans and that the connection options will definitely come through.

Two are better than one

Sound bars do a decent job with stereo sound, but even if they have the left and right surround speakers that come with some devices, your primary audio will come from a middle-weighted source. Single soundbar solutions like the Bose Soundbar 700 and Sonos Arc do their best to deceive your ears that there is a large gap between the soundbar drivers if this is not the case. However, digital tricks can only go so far.

Jaron Schneider | Digital trends

Klipsch intends to use The Fives as a soundbar alternative for people who enjoy the simple plug-and-play nature of soundbars but crave better stereo sound. Because The Fives divides their left and right channels into physically separate speakers, you have complete freedom to distribute The Fives to the sides of your TV, regardless of their size, and enjoy the benefits of this true separation.

Where sound bars try to restore sound from the left and right, The Fives have to recreate the sound of a center. This "phantom center channel" is reproduced extremely well in my tests. I was on both sides of my 65-inch Sony TV and felt covered in sound. Even though there is no actual center channel, my ears believe that they are listening to audio directly from me, like from the center of my TV.

The Fives do something that only a few sound bars can successfully achieve – they deliver fantastic home theater sound.

The result is an audio experience that delivers great studio sound without loss. The Fives offer fantastic home theater sound, engaging and impressive video game audio and great music. If you use your home entertainment center as a real multimedia hub, The Fives can meet this demand.

Avengers: Endgame felt like a theater experience when the rumble of Thanos' army crashed into the Avengers, leaving me almost breathless with the clarity and depth of the bass.

Playing The Last of Us: Part II was a comprehensive experience. Every step, every whistle, every dog ​​bark and every infected click radiated from a certain direction on the screen and allowed me to get lost in the gameplay.

The survival of Jimmy Eat World, the dark necessities of the Red Hot Chili Peppers or Lady Gaga's stupid love were all beautifully reproduced. I will go into the details in the next section on how best to set up The Fives. However, once you select them, you will be rewarded with an exceptionally balanced sound.

The Fives really showed their skills with the volume. At the lower volumes, the sound output between the channels was much less pronounced and possibly somewhat cloudy. When I used them at these low volumes, the Fives felt like driving a Lamborghini at the speed limit in a school zone. Sure, it can go slowly, but that's not really the point.

The Fives also want to be pushed and driven to top speed. Turn up the fives a little and you will be blessed with the best they can offer. Not only do they get loud (although yes, they get incredibly loud), they become a better listening experience as the volume increases.

Balance the bass

Since The Fives are a speaker pair, their placement is important. Most people don't leave much space between a wall and a media console to save space in the room or to hide cables. In most cases, the fives will not shine to the fullest.

These are ported speakers, which means that the lion's share of the bass comes from behind and is reflected by the wall. A certain distance is required to bring the low frequencies into phase (time alignment) with the mids and highs. To maximize their effectiveness, you should give these speakers about a foot and a half to work. When pressed closer, the perceived strength of the bass will overwhelm the mids, making it sound like these mids are below average.

When you have this kind of space, you can pump The Fives bass to the max and get serious power out of them. It won't be the mere rumble factor of a dedicated submarine, but it will effectively round off music and cinema.

If you don't have enough space, you can still enjoy high quality bass. You must use Klipsch's Bass Boost feature, which is enabled by default on The Fives. Bass Boost is a function that increases the performance of the bass. Between switching on and off, I strongly recommend leaving it switched on.

Since the bass was set to maximum, but the bass boost was switched off, the fives did not give me enough power in the depths to satisfy me (regardless of their placement distance). But if this option is activated, the speakers only need to have a bass volume of 50% in order to produce a very even, balanced audio at closer distances.

If you crave deeper bass and don't have enough room to give The Fives space to breathe, you can attach an optional sub. The fives recognize when a sub has been connected and automatically send all lows to the sub, with the entire performance of these main drivers dedicated to the mids.

Decorate your ears with excellent sound quality

I tested this with the Klipsch R-100SW subwoofer, a mid-priced 10-inch subwoofer, and the result literally rocked the foundation of my house with rumbling, chest-rattling basses while being blasted with one of the most beautifully balanced sounds I could think of can imagine. Music was a powerful beneficiary that the sub was added to this arrangement. It should be noted that if you choose a sub with The Fives, it needs to be wired.

The difference between using and not using a submarine is obvious, but I'm happy with the performance of The Fives. At least they match a single soundbar solution and in many cases exceed it.

At the start and until later this year, there is no way to optimize The Fives with app support. According to Klipsch, an app is in the works and should be available before the end of 2020.

No Dolby decoding required

The Fives do not support Dolby decoding. So if you're like me and channel all your content through something like the Roku Ultra, you'll need to go into the Roku's audio settings and switch it to PCM instead of the default. If you don't, content sent in Dolby Digital or Dolby Atmos will not deliver audio. Netflix & # 39; Dark and Avengers: Endgame, which is streamed over Vudu, are two examples of this.

You might think at first that this is a disadvantage of The Fives, but au contraire it is not. A Dolby Atmos soundbar with real drivers is nice, but not yet a standard, and we don't hold it against a specific sound system if it doesn't support it. By default, Dolby Digital does not need this signal because it does not require separation of the audio channel information. The fives do not have to decode the subwoofer, the center, the surrounds or the like. You get two-channel digital audio playback with full bandwidth via PCM. This is all The Fives need to decorate your ears with excellent sound quality.

Jaron Schneider | Digital trends

Our opinion

The Fives are the dream of an audiophile in a soundbar killer. Not only will you outperform a single soundbar solution, you will also give soundbar systems with multiple speakers a chance. If you're interested in the quality of your home theater sound, the price of $ 799 is fair. The fives kill in every situation.

Is there a better alternative?

If you are looking for real left and right monitors that can be easily combined with your TV setup via HDMI ARC and without an A / V receiver, The Fives are currently your only option. They are the first and only speaker set to fill this role.

If you're open to soundbars, both the Sonos Arc and Bose Soundbar 700 are good choices. The Sonos Arc is the only sound bar in this price range that supports Dolby Atmos. All three are like The Fives in that they don't come with the included submarine, but still offer excellent sound quality.

How long will they last?

All active Klipsch speakers come with a one-year warranty, but you should expect them to last much longer. Klipsch is a respected brand and The Fives should offer you sound quality for at least a decade, if not more.

Should you buy them

Yes. They are an absolute home run and you will want them.

Editor's recommendations




04 Jul
Blog

Bose Soundbar 700 Review: Sleek Design Meets Top-Notch Sound

Bose Soundbar 700

"Bose gives this soundbar an excellent appearance, excellent sound and numerous functions."

  • Fascinating surround sound

  • Beautiful design

  • Choice of Alexa or Google Assistant

  • Private listening option

  • Intelligent universal remote control

  • AirPlay 2

  • Not the best value

  • Some music services are not supported

  • No Chromecast option for Android

  • No HDMI inputs

Sound bars just started. Their mission was to deliver the best possible sound through a single speaker so people could forget about wiring problems and just enjoy their TV and music. While this still applies to some soundbar models, the industry has quickly shifted back to more speakers and less simplicity.

The $ 800 Bose Soundbar 700 is in some ways a return to the original soundbar concept, but some of its sleek exterior hides some thoroughly modern features.

Is it the right audio companion for your media room? Let's try it out.

design

Bose Soundbar 700Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

If you need to watch a soundbar from time to time, it should be the Bose Soundbar 700.

I claim that soundbars should do their utmost to get out of sight. If you want a speaker to be the highlight of your TV room, invest in the biggest ones you can find.

But let's face it: if you don't hide a soundbar in a wall – which would affect both sound and simplicity – you'll see it. So if you need to watch a soundbar from time to time, it should be the Bose Soundbar 700.

With its sleek lines, perfectly smooth glass top, and amazingly small and flat stature, the Soundbar 700 is one of those rare technologies that can improve your decor instead of compromising it. Available in black or white, you can choose whether it fits seamlessly into the background or makes a statement. Aesthetically speaking, it's quite an orator.

With a width of 38.5 inches and a height of only 2.25 inches, it is narrow and short enough to fit between the legs of almost all televisions that are at least 50 inches tall and slide directly underneath. If you want to mount it on the wall, an optional (and remarkably affordable) bracket is available for $ 40.

You won't find a single physical button anywhere on the Soundbar 700. The glass plate has a single touch-sensitive area near the front left corner to mute the built-in microphone. However, I recommend using it sparingly – as beautiful as the glass is, it is also a fingerprint magnet. Good thing Bose contains a microfiber cleaning cloth.

The only flat note in an otherwise stunning design is the included universal remote, a bulky, rubberized stone that doesn't match the sleek, minimalist lines of the Soundbar 700. More on that later.

configuration

Bose Soundbar 700Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Although it's a soundbar, the Soundbar 700 is also a powerful wireless smart speaker. Therefore, the setup process is led by Bose's music app (free for iOS and Android). It's tempting to assume that virtually everyone has a phone or tablet that can run the music app. However, if you're one of the few who doesn't have one, or you're considering buying the Soundbar 700 for a friend or relative who doesn't have one, you might not be making the right choice.

As long as you have a compatible device, setting up the speaker is easy thanks to the intuitive Bose app, which guides you through the process with easy-to-follow steps and lots of helpful feedback.

Part of this setup is to tune the Soundbar 700 to the acoustics of your room using the included Adaptiq microphone, a wired plastic headband that you wear like headphones. All you have to do is choose your five favorite places to watch TV and the app does the rest. It's not as elegant a solution as Sonos' TruePlay system, which uses the microphone of an iOS device to get the same result achieve. However, it does have the advantage of being compatible with all smart devices.

You'll also be quickly guided through the process of adding your home theater devices to the universal remote control, and you can choose between Alexa and Google Assistant if you want to use the speaker's voice control features. I strongly recommend that you do this.

links

Bose Soundbar 700 Bose Soundbar 700

The Soundbar 700 can be connected to your TV via HDMI ARC or an optical cable. Since the speaker is limited to Dolby Digital and DTS audio signals, the choice of sound quality does not offer an advantage when choosing a speaker. However, the universal remote control is more effective when you use HDMI ARC because it can send some commands to connected devices via the CEC protocol (one way to send commands via HDMI).

As long as all your devices can be controlled via infrared (IR), I think an optical connection makes more sense. Why should you forego a valuable HDMI connection on your TV, especially since the Soundbar 700 has no HDMI inputs to compensate for this loss?

The HDMI ARC and the optical connections on the back of the bar also include Ethernet (as a more robust option for Wi-Fi) and several dedicated connections for the Adaptiq microphone, a wired bass module (subwoofer) and an optional IR repeater and one for "data" (we're still not quite sure what it does).

You can use it as a Bluetooth source for wireless headphones for private listening – it works fine.

Unfortunately, the connector for cabling a subwoofer is a proprietary Bose connector, so there is no way to use it with a subwoofer from another company. Even stranger, although it is possible to connect a wired Bose subwoofer to the Soundbar 700, both subwoofers sold by Bose (the $ 400 bass module 500 and the $ 700 bass module 700) connect wirelessly to the soundbar.

Wi-Fi is the best choice to stream music to the soundbar. However, it also supports the AirPlay 2 streaming protocol from Apple and Bluetooth. If you are an Android user, this may be your best bet. We'll discuss this a little later.

Speaking of Bluetooth: The Soundbar 700 has a nice function: You can use it with the SimpleSync technology from Bose as a Bluetooth source for wireless headphones for private listening. It works with any Bluetooth speaker, but you can better sync with the on-screen dialog if you're using one of the Bose headphones. The volume of each Bluetooth device can be controlled independently. I tried Bowers and Wilkins PX7 headphones and it worked perfectly – it even stopped my Netflix video when I pressed the play / pause button on the headphones.

Sound quality

Bose Soundbar 700Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Bose Soundbar 700 sounds great and, unlike several other soundbars we tested, handles TV soundtrack audio and music streaming equally well.

Behind the grille are a number of midrange tweeters and a tweeter, which provide most of the direct sound you hear, including a very clear dialogue. However, Bose's PhaseGuide arrays are on the sides of the bar. These cleverly shaped tunnels project sound onto the sides of the soundbar and give the impression that there are invisible speakers above your television and even a few to the side – if your viewing area has walls on both sides.

In short, it triggers the magic trick that we all consciously or subconsciously expect from a soundbar, and that means we get impressive home theater sound without all the cables and speakers.

One limitation that needs to be mentioned – especially since the Soundbar 700 is a significant investment – is Dolby Atmos and DTS: X. These object-based surround formats are the latest and greatest. When a compatible soundbar is combined with a Dolby Atmos or DTS: X soundtrack, the results can be exciting and include sounds that feel like they fully match the on-screen action. The Soundbar 700 is not one of these speakers. It's still great at what it does, but it can't make you future-proof if you think these new technologies are something you want to explore someday.

If you are not yet familiar with soundbars as a whole, I should make one thing clear: as good as the Soundbar 700 provides a feeling of depth and breadth, it alone does not create such a deep feeling of low-end bass for a complete home theater system. Because of its small proportions, there is no way.

I was ready to fall in love with his music less, but it went against my expectations.

That doesn't mean there is no bass – it actually does an admirable job – it just can't compete with systems that come with their own subwoofer.

As mentioned earlier, you can add an optional Bose bass module, but this increases the price.

It can't shake the furniture with low-end bass, but boy can this thing get loud. I would bet that the Soundbar 700 cannot fill any space in your house, even if your home is in palatial proportions.

Dialogue playback is another outstanding element of this speaker. It is clear and easy to separate from background noise – even before you use the available dialog enhancement mode. If for some reason you find it insufficient, you can only increase the volume of the center channel in the Bose Music app and make adjustments for treble, bass and synchronization / delay if necessary.

At $ 800, I had fully expected the Soundbar 700 to be a powerful TV speaker, but I was also less willing to get excited about their music. But it exceeded my expectations very much. Thoroughly modern studio mixes like Beck's Hyperspace album benefit most from the bar's ability to project sound in space, but older tracks like The Who & # 39; s classic Pinball Wizard also get new life from the depths of the Soundbar 700.

On a whim and because the Tidal app advertised it, I tried Buju Banton's The Upside Down 2020 Experience. I couldn't have chosen a better track to find out what the Soundbar 700 can do with the right material. Banton's voice comes through as if he were on stage in front of you, while his background singers, strings and occasional saxophone spread outwards and envelop you in a rich mix of tones. "It all comes from this one speaker?" my son asked. Yes yes it is.

The Soundbar 700 only stumbled once when it heard Hans Zimmer's deeply bass-laden Time from the Inception soundtrack – the cabinet vibrated very slightly.

Multiroom audio

The Bose Soundbar 700 is part of a family of wireless speakers that can be controlled using the Bose Music app. This includes products like the Bose Home Speaker 500 and the Portable Home Speaker. In Sonos' multiroom steps, you can group these speakers to play the same music or stream something different for everyone.

But when it comes to pure multiroom smarts, Bose still has some catching up to do if he wants to do something other than follow.

For example, Sonos lets you pair any matching Sonos speaker – from the Ikea Symfonisk bookshelf speakers for $ 100 to the Sonos Five for $ 499 – as a surround set for the Sonos Arc Dolby Atmos soundbar for $ 800 – Use dollars. If you want to do the same with the Soundbar 700, you'll need to buy a special set of Bose wireless surround speakers.

You also can't turn two Bose speakers into a stereo pair, although this is much less relevant when dealing with soundbars.

Music sources

While the Bose Music app is friendly and user-friendly, it does offer some features that I would like to see, such as universal search, support for other music services, and the ability to stream music from a personal library on the network.

You can choose between Spotify Premium and Free, Apple Music, TuneIn, Pandora, SiriusXM, Amazon Music, Deezer and iHeartRadio within the app or use any audio app on your phone or tablet and stream directly to the Soundbar 700 2 or via AirPlay Bluetooth. The disadvantage of these options is that controls and content reside on a single device, and other people at home cannot edit or continue listening to the playlist if the person with the source device leaves the house.

You are also limited to just six favorites (which Bose calls presets). Regardless of whether it's a favorite radio station, podcast, or playlist, you need to choose wisely.

Universal remote control

Bose Soundbar 700 universal remote controlSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

It's big, bulky, and I'm not a fan of the rubberized surface that covers all the buttons, but I have to admit that the Bose Soundbar Universal Remote is well thought out as long as you only need to control a maximum of three devices (except the soundbar itself).

The idea behind the dark rubber layer is that it intentionally hides the many buttons under its surface. Once you've programmed it for your devices – which is easy and possible via the Bose Music app – only the buttons that correspond to the device you want to operate are selectively illuminated.

Pressing these illuminated buttons first sends a Bluetooth command to the Soundbar 700, which in turn forwards the command to the device in question via IR or HDMI-CEC (if you use HDMI between the Soundbar and your TV).

The main advantage of this arrangement is that the remote control and the soundbar are always perfectly synchronized. Even if you select TV mode on the universal remote and then switch the soundbar to AirPlay 2 or Bluetooth mode using the Bose Music app, the remote will automatically show this status change.

Good as it is, it's not perfect.

Three devices (two if you don't count your TV, which is pretty mandatory) may not be enough for some people.

I wish I could control how long the buttons light up. It always seemed like the lights went out as I decided what to do and I had to shake the remote again.

The soundbar, remote control, or TV screen does not show where the volume is relative to the minimum and maximum settings. If you want this level of detail, you need to consult the Bose Music app.

You can use the remote control to adjust the volume of the soundbar during an activity. However, you cannot access settings such as EQ or dialog enhancement.

For reasons known only to Bose, there are no buttons to access the six music presets that you program in the Bose Music app.

Overall, however, it worked very well except for one mistake – I couldn't get the remote to speak to my cable box. My LG TV and Apple TV 4K were no problem at all. I attributed the bug in the cable box to poor IR connectivity and didn't have enough time to try to fix it.

Voice assistants

Bose Soundbar 700Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Soundbars that are compatible with voice assistants are being used more and more, but few offer you the choice of which assistant you want to use. With the Soundbar 700, you can choose Alexa or Google Assistant and change your mind at any time (you just can't do both at the same time).

One of the best aspects of a smart speaker that really rocks is the ability to summon your favorite music by simply asking for it. But be warned: although Google Assistant and Alexa can take control of a variety of music services, you cannot use these voice assistants to control if the service you want to control is not available in the Bose Music app. Google Play Music (now mostly switched to YouTube Music), Apple Music and Tidal are examples of services that none of the Soundbar 700 wizards can control.

Bose uses a small multi-colored LED light strip on its smart speakers to give you visual feedback on what condition it is in. Two white bars indicate a pause, a single blue bar indicates Bluetooth and a small red dot means muting. However, the strip is also animated to inform you that a voice command has been heard. This is a great feature.

What I can't understand is why Bose is not using it to indicate volume – something I should consider for a future firmware update.

Voice commands were easy to hear even with some fairly loud sounds, and the response times were very good when I tested them with Google Assistant.

Our opinion

$ 800 may be a lot of money for a soundbar that isn't compatible with Dolby Atmos, but the Bose Soundbar 700 proves that the investment is a great combination of sound quality, great design, and a host of useful features, including yours, still worth choosing the language assistant.

Is there a better alternative?

The direct competitor of the Soundbar 700 is the excellent Sonos Arc for $ 800, a larger Dolby Atmos soundbar that also offers a choice of voice assistants and offers the best support for multiroom and music services in the industry. If you want to be future-proof for object-based surround sound, this is a good choice.

We believe that the Soundbar 700 treats TV and music audio better with the same accuracy (the Arc tends to prefer TV audio) and has several features that the Arc lacks, e.g. B. a universal remote control, Bluetooth and the possibility to connect a wireless headphones for private listening.

How long it will take?

The Bose Soundbar 700 comes with a one-year warranty. This is fairly standard for this type of product, but Bose has an excellent reputation for producing quality products and the Soundbar 700 should have a very long lifespan. You may want to replace it in the future, but you are unlikely to need to replace it.

Should you buy it

Yes. The Bose Soundbar 700 is a fantastic solution with a speaker for simple but exciting home theater sound. With optional subwoofer and surround speaker modules, it can grow with your needs as long as those requirements don't include Dolby Atmos.

Editor's recommendations




04 Jun
Blog

Sonos Arc Review: A Solid Soundbar For The Dolby Atmos Era

Sonos Arc Dolby Atmos soundbar

"With Dolby Atmos and Voice A.I., the Sonos Arc is the Swiss Army knife for sound bars."

  • Excellent surround sound

  • Simple and easy setup

  • Decent Dolby Atmos from a single speaker

  • Choice of Alexa or Google Assistant

  • No HDMI inputs

  • Not ideal for all music genres

When Sonos launched its first soundbar, the Playbar for $ 699 in 2013, it received the praise it deserved. As an absolutely simple but somewhat expensive way to give your TV a massive audio upgrade, almost everyone succeeded except one front: Sonos' decision to equip the playbar with a single optical input meant that the playbar would work forever Get away from the growing world of surround formats like Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Atmos – something that reviewers at the time described as a disadvantage of an otherwise excellent product.

Seven years later, Sonos returned to the full-size home theater soundbar arena with the $ 799 Arc, a Dolby Atmos-enabled speaker that shows everything the company has learned since the Playbar debut. Did Sonos push the envelope far enough this time or did he just catch up? Let's take a look.

Beautiful design

Sonos Arc Dolby Atmos soundbarSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

I have already said that the best designs in soundbars do not attract any attention at all. After all, your visual focus should be on your TV, not your soundbar.

Whether your primary aesthetic is the reserved Darth Vader or the reserved Stormtrooper, there's a Sonos Arc to suit your taste

However, if you don't draw your eye negatively, it doesn't mean that your soundbar should also be a boring plastic sheet. In a classic Sonos way, the Arc exudes subtle elegance when not partnering with your TV, and almost disappears when it's time to dim the lights and start the show.

I owe this chameleon-like performance to the matt black finish of our test device. It worked for me – but for the first time, Sonos also has a full-size soundbar that you can also buy in matte white. Whether your primary aesthetic is the reserved Darth Vader or the reserved Stormtrooper, there's a Sonos Arc to suit your taste.

The design of the one-piece wrap-around speaker grille, made up of hundreds of tiny holes, gives the Arc the same subtle monolithic look as the company's other latest products, such as Move, Sonos One, One SL, and the updated Sonos Five.

Sonos placed the Arc's touch controls at the top of the soundbar. This seems to be a more logical position than the more cumbersome controls on the Playbar. However, this placement means that if you push the arc fully under your TV, you will have little or no access to these controls. However, this may not matter, because with all Sonos products, you can fully control the speaker from your phone, tablet, or computer.

Just like the Playbar, you can place the Arc in front of your TV where you need at least 2.5 inches of space if you want it to sit just below the screen. It can also be mounted on the wall, but is prepared for a sticker shock: the optional steel bracket costs a whopping $ 80 – a full 10% of the price of the Arc itself.

Limited connectivity

Sonos Arc Dolby Atmos soundbarSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Sonos prides itself on its commitment to simplicity and the Arc embodies this through its extremely simple setup: a single HDMI ARC / eARC connector on the back of the speaker is all you need to connect it to your TV. Simply plug one end of the included HDMI cable into this connector, the other end into the HDMI ARC / eARC connector on your TV, plug in the power cord, and off you go.

The rest of the setup process is done in the Sonos app. It only takes a few minutes and includes Sonos' Trueplay tuning feature. With Trueplay, Sonos gains an understanding of the acoustics of your room. It can then optimize the Arc's EQ for better music and probably better Dolby Atmos. The problem is that TruePlay is only available for iOS and the microphone is required on an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad. Android users are out of luck.

Sonos points out that you can borrow an iOS device for TruePlay on your system at any time. However, this seems to be a cold consolation to those who have chosen not to go into Apple's well-kept, walled garden.

Sonos prides itself on its commitment to simplicity and the Arc couldn't be easier to set up and use.

Ironically, Sonos' desire to keep things simple has also caused some inconvenience. HDMI ARC / eARC is a great concept because it allows you to send digital audio and video to your TV while sending your digital audio back to your soundbar or A / V receiver. However, the Sonos Arc uses this connection for itself and only converts it into an audio output.

This is because, unlike almost every modern sound bar on the market, the Arc has no HDMI input. All of your source devices such as game consoles, cable boxes, streaming media devices or Blu-ray players must be connected directly to one of the other HDMI inputs on your TV. This leads to two potential problems.

First, in addition to the HDMI cable required for the Arc, you need to connect one HDMI cable per device to your TV, unless your source device is a stick-style device like a Fire TV Stick. Depending on your home theater installation, this can be difficult.

Second, only a few televisions are supplied with more than four HDMI inputs. Once you've connected the arc, there are only three. If three inputs are not enough, you will need an HDMI switch to convert one of these three into two or more additional connectors.

If you can get by with just three ports (or if your TV initially has more than four) and you don't mind laying a few more HDMI cables, don't think about it. On the other hand, if you were hoping to replace an A / V receiver with six or seven inputs with the Arc, you will need to do some homework before placing your order.

I should note that if your TV doesn't have HDMI ARC, you can use the included optical HDMI adapter, but you won't be able to receive Dolby Digital Plus or Dolby TrueHD and therefore not Dolby Atmos. Dolby Digital 5.1 will still sound amazing, but it won't use the full range of the Arc.

Sensational surround sound

Sonos Arc Dolby Atmos soundbarSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Like any other speaker Sonos makes, the Arc delivers a larger and richer sound than its compact body suggests. Bass – the main ingredient for home theater sound – is remarkably thundering for a sound bar. The uninitiated looks around the room for the subwoofer that is simply not there.

The bow's ability to reproduce dialogues is equally impressive. It is clear and precise even without activating the optional dialog enhancement mode. This is a testament to Sonos' understanding of what television is fun for. You can have the most impressive multi-channel sound system in the world. However, if you don't understand what the actors are saying due to the muddy dialogue, your viewing experience will be significantly affected.

Bass – the main ingredient for home theater sound – is remarkably thundering for a sound bar.

Thanks to its channel drivers with upward height and its phase-controlled loudspeaker arrangement, the Arc also creates an expansive sound stage, which makes it an ideal solution with a loudspeaker for much better TV audio.

Most users use the Arc with Dolby Audio in either 2-channel stereo or 5.1 audio, as these two formats represent the majority of the available streaming and broadcast content. The Arc does an excellent job with both and easily fills larger rooms with expansive, exciting sound.

Dolby Atmos for beginners

Sonos Arc Dolby Atmos soundbarSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The same outstanding audio experience also applies to the Arc, Dolby Atmos heading function, but you need to soften your expectations a bit. The Arc uses a pair of upward-facing speakers to bring the treble of a Dolby Atmos soundtrack back into your viewing position. This is the same technique used by all Atmos-enabled sound bars and even some dedicated Atmos speakers.

How effective this system is depends on the geometry of your room. In my basement TV room with 7.5-foot ceilings, I was definitely aware of the heightened sense of 3D space, but it was more of a subtle effect than something that grabs your lapel. There is no visual indicator on the arc to let you know that you are listening to Dolby Atmos. If you are not sure, you will get a quick look at the app.

I tested the Arc's Atmos chops with current action-oriented favorites like Ford vs. Ferrari, Avengers: Endgame and John Wick, Chapter 3: Parabellum. No matter whether it is roaring racing cars, thundering spaceships or ricocheting balls, the Arc can help you to focus on the action.

A warning here: At the moment, the Arc only supports Dolby Atmos, not DTS: X. DTS: X offers Atmos a similarly impressive experience, but is not so well supported by Blu-rays or streaming services. If you still need it, you have to look elsewhere.

Add a sub and surround

I think the Sonos Arc is great on its own, but if you're looking for an even bigger and better sound, you can have it. Sonos allows you to expand the Arc's capabilities by adding a Sonos Sub for $ 699. You can use any matching pair of Sonos speakers as surround satellites – even a pair of Ikea Symfonisk bookshelf speakers for $ 99.

I recommend both upgrades. The Sub will bring the Arc's impressive bass from good to gigantic (and it's the only subwoofer compatible with the Arc), while a pair of surrounds will help the Arc fill in some of the sounds it doesn't quite bounce off can reproduce audio towards you. I've tried a number of Sonos One SLs – which was amazing – but I think any pair of Sonos speakers would give the Arc a helpful boost.

Music performance

Sonos Arc Dolby Atmos soundbarSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Soundbars are primarily about delivering better TV audio, but the Arc is not just a soundbar. As a full-fledged Sonos speaker, you get all the advantages of the Sonos system: a brilliant mobile app that gives you complete control over your music sources, your speakers and your entire home if you want to switch to multiroom audio.

If you need your soundbar as the primary music source for double-duty, the Arc can do it. The only limitation is that since the Arc is set to give optimal results for TV audio, it doesn't have the same sound signature as other types of speakers or even other Sonos speakers. The same emphasis on higher frequencies and lower frequencies that provide such convincing film magic does not always go well with all music genres.

Vocal forward tracks from Adele, for example, are definitely improved. Billie Eilish's Bond theme, No Time To Die, is another example of a track that takes advantage of the Arc's theater-inspired acoustics. But jazz standards, classic compositions and even some straightforward pop and rock songs can feel a bit trapped due to a lack of definition in the midrange.

Atmos music

However, my reservation has one limitation: Dolby Atmos Music. Fortunately, Tidal added the ability to stream Dolby Atmos Music from its Apple TV 4K app the same week I spent my time with the Sonos Arc.

Dolby Atmos music on the bow is a joy. Tracks that have been mastered (or remastered) in Atmos Music can give you a completely new appreciation of music, depending on the song. A great example are the classic Riders On The Storm by The Doors. The rain and thunder, which have always felt overwhelming to me when listening to stereo, suddenly become an intimate and essential part of the music. Jim Morrison's already haunting lyrics and vocals get a trembling, ghostly echo after lines like "It's a killer on the go".

I don't know if these elements have always been part of the song or not, but with the combination of Atmos Music and Arc you can't ignore them. Not every Atmos Music title is equally fascinating. However, if you can afford the $ 20 monthly Tidal HiFi subscription level and have a compatible streaming device, I highly recommend it.

AirPlay 2 and voice assistants

Sonos Arc Dolby Atmos soundbarSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Sonos Arc doesn't have Bluetooth – a feature that almost every other soundbar offers – so you can't connect directly from your phone. Instead, you can use Apple's AirPlay 2 technology to connect from your Apple device over WiFi. As much as this frustrates Android users, in practice there is only one situation where there is a problem: playing music that only works on your Android device.

What the Arc offers that no other soundbar (apart from Sonos & # 39; own beam) can offer is the choice of Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant as a voice assistant. I've had some issues setting up Google Assistant, but I'm going to attribute this to the beta software I'm using. Alexa worked perfectly.

Having a voice assistant in a soundbar is actually a pretty big deal. Aside from the obvious benefits of a smart speaker (playing music, controlling smart home devices, and getting answers to your questions), you can use various voice commands to turn the TV on and off, since the Arc is connected to your TV via HDMI or off adjust the volume. Your particular TV may support more commands, depending on the model and whether it's compatible with Google Assistant or Alexa.

Our opinion

The Sonos Arc for $ 799 is the home theater upgrade that Sonos fans have been waiting for. It offers great surround sound, a good, if subtle, Dolby Atmos experience, and all the benefits of a smart speaker and Sonos' unique multi-room audio system. Only the lack of HDMI inputs and the slightly degraded music quality prevent it from being a perfect soundbar for the price.

Is there a better alternative?

If you want an Atmos-enabled soundbar with a choice of voice assistants and the ultimate flexibility of Sonos' multiroom audio system, there is simply no second option at all costs.

The Sennheiser Ambeo is a more effective system with a loudspeaker for those who are looking for first-class atmosphere and music. Of course, it's huge and costs $ 2,500. That's even more than the Arc, a Sonos Sub and a pair of Sonos One SLs.

When you're ready to step into multiple speaker units, you can achieve a more compelling Dolby Atmos experience by spending more. Vizio's 5.1.4 system is available for $ 1,000, or you can buy the LG SN11RG for $ 1,700 for even more power. Both also have multiple HDMI inputs.

How long it will take?

Despite the fact that Sonos has recently discontinued support for some older devices, you can expect the Arc to last for years, if not decades. Sonos products are well built and the Arc is no exception.

Should you buy it

Yes. The Sonos Arc is a breeze for Sonos users. It costs $ 100 more than the playbar it replaces, but offers better sound, Dolby Atmos, AirPlay 2, voice assistants, and more. As long as you need to use your TV's HDMI inputs or an HDMI switcher to connect your video sources, the Arc will reward you with excellent home theater audio for less than $ 1,000.

Editor's recommendations




31 May
Blog

LG SN11RG Soundbar Review: A Compact Cinematic Experience

LG SN11RG soundbar

"The LG SN11RG combines cinematic performance on the footprint of a soundbar."

  • Easy setup

  • Sleek design

  • Immersive audio experience

  • Handy Google Assistant

LG John Hammond from Jurassic Park drew our attention to us when building his new soundbar. That means they have spared no expense.

The new SN11RG soundbar from LG is a full 7.1.4 system with Hi-Res audio and Dolby Atmos support as well as other amenities such as the integrated Google Assistant and HDMI eARC. It's also $ 1,700. Let us find out whether the numerous functions of this bar compensate for the price.

design

The important things first. The SN11RG is long due to the lack of a more appropriate word. With a width of almost 57 inches, the Samsung HW-Q90R is nine inches larger, which is not a pipsqueak itself. In other words, you want to make sure you have a media stand that can hold this large bar. It's 2.5 inches thin and not overly heavy at 15.9 pounds, but the sheer width of the bar made it a bit of a nuisance when moving to access the rear ports.

LG SN11RG soundbarNick Woodard

However, big is not all bad, especially when the bar is as elegant and extravagant as the SN11RG. You don't necessarily want your soundbar to showcase your actual display. If you are someone who is on the market for such a setup, this is probably not a problem. For example, if you're a reviewer who combines the bar with a lower-end 4K TV, the difference in aesthetics is noticeable.

The control panel has a number of controls, including an on / off button, a function selection button, volume controls and playback controls, and two buttons for interacting with the soundbar's built-in Google Assistant support. They're handy for having them right at the bar if need be, but I've mainly used the associated remote or mobile app, which I'll access shortly.

The wireless rear speakers and subwoofer that round off the system are housed in solid black housings that outshine the satellites and woofers of the Vizio 5.1 system that I discussed earlier. However, compared to their more direct competitors, they are right in the stadium. You can still stow this submarine with little effort, and finding quarters for the rear speakers was no problem.

LG is relatively limited to specifications for the actual drivers in the system. Of course, the soundbar has high-powered drivers to add channels for the front height, while the rear speakers are equipped with high-firing drivers to restore the rear heights.

To install

An important selling point of most soundbar systems is the possibility of building the entire ensemble far more economically than a traditional home theater system. Since there are no A / V receivers and no long speaker cables, sound bars are generally more accessible to the ordinary listener to get them up and running.

LG SN11RG soundbarNick Woodard / Digital Trends

LG took this rule of thumb and optimized it. Commissioning your SN11RG starts with a three-step process that corresponds to the restrictions of an index card: Connect the soundbar to the power supply, download the Google Home app and set up your Wi-Fi connection. From there, you can stream music as you set up the rest of the system.

The rest of the process is just as simple. You need a connection between the soundbar and the TV. LG offers you HDMI and optical audio options. Both work, but note that optical audio connections don't support Dolby Atmos. If you go this route, you are limited to standard surround sound.

Both the subwoofer and the rear speakers are designed to automatically connect to the soundbar when connected to the power supply. However, LG has a failover in its manual if for some reason it doesn't. After taking the time to carefully unpack the individually packaged components, I connected the entire system in less than 10 minutes.

For me, the best benefit of the setup process is that the rear speakers don't have to be wired to the subwoofer, a common theme in other systems I've dealt with. This allows the subwoofer to be placed where it sounds best in your listening room, rather than being banished to the surroundings in the back of the room. You can even do classic sub-crawling, where you put the sub in your normal listening position and literally crawl around the room to see where it can perform best.

The same applies to the rear speakers, although they are somewhat limited by short power cables (5 feet). It wasn't a problem for me, but all I know is that you need a socket or two nearby.

LG also includes wall mounts for the soundbar and rear speakers, which is a cute addition. However, I have not touched them for the purposes of this review.

The "LG Wi-FI Speaker" app is an important part of the setup puzzle. It not only serves as an additional remote control if you have lost yours – or if it is sitting on your coffee table and you are too comfortable / lazy to reach for it. It is also your ticket to the operation of LG's A.I. Room calibration function that measures the room acoustics and adjusts your system accordingly. I will learn more about it later.

links

The connection will be a problem for some as the SN11RG only has a pair of HDMI HDCP 2.3 inputs. The home theater consumer nowadays has several devices to connect, including everything from 4K Blu-ray players to streaming devices like Rocus or Apple TVs to game consoles like a Nintendo Switch, which means that two HDMI inputs simply don't work seem to be sufficient for a soundbar that will surely weigh on your wallet.

LG SN11RG subwooferNick Woodard / Digital Trends

This can now be fixed easily if your TV has several available HDMI connections. However, if for some reason you have an older model (e.g. a Sony 65-inch 850E series display from 2017) that does not support Dolby Atmos playback, your only workaround is to connect your devices directly to it Connect the soundbar and run a cable from the soundbar's HDMI eARC output to your TV. In this case, the limited number of entries becomes a painful obstacle.

For reference, my personal Marantz SR5012 A / V receiver has seven HDMI inputs and was sold for $ 1,000 when it first came on the market. Admittedly, these are very different devices and it is not realistic to expect a soundbar to have seven inputs. The modern soundbar, especially one that costs $ 1,700, should be able to meet these connectivity requirements in a similar way.

There is also a USB port and an optical input on the back of the SN11RG. However, as I mentioned, you cannot get Dolby Atmos playback using optical playback. This type of connection simply cannot handle the data volume in more advanced audio formats, which means that you limit yourself to simpler surround sound formats like Dolby Digital 5.1.

Intelligent functions

Google plays a big role in the intelligent functions of the SN11RG, since both Google Assistant and Google Chromecast are integrated.

LG SN11RG soundbar remote controlNick Woodard / Digital Trends

Since I'm the Smart Assistant junkie, I've used Google Assistant most often, with some satisfactory results. Coming home and quickly immersing yourself in the music was as easy as asking Google, and changing titles while music was pumping through the soundbar was just as painless. The microphones built into the soundbar also recorded my voice well during music playback.

Even if my normal home theater setup is set up according to my wishes, I still have to do a few steps before I can order my Amazon Echo Dot to start playback on my receiver. Using the integrated assistant of the SN11RG was much faster, which is a kind of goal here.

When you're tired of repeating Google Assistant wake-up words, there's a button on both the remote and soundbar that you can use to access them. The soundbar also supports group play mode via Chromecast, although unfortunately I lacked the additional Chromecast-enabled speakers to try. After all, living from home has some shortcomings.

Sound quality

If the simple setup and sleek design were LG's raptors and omnivores, audio quality is the main attraction. It's the Tyrannosaurus Rex, if you allow me to continue referencing a 27-year-old film, and LG must have given it a lot of teeth to show off.

LG SN11RG soundbarNick Woodard / Digital Trends

It's not just Dolby Atmos and DTS: X support – or the vast amount of other supported audio formats – although they play a prominent role. This is the partnership with Meridian Technology, support for 24-bit / 192 kHz audio resolution, Bluetooth 5.0 technology or even LG's AI Sound Pro hardware. Suffice it to say that LG has left no stone unturned to make this soundbar system an absolute audio juggernaut.

After throwing all sorts of content on it for three weeks, I can say the following about the SN11RG: In the world of sound bars, it's this juggernaut.

The music playback provided the crisp, detailed sound you would hope for in such an expensive bar. However, it is the home theater realm where the SN11RG really gets its money's worth, especially when it comes to Atmos.

Auditioning a selection from a Dolby Atmos demo disc was an impressive experience that showed me that LG's drivers weren't a gimmick. There is also a hidden demo mode that was discovered by an early user. If you press "F" on the main unit for 5 seconds, the same demo tracks will be displayed. However, these short clips only made me want something more essential, so I looked through our top Dolby Atmos tips.

I started with Avengers: Infinity War and I could have called it very good here and there. Minutes after the film started, when Hulk raced to the ground and crashed into the Sanctum Sanctorum, I heard everything I needed to know. It is an impressive and entertaining experience to watch films with the SN11RG that plays the show acoustically to the point where I would have looked for a banner-sized hole in my ceiling if I hadn't known better. The subwoofer offers a significant breakthrough as a worthy buddy for the bar itself, and the rear speakers effectively envelop you in every scene.

I said earlier that I was going to A.I. Room calibration, and here we are. Together with the AI ​​Sound Pro from LG, which according to the company uses an adaptive tone control to automatically match the audio with the content, an excellent sound is generated for the set-it-and-leave-it types. If you prefer to tinker with the sound like me, LG allows that too. There are various sound effects for content such as movies and music, with the option to adjust the levels of each part of the system.

The app also has switching options for modes such as Night Time (softens larger sounds, increases dialogue) or Neural: X, with which content is assigned to the corresponding channels. There's even an AV sync option to fix breaks in the continuity between audio and video.

Put the sound in context

However, there is one limitation that may be somewhat unpopular in circles of soundbar enthusiasts. With as much technology and functionality as companies can build into sound bars these days, there is a point at which returns are falling. And it feels like LG has achieved it.

LG SN11RG rear speakerNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The possibility of testing this soundbar with a comparable home theater system also shows this. As pleasant as the sound of the LG SN11RG is, it will always be limited by the limitations of its design. There is no sound stage with a real separation from left and right, the abundance of floorstanding speakers or the swinging lower end of a beefy home theater submarine. As much as LG can try to virtually reproduce this sound – and believe me, it is trying – it just won't be the real deal.

Maybe you think the LG is unfair to you, and maybe you're right. LG appears to be developing this soundbar for a very specific group of consumers, and it is clear that this group will be thrilled with its performance. But get it straight to the point and you'll pay almost $ 2,000 for audio. Classified as a soundbar, it's objectively great sound. But open up the word for other options, and frankly, there are better ways to spend that kind of money. Your decision will depend on what your home theater room supports and whether you are ready to have problems installing a home theater setup with multiple surround speakers.

Our opinion

The LG SN11RG combines cinematic performance on the footprint of a soundbar, but is available at the high price of a complete home theater package.

Is there a better alternative?

The Samsung HW-Q90R, valued at $ 1,700, is likely to be as close in performance to the LG as in price. If you're looking for even more minimalism without sacrificing quality, the Sennheiser Ambeo for $ 2,500 is an option. Just not cheap.

For a Dolby Atmos soundbar that saves you a few dollars, Vizio's 5.1.4 system costs $ 1,000.

How long it will take?

The build quality of the LG SN11RG is exceptional and the hardware is not bad either. This bar should last many movie nights.

Should you buy it

Yes. It's a high price for sound, and you could build a better system with this type of coin. But for anyone looking for great performance in a sound bar and willing to pay for it, the LG SN11RG is the shortlist of premium options.

Editor's recommendations




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