Sound Bar / Audio Help.... Uhh Help!

[Neo_Geo]

Howzit gents,

So Black Friday and end of year is on us and I was looking at purchasing a TV for the family for the first time in like 20 Years. The TV we currently have is an OLD ass fat ass Sony Trinitron TV. I have selected an OLED TV already , the Hisense A8H but I started delving into the audio space and well..... WHAT THE FUCK?! My goodness the overwhelming amount of numbers and specs and who trying to scam me so confusing I thought i turn to Carb for some assistance .

Right now I understand the basics of x.x.x like 5.1 and 5.1.2 and well reading into it more Dolby atmos is the bar you should go for. I understand the basic 3.1 would improve audio and dialogue quality but I can afford to go a bit more. Then I started reading about space and room layout and well I am getting lost in the sauce.

I have a rather large. The sound bars I have been looking at is:

Takealot

: Hisense 5.1.2 CH 510W Dolby Atmos
and this one as well

Samsung 5.1.2ch Black Premium Q-Series Soundbar - HW-Q800C/XA

Samsung 5.1.2ch Black Premium Q-Series Soundbar - HW-Q800C/XA

www.hirschs.co.za

Samsung 5.1.2ch Soundbar - HW-Q800C

While I understand that no space is perfect and your audio preference depends on the person and room setup. Just some direction would be just amazing right now. What do I get or where do I start when looking at Audio for TV.
FYI Budget : R8000+-

TDLR: Need some advise on what or how to look for soundbars or Audio Setup for TV and where do I start

 

[goldfritter]

Howzit gents,

So Black Friday and end of year is on us and I was looking at purchasing a TV for the family for the first time in like 20 Years. The TV we currently have is an OLD ass fat ass Sony Trinitron TV. I have selected an OLED TV already , the Hisense A8H but I started delving into the audio space and well..... WHAT THE FUCK?! My goodness the overwhelming amount of numbers and specs and who trying to scam me so confusing I thought i turn to Carb for some assistance .

Right now I understand the basics of x.x.x like 5.1 and 5.1.2 and well reading into it more Dolby atmos is the bar you should go for. I understand the basic 3.1 would improve audio and dialogue quality but I can afford to go a bit more. Then I started reading about space and room layout and well I am getting lost in the sauce.

I have a rather large. The sound bars I have been looking at is:

Takealot

: Hisense 5.1.2 CH 510W Dolby Atmos
and this one as well

Samsung 5.1.2ch Black Premium Q-Series Soundbar - HW-Q800C/XA

Samsung 5.1.2ch Black Premium Q-Series Soundbar - HW-Q800C/XA

www.hirschs.co.za

Samsung 5.1.2ch Soundbar - HW-Q800C

While I understand that no space is perfect and your audio preference depends on the person and room setup. Just some direction would be just amazing right now. What do I get or where do I start when looking at Audio for TV.
FYI Budget : R8000+-

TDLR: Need some advise on what or how to look for soundbars or Audio Setup for TV and where do I start

When it comes to multi-channel sound (i.e. anything beyond stereo), one of the main things to remember is that you can't defeat the laws of physics.

Surround sound and Atmos work because you can have speakers that are physically to the sides and rear of (surround), and even above (Atmos), where you are sitting.

A soundbar that claims all of those things without having actual physical speakers that go next to you, behind you, and above you, is claiming to defeat the laws of physics. The best it can truly approximate is 3.1 (front left, front right, centre, and sub) - and even then the two front speakers are probably still too close to each other and to the centre to actually sound properly like three individual channels.

With your budget, if I were you, I'd try to find a decent used AV receiver and a pair of bookshelf speakers for the fronts, plus a sub. For new speakers look at Bentley Acoustics, they're a local brand and their quality is exceptional for the price. Then as you go you can save up to add the centre and rears.

If that doesn't seem like your speed then you can get decent mini-amplifiers on Takealot that have a sub out - that, plus decent bookshelves and a sub (for a 2.1 system), is likely to give you meaningfully better sound than a soundbar.

 

[BatterybOy]

JBL

 

[Neo_Geo]

When it comes to multi-channel sound (i.e. anything beyond stereo), one of the main things to remember is that you can't defeat the laws of physics.

Surround sound and Atmos work because you can have speakers that are physically to the sides and rear of (surround), and even above (Atmos), where you are sitting.

A soundbar that claims all of those things without having actual physical speakers that go next to you, behind you, and above you, is claiming to defeat the laws of physics. The best it can truly approximate is 3.1 (front left, front right, centre, and sub) - and even then the two front speakers are probably still too close to each other and to the centre to actually sound properly like three individual channels.

With your budget, if I were you, I'd try to find a decent used AV receiver and a pair of bookshelf speakers for the fronts, plus a sub. For new speakers look at Bentley Acoustics, they're a local brand and their quality is exceptional for the price. Then as you go you can save up to add the centre and rears.

If that doesn't seem like your speed then you can get decent mini-amplifiers on Takealot that have a sub out - that, plus decent bookshelves and a sub (for a 2.1 system), is likely to give you meaningfully better sound than a soundbar.

Yeah thanks for this. I read through it and looking at the space setup I have your suggestion is much better. I did some more research and Yes the Sound bar is not the way seeing as the stand alone ones is be better in my setup. The aim would be 3.1 initially and move from there over time. But for now I just get the TV and use my PC 2.1 Speakers just to get me going if the TV speakers are that bad.

 

[BlueCrayon]

JBL

 

[Neo_Geo]

JBL

Which one do you have Like JBL has so much. Also how big is the room you have that its setup in

 

[thecurto]

I agree completely with @goldfritter.

I bought a basic all-in-one Yamaha 5.1 system with an amp about 5 years ago. Since then, I've dabbled with budget to mid range soundbars but nothing come close to having physical speakers placed around a room pumping sound towards you. The downside is the cabling but if you do it neatly once and don't move too often then you should be set.

I can't find any Yamaha all-in-one systems anymore but this Pioneer set might do the trick and get you up and running. As mentioned, the best part about these systems is that you can embrace the CUD and upgrade in bits and pieces down the road. You can grab just a centre speaker or a set of bookshelf speakers from the big players like Klipsch and Polk and plug them into this existing setup for a meaningful upgrade.

I'm sure there are amazing soundbars out there from the likes of Sonos, Bose, Samsung and JBL for a hefty price, but physical speakers will usually give you the best results.

 

[Dr. Kraken]

Rather go for a good set of 2.1 speakers rather than anything trying to emulate surround sound. You'll have a much better experience that way, unless you truly go in and invest in multiple speaker setup to achieve surround. Also worth noting that you'd need to do some room correction and calibration for surround to have the best effect in that case.

 

[Riaad]

It looks like you have a good idea of the topic...

Home audio is a slippery slope - and when you are looking at atmos etc, things can get expensive real quick.

Firstly with atmos - input source matters...you will need to see if the TV can passthrough atmos via eARC to a soundbar or will you be using an apple tv?, etc.

If not, then you can scrap that idea. Additionally there is not alot of atmos content, and they are best experienced with dedicated speakers and not bounced off walls/ simulated imo. (experience may vary if you have a perfect room)

My advise, with the 8k budget. You would want to consider the JBL 5.1 (seems to be the general recommendation). The sub is solid and with a soundbar, that is one of the defining factors to a "full" sound.

alternatively, you can look at something like klipsch-the-fives

I've had the samsung 3.1.2 soundbar, and now the JBL 5.1 - JBL easily wins.

 

[Neo_Geo]

It looks like you have a good idea of the topic...

Home audio is a slippery slope - and when you are looking at atmos etc, things can get expensive real quick.

Firstly with atmos - input source matters...you will need to see if the TV can passthrough atmos via eARC to a soundbar or will you be using an apple tv?, etc.

If not, then you can scrap that idea. Additionally there is not alot of atmos content, and they are best experienced with dedicated speakers and not bounced off walls/ simulated imo. (experience may vary if you have a perfect room)

My advise, with the 8k budget. You would want to consider the JBL 5.1 (seems to be the general recommendation). The sub is solid and with a soundbar, that is one of the defining factors to a "full" sound.

alternatively, you can look at something like klipsch-the-fives

I've had the samsung 3.1.2 soundbar, and now the JBL 5.1 - JBL easily wins.

Slippery slope is a hell of an understatement. I think now that I have the TV ill take my time to find out what I want. I think for now its just simple setup and work from there. Also thanks I will keep an eye on it. The room I have is rather larger with a great deal of open space and reading more on Sound bars it reliese on the definded 4 wall setup to create that sound stage. TBH atmos is currently for future me. For now Ill take it from here.

 

[L-Dog]

Best value for money soundbar? Any decent BF specials ?