Soundbar recommendations

[Ham_and_Jam]

Looking for recommendations for a standalone soundbar. Must be:

non-wifi
no separate subwoofer (single unit)
BT for music streaming
ARC compatible

Budget is £150-£400

I don’t want earth shattering bass, but clear defined speech and good sound that will double up as a music streamer.

Anyone got something that they can recommend.

[Bacon Is Proof]

Not sure you'll get much help; I think most people on here would recommend a pair of speakers over a soundbar.

[595Heaven]

Bacon Is Proof said:

Not sure you'll get much help; I think most people on here would recommend a pair of speakers over a soundbar.

Hmmm.... not so sure of that. Soundbars are very easy to live with with no cables other than an HDMI lead to the TV.


The Sonos Beam is a great solution, but doesn't support Bluetooth. It does do Apply AirPlay though if you have an iPhone which is just as easy to use.

I think they are £349 so within budget.

[VEX]

I'd look at Sonos Beam for this.

They have just launched a new one so may be some discounts on the old one.

[595Heaven]

VEX said:

They have just launched a new one so may be some discounts on the old one.

Oh, so they have - I'd missed that. Now with Dolby Atmos! Is it any good?

Blows the budget though...

[Ham_and_Jam]

VEX said:

I'd look at Sonos Beam for this.

They have just launched a new one so may be some discounts on the old one.

Unfortunately it requires wifi, as its a good shout other than that.

[Bacon Is Proof]

595Heaven said:

Hmmm.... not so sure of that. Soundbars are very easy to live with with no cables other than an HDMI lead to the TV.


The Sonos Beam is a great solution, but doesn't support Bluetooth.

Hmm, think I'd rather set up an extra cable once than never have the functionality of Bluetooth. Surprised a known name like Sonos is lacking such.

[HRL]

Ham_and_Jam said:

Unfortunately it requires wifi, as its a good shout other than that.

Or Ethernet if you have a wired connection available?

I use a Beam with a pair of One’s and it sounds good enough for me.

[595Heaven]

Bacon Is Proof said:

595Heaven said:

Hmmm.... not so sure of that. Soundbars are very easy to live with with no cables other than an HDMI lead to the TV.


The Sonos Beam is a great solution, but doesn't support Bluetooth.

Hmm, think I'd rather set up an extra cable once than never have the functionality of Bluetooth. Surprised a known name like Sonos is lacking such.

Bluetooth doesn’t really fit with the way that Sonos stuff works (other than the Move portable speaker which does have Bluetooth). AirPlay gives you very similar functionality with Apple stuff though.

[Lucid_AV]

Ham_and_Jam said:

Unfortunately it requires wifi, as its a good shout other than that.

Will you really need BT though if you go Sonos?.

The phone app for Sonos will access the music content on your phone. Then tbe phone and the sound bar connect to each other via Wi-Fi.

Better range. Better quality.

You're going to be using the Sonos app anyway to control the sound bar, so both will already be connected via Wi-Fi. Why not make use of the app feature to play music that way too?

[Bacon Is Proof]

I like my friends having the ability to put on their music easily when visiting, which would put me off such a set up, can't speak for the OP mind.

[Ham_and_Jam]

Lucid_AV said:

Will you really need BT though if you go Sonos?.

The phone app for Sonos will access the music content on your phone. Then tbe phone and the sound bar connect to each other via Wi-Fi.

Better range. Better quality.

You're going to be using the Sonos app anyway to control the sound bar, so both will already be connected via Wi-Fi. Why not make use of the app feature to play music that way too?

The sound bar is for our holiday lodge, so not sure what wifi we will have available at various times.

I need it to be able to operate when without wifi.

[Lucid_AV]

Ham_and_Jam said:

The sound bar is for our holiday lodge, so not sure what wifi we will have available at various times.

I need it to be able to operate when without wifi.

I can see what you're saying, but I think in your shoes I'd still give some thought to buying a Wi-Fi router.

It doesn't need a live internet connection at all. For £30 it would simply enable network communication via Wi-Fi, and that would then open the possibility of you getting one of the best sounding sub-£400 sound bars rather than limiting your choice to some or other significantly less capable unit just because it offers BT.

If you still have to have BT, get a BT receiver and plug it in to a spare input on the Sonos Beam. That, or go with a Yamaha YAS109 @ £349 with BT

[Ham_and_Jam]

Lucid_AV said:

I can see what you're saying, but I think in your shoes I'd still give some thought to buying a Wi-Fi router.

It doesn't need a live internet connection at all. For £30 it would simply enable network communication via Wi-Fi, and that would then open the possibility of you getting one of the best sounding sub-£400 sound bars rather than limiting your choice to some or other significantly less capable unit just because it offers BT.

If you still have to have BT, get a BT receiver and plug it in to a spare input on the Sonos Beam. That, or go with a Yamaha YAS109 @ £349 with BT

That is a good idea actually, not thought about using a router just as an internal wifi connection without internet.

That might be a good solution as I do like the look of the sonos Beam, and for the location where it’s going the gen 1 version will be more than ample. Might be able to pick up a bargain.

[donkmeister]

Ham_and_Jam said:

I don’t want earth shattering bass, but clear defined speech and good sound that will double up as a music streamer.

Anyone got something that they can recommend.

My only recommendation is you go and listen to some at Currys or similar. One person's "yeah, this one sounds great" is another person's "tinny and horrible". Dialogue is a lot more forgiving of the shortcomings of a soundbar, music not so much.

I'd ignore Atmos. In fact, treat any sort of surround sound as "nice to have if it works". You might otherwise be disappointed if you are expecting an immersive experience but don't get it.

I'd say put a system together at Richer or similar. Might not pass the wife test but will sound better. Home cinema and receiver and 5.1 speaker package plus some basic speaker cable..£500 will get you there, appreciate it's more than the budget by a little.

[Kneedragger95]

Cambridge Audio TVB2 might be worth a look.

BT support, Arc support as well as wireless subwoofer unit.
I have one and personally think the sound is great even at low volume.

Cost around £300 I think.

Edit: Sorry, just seen that you'd rather have an integrated subwoofer

[Bacon Is Proof]

There's a pair of active Tibo speakers in the pub which I'm guessing were cheap that have Bluetooth and sound way better than either of the two soundbars upstairs, I'll have a look later to see if they're ARC as well. They definitely don't need an additional sub and I'm a bass junkie, listening to a lot of bass heavy music, playing bass, and I have a voice that makes Barry White sound like Peewee Herman.
It's better sound Vs fewer cables but we haven't managed to tick all the boxes yet.

[Murph7355]

I have a Sonos Beam in a games room here.

Sound quality is decent for what it is, but IMO it is no replacement for a proper surround system if that ends up being a requirement.

Connectivity is also limited. It only has 1x HDMI connection. Mine's hooked up to an old (but still great) Pioneer plasma which was also restricted on HDMIs so needed an HDMI switch for the purpose I was putting it to.

It was OK for the price and I suspect would be much better if you have other Sonos kit. Wouldn't want one for my main system.

[HannsG]

I have a Sony Ht-G700. For the room we have its fantastic. Atmos, DTX or whatever and Bluetooth. Yeah can't add rears or alexa and Google. But it gets the job done
https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tv-and-home-entertai...

I got it for £250 in a sale on Very.com. Had to update the firmware to the latest to sort sync issues. But it's excellent Value for money.

Ah just seen you don't want a Sub. Well you can isolate it out the menu anyway... The bar alone has excellent bass

Edited by HannsG on Thursday 23 September 18:44

[Patch1875]

I have a Bose 700 think there may be a newer version now I know Bose have a dubious reputation but it’s a really decent bar and preferred the sound over the Sonos.