TV Sound Bars

[StanleyB]

Not sure where exactly to fit this in, but I hope here is the right place..

I bought a Sony LCD TV some months ago, but the sound from the speakers barely compete with my DAB radio in the kitchen. I just discovered a thing called a sound bar, but how do they work exactly? How do you adjust the volume level on them and what is the bass like? Do you have to buy the original manufacturer version?

Anybody got some experience on these things?

[Macca]

I pal of mine had one it was not cheap either, about £400, he really did not get on with it and sold it on pretty fast, I never got a chance to hear it. He is not an audiphile and does not really value qaulity sound so I was quite surprised he bothered to get rid of it. Is hooking up a proper amp and some small 'speakers out of the question?

[StanleyB]

Is hooking up a proper amp and some small 'speakers out of the question?

It's for the bedroom, where the idea of some small speakers and an amp would not go down well with the missus..

[slate]

My only experience with a soundbar was at the local HifiKlubben store.
I do not recall the brand of the soundbar that was being demoed for another customer. I just noticed the night&day improvement when they shifted back to normal speakers afterwards.

Personally I have my Bravia connected to the second optical on my Caiman+.

[Macca]

Ah - figured there would be a good reason. They sell the soundbars in Richer Sounds, not sure what make, if there is one close to you they will let you have a listen, even on a Sunday

[StanleyB]

Personally I have my Bravia connected to the second optical on my Caiman+.

That's how I have my Bravia connected in the dining room.

[Tim]

I heard a Yamaha one demonstrated a few years back and I have to say I was rather impressed, it was certainly a huge improvement over the Plasma TV's sound it was hooked up to. This was just the bar itself, I think they have come on quite a bit now, with their own subwoofers and remote controls Stan. I don't think it is necessary to buy the TV manufacturers model, as they just hook up via optical and digital inputs.

[DSJR]

Either a soundbar or a small pair of desktop actives (no extra amp) for around a ton - got to sound better than almost any TV speaker I'd have thought..

[The Vinyl Adventure]

This might do you Stan, depending on tv size
http://www.qacoustics.co.uk/q-tv/q-tv2.
Don't expect jaw dropping audiophile perfection, but they are a subtle addition to the tv and do improve the sound at least back to what you might have expected from a decent CRT

[Tim]

That link is broken Hamish