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StanleyB
19-02-2012, 13:51
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
19-02-2012, 13:57
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
19-02-2012, 14:07
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
19-02-2012, 14:11
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
19-02-2012, 14:11
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
19-02-2012, 14:16
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
19-02-2012, 14:17
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
19-02-2012, 16:01
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
19-02-2012, 16:26
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
19-02-2012, 16:38
That link is broken Hamish :scratch:
Mr Nad
19-02-2012, 17:00
Personally I have my Bravia connected to the second optical on my Caiman+.

Likewise. I do notice there is about a 1/8 second delay between the output of my PVR (also optical) and the the output from the Bravia.

As for soundbars, I've not tried them, but they look over-priced to me. But they can't sound worse than the dreadful speakers they put inside televisions.

Most of my viewing/listening, except in the evening, is through an amplifier.
shabby64
19-02-2012, 17:15
Is hooking up a proper amp and some small 'speakers out of the question?

I've been doing this for years;in the bedroom & lounge.

No more thin & weedy sound! (especially useful for films & music programmes)

I reduce the TV volume to zero to avoid any echo.
StanleyB
19-02-2012, 19:08
Having spent the best part of the afternoon looking into this item, it surprises me that Sony seems to have shown little interest in selling their own versions in the UK. The convenience of using the TV handset to also operate the sound bar is a major factor in buying the OEM version.
The Vinyl Adventure
19-02-2012, 19:16
How odd ... It worked earlier I checked it
http://www.qacoustics.co.uk/q-tv.htm
aquapiranha
19-02-2012, 23:45
The issue here is that everyone (well, most people) want a TV that looks lovely and is about thin as a Rizzla. This means of course there is no room for a decent set of speakers, and even less room for any sort of loading inside the cabinet = crap sound. as others have mentioned there are many different sound bars available but I have the choice I would go for a decent amp and some proper spears really.

EDIT - the Q acoustics ones that Hamish links to were sold by a freind and he reckons they are some of the best around.