We love home cinema audio – but for big
sound without bigger speakers, better hit the soundbar
Orbitsound T9
What
is it?
Like a soundbar, only much smaller. At 9cm
square and 30cm wide, this soundbrick allows you to tune up your TV, console or
laptop, discreetly and affordably. It wires to a small subwoofer and has three
inputs – plus a charging iPod dock
Is it
any good?
Its size suggests a small-room solution,
but the T9 sounds far larger than it is. It’s a bit shouty at high levels, and
the handover from soundbar to subwoofer is quite lumpy, but $322 buys big sound
from titchy boxes – and as USPs go, that’s a good ’un
Stuff
says 4/5 stars
Is it a soundbar? Is it a dock? Either way,
it sounds great
Sound
for all
The T9 delivers a wider stereo ‘sweet spot’
than most soundbars. Drivers at each end and up front mean sound dispersal
reaches a greater area.
Best
for big sound, small money
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Details
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Price
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$322
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Website
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orbitsound.com
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Tech
specs
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Inputs
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iPod, analogue audio, digital optical,
3.5mm socket
|
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Composite-out
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Bar
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50W
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Sub
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80W
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Bar
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300 x 94 x 94mm, 1.9kg; Sub: 230 x 139 x
344mm, 4.5kg
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LG NB3520A
What
is it?
This slim soundbar – and – sub combo is a
mixture of modern (wireless subwoofer, Bluetooth streaming, USB MP3 playback)
and slightly backward (no high-def audio, no HDMI). The display is easily read,
and the wireless sub and bundled wall bracket make it easy to position, too.
Is it
any good?
Despite loads of EQ presets the soundbar’s
speaker drivers don’t extend very far down the frequency range. That places a
big burden on the sub – which is pretty responsive, although fairly monotone.
But sound is distributed impressively, and there’s plenty of pure power as well
as refinement. As an alternative to TV speakers, the LG is well worth the
price.
Stuff
says 4/5 stars
Not perfect, but the LGs are fantastic
value.
Folder
in your hands
A USB slot plays MP3 and non-DRM WMA files
to a decent standard, and the remote’s ‘folder’ button makes navigating files
easier than on some.
Best
for full-width audio
|
Details
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Price
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$ 531.5
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Website
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lg.com
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Tech
specs
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Bluetooth
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Wireless subwoofer
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Dolby Digigtal, DTS
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Inputs
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USB 2.0, digital optical (x2), 3.5mm
socket
|
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Bar
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80W (x2); Sub 140W
|
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Bar
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81 x 1000 x 56mm, 2.3kg; Sub: 196 x 391 x
318mm, 6.9kg 52 x 21 x 28cm
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Bose CineMate 1SR
What
is it?
In one respect, this is your usual shiny
soundbar-plus-wireless-sub method of putting a rocket up the sound of your TV
or games console. But, being Bose, it’s also the kind of style-meets-technology
declaration of taste the company’s products have become shorthand for.
Is it
any good?
The Bose is fine as far as it goes:
soundbar and sub integrate well, sound disperses nicely, and it delivers big
volumes without breaking a sweat. But it doesn’t do enough: no HDMI switching
(routing other sources through the bar for better sound) means no high-def
audio, so you’re missing a lot of what your Blu-rays have to offer. At this
price, that’s a really big miss.
Stuff
says 3/5 stars
Style with substance, but with spec gaps
and a fearsome price
To
loudly go
Bose’s ADAPTiQ room calibration system
works brilliantly. Using it does involve wearing a headset straight off the set
of Star Trek, mind
Best
for high-volume statement
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Details
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Price
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$2093.5
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Webiste
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bose.co.uk
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Tech
specs
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Wireless subwoofer
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Dolby Digital, DTS
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Inputs
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digital optical (x2), digital coaxial (x2),
analogue audio
|
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Bar/ Subwoofer power
|
not available
|
|
Bar
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124 x 935 x 61mm, 3.5kg ; Sub :
282 x 193 x 373mm, 6.3kg
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Yamaha YSP-2200
That
is it?
Yamaha combines manageable dimensions with
outstanding performance. The bar looks after all high frequencies, so the sub
is left with just the low-end to handle. Its passive design means the sub must
be wired to the bar, but it’s all styled to look great with your tech
Is it
any good?
In every way that matters, the Yamaha is
outstanding. The bar projects sound to the point you’ll think there are
speakers by your seat. Integration with the (deep, punchy) subwoofer is smooth,
and it will go call-the-police loud without getting hard or glassy. It’s not
quite so composed playing music, but if you crave movie thrills, you’ll get
them by the bucket-load
Stuff
says 5/5 stars
With this mighty soundbar-sub, Yamaha
corners the field
Sonic
upgrades
The soundbar has three HDMI inputs, so you
can route a whole system’s worth of AV equipment through it, improving sound
across the board
Best
for being the best
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Details
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Price
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$1207.9
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Website
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uk.yamaha.com
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Tech
specs
|
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Dolby Digital, Dolby trueHD, DTS-HD
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Inputs
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HDMI (x3), digital optical (x2), analogue
audio, digital coaxial
|
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HDMI-out, composite-out
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|
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Bar
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2W (x16); Sub 100W
|
|
Bar
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944 x 90 x 145mm, 4.3kg; Sub: 435 x 137 x
350mm, 6kg
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Samsung HT-E8200
What
is it?
This is a king of convenience, with
everything you need for a home cinema setup: a 3D Blu-ray drive, HDMI
switching, Smart TV functions such as iPlayer and Netflix, and a wireless
subwoofer. Just plug it in and you’re good to go.
Is it
any good?
The sound is spacious (with four great ‘3D’
audio modes – ‘high’ is our favorite), giving movies a truly cinematic
quiet-to-really-loud intensity. It’s punchy, though the sub sounds a little
overstated, even at low levels. Picture quality from the Blu-ray drive is
decent, as is the Smart TV content. Got a small home and lacking a Blu-ray
player? This is the perfect solution.
Stuff
says 5/5 stars
Simple, stylish and smart; Sammy’s made a
true all in one.
Hingin’
on the telephone
Bluetooth connectivity means the Sammy can
stream from your mobile device, making it a music player too. Leave the 3D
sound off, though
Best
for home cinema thrills
|
Details
|
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Price $1046.9
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Website Samsung.com
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Tech
specs
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Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
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Wireless subwoofer
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Blu-ray
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Dolby Digital, DTS-HD
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Inputs:
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HDMI (x2), digital optical, 3.5mm, FM
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HDMI-out, composite-out
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Bar
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133W (x2); Sub 134W
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Bar
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1041 x 96 x 131mm, 4kg; Sub: 370 x 290 x
290mm, 7.3kg
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