Soundbar questions - Blu-ray Forum

Blu-man08 · 01-04-2023, 01:59 PM

I'm contemplating buying the Bose Smart Soundbar 600. I like the idea of a soundbar for a couple of reasons. Aesthetically, it can transform my space to a more minimalist look by reducing the number of components in my home theater. Digital Trends rates the 600 as one of the top soundbars featuring Dolby Atmos.

I know that component purists consider soundbars anathema, but my lifestyle is changing so that less is better.

I have a couple of questions. These are general soundbar questions and not specific to the Bose.

How does the soundbar handle LFE?

Are wireless surrounds/subwoofers optional or necessary with soundbars?

Thanx in advance for your feedback.

stonesfan129 · 01-06-2023, 08:39 PM

This one looks like you can get wireless surrounds and sub with it, both at an additional cost. I think you could probably get a better deal with something like the Vizio M512a-h6, but I have heard those things don't last long.

I think I paid roughly $650 for my Roku Streambar Pro, 2 sets of wireless speakers (you can make do with one set for rear surrounds, but I wanted extra oomph up front) and the wireless sub. I am fairly happy with the system. It sounds good enough, reliable (like stuff isn't disconnecting), only downside is no HDMI or optical inputs (so you must run everything through the TV which usually limits you to DD/DD+ or stereo PCM).

Over time it has gotten slower, I had an issue with a speaker popping on very bassy movies, and I eventually did replace it with the Sony STR-DH590 5.2 receiver and separate speakers/sub.

Before that I had a Sony HT-CT370 2.1 soundbar when I lived at home and had it in a small room, and I took it with me when I lived in an apartment.

Yes, soundbars will not give you the quality of sound that a proper AVR setup will; but they conserve space, look nicer, usually cost less, and are usually easier to set up/deal with (in my experience).

What type of budget do you have?

2023-cineman · 01-06-2023, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blu-man08

I'm contemplating buying the Bose Smart Soundbar 600. I like the idea of a soundbar for a couple of reasons. Aesthetically, it can transform my space to a more minimalist look by reducing the number of components in my home theater. Digital Trends rates the 600 as one of the top soundbars featuring Dolby Atmos.

I know that component purists consider soundbars anathema, but my lifestyle is changing so that less is better.

I have a couple of questions. These are general soundbar questions and not specific to the Bose.

How does the soundbar handle LFE?

Are wireless surrounds/subwoofers optional or necessary with soundbars?

Thanx in advance for your feedback.

Is there a way for you to get a home demo of any sound bars?
Are you allready aware of the benefits of earc?

JonathanRa · 07-23-2023, 06:55 AM

LFE Handling: Soundbars, due to their design, can struggle with deep bass. High-end models, however, like the Bose Smart Soundbar 600, do a good job reproducing punchy and deep bass. Still, a separate subwoofer is recommended for true bass enthusiasts.

Wireless Surrounds/Subwoofers: They are not necessary but can significantly improve your audio experience. If you're after a full, immersive sound, adding wireless surrounds and a subwoofer is a great option.

In short, a soundbar is a great starting point for a minimalist setup, and you can always enhance your system with additional components as needed.

01-04-2023, 01:59 PM	#1
Blu-man08 Expert Member Member since:May 2008 Location:Michigan 4K collection:160 Blu-ray collection:518 Trading Score:123	Soundbar questions I'm contemplating buying the Bose Smart Soundbar 600. I like the idea of a soundbar for a couple of reasons. Aesthetically, it can transform my space to a more minimalist look by reducing the number of components in my home theater. Digital Trends rates the 600 as one of the top soundbars featuring Dolby Atmos. I know that component purists consider soundbars anathema, but my lifestyle is changing so that less is better. I have a couple of questions. These are general soundbar questions and not specific to the Bose. How does the soundbar handle LFE? Are wireless surrounds/subwoofers optional or necessary with soundbars? Thanx in advance for your feedback.

01-06-2023, 08:39 PM	#2
stonesfan129 Special Member Member since:Jun 2016 Location:Wisconsin Blu-ray collection:122 DVD collection:10 Trading Score:2	This one looks like you can get wireless surrounds and sub with it, both at an additional cost. I think you could probably get a better deal with something like the Vizio M512a-h6, but I have heard those things don't last long. I think I paid roughly $650 for my Roku Streambar Pro, 2 sets of wireless speakers (you can make do with one set for rear surrounds, but I wanted extra oomph up front) and the wireless sub. I am fairly happy with the system. It sounds good enough, reliable (like stuff isn't disconnecting), only downside is no HDMI or optical inputs (so you must run everything through the TV which usually limits you to DD/DD+ or stereo PCM). Over time it has gotten slower, I had an issue with a speaker popping on very bassy movies, and I eventually did replace it with the Sony STR-DH590 5.2 receiver and separate speakers/sub. Before that I had a Sony HT-CT370 2.1 soundbar when I lived at home and had it in a small room, and I took it with me when I lived in an apartment. Yes, soundbars will not give you the quality of sound that a proper AVR setup will; but they conserve space, look nicer, usually cost less, and are usually easier to set up/deal with (in my experience). What type of budget do you have? Last edited by stonesfan129; 11-23-2023 at 02:19 PM.

07-23-2023, 06:55 AM	#4
JonathanRa Junior Member Member since:Jul 2023	LFE Handling: Soundbars, due to their design, can struggle with deep bass. High-end models, however, like the Bose Smart Soundbar 600, do a good job reproducing punchy and deep bass. Still, a separate subwoofer is recommended for true bass enthusiasts. Wireless Surrounds/Subwoofers: They are not necessary but can significantly improve your audio experience. If you're after a full, immersive sound, adding wireless surrounds and a subwoofer is a great option. In short, a soundbar is a great starting point for a minimalist setup, and you can always enhance your system with additional components as needed.

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