How can a $300 soundbar sound better than $700? Just demoed at BestBuy. - Blu-ray Forum

bizmord · 07-30-2018, 08:04 PM

Just came back from a BestBuy local store and I demoed 3 soundbars.

Sony HTZ9F vs Sonos PLAYBAR vs Sony HTCT800.

Now, I don't claim to be the guru of audio. I do have a dedicated home theater with a full 5.1 system and not one of these bars can touch it.

When I demoed these 3 bars I was shocked that the $299 Sony HTCT800 sounded better to me than the other more expensive bars. So, the details.

My situation. A living room, poorly treated for sound, currently using TV speakers which sound horrible. I wanted better sound specifically for music, not movies as for movies I'll go downstairs and enjoy the theater like sound. So, my main goal is a nice bar for when I want to watch some music videos 80% of the time. The rest can be movies, shows, sports.

Sonos PLAYBAR - I demoed this first. Salesman was tricky. He turned it on with the $700 Sonos sub and it sounded decent. Once he turned the sub off ... ehh, was not impressed. A bid muddy sound, specifically music.

Sony HTCT800 - Next I heard this one playing and I walked over to it. Impressive low frequency which made music sound very nice. Very ballanced. No crazy high frequencies that would be painful to your ears. Just well rounded full sound.

Sony HTZ9F - Right above the HTCT800 I see the HTZ9F and I was researching this model and so obviously I want to hear what it sounds like. I shut off the HTCT800 and turn this one on. .... Hmmm, why is it so high pitched? Music is now living in the higher frequencies, does not sound full. I turn on a movie and I can see that the center channel is working hard and is producing lots of volume on the dialog but overall it just sounds like a pain to listen to. No depth would be a good way to describe it.

I stand back. There is another shopper who comes by. He stands there with me as I jump between the 2 Sony soundbars. He agrees that the cheaper $299 Sony sound better, ESPECIALLY for music ... Bingo ... that's what I am looking for. HTCT800 is also on sale, $299 .... done. Purchased and it's in the trunk of my car waiting until I get home to demo it at the house.

So ... is anyone surprised? Maybe for a movie watching experience a 2.1 system (HTCT800) is not good but for music, a 2.1 is just perfect?
Again, at my home theater I have Rythmik F12 $1000 sub which sounds amazing. This Sony sub ... not bad, not bad.

07-30-2018, 08:04 PM	#1
bizmord Member Member since:May 2013 Location:New York Home Theater Gallery:18 Blu-ray collection:5	How can a $300 soundbar sound better than $700? Just demoed at BestBuy. Just came back from a BestBuy local store and I demoed 3 soundbars. Sony HTZ9F vs Sonos PLAYBAR vs Sony HTCT800. Now, I don't claim to be the guru of audio. I do have a dedicated home theater with a full 5.1 system and not one of these bars can touch it. When I demoed these 3 bars I was shocked that the $299 Sony HTCT800 sounded better to me than the other more expensive bars. So, the details. My situation. A living room, poorly treated for sound, currently using TV speakers which sound horrible. I wanted better sound specifically for music, not movies as for movies I'll go downstairs and enjoy the theater like sound. So, my main goal is a nice bar for when I want to watch some music videos 80% of the time. The rest can be movies, shows, sports. Sonos PLAYBAR - I demoed this first. Salesman was tricky. He turned it on with the $700 Sonos sub and it sounded decent. Once he turned the sub off ... ehh, was not impressed. A bid muddy sound, specifically music. Sony HTCT800 - Next I heard this one playing and I walked over to it. Impressive low frequency which made music sound very nice. Very ballanced. No crazy high frequencies that would be painful to your ears. Just well rounded full sound. Sony HTZ9F - Right above the HTCT800 I see the HTZ9F and I was researching this model and so obviously I want to hear what it sounds like. I shut off the HTCT800 and turn this one on. .... Hmmm, why is it so high pitched? Music is now living in the higher frequencies, does not sound full. I turn on a movie and I can see that the center channel is working hard and is producing lots of volume on the dialog but overall it just sounds like a pain to listen to. No depth would be a good way to describe it. I stand back. There is another shopper who comes by. He stands there with me as I jump between the 2 Sony soundbars. He agrees that the cheaper $299 Sony sound better, ESPECIALLY for music ... Bingo ... that's what I am looking for. HTCT800 is also on sale, $299 .... done. Purchased and it's in the trunk of my car waiting until I get home to demo it at the house. So ... is anyone surprised? Maybe for a movie watching experience a 2.1 system (HTCT800) is not good but for music, a 2.1 is just perfect? Again, at my home theater I have Rythmik F12 $1000 sub which sounds amazing. This Sony sub ... not bad, not bad.

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