Soundbar, 300€?

Mihle · November 21, 2021

I am considering giving my mum a Soundbar as a gift, she do not want dedicated speakers because they are "Big and ugly"

She do not want extra speakers apart from maybe a sub.

She wants it to be better than what the Samsungs TVs speakers are, dont know model but quite new.

She is not an audiophile at all, and mostly watches normal TV or streaming services, more series than movies.

Have no need for any voice assistant integrations or things like that.

TV box is a Android TV, so can just use Spotify to that if she wants to.

I know nothing about Soundbars, what is some good models around 300€ or less?

Or should I spend more on a soundbar or get another gift? If more, what models?

dizmo · November 21, 2021

For more or another gift, it entirely depends on how much your mom values the quality of the audio. I got a Samsung soundbar for my roommate a few years ago, it was $60 on eBay (I think MSRP was around $159). Sounded a million times better than the TV speakers; great for him, but wouldn't be for me as I'd want something I could also listen to music to. Does she have a big TV, or a small TV? Having a soundbar that dwarfs the size of the TV would look odd, something she'd probably notice if she's not wanting extra speakers. Not sure if it's available where you are, but the Sonos Beam is worth a look. If watching movies and series are literally all she does, just find any decent soundbar like something from Samsung, Sony, etc that's on clearance. You'll be getting a higher end soundbar for a very cheap price, and really, she wouldn't need anything fancy.

Mihle · November 22, 2021

13 hours ago, dizmo said:

For more or another gift, it entirely depends on how much your mom values the quality of the audio. I got a Samsung soundbar for my roommate a few years ago, it was $60 on eBay (I think MSRP was around $159). Sounded a million times better than the TV speakers; great for him, but wouldn't be for me as I'd want something I could also listen to music to. Does she have a big TV, or a small TV? Having a soundbar that dwarfs the size of the TV would look odd, something she'd probably notice if she's not wanting extra speakers. Not sure if it's available where you are, but the Sonos Beam is worth a look. If watching movies and series are literally all she does, just find any decent soundbar like something from Samsung, Sony, etc that's on clearance. You'll be getting a higher end soundbar for a very cheap price, and really, she wouldn't need anything fancy.

I think the TV is 65" if I remember right.

When I wrote OP I thought a sub would be OK but now have the impression she don't want that either, that leaves less options. I do think I should get something that can be combined with a sub later tho, if nothing else.