Help me pick a soundbar for TV

[WereCat]

Hey there.

I need a soundbar for TV. It can be either 2.1 or 2.0, I don't really care. Something within 200eur budget. I honestly don't know anything about soundbars, just need something that will sound good enough.

 

Not sure if this is relevant, it will be paired with a SONY TV (don't know the particular model but it's fairly new model).

[GamerDude]

Can't say which soundbar to recommend, but a general rule of thumb for me is, if budget allows for it, a minimum of a 3.1 soundbar as center channel's so vital for more audible and clearer dialog. Both my HTPC and main gaming rigs are hooked up to multi-speaker, multi-channel soundbars with center channel/speaker.

[WereCat]

3 hours ago, GamerDude said:

Can't say which soundbar to recommend, but a general rule of thumb for me is, if budget allows for it, a minimum of a 3.1 soundbar as center channel's so vital for more audible and clearer dialog. Both my HTPC and main gaming rigs are hooked up to multi-speaker, multi-channel soundbars with center channel/speaker.

I prety much narrowed it down to:

Samsung HW-A650 which is 3.1 with the central channel and dedicated subwoofer for around 250eur https://www.samsung.com/us/televisions-home-theater/home-theater/sound-bars/hw-a650-3-1ch-soundbar-w-dolby-5-1-dts-virtual-x-2021-hw-a650-za/

Sony HT-X8500 which is 2.1 with built in subwoofer in the center with "simulated" 7.1 audio for around 300eur. https://electronics.sony.com/audio/soundbars/all-soundbars/p/htx8500

 

Parents would preffer the cleaner look with no dedicated subwoofer but I have a feeling the Samsung will sound much better while being cheaper. I don't have much trust for the "simulated" 7.1 on the Sony.

 

The TV is KD-55XH8096 https://www.displayspecifications.com/en/model/15981cdf and in spec sheet it says it has ARC but the SONY speaker apparently requires eARC for it to run Dolby Atmos?

 

But then again from this https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/televisions-projectors-lcd-tvs-android-/kd-55xh8096/articles/00206008 I understand that eARC should be present but I can't see it when I enter those settins, not sure if I need to have a device connected first.

 

 

[GamerDude]

From my limited knowledge, I believe that eARC (on both TV and soundbar) is required for full and uncompressed Dolby ATMOS and perhaps DTS:X, ARC support compress audio formats only, like Dolby and DTS multi-channel. Not a big deal for me, though ARC from my TV has limited my choice. But, my 4K BR player is hooked up to my soundbar (Phillips Fidelio B97/98) directly (the soundbar has two HDMI inputs) so when I watch 4K and 1080P BR movies, I do get DOLBY ATMOS or DTS MA  lit up on the soundbar for movies with those audio formats.

 

As to which to choose, I can't say as I've not heard that Sony soundbar myself, though the lack of a dedicated subwoofer would lead me to believe it'd not sound convincing with low frequencies, in other words, it might lack that 'oomph' in the bass department. Any chance for your to audition them personally?

[WereCat]

3 hours ago, GamerDude said:

From my limited knowledge, I believe that eARC (on both TV and soundbar) is required for full and uncompressed Dolby ATMOS and perhaps DTS:X, ARC support compress audio formats only, like Dolby and DTS multi-channel. Not a big deal for me, though ARC from my TV has limited my choice. But, my 4K BR player is hooked up to my soundbar (Phillips Fidelio B97/98) directly (the soundbar has two HDMI inputs) so when I watch 4K and 1080P BR movies, I do get DOLBY ATMOS or DTS MA  lit up on the soundbar for movies with those audio formats.

 

As to which to choose, I can't say as I've not heard that Sony soundbar myself, though the lack of a dedicated subwoofer would lead me to believe it'd not sound convincing with low frequencies, in other words, it might lack that 'oomph' in the bass department. Any chance for your to audition them personally?

Unfortunately I can't try them before purchase. I will be buying online and there is no store nearby where they have them available to try.

 

I also think the Samsung one will be better since I don't have much faith in "simulated" SW adjusted sound. But my parents don't like that there is a subwoofer box so in the end, it's about how they decide. Thx anyways, at least I narrowed it down to something