Soundbar without seperate sub woofer. Anyone got one they can recommend ?

[nogoodnamesleft]

I recently got a Steinheiser Ambeo, smallest version. I didn't get the optional sub-woofer (very expensive).

Impressed with sound and adjustments you can make to tweak things.

Had a Sonos briefly before which got sent back for full refund mainly because of privacy considerations (they require you install their app on a smartphone and stay logged into their servers (only possible reason is to track your use of the device).

 

[PaulSB]

Bought a tv that I thought had the best sound so no need for a soundbar. I think it’s marketing telling people you ‘need’ one.

I'd have to disagree. The difference is significant.

 

[presta]

What does a sound bar do that plugging the audio line from the TV into your HiFi doesn't?

Even with the bass turned full down, and ears that are deaf below 200Hz, the TV sounds so boomy and bassy on my HiFi that I'm left wondering if the broadcasters are just trying to annoy the neighbours. (I had a Pure radio that was excessively bassy too.)

 

[si_c]

What does a sound bar do that plugging the audio line from the TV into your HiFi doesn't?

Even with the bass turned full down, and ears that are deaf below 200Hz, the TV sounds so boomy and bassy on my HiFi that I'm left wondering if the broadcasters are just trying to annoy the neighbours. (I had a Pure radio that was excessively bassy too.)

It doesn't particularly, but it is generally tuned slightly differently for TV watching rather than music.

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

What does a sound bar do that plugging the audio line from the TV into your HiFi doesn't?

Much depends on your "Hi-Fi".
Hi-Fi can be anything from a stero amplifier through incl. Dobly digital processors (AV Receiver?). Speakers, calibration for audio-visual stuff, etc.

I used to play my video (HDR, Apple TV and TV) through a good quality AV Receiver that did all sorts of processing and sound field emulation (eg "none", Concert Hall, Film Studio, etc.) plus all the different Dolby processing, played through reasonable left and right stereo and centre speakers. Yet my mid-range Steiheiser Ambeo soundbar is way way way better quality.

The modern film sound has amazing stuff embedded to give sound far more "direction" (incl. from above where soundbars can have upward pointing speakers to bounce sound off the ceiling (or use tricks across the large number of speakers they have built-in). I don't notice the direcvtion effects but they are just there and quality just comes across.

I also find speach a lot clearer through the soundbar than on either TV built-in or through Hi-Fi speakers thought - the soundbar certainly does not filte rout low frequency noises and I was surprised by it's bass response but without dominating things.

 

[Arjimlad]

I checked out Richer Sounds for their recommendations & got a JBL. Quite happy with it.

 

[presta]

The modern film sound has amazing stuff embedded

Modern film sound is as much use as a chocolate teapot, half the time you can't hear the dialogue, and the other half it's waking up the whole street. Who in their right mind would think it's a good idea to make the neighbours think they're living under Heathrow flight path just because there's a scene of a plane taking off for example? For "realism"? You can stick it, what's "realistic" about watching a box of coloured lights in the corner of the lounge in the first place?

Watching old films over Christmas, I was struck by how clearly I can hear them, it's only the modern ones that I miss half the dialogue. In fact, even with a really bad film/drama, the quality of the audio goes up and down like a yoyo from one shot to the next, every few seconds. And why does the volume of announcements between programmes have to be 10-20dB higher than the programmes themselves? It's noticeable that the radio's much clearer than the TV, so if they can manage it for one, why not the other?

There's a long thread on this forum somewhere about the crappy state of TV sound these days.

 

[Shortfall]

Modern film sound is as much use as a chocolate teapot, half the time you can't hear the dialogue, and the other half it's waking up the whole street. Who in their right mind would think it's a good idea to make the neighbours think they're living under Heathrow flight path just because there's a scene of a plane taking off for example? For "realism"? You can stick it, what's "realistic" about watching a box of coloured lights in the corner of the lounge in the first place?

Watching old films over Christmas, I was struck by how clearly I can hear them, it's only the modern ones that I miss half the dialogue. In fact, even with a really bad film/drama, the quality of the audio goes up and down like a yoyo from one shot to the next, every few seconds. And why does the volume of announcements between programmes have to be 10-20dB higher than the programmes themselves? It's noticeable that the radio's much clearer than the TV, so if they can manage it for one, why not the other?

There's a long thread on this forum somewhere about the crappy state of TV sound these days.

I've definitely noticed this myself in the past to the point where it drove me nuts - straining to hear dialogue one minute only to cringe the next when some massive bass heavy sound effect kicks in and knocks the plaster of the neighbour's walls! Our Sonos Beam set up seems to have largely eradicated that though. I set it up with my mobile phone which maps the room and manages to give great sound at acceptable volumes for those of us with neighbours to worry about.

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

Modern film sound is as much use as a chocolate teapot, half the time you can't hear the dialogue, and the other half it's waking up the whole street. Who in their right mind would think it's a good idea to make the neighbours think they're living under Heathrow flight path just because there's a scene of a plane taking off for example? For "realism"? You can stick it, what's "realistic" about watching a box of coloured lights in the corner of the lounge in the first place?

I agree but find it only a problem with films. TV programs seem mostly OK.

My soundbar has a processing switch to boost voices in relation to music and effects. Not perfect but a significant improvement over the film sound unprocessed.

 

[Dave7]

What does a sound bar do that plugging the audio line from the TV into your HiFi doesn't?

Sadly, with being in a flat, I had to let my HIFI go.....including my my lovely, beautiful, delicious, superb Heybrook speakers.
Sorry, I have to go and lie down now

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

Our Sonos Beam set up seems to have largely eradicated that though. I set it up with my mobile phone which maps the room and manages to give great sound at acceptable volumes for those of us with neighbours to worry about.

My Steinheiser Ambeo does similar ie when you set it up it goes through a process of "mapping the room" from an audio perspective. But additionally (as mentioned above) it has a sound processing option to boost voices in relation to other sound.

 

[presta]

Modern film sound is as much use as a chocolate teapot, half the time you can't hear the dialogue, and the other half it's waking up the whole street. Who in their right mind would think it's a good idea to make the neighbours think they're living under Heathrow flight path just because there's a scene of a plane taking off for example? For "realism"? You can stick it, what's "realistic" about watching a box of coloured lights in the corner of the lounge in the first place?

Watching old films over Christmas, I was struck by how clearly I can hear them, it's only the modern ones that I miss half the dialogue. In fact, even with a really bad film/drama, the quality of the audio goes up and down like a yoyo from one shot to the next, every few seconds. And why does the volume of announcements between programmes have to be 10-20dB higher than the programmes themselves? It's noticeable that the radio's much clearer than the TV, so if they can manage it for one, why not the other?

There's a long thread on this forum somewhere about the crappy state of TV sound these days.

I've definitely noticed this myself in the past to the point where it drove me nuts - straining to hear dialogue one minute only to cringe the next when some massive bass heavy sound effect kicks in and knocks the plaster of the neighbour's walls! Our Sonos Beam set up seems to have largely eradicated that though. I set it up with my mobile phone which maps the room and manages to give great sound at acceptable volumes for those of us with neighbours to worry about.

I agree but find it only a problem with films. TV programs seem mostly OK.

My soundbar has a processing switch to boost voices in relation to music and effects. Not perfect but a significant improvement over the film sound unprocessed.

So I've had hearing aids for a month now, and....

I could already hear most face to face conversations ok, so there's not much difference there.
The same with listening to the radio, no great benefit.
Watching TV, there is the stuff I can hear with or without the hearing aids, and the stuff I can't hear with or without them, but very little I can hear with but not without, so again, little benefit. Last night a battery ran out whilst I was washing up, so I left it until my hands were dry, and then forgot. The thing is, I didn't notice I was sat watching TV with only one aid working. They seem to be amplifying useless noises to an uncomfortable degree, but not the sibilance missing from (a lot of, but not all) speech.

Programmes I've been able to hear OK:
Tony Blair biography
The Diplomat (UKTV stream)
Horizon programme on AI from 2018
Hannah Fry series on AI

Can't hear:
Silent witness
Walsh Sisters
Curfew
New Jim Alkalili programme on AI