I want to get a Sound Bar with similar spec to this one:

Samsung HW-H450

I may even get one of those but I don't really want one so long (this one is 93cm long) as it's for use with a monitor for occasional use watching DVDs etc).

But, I want my Bose unit back in the kitchen for listening to the radio so want something separate to use for films etc.

I like the idea of a separate, wireless sub-woofer and so don't really want a sound box and the cheaper ones of these don't have HDMI out which I want too.
I also want Bluetooth as well.

And I don't want to spend too much. The Samsung HW-H450 is only 164 CHF.

My Media player is a Raspberry Pi.

So, any ideas? Thanks.

Offer of the day at digitec

It's labeled a "sounddeck" and so it's a bit bigger than your average soundbar but sound quality is reportedly good.

This one from magnat looks impressive.
I would also recommend these ones instead of a soundbar:
https://www.digitec.ch/en/s1/product...tagIds=591-547

No bluetooth, no wireless sub... no thanks.

If you want good audio quality then you don't buy a pair of Philips... you can get many better solutions for the same price.

A soundbar is all about the convenience of having passable sound quality combined with useful wireless features and a subwoofer.

I looked at a Samsung one at the weekend. I'm not sure whether it was set up properly in Media Markt but the sound quality was awful.

It was the HW-H551. Shame because it ticked the other boxes.

I liked a Bose sound box (Solo 15) but it only had an 3.5mm and TOS optical input and I want HDMI In/Out and Bluetooth.

Get the Sony CT-260, it's a great soundbar. I've had mine for almost 2 years and I absolutely love it for what it is.

Hi,
Bluetooth connection itself will degrade your sound quality.
By the way these speakers have Bluetootk aPTx
These monitor speakers have Ribbon tweeters.
https://www.avforums.com/review/phil...m-review.10012
Philips is not that bad. I don't insist that OP should buy this . It's just a suggested alternative. I did not recommend any near field monitors. At this some of them like Audioengine A5+ are excellent but the lack connectivity.
One would need to spend few thousand bucks on a soundbar with active subwoofers to get a decent enough audio quality at some minimalistic sweet spot.
There is no alternative to multipoint surround speakers in acoustic neutral environment connected via wires.

Bluetooth produces perfectly acceptable sound quality (easily handles 320kbps) and is very convenient for parties etc. On speakers of this class you don't really suffer from it.

Good spot about the bluetooth capability though, I missed that!

Hi all,

I have a Sonos Soundbar (forgive me if it already been mentioned, didn't read the whole thread), the Soundbar alone has amazing sound. Combine that with the Play 1's and Sub and the sound quality is great.

Plus it means you can have music all over the apartment/house - you just need to purchase more speakers.

Yes it costs a little for this set up but its the best i have seen or used so far.

K

Yep, its already been mentioned, should have read the whole thread..and seen the spending limit too..sorry guys for the worthless input

Blutooth aPTx has following specs:

• Compression ratio: 4:1
• Audio Format: 16-bit, 44.1kHz (almost CD-Quality)
• Data Rates: 352kbps
• Frequency Response: 10Hz to 22kHz
• Algorithmic Delay: <1.89ms @ Fs 48KHz
• Dynamic Range: 16-bit: >92dB
• THD+N: -68.8dB

It's not a lossy codec but it's nothing compared to solid copper wires. The bandwidth has a cap.


What is acceptable for most subjective listeners can be very well unacceptable to an audiophile.
For many THD+N of -68.8dB would be unacceptable.
There are some guys who would like to connect their speakers to their ampli kit with a 10AWG wire.


My point is that there are Speaker pairs available at this price point which would sound way better then a sound bar providing same level of connectivity and portability.

Obviously Bluetooth is nothing compared to copper wires, does that even need to be stated?

An "audiophile" would be using a pair of high quality stereo speakers and a dedicated amp and would not even be looking at the Philips E2. The E2 may certainly have better fidelity than a good soundbar, but it is certainly not in "another league"... just as the E5 wasn't, which I listened to pretty extensively.

I downgraded (sadly, due to room layout and convenience) from a high-end Quad 5.1 set and beast of an amp to the soundbar I currently have, so I do know both ends of the spectrum.

Not worthless at all. Two recommendations is better than one!

I like the Sonos stuff but have never ever wanted the same audio all over the place as others in the flat usually prefer to listen to something else.

My point is that there are Speaker pairs available at this price point which would sound way better then a sound bar providing same level of connectivity and portability.

I wouldn't like to start a worthless discussion on Audio fidelity, surround sound, THD, PSNR etc
OP just needs a suggestion.
Thanks but IMHO nobody is asking what you downgraded or upgraded to.
Unless you do not hand build a Valve based ampli kit the beast is tamed.

Which ones specifically?

I would recommend following :
https://www.digitec.ch/en/s1/product...tagIds=591-547


ROTH AUDIO POWA-5 MKII


Kanto YU5MB


Paradigm Series A2 (Could be out of Budget)


Nocs NS2 V2

Thanks for that. Although in my case I've only got a Raspberry Pi as a media player (for films) and a monitor to watch so I've got no HDMI ARC and so would have to use the 3.5mm analogue audio in which wouldn't be particularly good.

The sound bars I have seen allow me to feed the HDMI from the Pi into the sound bar and back out to the monitor (for the video signals).

As well as films, it would be good to play music from either the Pi or from a handheld device too as at the moment we have a Denon amp and CD player and massive B and W speakers.

You were the one who started the droning spec-sheet spiel, but sure, I digress.

That's the beauty of Sonos, you can have different music in each room...or you can have the same music in each room...its configurable by 2 touches on the Sonos App from a mobile device or tablet...works wonders!

Sonos is indeed the pinnacle of wireless music technology, but the costs are eye-watering.