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Sound bar versus surround system

We are going to install a modest TV and sound system in our very large bedroom to watch movies on and a bit of programed TV. I have everything I need for a surround system (center channel speaker, main speakers, rear surrounds and sub) but no reciever/processer, but I’m interested in a compact system, and have had no experience with ’sound bars’. My question is this: How do sound bars compare to say a center channel and main (mini monitor) speakers? I have two different dedicated music systems so serious music listening is not going to happen here.
Can you play soundbars at realistic listening levels? Do they give you OK stereo separation? I assume a sub would be needed for bass reinforcement.
Looking forward to your feedback, and thanks.
rixrax
8 responses Add your response
theo's avatar
theo
2,686 posts
 
I have had a surround system for years and continue to build on it. I have been to friends/relatives homes and heard soundbars from lower end to higher end. Although they do present the sound track very well and they do have the ability to give the sound the ability to appear to emit from beside or behind you. But in my opinion, your ear cannot be fooled and the “holographic” sound reveals it’s shortcomings in especially active scenes with sounds shifting back and forth. They lose the impact originally intended by the mixing engineer. All my opinion of course.

In the end, if you can, try a few at home and hear for yourself.
russ69's avatar
russ69
3,504 posts
 
For the bedroom a sound bar is fine, I have a few Samsung systems and they sound as good as my Maggies for TV stuff. 
ghdprentice
6,967 posts
 
I have a high end surround system in our living room and a sound bar in the bedroom. While sound bars are not surround system… they can be really useful in bedrooms. They can simulate a much bigger and complex sound in the front. You need one with a dedicated little subwoofer. It is definitely a trade off but even with wireless speakers you end up with a bedroom full of boxes. A good sound bar can offer highly detailed natural sounding speech and music for your movies and shows. As always research and more money buys you more betta sound.
fiesta75
1,378 posts
 
You say very large bedroom, how big? In order to come close to realizing the sound of a movie soundtrack, you need at least 5.1, with 1 sub minimum.
mahler123
3,322 posts
 
Agree with fiesta.  You want sucky sound for your bedroom, like perhaps there may be other entertainment options for that area , get a sound bar.  Serious HT?  Do at least a 3.1, 5.1 would be better
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,448 posts
 
“Can you play soundbars at realistic listening levels? Do they give you OK stereo separation?”

The answer is Yes! But you need to choose wisely. If you go for run of the mill ‘boxed’ surround set from Sony, Samsung, Vizio then you’re in for sucky experience. Look into surround bar options from SONOS. You are going to experience a very high quality sound from movies and music (streaming). SONOS cover shipping and returns and gives you 45 days to audition. 
https://www.sonos.com/en-us/shop/arc.html

I’ve been using the same SONOS surround system in my living and bedroom for last 14 years.
erik_squires
16,057 posts
 
In addition to the sound the audio quality another thing to consider about sound bars is the number of inputs.

If you have say, a gaming system, a Roku and your TV as sources, how exactly are they going to get to your sound bar?  Is Audio Return Channel/TV pass through going to work for you?  Do you have another audio source you were thinking of using also? Is there an input for that?

Best,

Erik
glennewdick's avatar
glennewdick
1,667 posts
 
depends on the sound bar, there's some that are really quite good now. Some come with speakers for the rears and give you Dolby atmos. they get expensive fast but worth looking at IMO as an alternative for a simpler system. 

Check Andrew Robinson's Audio review, YouTube site he did a few reviews of some of the better ones. 

The Recovering Audiophile with Andrew Robinson (therobinsonbrand.com)


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