Does anyone build a decent soundbar?

steveinaz · October 2019

Looking for recommendations for 2 or 2.1 soundbar system at or under $300. Seems like looking at reviews on a number of different brands----LOTS of problems.

I was looking at Yamaha's offerings. Don't need anything earth shaking, don't need 10 million features and/or Alexa. Just a good/solid 2 channel soundbar that doesn't die in 14 months.

tonyb · October 2019

Good question....the hard part may be "doesn't die in 14 months".

An alternative could be a slim line receiver and some small bookies. Like a Marantz slim line and a pair of small Elac's.

tratliff · October 2019

I think the biggest problem you will encounter is the budget.

joecoulson · October 2019

Only soundbar that I think is worth the coin is the Sonos, although it’s not $300.

motorhead43026 · October 2019

I bought 3 Polk Magnifi Mini 3-4 years ago. Never have I had a problem with either and 2 of these get daily use several hrs a day, all day on most weekends.

Should be right in your price range.

steveinaz · October 2019

It amazes me that I have a pair of self-powered computer speakers (JBL) that were $29 bucks, and are now 19+ years old---and still work, but I can't find a damn $200+ dollar soundbar that doesn't die in under 2 years. Frustrating.

jdjohn · October 2019

I've had my Samsung for years with no problems. It's nothing special, but maybe that's why it has lasted so long. It's a 2.1 with a small passive sub included.

mhardy6647 · October 2019

motorhead43026 wrote: »

I bought 3 Polk Magnifi Mini 3-4 years ago. Never have I had a problem with either and 2 of these get daily use several hrs a day, all day on most weekends.

Should be right in your price range.

emphases added

I mean --- I am bad at math, but there's something funny about this endorsement?!

so -- what of the third one, dare I ask?

rooftop59 · October 2019

I would just buy these: https://www.ebay.com/itm/PSB-Alpha-PS-1-Powered-Speakers-Computer-Speakers-Studio-Monitors-PAIR/292035042856

sub out included: add a small sub at less than $200 and you’ll be really close to budget and have true stereo sound and far better sound quality. Does lack a dac you can pick up a very decent one for cheap these days...

motorhead43026 · October 2019

mhardy6647 wrote: »

motorhead43026 wrote: »

I bought 3 Polk Magnifi Mini 3-4 years ago. Never have I had a problem with either and 2 of these get daily use several hrs a day, all day on most weekends.

Should be right in your price range.

emphases added

I mean --- I am bad at math, but there's something funny about this endorsement?!

so -- what of the third one, dare I ask?

My girlfriend owns #3, no problems with it.

I should have said neither have been a problem.

steveinaz · October 2019

I'm gonna try the Yamaha YAS-108.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D73HMVR/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

My TV audio is already routed thru the Main rig via Toslink, so I just needed an upgrade to the almost non-existent sound coming from the Vizio P65-F1 when I don't want the big setup on.

WagnerRC · October 2019

I bought my son the Yamaha that Costco offered. It sounded great. Yamaha is a great choice

WagnerRC · October 2019

Costco’s price is 149.00

mantis · October 2019

Sonos is the only affordable sound bar and sub woofer on the market worth spending money on.

gudnoyez · October 2019

ZVOX makes a good product this ones 6 years running never an issue you can st up to a 65 inch on top. It has a 75 W amp built in and a down firing sub, also has pre outs so you can hook up a powered sub behind or off to the side for you.

Has that sound enhancer in it you can you can hear gunshots off to the sides and behind you. Watching watching Jeff Beck live at Ronnie Scott's with it is sure a treat. Nice for a living room or bedroom this baby easily fills a good size room. We often watch movies in the bedroom instead of heading down to the HT room.

pitdogg2 · October 2019

I too have heard good things about Zvox. I personally have not had the chance to get ears on one.

txcoastal1 · October 2019

ZVOX is really good

deronb1 · October 2019

Get a Woodbourne. Great for TV. Good for music too.

Mikey081057 · October 2019

I have a Polk soundbar... An SB 5000BT... It works ok ... Have had it for 3+ years. I wish it had HDMI but it don't so use it with optical...The sub is meh....like all polk subs... I wish I could hook up an external sub but haven't taken the time to figure out if but I don't think there is any option. Maybe I can RCA out from the DTV mini to a sub.

mhardy6647 · October 2019

Re-reading the title of this thread gave me pause -- it seems to imply that there's a market for indecent soundbars?!?

I guess those are built with indiscreet components...?

steveinaz · October 2019

Well, it seems like its almost an impossible feat to build a soundbar that lasts. The biggest complaints seem to be (from many different manufacturers) "my soundbar quit working." You'd think a soundbar would be a pretty simple thing to build with durability, especially with todays digital amp technology. Like I mentioned earlier, how come a cheap pair of powered computer speakers can lasts, but we can't make a soundbar last? My vizio (that died too) had GREAT reviews, was on many "budget best buy" lists, and died after 14 months. It just ceased to work; BUT apparently there is a lucky 60% of owners whose bar has not had a problem. That's a pretty poor failure rate for a fairly simple piece of equipment. I don't even use any of the advanced features, I just simply use it as a better TV speaker system.

Hopefully the Yamaha will fare better.

tonyb · October 2019

Good luck with it Steve.

I think part of the conundrum is, one part built in obsolesce, and another part is just form and function over longevity. How many soundbars you gonna sell if they lasted 20 years ?

It's not just soundbars, but across most consumer products.

That Zvox thing looks interesting. I've heard of them before but never really looked at any reviews.

mhardy6647 · October 2019

One would think -- yes.

Maybe the same issue that plagues powered (Class AB) subwoofers with plate amps (or some A/V receivers, for that matter) is the root cause for many of the soundbar failures? I.e., heat buildup. Yeah, not too much heat generated (i.e., power wasted) by the Class D amps -- but there is some, and presumably there's a CPU and some signal processing firepower inside the soundbars generating heat, as well.

Then again, maybe they're just carefully and deliberately designed to fail fairly quickly.

Planned obsolescence is, of course, alive and well in the 'digital age'.

decal · October 2019

ZVox, but you're gonna have to pony up the cash.

Emlyn · October 2019

Zvox covers a wider price point than they used to. They have some below the $300 line now and the company appears to have responsive customer service. One cool thing they do now is integrate a special dialogue enhancement feature for people who use hearing aids.

A one year warranty applies, but reviews of their products on Amazon don’t seem to indicate many break down issues. There are obviously many problems with soundbar electronics caused by cheap engineering and parts. But, I would also not be surprised if some of the problems are caused by users expecting too much of them in terms of trying to get a home theater experience out of a small plastic box. I would not recommend expecting much beyond getting better tv sound out of one unless it’s above the $1K mark.

steveinaz · October 2019

Yes, the Zvox seem to get really good reviews, and it looks like a quality product. Maybe the "SVS" of soundbars?

Emlyn · October 2019

If I was in the market, I’d go for this model with a 42 inch TV...

https://www.amazon.com/ZVOX-SoundBase-Subwoofer-Bluetooth-AccuVoice/dp/B00O96PD9O

can apparently connect an external subwoofer too.

Mikey081057 · October 2019

I like this one...

https://www.bluesound.com/products/pulse-soundbar/

Can also accommodate an external sub as well.

halo · October 2019

Mikey081057 wrote: »

I like this one...

https://www.bluesound.com/products/pulse-soundbar/

Can also accommodate an external sub as well.

Way over the OP's stated price cap.

Mikey081057 · October 2019

halo wrote: »

Mikey081057 wrote: »

I like this one...

https://www.bluesound.com/products/pulse-soundbar/

Can also accommodate an external sub as well.

Way over the OP's stated price cap.

I said I like it.... Didn't say he should.

anonymouse · October 2019

I use the Polk original SDA soundbar. It needs a receiver, but I'm quite happy with it. Decent simulated surround in the sweet spot.

Does anyone build a decent soundbar?

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