Home tv - sound bar recommendation

[BillandHelen]

Hi, we are upgrading our tv to a 65 inch Samsung oled and want a compact soundbar, don’t want subwoofer/additional speakers etc. Thinking about a sonos beam? Any views or other recommendations?

 

[Lenny HB]

See how you get on with the TV first. We have a LG OLED and stopped using our soundbar as the TV sound is pretty good

 

[Jimbo50]

Sonos absolutely fantastic

 

[Jimbo50]

We have the Samsung and the sound isn’t great hence the soundbar. Wish we had bought the LG

 

[BillandHelen]

Lenny HB and Jimbo50, now maybe I’ve started with the wrong question! Went to John Lewis and looked at the Sony, Samsung and LG Oleds, having looked at the reviews was leaning towards the Samsung but do you think the Lg is better? I know it’s about £500 cheaper.

we currently have a 6 year old Sony, so any oled will be much better!

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[Jimbo50]

IMHO the LG would be my first choice. My son has one and the difference is really noticeable in both sound and picture quality.

 

[Stealaway]

I would have a sound bar as wide as your telly's for maximum stereo separation
Swoofer make a massive difference to sound quality and these days they are blue tooth from the soundbar. The just need to be plugged in anywhere in the room.
Samsung will work seemlesly with the TV.


Samsung HWS 60A? -- £179 on Amazon

 

[Langtoftlad]

I have (the now discontinued) Sonos Playback and it's an impressive soundstage...
...but, much improved by the addition of a Sonos sub (and 2 Play Ones for surround sound) All wireless.
Rumours of an imminent "budget" sub release to beef up the Beam.

 

[Lenny HB]

Lenny HB and Jimbo50, now maybe I’ve started with the wrong question! Went to John Lewis and looked at the Sony, Samsung and LG Oleds, having looked at the reviews was leaning towards the Samsung but do you think the Lg is better? I know it’s about £500 cheaper.

we currently have a 6 year old Sony, so any oled will be much better!

We replaced a 12 year old Sony the difference in picture quality was staggering. I think LG are the only manufacturer of OLED screens so whatever you buy will have an LG screen. We had to go for LG as they were the only 48" available, due to large picture windows in our lounge couldn't have anything bigger, we did buy the more expensive one with the better sound system.

 

[Fontie]

Sonos Arc up front 2 ones for the rear and sub for the base. Had mine a few years and its brilliant really brings films to life. Expensive but so so good IMHO

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[Abacist]

My son and I both have Samsung with Sonos sound bars and we are both very pleased!

 

[WillH]

Bose, very pleased with ours.

 

[TOAD on Tour]

Regardless of the tv speaker, nothing will compare to a Bose or Sonos Soundbar in my opinion. We have a 65” Panasonic OLED with its own soundbar and very happy with that too.

 

[ChrisL]

I have a JBL Bar 5 multibeam, i've been pretty impressed by the sound quality and volume, it also has hdmi in and out as well ARC, Bluetooth, wifi etc. Worth having a listen to.

 

[PaddyM]

Bose 5 , great bar , fantastic sound .

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[1ten]

We have an LG OLED and the sound bar and subwoofer make a massive difference.
My youngest daughters bedroom is above our subwoofer and she has complained a few times when we are watching a film that her bedroom is vibrating.
There are definitely better sounds systems than Sonos but we have it in every other room so it made sense and we are pleased with it.
The odd occasion when it doesn’t turn on with the TV you realise how bad TV speakers are!

 

[highwayman]

We replaced a full surround sound system with a Bose sound-bar.
In my opinion it's simply the best.
Cheers. Nige

 

[Jewellbags]

Hi, we are upgrading our tv to a 65 inch Samsung oled and want a compact soundbar, don’t want subwoofer/additional speakers etc. Thinking about a sonos beam? Any views or other recommendations?

Yep we have one and replaced a hardwired surround system with it . Very happy and haven’t yet bought the rear tweeters yet

 

[PaulC70]

Wish you guys would stop this

Posting about products, rave reviews, I end up googling and suddenly before I know it I've bought a Sonos Beam Gen2!

At least I got it direct from Sonos and with a bluelightcard discount of 15%! Think that was the final persuader, a saving of £67

 

[1ten]

Wish you guys would stop this

Posting about products, rave reviews, I end up googling and suddenly before I know it I've bought a Sonos Beam Gen2!

At least I got it direct from Sonos and with a bluelightcard discount of 15%! Think that was the final persuader, a saving of £67

Now you need the subwoofer to go with it

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[ManTheVan]

The Sonos Beam is wonderful. As,others have said, if you pair it with a Sub and a couple of 1s for surround sound, the effect is incredible.

 

[DumfriesDik]

Isn't it disappointing that you need to buy a soundbar for tellys these days?

Can you plug it into your stereo and save a few quid??

 

[ctc]

Try borrowing before buying and the suggestion to connect to an existing sound system works really well.

 

[PaulC70]

Now you need the subwoofer to go with it

noooooooo!!!!!

The Sonos Beam is wonderful. As,others have said, if you pair it with a Sub and a couple of 1s for surround sound, the effect is incredible.

I'll see first how much better it is than the current cheapy soundbar is

Isn't it disappointing that you need to buy a soundbar for tellys these days?

Can you plug it into your stereo and save a few quid??

You need it due to the fact that many flatscreens are so flat theres little room for decent speakers, it's all about the screen. Compromises.

 

[Langtoftlad]

you need the subwoofer to go with it

If seriously contemplating a Sonos Sub, I'd wait until the new mini one is released... it might be all you need, will be cheaper, will be smaller, might mean more availability of pre-loved big ones come on the market etc.

Can you plug it into your stereo and save a few quid??

Yes. Usually.
If your speakers and amp are in a suitable place.

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[AXO66]

Yep, look at a stereo system or active speakers if you have room . Especially if you enjoy listening to music . Sound bar can’t beat the stereo separation . You can link the stereo with either hdmi , if stereo accepts , or more commonly a didgital optical link . We have the Sonos amp with biggish speakers . Sound fantastic . Of course takes up more room than a sound bar .

 

[AXO66]

If seriously contemplating a Sonos Sub, I'd wait until the new mini one is released... it might be all you need, will be cheaper, will be smaller, might mean more availability of pre-loved big ones come on the market etc.

View attachment 645398

Yes. Usually.
If your speakers and amp are in a suitable place.

You will only be able to connect it to a sonos system as all done wirelessly .

 

[ChrisL]

You really need to listen to these things before you buy, curry's or richer sounds usually have listening rooms, you don't have to buy from them if you can get a better deal elsewhere, also make sure they have the correct connections for your tv, using hdmi rather then optical is usually better in as much as hdmi supports higher resolution audio. Another thing to consider is if the soundbar supports wifi, if it does then it can become part of your home network and stream music from streaming services.

 

[Langtoftlad]

You will only be able to connect it to a sonos system as all done wirelessly .

It was relevant because OP was considering Sonos Beam sound bar

 

[AXO66]

It was relevant because OP was considering Sonos Beam sound bar

Ah ,got you. Yep awaiting news of the mini sub myself.

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