Started considering a sound bar...nope...

cbsboyer

cbsboyer

Well-known member
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I have an old Denon receiver (AVR-1905) with no HDMI inputs and a resolution limit of 1080i over component video. I have a few HDMI devices with no component output, so for those I've backfed the audio from the TV over an S/PDIF optical cable to the Auxiliary input...so it's turning into a glorified sound bar.

So, I was thinking to myself "maybe I should just bite the bullet and get a smaller, simpler soundbar instead". While I was thinking this to myself, I put on some tunes while I was cleaning for company.

...and then the subwoofer kicked in :D

So now I'm thinking about getting a current model receiver and tell the rest of the people in the house "You can't figure out the remote? Suck it up and RTFM." Any reason not to go with another Denon? I've heard good things about Onkyo as well.
 
I bought the 54" Vizio sound bar with the 8" sub when I upgraded my TV. I can tell you, for a sound bar that thing rocks out.
 
Ghastlyone said:
I bought the 54" Vizio sound bar with the 8" sub when I upgraded my TV. I can tell you, for a sound bar that thing rocks out.
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Yup, I have the 38" version and was quite impressed vs. my TV's 10x10 watt speakers. Add a sub and even better.

I upgraded to the Yamaha SRT-1500 soundbase when there was a smoking sale and that is even better.
 
bittermann said:
Yup, I have the 38" version and was quite impressed vs. my TV's 10x10 watt speakers. Add a sub and even better.

I upgraded to the Yamaha SRT-1500 soundbase when there was a smoking sale and that is even better.
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The 54" version sounds incredible. I have no clue why Vizio discontinued it. Maybe they're working on a revised newer model.
 
cbsboyer said:
I have an old Denon receiver (AVR-1905) with no HDMI inputs and a resolution limit of 1080i over component video. I have a few HDMI devices with no component output, so for those I've backfed the audio from the TV over an S/PDIF optical cable to the Auxiliary input...so it's turning into a glorified sound bar.

So, I was thinking to myself "maybe I should just bite the bullet and get a smaller, simpler soundbar instead". While I was thinking this to myself, I put on some tunes while I was cleaning for company.

...and then the subwoofer kicked in :D

So now I'm thinking about getting a current model receiver and tell the rest of the people in the house "You can't figure out the remote? Suck it up and RTFM." Any reason not to go with another Denon? I've heard good things about Onkyo as well.
Click to expand...

I love denon. I have an avr-2808 model. Pricey but worth the bucks. Since your relatively local to me, i had a smoking deal on a nice h&k receiver that the guy wanted a 100 bucks for
 
I've looked at Harman Kardon in the past and they seem to really shine with low impedance speakers. I've got a set of 8 Ohm Paradigm speakers right now that I've honestly never driven anywhere close to their limits. Even with my current Denon, running at 0db reference levels tends to make the relatively small rec room uninhabitable.
 
cbsboyer said:
I have an old Denon receiver (AVR-1905) with no HDMI inputs and a resolution limit of 1080i over component video. I have a few HDMI devices with no component output, so for those I've backfed the audio from the TV over an S/PDIF optical cable to the Auxiliary input...so it's turning into a glorified sound bar.

So, I was thinking to myself "maybe I should just bite the bullet and get a smaller, simpler soundbar instead". While I was thinking this to myself, I put on some tunes while I was cleaning for company.

...and then the subwoofer kicked in :D

So now I'm thinking about getting a current model receiver and tell the rest of the people in the house "You can't figure out the remote? Suck it up and RTFM." Any reason not to go with another Denon? I've heard good things about Onkyo as well.
Click to expand...

It is the trouble with having a good receiver and speaker setup; you'll never be able to go back to not having it. Once you know what full sound is, Soundbars and TV speakers just sound like toys...


Have had Denon, Onkyo, and now a Sony AVR and really, as long as it gives the connections you need at a price you can afford, they're all practically the same.
 
MasterGoa said:
Which Paras?

I have a pair of Studio 60 V2 from 2001 I would not trade for anything :)
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Higgy10 said:
same i have a gigantic paradign center channel and a sub, great speakers
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I have a pair of Esprit V3 for front left and right, a pair of Atom V3 for the rear left and right, a pair of CC-170 V3 for the front and rear center, and a PDR-10 V3 subwoofer. I suspect I'm never going to get a sound bar or box kit that sounds even close to this.

When I was buying the setup, the salesperson was determined to sell me a either a JVC or Kenwood receiver and boxed 5.1 speaker set to start. I then told him that I wanted to upgrade from an older Marantz receiver and front/rear stereo speaker setup I had tuned for it. Full stop, and then he moved right on to the Denon.
 
cbsboyer said:
I have a pair of Esprit V3 for front left and right, a pair of Atom V3 for the rear left and right, a pair of CC-170 V3 for the front and rear center, and a PDR-10 V3 subwoofer. I suspect I'm never going to get a sound bar or box kit that sounds even close to this.

When I was buying the setup, the salesperson was determined to sell me a either a JVC or Kenwood receiver and boxed 5.1 speaker set to start. I then told him that I wanted to upgrade from an older Marantz receiver and front/rear stereo speaker setup I had tuned for it. Full stop, and then he moved right on to the Denon.
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my center chan is a studio 390 v5, pdr-10 v3 sub, some nice vegas for my fronts and my some decent energy(lol) towers that are my rears
 
I can build you a 5.1 system, receiver, speakers, sub for $500 that will smash any soundbar you price. Soundbars are good for bedroom applications, that's about it.
 
CurrentlyPissed said:
I can build you a 5.1 system, receiver, speakers, sub for $500 that will smash any soundbar you price. Soundbars are good for bedroom applications, that's about it.
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Not my Yamaha SRT-1500 soundbase you won't. I also have a subwoofer hooked up to it. It may be better but it certainly won't "smash" it.
 
I bet you for what you spent on that sound bar, you could build a complete Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 system including a receiver.

No one is saying soundbars are junk. But what they are for is the type that buy Bose. Or, great bedroom applications. There's a reason speaker manufactures like Paradigm, PSB, Mirage, don't invest much into those systems, and only people like LG, Yamaha, Sony, Vizio do.

But if you want a real expierence for a HT. A soundbar is not your application.
 
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Soundbars/bases are also for people that want better sound but don't want to wire the entire room for surround sound. Yes I know you can go wireless but I also don't want speakers sticking out of all corners or on the floor. By the way that Yamaha was purchased at about a 60% screaming discount so I doubt you could get something that nice with a sub-woofer, speakers and receiver. Not trying to argue as a speaker system will usually be much better but the soundbars the last couple of years have really improved. Only caveat is you usually need to add a sub-woofer.
 
We recently got a cheapie (well under $100 all in) sound bar for the living room TV and I was pleasantly surprised. It's got OK bass, and good upper range, but the middle isn't so good (to me the voices sound like they are in a closet all the time). Still beats the built in TV speakers hands down, and the wife thinks it's great, so success :)

Still keeping my full surround setup in the rec room :D
 
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