Topic: What speakers?

So my trusty Altec Lansing PC speakers gave up the ghost today after 9 years of service. They were very good but getting on and I've been thinking about an upgrade for a while. My TV only has optical out and bluetooth connectivity so I'd like to get new ones that suit this so I can get rid of the optical to analogue converter I've been using. Shouldn't be tough given the modern options out there.

I'm not really sure where to start or what I want though. Ideally I'd get an excellent surround sound system but I am renting and don't want to invest in that until I have my own living room and wire it all in properly. But I understand you can get good wireless options so maybe that's something to consider? Otherwise I guess a sound bar is the way to go?

I don't really have a budget, I'm happy to spend a bit if the benefit is there but I wonder if a mid-range soundbar is the way to go for now and get something a bit better down the line.

Any thoughts or suggestions? I want to buy ASAP but not keen on rushing and making a bad decision either.

I went from a 5.1 surround system to a soundbar with a wireless sub woofer a couple of years back. The speaker cables kept conking out and I could not be bothered to keep replacing em. Plus I was kinda sick of having cables all round my living room.

The sound obviously doesn't compare with having a separate speaker setup, but I'm really pleased with the soundbar, crisp and punchy. I actually had to turn the sub woofer down from the default level as it was a bit too bassy for my liking.

Iirc from when I was researching stuff if you are going to get a soundbar most sites recommend having a separate sub woofer as you can get ones with integrated subs. Mine plugs into my TV and PS4 using optical leads and you can also connect to your mobile via Bluetooth, and also has USB support to.

@kyleforrester87 I'm a surround guy myself. I've had a Sony DVD 5.1 system for ten years and still serves me very well. Excellent sound and was only about £120 when new.

I'd always been dubious about soundbars until a mate got a Samsung one. It did a pretty good job of creating a nice soundstage. Rears weren't particularly evident, but left/center/right separation was impressive.

@JohnnyShoulder I'm looking at sound bars with separate subs now. I can get a Samsung option for a pretty decent price which would probably do me.

https://www.very.co.uk/samsung-hw-m360xu-soundbar-21ch-200w-w...

But then I'm seeing them at £1300+ for an Atmos bar which is intriguing but they come with 2 rear (wireless) rear speakers which I can't really accommodate in my living room. And are the top firing drivers really able to make up for the lack of ceiling speakers??

But then like @KALofKRYPTON says, I've got no experience with sound bars generally and I kind of struggle to get my head around what they are capable of.

Maybe a trip to John Lewis or somewhere is in order..

Yeah maybe go to a Richer Sounds or something and get a store demonstration.

I never knew what soundbars were but was impressed with the quality of the sound you can get from em. It won't compare to a full surround system, you are not hear bullets firing from behind ya and stuff like that. But they still do pack a punch.

I looked at the Sonos stuff too but was put off by the price and didn't want to spend loads as I live in 1st floor flat.

@kyleforrester87 One of the best brands in the midi-budget range is Q Acoustics in my opinion. Their products alwats get rave reviews on WhatHifi, so I'm not the only one who likes their sound.

Their a UK company, so you should be able to get a hold of their speakers quite easy.

I'd recommend their M7 if you want a set, or their Media 4 soundbar.

http://www.audioaffair.co.uk/q-acoustics-media-4-m4-soundbar

Thing with soundbars is that they're great for TV/movies/games, but less for pure audio.

@Kidfried hmmm thanks that does review well and I do want something good for just music too. It's on the John Lewis site so hopefully they carry it in store. I'm going to pop in tomorrow.

@kyleforrester87 I have a Q Acoustics Media 4 soundbar with a Samsung 65" TV and it is more than up to the job. My room is 14' x 15' and we don't ever trouble the top end off the volume scale. I did have a separates system comprising Audiolab 8000M power amps, 8000S integrated amp and Marantz CD63 KI Signature CD player coupled to a MJ Acoustics sub and Castle Avon floor standing speakers (totaling about £4k) and this holds its own even though it cost about a tenth.
I would certainly look at What Hi-Fi? and see what's in there. The Award winners would be a good place to start.

@crippyd I do likes the look of the Q Acoustics Media 4 soundbar, bit worried about the dimensions though. My TV bench won't really allow for it to sit inside the unit so it would have to go right underneath my TV but i think its about 10cm by 100cm. My TV has wide legs but I think that could be pushing it, both on width and height.

I'll have a look today and take some measurements.

@kyleforrester87 It is 100cm wide but if you can fit it in I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Why not just get some high end head phones? I spent £300 and they were worth every penny.

@dryrain Depends how you play. I detest wearing cans at the best of times, but hate to be cut off by the feeling of isolated audio while gaming.

Also, versatility. It's for a TV set up.

@dryrain I do love playing with headphones when I can but it's not just for gaming, plus it's pretty rude to sit hogging the TV with headphones on all night while my girlfriend sits alone in silence

I didnt want to join this conversation for sounding like a dufus. I now have my old sony stereo plugged in to my tv via a cable and the two speakers either side of the tv and it sounds great. The speakers can go so loud the neighbours complain and the sound is clear, the bass deep and the tweeter on the tops for higher sounds. It was a better than average stereo when I bought it 17 years ago and it still works. What does a sound bar bring to the party which that doesnt when my speakers are either side of the tv?

@themcnoisy There is no difference other than it looks neater. It still makes sound and is way better than the TV speakers and that is the top and bottom of it!

So went to a newly opened John Lewis, bad idea since no one knows a damn thing (I ended up helping them with the tills) but the long and short if it is I ended up getting the Samsung HW-M360 with wireless sub. Seems to have reviewed okay and the price was low enough at £170 that I won't be kicking myself if I upgrade it again in a couple of years.

I did look at the Q Acoustics Media 4 bar and I would have preferred it given the comments above and reviews I read but it's 3cm to tall to sit under my TV and 1cm too wide to fit between the legs, so it would have had to go quite far back behind the TV and I think that would compromise the sound. The only way round it would have been a new bench for my TV and I'm not getting into that!

Looking forward to wiring it up, hopefully it's at least on par with what I'm replacing.

@kyleforrester87 Congrats on your new purchase I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

@kyleforrester87 I haven't heard of that one yet, but it's very sleak looking. Let me know how it sounds!

@themcnoisy I prefer stereo speakers as well, but I think a big part of the appeal of soundbars are that they're easy to setup and don't take in a lot of space.

I have two bookshelf speakers next to my tv. They sound brilliant, but they take up quite a lot of space and they're connected to an amp as well, which takes up even more space.

@crippyd @Kidfried cheers, thought I had missed something in sound tech.

@kyleforrester87 nice purchase!

She's in! All good, seems about on par with the system I've replaced if I'm honest but we'll put it through its paces. Best bit is I got to get rid of a whole jumble of cables and I don't need the power sapping amp anymore so I've room for a new console now.

PS5, anyone..?