I decided to go with a 65" Samsung QLED to replace an 11 year old 52" Samsung that wont turn on. Now I'm looking to add a sound bar. One thing I read about the newer flat screens is the speakers are smaller and not nearly as effective. We have an open floor plan and will more than likely have the need of a sound bar. I contemplated getting one for the older TV, but never got around to it. Does anyone have a soundbar they recommend? I'd like to keep it under $500 (lower if I can help it).

I'd recommend going with a complete 5.1 soundbar system, with a subwoofer and surround speakers too. And there are several good (well, good for a relatively inexpensive soundbar) options for $500ish 5.1 soundbar setups.


A Samsung HW-Q60R soundbar should run you ~$400. Then add in a pair of Samsung 8500S wireless rear surround speakers for another ~$130. Good reviews, decent audio quality, it matches your new TV which should help with the warm fuzzies, and it only comes in just a smidge above the top of your budget.


Or the Vizio SB36512-F6 comes in just under $500, and supports Atmos (unlike the Samsung). But while its audio is fairly good and the added feature of Atmos compatibility is something you don't usually see in the sub-$500 soundbar systems, I don't know if it will last as long as the Samsung offering, since Vizio electronics tends to be more cheaply made and more "consumable" than some other brands. (As in, Vizio's stuff tends to works well for 5-10ish years, then it breaks, you toss it, and you buy another.)

Rogue, what are your thoughts on this Yamaha offering?

Yamaha 209

2.1 only. That means no center channel and no surround capability. (2 = left and right stereo channels, plus .1 = subwoofer bass channel)

Reviews are decent, for a stereo soundbar. Rtings is a good source for unbiased A/V electronic reviews: https://www.rtings.com/soundba...views/yamaha/yas-209

If you don't care about surround sound, and just purely want to upgrade your TV's stereo speaker, this will certainly be noticeably better.

But personally, I'd drop the extra $100ish for one of the 5.1 setups above, which will not only include surround sound compatibility but will also have slightly better sound quality overall.

Ah, I missed the 2.1 part. Thanks for catching that. Another that was recommended by my brother is the Sonos, but with the bar and 2 speakers, it comes in over budget.

Buy the Sonos Beam then add a couple of One SL for the rears and the subwoofer when you can. If you don’t want to get that crazy
The beam is currently $350 and the One SL is $129 so about $100 over your budget but they are on sale so if you can swing it I would do it then save for the sub.
They are $50 off a speaker so a $150 savings if you get all three now. You know what they say, “can’t afford not to buy it!”

The Sonos stuff is awesome.


If you don’t want to get that crazy buy the best Yamaha you can afford.

I have a Yamaha with wired sub in the home gym and it is great for TV and music. I have the same just with a wireless sub in the living room. Very happy with them.

For the home theater setup I still have a traditional 7.1 Reciver set up.

When that receiver dies I’ll likely get a Sonos Playbar, Sub and a few ones.

The Sonos stuff really is amazing the in laws have the play bar, sub, and a few Fives. Talk about being immersed in incredible sound.

With Sonos on sale if you can stretch the budget a bit you'll be glad you did. Sonos also has a ton of music sources rolled into their app and system.

Literally anything will be vastly superior to any built in TV speakers.

If you're just looking for a simple upgrade from tv speakers, you literally can't go wrong.

My tiny JBL Bluetooth speaker blows every tv speaker in the house out of the water.

We have a 8ish year old Samsung sound bar with a subwoofer that was like 200-300 and it's worked great.

quote:

Originally posted by mark60:
With Sonos on sale if you can stretch the budget a bit you'll be glad you did. Sonos also has a ton of music sources rolled into their app and system.

We love our Sonos overall system and their sale has been tempting. In my cave, I have a traditional 5.1 system. In our den, we just use the old Samsung LCD’s speakers which my wife prefers. She basically hates the notion of 5.1 systems, unless the TV’s speakers are pitiful. If I were to replace that TV, I’d probably get the Beam to replace the more-than-likely-worse audio of a newer, thinner TV.

You should probably first consider your other devices in the house and ease of integration with other devices / rooms.

You can't go wrong with Sonos, but I always thought BOSE sounded better.

Prices are around the same product to product.

Do you have a stereo system physically located near the TV?

If you do, you may not need to buy additional equipment.

I have a 75 inch SamSung TV. I have a high-end stereo system nearby, that includes a subwoofer. All I needed was a fiber-cable with a Toslink connector on it to plug into the back of the TV. It goes into the DAC input (Digital to Audio Converter) on my preamp. Instant high-end digital audio from the TV!

If you don't have a DAC, or an amplifier with one built in, you can get a cheap one for as little as a couple hundred dollars.

quote:

Originally posted by btanchors:
Do you have a stereo system physically located near the TV?

No I don’t. It’ll be just the sound bar.

Talked a little more to my brother. He really likes the Sonos. My 2 concerns are is it “big” enough for our space and will it work with the TV?

We have vaulted ceilings, 21-ish feet high and the room is open to the kitchen, dining room and atrium.

I’ve also read there are issues with the device working correctly with Samsung TVs. I’m not sure if that’s still a problem though.

Those 2 things have me leaning to the Samsung that Rogue recommenced. However, it looks like that model is being discontinued.

Another question...

Has anyone ever bought electronics through Amazon Warehouse? Cheaper but I’m not sure if I want to take the risk. There is the Q70, which is a step up for $550.

Or even the open box deals at Best Buy?

quote:

Originally posted by Erick85:
Another question...

Has anyone ever bought electronics through Amazon Warehouse? Cheaper but I’m not sure if I want to take the risk. There is the Q70, which is a step up for $550.

Or even the open box deals at Best Buy?

I have bought Amazon Warehouse deals on car parts, electronics, toys, BluRays, if a warehouse deal pops up I buy it.
If you click on the warehouse deal it will tell you why it is a warehouse deal 90% is because the packaging is messed up.
Just like most things with Amazon you have about 30 days to return and it should still have the full manufacturers warranty.

Another vote for Sonos. I purchased a Beam and 2 One SLs around Christmas and I love them. Lots of sound, but I'm not an fanatical audio guy.

My only grip is the wifi in my place sucks, so they go in and out occasionally.

I have Vizio tv that I connected a Vizio sound bar to along with a wireless sub woofer.. I hooked the sound bar up using an optical cable and it works really well.

I bought the Vizio off Woot, and a Samsung bar off them with the sub, both perform well for what they are and I have a similar layout vaulted ceilings with open to the attached kitchen.

Woot has different models on sale all the time right now they have a JBL 2.1 for $89.

No it's not a $500 Sonos, but it's also not $500.

Subscribe to the email system because the inventory is constantly changing, Woot is Amazons outlet for refurbs.

I've seen 5.1 systems, amps, subs complete systems. If you can take the time to watch for what you want deals can be had...

https://www.woot.com/category/...ef=w_cnt_cdet_elec_6

I have a Denon that is fantastic. Picked it up a few years ago at Magnolia via Best Buy. It was marked down from $599 to $299. I think it sounds better than my mom’s Sonos. I have run it with a Samsung and now on a LG OLED.

My tv is a 50" Vizio, so my son bought me the Vizio sound bar Connected it to the tv with an optical cable, works/sounds great!