Soundbars are without question the most popular new type of product lining our shelves here at Richer Sounds. As televisions become more waif-like, their already diminutive speakers are fast becoming a second thought for designers. Home Cinema systems have been the traditional dominators of this particular sector, and for many, it’ll always remain the best way to get the best big sound experience in the living room. But for those that want less clutter, and often less hassle, soundbars are the way to go. With price points to suit all pockets, we’re going to take a look at 5 of our best across the range.
Sub £100 – Roth Sub Zero II
Better sound needn’t cost the Earth, and British manufacturer Roth, are doing their best to make sure people know. Their Sub Zero II offers four drive units, powered by 60 watts of digital ‘Class D’ amplification. Dialogue comes over nicely, offering a detailed and clear sound that’s way above a TV’s capabilities. The addition of Bluetooth is a huge boon at this price, too, allowing anyone with a smart phone or tablet easy connectivity for music playback.
£101 to £250 – Onkyo LS-B50
For those in search of more meat on their sonic bones, a subwoofer is vital. The Onkyo LS-B50 includes not only a soundbar with 6 speakers packed in, but a wireless subwoofer, too. Other than a plug to connect it to the mains, this wireless link up allows the bigger box to be hidden away in the room. Its low frequency extension will help add a real weight to the sound of films and music alike. Bluetooth again is included, and a USB, digital optical and a 3.5mm socket round things off.
£251 to £500 – Q Acoustic Media 4
Once our budget starts to grow, manufacturers are able to get further into their groove. Q Acoustic’s award winning Media 4 utilises Bass Mode Radiator (BMR) drive units, rather than traditional cones. These are not only capable of a smoother transition across the frequency range, they’re also more forgiving in their dispersion of sound, meaning that you don’t have to be sat in the ‘sweet spot’ in the room to get the best sound. The built in subwoofer is more powerful than you’d expect, but there is an output available for those that would like to add a separate one.
£501 to £1000 – For the Music Fan – Naim Mu-So
If you’d really like a soundbar that can give a high-end Hi-Fi a run for its musical money, the Naim Mu-So is definitely worth an audition. Packing a whopping SIX digital amplifiers into its brilliantly machined aluminium chassis, the Mu-So is a hugely confident performer with music and film alike. The Android and Apple based mobile app that Naim have created to control the Mu-So is superb to navigate, making operation pain-free. On board Wi-Fi offers an easy way to access your home network and all of its stored music, as well as internet radio and Spotify Connect. The Mu-So is a true superstar.
£501 to £1000 – For the Film Lover – Yamaha YSP4300
For a soundbar that’ll leave you scratching your head wondering where the rear speakers are hiding, you’ve really got to have a look at the Yamaha YSP4300. Featuring 22 speaker ‘beams’ and two woofers, in turn powered by 24 channels of amplification, this soundbar really aims to get the Home Cinema feel without the extra boxes. Using a supplied microphone, the Yamaha’s Intellibeam system is able to create an accurate acoustic map of your room, allowing it to work out where best to ‘bounce’ its sounds in order to create surround sound. The results are stunning. Film soundtracks are brought to life in a big way, and the trickery on display in creating this ‘soundfield ‘is astounding. Really, a must audition.
