Review: Geoff Quattromani looks at the latest sound bars by Sonos, LG & Samsung
I’ve compared some of the hottest TV sound bars in 2020. Which is the best for you?
You’ve bought yourself a shiny new smart TV. It’s one with a big screen – 65, 75 or 85 inches. The visual experience is stunning. What about the sound? Looking at it from the side, it’s so thin that you wonder how something so beautiful can possibly sound good. But you’ve kept some spare change for an added sound bar. We’ve compared some of the hottest models in 2020.
Sonos Arc – RRP $1399
It took seven years for Sonos to replace their flagship sound bar, previously known as the Playbar. Sonos has a reputation of releasing a product and evolving the technology over years to make it sound better each day. Eventually, the Playbar reached its capability from a hardware point of view and the Arc is the new model to invest in.
With 11 speaker drivers and as many amplifiers, the Arc can sing. It supports Dolby Atmos, uses four microphones so that Google and Amazon voice assistant can hear your commands, and it uses a single HDMI port to connect to your TV and deliver a premium audio experience.
The Arc is a single sound bar with no subwoofer to place on the floor. You can buy a separate subwoofer however in my experience, the Arc carries enough bass to bring explosions to life and make Booker T’s Green Onions sound like a live performance.
The largest concern with this product is connecting it to televisions that do not support Dolby Atmos. The Arc will only deliver at the best your television can support. This could be Dolby DTS, 5.1 or Atmos but you will be limited by your TV.
Most televisions sold in 2019 and 2020 support Atmos and if this sound bar lives for seven years like the Playbar did, your next TV will not require another audio purchase.
LG SN9YG – RRP $1399
When we asked LG to provide a competitor to the Sonos Arc, they sent their sound bar which matches their opponent on price.
The LG SN9YG supplies five channels of audio in the large unit, and a separate and wireless subwoofer is provided to manage the bass. LG supports the Google Assistant through the sound bar however it won’t interact with you while you’re watching TV. It does make a handy assistant when you’re getting ready in the morning and need a quick question answered as you pass the living room.
It’s simple to connect the sound bar to the TV but there is another HDMI connection for a direct input. This means that we can connect a gaming console or Apple TV 4K to the sound bar and receive true Dolby Atmos sound, even if the TV doesn’t support it. If you install the free app from LG, you can perform tuning for the room in line with the shape and dimensions of the space you’re using.
Atmos can make a sound bar throw sound over your shoulder, above your head and bring helicopters to life which truly sound like they fly over you. This sound bar ticks this box perfectly.
The size and shape of the LG sound bar suits large televisions and it looks great sitting on an entertainment unit rather than mounted on the wall. I’d suggest adding a rear speaker kit for large rooms. This is sold separately. This positioning will ensure you get the best from that next movie night.
Samsung Q800T – RRP $949
Samsung responded to our challenge by submitting a smaller sound bar. The Q800T is a three channel sound bar and offers a $400 saving over these competitors. It has less power but will suit smaller rooms and smaller sized televisions. It supports Dolby Atmos and has the connections and technology options of its LG rival.
The Q800T punches above its weight. I was not disappointed with the effort it put in, but I was looking at the other two options knowing they delivered a wider soundstage.
When it comes to Atmos especially, the added drivers and audio channels provide a better ability to move sound around you. Atmos makes you look at corners in the room while the Q800T didn’t completely fool me as to where the audio is coming from. I loved the adaptive sound feature Samsung has added this year. It automatically adjusts the tuning of the audio depending on the content you’re watching.
Samsung uses the Amazon voice assistant in their sound bar range. The sound bar worked well when responding to voice commands. This proved especially handy when I sought to turn up the volume without reaching for the remote.
Verdict
I admire the effort the Samsung Q800T puts into delivering a wonderful audio experience while being a smaller unit. I do however recognise the added cost to upgrade to the LG SNY9G and if you can afford it, it is worth it. When investing in a stellar visual experience from the TV, the audio cannot be ignored.
The Sonos Arc, however, stands alone without a separate subwoofer, provides a choice of voice assistants and the system can be expanded by adding other speakers throughout the house, as part of a unique ecosystem that Sonos is known for.
LG and Samsung will both have new soundbars in 2021, Sonos won’t. That says something about the brand you’re investing in. Naturally, a Samsung or LG sound bar will work best with their own televisions providing tighter integration while the Sonos works the same on any brand television to the point the company doesn’t even provide a separate remote. There is no single sound bar for every household, but these factors will guide you towards the one that suits your environment.
Geoff Quattromani is a tech commentator across radio, print, online and television. Check out his podcast “Technology Uncorked” for new information each week.
Why that Valentine’s Day gift might head back to the shop
Australians returned more than $11m in gifts, or 88,600 items, in the fortnight after Christmas and it could be down to people cashing in what they can to make ends meet, a data collector says.
CEO still MIA as Richard White is back with a vengeance
WiseTech says it is progressing with its search for a new chief, as Richard White wastes no time settling into his new $1m a year consulting role at the company he took some brief leave from.