I've picked up a TCL 85 C855 and have been considering pairing it with an 11.1 Sound Bar system from Samsung (Q990D).
However, I'm unsure if:
I've read mixed reviews online comparing the TCL to Samsung's and LG's OLED and QLED TV systems and wasn't convinced they were worth the extra cost. I'm hoping to get a second opinion.
I bet that 11.1 system would sound better than a standard soundbar.
For $2k it would want to.
Thank god we're on OzB where the cheapest price so far has been $1188.
How do they get the number 11.1 from 4 boxes…
I should start calling my stereo system 6.0 because it has a total of four drivers and two bass ports.
["11.1 Sound Bar system from Samsung (Q990D)." - what a complete crock of marketing shite this is]
I don't know about this system, but some Atmos systems have an extra speaker on top of the satellite speakers that fire sound at the ceiling so it bounces down towards you so it's like having an extra speaker on your ceiling.
Yeah, I've seen those systems (I've also done stuff like timed first order reflections off walls and floors).
It was more a rhetorical question, rather than something aimed at you, to point out that Samsung marketing BS. Bigger numbah = bettah, and it looks people OP really do fall for it.
I've tried the Samsung bars in stores, they are… not great. There's only so much tech you can toss at a flimsy little plastic case full of tiny little drivers, it's starting with such a handicap from a properly sized, properly non-resonant box with decently sized drivers to push air around.
I do want to try a 'good' soundbar in a properly set up environment though.
@rumblytangara: You definitely can get very good sound bars. At a certain sound and price they are just as good as any two speakers that are half the size and also expensive. You can get bluetooth party speakers now that are probably much better quality than than the average sound system used in the average home today. I don't know about recreating 11.1, but a good soundbar in even 2.0 can sound incredible. Maybe at the prices we look at we will never see it, but they do exist, people are buying them.
@rumblytangara: Shit comment. Come through with what is good then if you think soundbars are not great.
Also, which models did you try? Were they top of the line or Kmart brand? You sound so elitist lol.
I would spend money on an AVR and real speakers.
If you can afford it.
Any idea what's a good setup in the (sale) price range of the Q990D? So let's say $1000-$1300. Cheers.
Lots of decision points. If you're only intending to watch TV and streamed content, stick with a soundbar plus sub (and rears if you can accommodate them). Soundbars are space and decor friendly. If your TV room is positioned to facilitate music listening and this is something you're into, real speakers kill soundbars. However audio quality is wholly subjective, so if you're happy with how your setup sounds that's all that matters.
I've been using the TV speakers on my LG G1 since I got it so any upgrade is going to be crazy to me.
I have a separate setup for music, one day I'd like to have one AVR controlling everything.
And maybe that's possible for the same price as the Q990D, which is why I asked the question. Looking for specific items that might fall in that price range.
@theory: Is your music setup in a different room? Could it not be tasked to play the sound from your TV? I know so many people who listen to their TV speakers and it's my mission to find them an alternative at any price point. A friend who lives in a tiny public housing unit is loving his $35 Yamaha sound bar from Cashies.
@sumyungguy: I'm in a 1 bedroom, everything is in one room. The music setup is 2.1, video needs at least 5.1.
And if I'm going to that trouble, it might as well be 7.1 or 11.1, which is why the Q990D makes sense.
I want to buy once, get the best sound AND make it future proof.
@theory: Comes down to room volume. Soundbar with sub works ok in small rooms but underwhelming in larger open plan spaces. For TV & movies I mainly use 3.1 setups as I don't have space for the rears. I rate a conventional centre but Sony is doing (pricey) highly-regarded spatial systems with a virtual centre.
@theory: Sony Bravia Theatre Quad, the updated version of the HT-A9 360 Spatial Sound Mapping Dolby Atmos®/DTS:X® Home Theatre System.
If you were an Apple person I'd reccomend HomePods. They do virtual Atmos, feature automated room compensation and are great for ambient music listening. I have Yamaha NS-777 tower mains in my 5.1 setup but with left and right Homepods as well for listening to music. Conventional speakers have an optimal listening position but I'm often not sitting there. An alternative for non-Apple people is Sonos Era 300, in some ways better than Homepods because you can integrate a sub. This type of gear is future proof because you can always reassign to another room.
@sumyungguy: Sony Bravia Theatre Quad looks cool but prob too expensive.
I have an old iPhone if that's what is needed for HomePods? Is it just for setup and controlling the system?
Also for the Sonos 300 - "When you find a good spatial audio song, Sonos’ new speaker can blow your mind and sounds like nothing else. But it trails the Sonos Five at stereo playback and suffers from the wildly inconsistent state of Atmos mixes."
@theory: Theatre Quad is too expensive for me but shows that a virtual centre speaker is possible. Homepods are designed to stream Apple Music. I think there may be an app needed to stream (e.g. Spotify) from Android to Homepod. If Apple ever releases a stand-alone sub I would ditch all the speakers in my second TV setup and just have two Homepods plus sub. Era 300 may be a good alternative. Room compensation and spatial tweeter arrays I find highly compelling. Many will disagree but that's because they've never auditioned.
I've hated Samsung soundbars ever since 2 of them both got firmware glitches that made them freeze every now and then and needed me to turn the power off and on again at the wall to reset it. Additionally, Samsung wanted to charge me for warranty repairs if they couldn't replicate it 100% in the shop the first time.
I bought an LG s80 sound bar and aside from it not having any glitches, it is far clearer, especially in the mids and dialogue.
For that price get the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar or Sonos arc. Both are much better than samsung
Ive got a c845 set up with a Q990C, works perfectly