Learn me Sound Bar

I've got an LG TV and an Onkyo 5.1 AV receiver. Sometimes the ARC (via HDMI) cuts out, and the system reverts to TV speakers, which suck. So I've got 3 options: new AV receiver, or sound bar, or both. I know nothing of these things. So the questions are:

does sound bar replace TV speakers?

does sound bar act as center channel in 5.1 setup?

How much do I have to spend to get halfway decent, not audiophile, quality in either of the above. I see AV receivers around $350 with multiple Bluetooth connectivity which would be cool.

This thread is relevant to my interests.

I've got 2 sound bars, one Vizio, one LG. Both sub $200 new.

They're 2.1s, they do a decent job. Not audiophile, but way better than built in these days. Playing videogames on them they simulate 5.1 fairly decently, like I can zero in on people attacking me just from the sound, even if they're behind me. 

If I was buying them again I'd get two LGs. Less than a month after purchase the Bluetooth went out in the visio and has never returned, so it's relegated to basement tv duty. The LG is coming up on 6 years old now and still works great, it's our main upstairs sound source. Too loud for a bedroom tv, but great for music all day while working on things. 

I use fiber optic cables to connect them to the tv, but they both have Bluetooth and a component input as well.

If/when I have the room and the money I'll probably go back to a full blown receiver setup, but I really don't feel the need. 

I have lived with soundboard for a cumulative of 3 years, all at least (berkeley, college was a long time ago) 10 years ago - that was 6 months in college and another 2.5 years after college. All 3 of the soundbars were various roommates. 
 

I don't like them. I don't watch the tv/movies loud enough that the TV speakers get out of their element. For music, they're just not great compared to a stereo, or 3-channel, or 2.1 or 3.1 setup. 
 

I found the two that I used in a 5.1 setup as a center to be fine, but indistinguishable from a 4.1 setup.  That could have been due to the quality of the soundbars compared to the rest of the speakers (Polk). 
 

I just don't see the point. A real 2.1, 3.1, 4.1, 5.1, etc. setup will be better. If you listen to a lot of music via your television, or you blast your tv or movies... then I could see it. But I don't, so they never made sense, and often had syncing issues/issues with volume control. But that was 10 years ago, so maybe things have changed. 
 

Also worth noting here is that while I have had multiple surround systems in my life, I now have 3 different stereo systems. So I'm not chasing the same thing as everyone else. 

Why not just try connecting the TV to the Onkyo via an optical cable and see what happens? HDMI ARC can be flaky.  For the price of a cable it's worth a try. (A little clunkier to have to control volume with your AVR remote, doesn't support some of the fancier surround formats, but it's generally a very stable connection.) 

If you've got an actual 5.1 channel system now then a $200 soundbar is likely to be a significant step down in terms of perceived quality.  It's better than the built-in TV speakers, but that's really not saying much.

If you're using the audio return channel, then you're decoding the video signal in the TV, right?  Is this from an HD antenna, or are you using streaming apps on a "smart TV"?  If it's streaming, then an option you haven't listed is to get a dedicated streaming decoder box (Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, something like that) and feed it into your existing receiver.  That avoids needing to use the (often broken and incompatible) ARC, and probably costs less than any of the other options mentioned.

I've got a Vizio sound bar + wireless sub and rear speakers. The sound bar makes verbal dialog much easier to hear than the TV speakers (which seem to lose the center channel info). Happy with the purchase. 

flat4_5spd said:

Why not just try connecting the TV to the Onkyo via an optical cable and see what happens? HDMI ARC can be flaky.  For the price of a cable it's worth a try. (A little clunkier to have to control volume with your AVR remote, doesn't support some of the fancier surround formats, but it's generally a very stable connection.) 

Ahh, another benefit of the LG. It worked with ANY remote, comcrap cable, stock tv (originally a vizio tv, now an lg), sound bar, dvd player I briefly had hooked up. Automatic turn on when a source is selected whether wired or wireless. While it had a tiny easily lost remote, I have never actually used it. 

The vizio does none of that and has a tiny easily lost remote that is required for everything. 

In reply to codrus (Forum Supporter) :

There is also a Roku sound bar with the streaming player built in.

I've never had a sound bar and have no interest in them. But I will vigorously point you to www.accessories4less.com for any and all A/V purchases. 
most of what they sell are returns. I've seen 70% off retail more than a few times. 
they have A/V receivers and sound bars. 

TV has 2 inputs: wireless via USB dongle from modem for streaming, and ANT IN for local OTA

we used to have Xbox and BluRay into receiver, then HDMI from receiver to TV, but we don't use the BluRay or the Xbox anymore. HDMI is solely used as ARC now. TV and receiver are about 20 feet apart, and the HDMI cable is hidden behind crown molding.

Mama hates wires. IDK how I'd route optical other than pulling the crown down, then I'd have to touch up nail holes and and repaint when I put it back up. Open to suggestions.

For years I was in the "sound bars are stupid" camp.  But I realized I live in a small house that I dont want half filled with stereo equipment, I am deaf from years of equipment operation, and the convenience and packaging is oh-so-nice since all my sources are run through the TV when I am at home anyway.

I got in on the Klipsch 700 deal at the ol Costco over Black Friday (its the same as the Cinema 800 but a different box and SKU for Costco) and put it on our 86" basement TV and its pretty decent.  Is it as good as a baller 7.1 or 7.2 system?  Heck no.  Does it have a high "Wife Acceptance Factor?" Yep.  Was it easy to install?  Double yep.  Vast improvement over the TV speakers?  You guessed it...Triple Yep!

Once Christmas is over I am tearing out the rest of my 5.2 system upstairs and replacing it with another soundbar, likely the same model.  Will be nice to not have a living room that looks like a place Jesse Pinkman would hang out.

I have a 200watt? Yamaha bar connected to the television with an optical cable.    it's also paired to a 10" 500watt sub.

It has turned my sectional couch into a vibrator.   Zero complaints.

However, it is NOT surround sound.  it can mimic, but nothing as close a satellite speakers spaced around your head.

But....It's good enough for me.

Ooof, that's a much longer run than I would have thought. (The long run may also have something to due with your ARC issues. Marginal signal quality+ a long run of cable which might not be up to snuff bandwidth wise can cause dropouts)  Why not buy an optical cable, string it half assed across the room to see if it solves the issue- if it does, then you know it's worth the hassle to fish it or pull the crown.  If it doesn't solve it, you're out $15 plus however long it took you to reconfigure settings on your TV+ receiver for optical out (Also the budget optical cables are much thinner than HDMI, so easy to hide.)  Other things you can try- if the TV offers adjustable digital audio output formats, choose the lowest grade output- PCM if it's an option. Turn off Dolby Digital+ and eArc if those are options. 

In reply to flat4_5spd :

I had enough Amazon visa points that I've got a 10-meter optical cable on order for $free-fiddy. Gonna give it a go.

Stop using the receiver. Get the sound bar. Done. 

z31maniac said:

Stop using the receiver. Get the sound bar. Done. 

I have in-wall speakers perfectly positioned for 5.1 surround, so I'm a bit hesitant to abandon that setup. Will test optical out from TV to receiver before making further investment.

Go look at the site I linked earlier. I've sent many friends, including a few from GRM there. Nobody has had a complaint. Prices are great, customer service is very good as well. 

For Duke and others: I bought an LG SN5Y sound bar kit with sub, because I have an LG TV. It does a pretty decent job of faking surround, the sub sounds nice, and it has BT input for streaming from phones. It's replaced the Onkyo.

Semi-related question: my ancient Logitech 5.1 computer speakers are crapping out hard, and I'm thinking a sound bar under the monitor might be an easier replacement option. Audio is Realtek HD Audio (MSI Z97 PC Mate motherboard) with three 1/8" audio ports (blue, green, and pink). How exactly do I hook up something like that to something like this, which only has a single analog input, and still get the 3D sound effect? Or is that only possible with HDMI ARC or other digital input?

Sound bars just aren't that great IMO, especially compared to an actual receiver with a 5.1 setup. I would try to fix your current setup before going the soundbar route as you'll be severely disappointed. Can you route a optical cable or new HDMI through the attic instead of the crown molding? 

I had a sweet 5.1 setup in college and kept it through my first two years of marriage and then it disappeared with some military movers. Went to a soundbar setup because the old wife liked how simple it was and the sound quality was doo doo in the 3 different bars we had compared to the old Pioneer 5.1 system. 

Finally got a new Yamaha 5.1 system last year that is excellent for the price point. Moral of the story is....don't go the soundbar route. 

In reply to z31maniac and DirtyBird222 :

Yeah, that's what I did. "Simple" is more important than "sound quality" around here, so the LG sound bar + sub is already a fan favorite.

I have a Samsung sound bar with wireless sub remote mounted inside of a sectional, in the pocket that the legs came in.   Way better than tv speakers.  Using optical and Bluetooth for input.

Also in use is a Bose SOLO 5 or something like that, it actually sounds pretty good for its size and better than the Samsung.  It has plenty of input options.  Down side is no buttons, only a nice big remote.

Oh and a Carver 5.1 receiver with Boston Acoustics speakers in the garage.   Sold the giant Jamo speakers and pair of FM35 amps to power those hungry suckers.

Down to just two sound bars and an Alexa in the house for sound, so pathetically 2020s