restorer-john
Addicted Member
This is a real vintage soundbar:
AudioFeline
Super Member
I now see how miniaturization has made much progress in this area!
I think that’s a sound wall !! Like wow
Which concert is this? Possibly a record numbers of speakers in one concert.
I’m curious why women and non audiophiles think smaller speakers sound better ?without any critical listening??
Last edited:
dysmike
0xDEADBEEF
This is a real vintage soundbar:
Takes a crew of 50 half a day to set up though.
We have 2 sound bars in the house, one in living room and one in the bedroom. Like others have said, much better sound than the tiny speakers in modern TV's.
Mike
Mike
Gearjunky
Jack of all trades, master of none
You are partially correct, it’s Thee Wall of Sound used by none other than, The Grateful Dead around 1974. Their intent was to try and provide a HiFi experience at a live concert for the audience. For those who witnessed it live, said it did. I wasn’t born yet!! Darn it!!
Dswankey
Lunatic Member
"There were numerous renditions and developments of the Wall, but the largest version used 586 JBL speakers and 54 Electrovoice tweeters and was powered by 48 McIntosh MC-2300 amplifiers, which resulted in a continuous 28,800 watts. It stood three stories high and about 30 meters wide, the first line array system of this scale ever assembled."
David_NC
Super Member
I'm fine with soundbars, for their intended purpose. Contrary to what some have said (jokingly, I assume), I don't think it's a marketing thing with current TV's having bad sound; it's just the nature of a thin, narrow frame and enclosure just big enough to hold the screen, inputs, and controls. I consider a current TV to basically be a monitor and maybe a tuner intended to be used with a separate audio system. The soundbars that I've heard are decent, not great, but better than the TV itself and likely as far as the owner will go for better sound. In a bedroom, kitchen, etc, they can be a good option.
I gave my roommates a Vizio 5.1 sound bar that is surprisingly decent for surround on movies and general shows. No, it doesn't compare to my 7.1 system, and it shouldn't. It's fairly small, easy to use, and delivers a decent surround experience as long as one keeps its limitations in mind. For music, it's not what I'd use, but considering the sources they use, it's acceptable for them.
I gave my roommates a Vizio 5.1 sound bar that is surprisingly decent for surround on movies and general shows. No, it doesn't compare to my 7.1 system, and it shouldn't. It's fairly small, easy to use, and delivers a decent surround experience as long as one keeps its limitations in mind. For music, it's not what I'd use, but considering the sources they use, it's acceptable for them.
IMO this ^^^ why put in the effort when most buyers are going to add external speakers of some kind.
made in china
Active Member
"Soundbars good or bad for the audio world?" I'd say neither. They are a mutation of consumer attention span deficit disorder. To me, anything "modern" that relies on a HDMI ONLY source is doomed to be outdated ASAP. I have read many stories from soundbar purchasers of HDMI DRC restrictions causing certain movies or video sources to not output on the soundbar. It could be a HDMI revision issue which doesn't allow the source media to confirm DRC. Also, sometimes it is an ARC issue. Smartly, some people realize they could use RCA or 1/8 mini jack instead, but when they look at their equipment, one or the other is HDMI only.
So, in a way you get "stuck" being a slave to the whims of industry should they continue morphing DRC and/or HDMI standards (or something new altogether).
This just means that soundbars, in their current state, will be a blip. Few would be collectible as interconnect standards keep changing. And, as panels get even slimmer, maybe the next trend will be something discreet that is no longer mounted to the flat panel?
With that in mind, I bought a soundbar that is compatible with my older equipment (meaning it has option of analog in) Oddly, it seemed most soundbars I considered were HDMI only meaning they wouldn't work with my 2006 Toshiba flat panel and DVD player.
It works fairly well. However, the DSP is overwhelming! Soundbars use lots of DSP to make them "sound good" at varying levels in regards to what their modest internals can actually reproduce. My soundbar has 2 distinct DSP modes: "MUSIC" and "MOVIE". Watching a movie in MUSIC mode is good, and using MOVIE mode is even better, sounds quite good actually. The DSP is lost in the dynamics of the movie.
However, listening to music in MOVIE mode is unbearable! The DSP is way too obvious and sounds horrible with music. If I use MUSIC mode, it is better, but you can very clearly hear the DSP is on the verge of being hyperactive, if you listen at 75%, which is where DSP will begin to reduce the subwoofer volume (separate sub soundbar) you will constantly hear the DSP kill the sub anytime the low end passes a threshold. And I mean KILL the sub, like how traction control in a car can go overboard.
Anyway, it is a highly regarded soundbar system that sounds great on movies but can't really be relied upon for anything more than the most casual music use.
So, in a way you get "stuck" being a slave to the whims of industry should they continue morphing DRC and/or HDMI standards (or something new altogether).
This just means that soundbars, in their current state, will be a blip. Few would be collectible as interconnect standards keep changing. And, as panels get even slimmer, maybe the next trend will be something discreet that is no longer mounted to the flat panel?
With that in mind, I bought a soundbar that is compatible with my older equipment (meaning it has option of analog in) Oddly, it seemed most soundbars I considered were HDMI only meaning they wouldn't work with my 2006 Toshiba flat panel and DVD player.
It works fairly well. However, the DSP is overwhelming! Soundbars use lots of DSP to make them "sound good" at varying levels in regards to what their modest internals can actually reproduce. My soundbar has 2 distinct DSP modes: "MUSIC" and "MOVIE". Watching a movie in MUSIC mode is good, and using MOVIE mode is even better, sounds quite good actually. The DSP is lost in the dynamics of the movie.
However, listening to music in MOVIE mode is unbearable! The DSP is way too obvious and sounds horrible with music. If I use MUSIC mode, it is better, but you can very clearly hear the DSP is on the verge of being hyperactive, if you listen at 75%, which is where DSP will begin to reduce the subwoofer volume (separate sub soundbar) you will constantly hear the DSP kill the sub anytime the low end passes a threshold. And I mean KILL the sub, like how traction control in a car can go overboard.
Anyway, it is a highly regarded soundbar system that sounds great on movies but can't really be relied upon for anything more than the most casual music use.
restorer-john
Addicted Member
What is it about traction control going overboard? First thing I do in one of our cars is disable it everytime I go for a "drive". First corner it'll cut the power and flash its light. All without the least bit of lost traction. It must be the g-sensor deciding spirited driving is banned or something.
dysmike
0xDEADBEEF
Because most people can't drive.
Quadman2
Lunatic Member
Playing the Devil's advocate here, however I believe there is a place for this newer TV sound application.
For example, there's the person with little or no room for a 5.1/7.1 or even a two channel speaker set up. This applies to people in studio apartments or in small living rooms. This compact audio sys suits their limited space.
Then there's the constant mover, who just doesn't want to truck a multi speaker set up each time.
Plus, there's the minimalist either at college or by design who wants a sound better than what the TV's are able to produce.
Finally there's the person with little or no electronic smarts who either can't, nor wants to cope with a AV receiver, multiple speakers and all that goes with a surround system.
Personally, I've yet to experience hearing a sound bar set up that matches a properly running all around system with a decent power out put...but ya never know down the road!
Q
For example, there's the person with little or no room for a 5.1/7.1 or even a two channel speaker set up. This applies to people in studio apartments or in small living rooms. This compact audio sys suits their limited space.
Then there's the constant mover, who just doesn't want to truck a multi speaker set up each time.
Plus, there's the minimalist either at college or by design who wants a sound better than what the TV's are able to produce.
Finally there's the person with little or no electronic smarts who either can't, nor wants to cope with a AV receiver, multiple speakers and all that goes with a surround system.
Personally, I've yet to experience hearing a sound bar set up that matches a properly running all around system with a decent power out put...but ya never know down the road!
Q
imral3
Enjoy the musics!!
Really??
The original idea for soundbars?
Ancient?
1,000 lbs?
Biggest scam in video world?
Wow, you learn something new everyday!!
Really??
The original idea for soundbars?
Ancient?
1,000 lbs?
Biggest scam in video world?
Wow, you learn something new everyday!!
I always cum to his threads to get learnt stuff
. Things be changin 
lini
just me...
David: Well, I can see the usefulness of soundbars in combination with pretty large flat screen TV sets, which are most likely going to be wall-mounted anyway. But in case of smaller models, that are more likely going to be used on the included stands, the depth consumption will depend on the depth of the stand anyway, so that there is no real need for making the cases so narrow and small. Instead, the manufacturers could easily make the stands a bit taller and the cases a bit deeper, so that a pair of half-decent, front-firing speakers could be integrated at the two bottom corners of the screen, thus eliminating the need for an external sound solution for many users.
Greetings from Munich!
Manfred / lini
Greetings from Munich!
Manfred / lini
dysmike
0xDEADBEEF
People like the frame form-factor. I have to admit, I do too. It wasn't that long ago we had exactly what you are describing.