Surprisingly good sound and extensive capabilities for a reasonable price
Pros
- Sound
- Due to the many possibilities
- looks nice
- wireless subwoofer
Cons
- switch between sources
- wireless ‘reception’ on my chromecast
- no malletje for making holes
- virtual surround adds nothing
- cables too short
Final conclusion
Score: 5Per criterion
Build quality
Score: 5
Traditional is the sound of a flat not so good.
Now it fell that was on my Toshiba 50L7333DG, because this with a number of Audessey tricks are still pretty can save, but because the TV yet is increasingly being used as a central entertainment solution in my house, I noticed that when playing music however, a number of things seriously lacking.
Looking for an improvement.
a separate amplifier and speakers was unfortunately not an option: the little man of 2 years is very inquisitive, and I knew in advance all that these devices are the two debilitating peuterhandjes would not survive…..
So I had to find something where he could not, what to the wall, pinned could be, and that the cables are not visible, or were not present…
Now I am naturally not a soundbar fan… do me a solid amplifier and a pair of separate vloerluidsprekers, so somewhat skeptical of the internet opgekropen to be the best for little search.
As soon I came upon this Philips. nothing but rave reviews, lots of connections and little wires… Forward, but… we’re going to try…
A day later I had a large box within which the soundbar and the sub neatly tightly packed were between a number of layers are formed of cardboard.
The soundbar you must still be in the other screws. the two speakers you have to click left and right on the middle, and with three small screws pinned.
The subwoofer need only be plugged into the mains. He connect automatically with the soundbar.
Connections
The best connection for this soundbar, the HDMI connection with ARC (Audio Return Channel).
You pricks a HDMI (at least 1.4) cable in the ARC HDMI port of your TV, the other side goes into the ARC input on the soundbar.
As the CEC settings on your TV to adjust to the extent you have not already done so (I had him for a moment external receiver), and from that moment, any signal that your TV comes in is forwarded to the soundbar (which is also automatically from standby when a signal on the ARC input detect)
Very simple so, there is only 1 HDMI cable.
The ARC HDMI port on your TV, you’re not lost: the Soundbar has its own HDMI input, of which he is the full signal (audio + video) via the ARC HDMI sends to your TV.
In addition to the very useful ARC connection, you can also with and optical cable, the signal from the TV to the soundbar. This option I have not yet tested: ARC worked directly, and, for me, was the optimal solution. But I’m going to assume that this also works fine.
In addition, you have the ability to use Bluetooth to connect to the soundbar, so that it can also serve as active Bluetooth speaker. Connection is set up, but: If you have the TV switched on (and so HDMI ARC is active) you can’t even switch to the Bluetooth connection. If you have the BT input, select, shoot down the soundbar after a few seconds, back to the ARC input.
So you can’t just take something on BT let hear while the TV is on. BT only works if there are no further input is active.
Little bit of a pity.
The BT connection, you can also activate with NFC. This is me, however, have not succeeded .
Both a Sony Xperia Z and Samsung Galaxy S6 seems to be the soundbar, the BT connection to activate when the phone light the soundbar touch. I still have to figure out.
Update: NFC only seems to work if the soundbar is in Standby mode. as soon as you have your smartphone with the NFC tag, the soundbar ‘wake up’ and it will automatically switch to Bluetooth and make a pairing with your phone.
Furthermore, you can play MP3 files with the USB connection on the soundbar, and there is a mini-jack connection.
The connections are all on the back of the soundbar into it, allowing you, for example, a somewhat smoother HDMI cable need, to have everything connect well. For the USB port, there is even a small extension cord included to good to be.
All in all, a comprehensive set of connectivity options, but which is difficult to achieve all.
Sound
And now the most important: how does it sound?
To be honest, surprisingly good…. and that I had not expected.
My son noticed immediately that everything is much better to understand. Speech is indeed very bright, and can still be highlighted with certain settings
Bass is very present, but not annoying.
Music sounds really nice, and really comes to the fore if you take the soundbar harder to turn: he then goes on to really ‘shine more’ and sounds all just fine.
More than enough volume for a large room to fill.
All in all, better than I have with my something audio purist slant had expected (he reluctantly agreed).
Very satisfied so.
But, of course, nevertheless, 1 small downside: The bar has a virutal surround option. You better not use it.
A lot of the middle is this option pushed out of the way, and it sounds a bit unnatural.
The standard stereo mode sounds to me much better.
However, I notice after some longer listening that there is a ‘gap’ is between the range of the Subwoofer and the bass of the soundbar. For many types of music not notice it, but some of the songs can get a little tinny sound.
Ok then: still a minus.
Because I do everything as far as possible from the reach of the toddler will need to keep, I chose to use the soundbar above the TV to hang.
That is fine, but you will notice, however, that the thread of the adapter is too short.
They had better for the same solution as the subwoofer can choose to directly a standard plug in the bar to cross, allowing you to have a longer cord can be purchased if desired. It Is also much easier way to work in a cable than an adapter (but this problem is specific for my situation).
Chromecast
a small observation that I’ve made (but not necessarily for everyone apply have to be): It seems that the wireless connection between the soundbar and the subwoofer has an influence on the behaviour of my Chromecast (version 2). Since the Soundbar is connected seems to be the Chromecast slower, or not respond and files a little slower to load,
Conclusion:
Very much value for money: Very good sound, extensive set of connectors, nice design
so far very happy with the purchase