Which Sound bar?

[admin_exported]

Im wanting a nice tidy wire free option for my lounge and have decided to get a sound bar. Its going to be used with - 50PZ70, HTPC, normal Sky. My choices are the Marrantz ES7001 @ £750 or a Yamaha YSP-1100 @ £499. I think £500 is alot of money so I really dont want to spend £750

Is the Marrantz going to sound so much better than the ysp-1100? I know my room shape is not ideal for the ysp but aslong as the sound is involving I can forgive directional sharpness. Also do I need to buy a Sub to go with each of these - I can get a sub for the ysp and still be £100 cheaper than the marrantz. A lesser option would be for me to get the Samsung HT-X810R (£350) which also got 5 stars, how does this compare sonically with these 2 surround sound bars?

Room shape:

Thanks.

 

[matengawhat]

As you've mentioned your tv positioning/room shape is not ideal for any of the sound bars to give you a decent surround image. You may find it cheaper and better to just go for a straight stereo option if you just want to boost the sound.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks, but I tried hooking some stereo speakers (creative gigaworks t40) up to my htpc and was not overly impressed with them. I would also need to buy a receiver +£250 so I dont think that would be that much cheaper.

 

[Anonymous]

I purchased the Denon DHT- FS3 a month ago, which also includes a sub woofer costing just over £500.

It does not give true surround like a 5.1 system but I find the sound quality produced to be excellent,although depending upon what you are watching you do get some surround effect.If you are not too bothered about true surround but wanrt good quality sound for films etc,without the clutter of wires, I can highly recommend the Denon.

I too was looking at the Marantz but at over £700 without a sub woofer that put me off,which I think you require with a soundbar - it does make a major difference.

Hope this helps

 

[matengawhat]

you could go for the baby version - look here - not compared with any other prices [http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/630375/art/yamaha/ysp-500-digital-sound-pro.html?srcid=369]

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks, Yeah Ive seen the other ysp models, The cheaper ones are only 60 cm wide compared to the ~120cm of my 50PZ70 so would maybe look alittle out of place. The YSP-1100 got better reviews than the YSP-900 which is (I think) better than the YSP-500 so should be alot better sound wise?

The YSP-1100 was the top end model which seems to be replaced by the YSP-40D that has hdmi and a tv tunner which im not bothered about. Also the YSP-1100 is half its original cost at which it got 5 stars so now it must be a bargin right?

Just need someone who has heard all the sound bars (*cough* What-Hifi staff *cough* ) to tell me which gives the best sound and if its the marrantz is it worth the 250 quid more?

 

[Andrew Everard]

I think the half-price YSP-1100 would suit your needs very well indeed.

As as for that *cough*, click here.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Andrew.

Now to convince the wife...

 

[Anonymous]

Would still say the Denon is the best overall option for £500, especially as it includes the absolutely necessary sub woofer.

The reviews would tend to agree.

Post edited - house rules violation. Twice. - Mods

 

[Anonymous]

I've got a very similar room set up to the pic above and have a YSP-900. I'm very pleased with it, given the fact that it's one box. It's not a totally convicing surround sound field, but it's certainly decent and being a one box solution to an amp and 5 speakers it's a darn sight tidier. In a separate thread I've asked if anyone can recommend I get the Yamaha subwoofer for £130 (can't recall the model number at the moment, it's something like FSW100). Sadly no replies as yet, but I have a gut feeling that it would improve the sound no end. I think without the sub, they can sound a litte 'overworked'!

The only reason I went for the 900 over the 1100 was that the 900 fits on an Atacama AV shelf, whereas the 1100 was a smidge too wide to look as good as it might! I don't think it hung off the edges, but it went behind the support pillars. Apart from looking less than pretty, I'm sure that would have hampered the sound bouncing stuff...!

 

[Anonymous]

Well I bought the subwoofer anyway and frankly for £130 it sounds pretty good. I'm sure that more cash would have bought me a bit more control, but it's definitely filled out the sound and the auto-set up turns the TruBass thing off when it detects you've got a sub. Been bopping along to a few Later... DVDs this morning...!