The Product Analyst: November 2020

Monday, November 30, 2020

Bose Soundtouch 130 vs 300: Which is Better For Your Home Theater System?

With countless audio solutions offered in the market, finding a quality soundbar best suited for your home theater system can be challenging. In this review, we’ll be evaluating two of Bose’s premium equipment — the Soundtouch 300 and Soundtouch 130.

Our team of experts has tested the two in this Bose Soundtouch 130 vs 300 review to help you step up your audio experience.

Bose Soundtouch 130 OR 300?

Flexible Sound Performance

Bose Soundtouch 130

Phenomenal Sound Quality

Bose Soundtouch 300

If a consistent and immersive audio performance is what you seek, Bose Soundtouch 130 is the perfect choice for you. It has an ADAPTiQ technology that adjusts its audio capability to suit the characteristics of any room you wish to place it in.

This audio gear equipped with QuietPort technology delivers undistorted and deep bass sounds in any preferred volume. With its many network features, your viewing options are also far from being limited.

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Flexible Sound Performance

Bose Soundtouch 130

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Phenomenal Sound Quality

Bose Soundtouch 300

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Features of Bose Soundtouch 130 and 300

Bose Soundtouch 130 and 300 Design

The visual comparison between Bose Soundtouch 130 vs 300 is a head to head battle. Both gears have a long sleek black design that can be easily set-up and blend on tabletops.

While the Soundtouch 130 soundbar stood nearly twelve inches along with a subwoofer, Soundtouch 300 is a stand-alone soundbar with a slim and glassy profile of merely two inches tall, leveraging its space-saving edge.

Winner: Bose Soundtouch 300

Sound Quality

One of the most crucial parts of the Bose Soundtouch 300 vs 130 feature review that our team conducted was the sound quality evaluation. Although the two sound systems have an automatic audio calibration feature, our sound tests revealed that both soundbars provide a different feel.

Soundtouch 130 has two-phase guides that produce a virtual surround audio effect, while Soundtouch 300 delivers a detailed bass sound through its QuietPort technology.

The fully-equipped features of Soundtouch 130 with six drivers and two-phase guide radiators tailors more on the customized listening experience. The Soundtouch 300 has a new technology advantage, but the Bose Soundtouch 300 vs 130 sound quality battle goes to Soundtouch 130 by a slight margin.

Winner: Bose Soundtouch 130

Channels

The two soundbars offer the typical 2.1 channel configurations with the left and right audio output. Along with quality subwoofers, your sound system can upgrade to 5.1 channel integration surround sound format.

Unlike Soundtouch 300 that has a separate wireless subwoofer, Soundtouch 130 already includes it in its home theater package. Despite this, our team still agrees that Soundtouch 300 generates a profound bass sound effect that mimics a full-on surround audio experience.

Connectivity of the Bose Soundtouch 130 and 300

While both systems offer connectivity to wireless technologies such as WiFi and Bluetooth, Soundtouch 300 is one step ahead with its NFC data transfer feature. On the other hand, the two models can control their streams via the Soundtouch app and sync perfectly with other Soundtouch products to play media from different audio sources [1].

Winner: Bose Soundtouch 300

Connections

Input connections are often a determinant for high-quality speakers. The common ground for Soundtouch 300 and 130 is that they both support HDMI ARC.

The Soundtouch 130 has multiple HDMI input ports, but if you want to use any 4K devices, it has to be connected directly to your TV via HDMI. Meanwhile, Soundtouch 300 only has a single HDMI port for your TV, but its HDCP 2.2 compliant feature allows it to support copy-protected 4K video content.

Winner: Bose Soundtouch 300

Key Specifications

The difference between Soundtouch 130 and 300 is their key specifications that offer a distinct edge over its competitors.

The Soundtouch 130’s winning feature is its Flex Mount technology that ensures optimal audio adjustability regardless of location and brings a consistent sound quality.

The Soundtouch 300 wins over our audio enthusiasts for its classic minimalist design best suited to any modern-day home. With its vast network connectivity options, your entertainment experience won’t be limited.

Bose Soundtouch 130 and 300 Extra Features

As if you need more reasons to entice yourself from buying either of these two heavy-duty soundbars, Bose decided to add up extra features to excite you more.

Soundtouch 130 is equipped with Voice Assistant like Alexa and Google Assistant and showcases a small control console with four HDMI ports and an adaptable universal control system.

Similar to that, Soundtouch 300 is widely accessible to any Alexa-enabled device. This audio solution is also compatible with Apple AirPlay 2 and has an optional WB-300 wall bracket.

Overall Winner: Soundtouch 300

Our audio experts determined Soundtouch 300 as the winner of the Soundtouch 130 vs Soundtouch 300 round-up battle after a thorough evaluation of features.

Despite the close match between the two top-tier audio packages, Souchtouch 300 has emerged as the victor mainly because of its HDCP 2.2 compliant feature that allows 4K video content to integrate seamlessly into modern entertainment settings. Along with its space-saving design and QuietPort Technology suited for any 21st century home, its ample network options ensure a limitless audio quality experience.

The post Bose Soundtouch 130 vs 300: Which is Better For Your Home Theater System? appeared first on The Product Analyst.

from The Product Analyst https://theproductanalyst.com/soundbar/bose-soundtouch-130-vs-300/

What is the Best Soundbar for Samsung TV 6 With & Without Subwoofers Options

While Samsung TVs are leading devices in the industry, the built-in speakers of a typical model are no match for a soundbar. It’s highly likely you’ll get low-quality sound. So to give you the perfect pairing, here’s the list of the best soundbars for Samsung TVs on the market.

Best in Clear Dialogues

Samsung HW-Q70R

Best Samsung Soundbar – Overall

Samsung HW-Q90R

Best Budget Option

Samsung HW-J355

If you want an all-inclusive system, Samsung HW-Q70R soundbar delivers an adaptive sound technology to optimize content audio and Dolby Atmos for expansive surround sound audio.

A full home theater system complete with 3D Audio, adaptive sound, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, rear wireless speakers, and more advanced features, HW-Q90R is the best Samsung soundbar with subwoofer for you.

Delivering quality audio plus convenient watching, listening and streaming experience with a budget-friendly price, the Samsung HW-J355 is worth every penny you will spend.

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Best in Clear Dialogues

Samsung HW-Q70R

If you want an all-inclusive system, Samsung HW-Q70R soundbar delivers an adaptive sound technology to optimize content audio and Dolby Atmos for expansive surround sound audio.

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Best Samsung Soundbar – Overall

Samsung HW-Q90R

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Best Budget Option

Samsung HW-J355

Delivering quality audio plus convenient watching, listening and streaming experience with a budget-friendly price, the Samsung HW-J355 is worth every penny you will spend.

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Best Soundbars for Samsung TV Reviews

1. Samsung Harman Kardon 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos Soundbar HW-Q90R - Best Samsung Soundbar (Overall)

The Samsung HW-Q90R is an impressive sound system. With a combined power of 510 watts, you can expect engrossing 3D audio, external subwoofer and rear speakers from this soundbar.

Dolby Atmos is equipped in the HW-Q90R and works wonderfully with the upward firing speakers. Combined together, you will get the full blast of content audio no matter where you are in the room.

As a bonus, the HW-Q90R has both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi built in to widen the range of potential compatible devices. Stream your favorite content or set up your soundbar wirelessly with both.

Pros

Cons

2. Samsung Harman Kardon 3.1.2 Dolby Atmos Soundbar HW-Q70R (With Subwoofer)

The HW-Q70R is one of the best Samsung TV soundbars we’ve come across. Being of the Samsung brand, it naturally works seamlessly with your Samsung smart TV. A premium-level model, this comes with Dolby Atmos surround sound and DTS:X technology which creates an immersive experience.

The whopping 7 built-in speakers (including rear speakers) provides sound coming at you in all directions. With this many channels, the audio from both the soundbar and subwoofer is loud, precise, and up to the mark.

And to fully get the best experience, this soundbar and sub combination features smart sound technology to analyze the content being played on TVs and adapts the sound to that. So whether it’s music, movies, or TV shows, you’ll always hear the best sound possible.

After hours of testing and comparison in our listening room, our audio experts agree that this fits the best soundbar for Samsung TV top list.

Pros

Cons

3. Samsung HW-J355 2.1 Channel Soundbar

This 37-inch soundbar is the perfect fit for Samsung TVs of 40 inches and over. It also comes with a wired subwoofer that only measures at 5.25 inches. The slim design of both components make this a great option for those with elongated spaces.

The HW-J355 is Sound Connect enabled, meaning it pairs wirelessly to Samsung TVs. This and the Bluetooth one-touch streaming capability makes this soundbar an almost fully wireless device.

Equalizing the soundbar and inputting your preferred settings for the HW-J355 is simple. All the control and adjustments can be made on the remote or Samsung app.

Pros

Cons

4. Samsung 2.1 Channel Soundbar HW-R450

For those looking for a heavy-duty system for their TVs, we have another Samsung soundbar for Samsung TV that comes with its own wireless subwoofer. Though a soundbar unit is great for your smart TV, it’s still best to have a wireless subwoofer for that punchy bass.

While soundbars that come with subwoofers can lead to unsightly wires, wireless Bluetooth support solves that in no time. The Samsung HW-R450 has wireless Bluetooth connectivity features, so you can stay clean while improving your TV sound.

On the other hand, one of the best parts about this 2.1 channel Samsung HW-R450 soundbar is its smart sound technology. This will automatically check the sound of your TV shows, movies, and music, and optimizes the sound setting to ensure you get the best sound quality.

And for the gamers at home, the HW-R450 even features game mode. In our tests, it elevated the quality of gaming and the atmospheric vibe was more immersive.

If this is not something you’re looking for, another comparable model from the brand would be the HW-J355 soundbar. But whichever you choose, Samsung soundbars would pair easily with your Samsung TV.

Pros

Cons

5. Samsung HW-J450 2.1 Channel Soundbar

The Samsung HW-J450 looks like a basic soundbar with an understated design. However, what’s underneath the all-black construction lies Surround Sound Expansion technology that will optimize all audio.

Adding power and depth to the movies, the 2.1 channel soundbar not only includes advanced technology, but enlists the help of a wireless subwoofer to handle the lower frequencies.

The soundbar and subwoofer combo features HDMI connection to support all 4K and higher quality content. Bluetooth can also be utilized for wireless connection to external devices and Sound Connect pairs seamlessly with Samsung Tvs.

Pros

Cons

6. Sonos Beam - Smart TV Soundbar with Amazon Alexa Built-in

It might not be a product of Samsung, but the Sonos Beam is one of the most popular soundbars you can get for your Samsung TV.

It combines sound quality and design in a more compact build, which makes it easy to play around with placement. If you want to mount it on the wall for a cleaner setup, you can do so with ease.

Aside from the usual onscreen media on TVs, you can also use the Sonos Beam to play music, podcasts, or video games. The sound quality this soundbar provides is great, but still far from the true surround sound you get from Atmos.

The Sonos Beam also boasts one of the simplest soundbar setups we’ve done because of the HDMI arc. Aside from that, the Sonos Beam features voice control and an included remote. If you don’t want the remote, you can always use the Sonos app right on your phone.

The Sonos Playbar is another choice model from the brand. Compared to the Sonos Beam, Sonos Playbar has a higher price.

Overall, the Sonos Beam is a great addition to your living area at home and it snags one of the top spots in our list of best soundbars for Samsung TVs.

Pros

Cons

Buying Guide for Samsung TV-compatible Soundbars

A Samsung Smart TV will work well with a soundbar from the same brand like the Samsung HW-Q90R, but there are a lot of other deals from reliable brands (such as Sonos and Sony) that work great too.

Before you decide, you need to narrow down your needs to find a good soundbar for a good price. There are cheap price tags and expensive price tags in the market, you don’t want to spend too high or too low just to improve your TV sound.

After all, finding the ideal soundbar is not about the brand, but the powerful features and listening experience. Listed below are the things you need to look out for in finding the best soundbar for a Samsung TV.

Channels

The channel refers to the point of sound emission in your soundbar. Here’s how the channel numbers work: if you have a 2.1 channel soundbar, you have 2 channels and 1 subwoofer. The former number is the number of channels and the latter is the number of subwoofers.

2 channel and 3 channel soundbars (like on this one) are standard in a budget product, and are available on the market at a cheaper price. If you are going for surround sound, you need at least 5 channels, which include rear speakers.

Aside from the channel, some models such as the Samsung HW-Q90R even support Dolby Atmos and DTS:X technology. This offers a much better immersive experience. Depending on the sound quality you want, the number of channels will vary, especially if your soundbar includes Atmos and DTS technology. However, these units may have a higher price.

In a nutshell, the higher the channel numbers, the more expansive the sound and the higher the price. For more details, you can read our comparison of 2 and 3 channels here.

Placement

Aside from the channel, think about where to place your new soundbar [1]. This might not seem like something you need, but setup actually affects the sound performance. You also want to have enough room on the wall or the entertainment unit without obstructing your view of your Samsung TV.

Our experts recommend installing the soundbar a few inches in front of or below your TV (if you wall mount it, like the HW-J450 that comes with a mount kit). Make sure it’s not next to any heat sources and has a direct line of sight to you to provide clear audio.

Size

As a general rule, the ideal soundbar for you (whether it’s Sony or other brands) should be narrower in size than your Samsung TV and should be large enough to fill the room with bass.

The speaker placement will also limit the actual size of your soundbar. Whether you place the speaker right on the entertainment unit or on the wall, you need to make sure you have enough area and that it’s free from obstructions.

If you have an entire system, the choice in placement is also yours to make. There are also vertical soundbars that allow for flexibility.

HDMI

Check the number of HDMI inputs as well. They’re important in a system design because they allow you to switch between video source components. Many HDMI input/output connections support HDMI arc and allow for one connection to TVs, so it’s easier compared to the old-school system.

If your TV system has an HDMI port, it makes connecting other devices with similar ports easier. Once you connect the devices via HDMI, audio will come out through the soundbar rather than the TV.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth support allows audio streaming from any device. It also saves you the clutter you would have with HDMI inputs and other output sources. Many brands like Sony have this option.

With Bluetooth connectivity, you also get to send music to the speaker. Overall, Bluetooth is a really convenient way to connect your system together.

Wi-Fi

For voice control lovers, the best soundbar for Samsung TVs features Wi-Fi connectivity. Models like Sony and Sonos have Wi-Fi, allowing access to music apps like Spotify and Pandora. It also lets you change speaker settings from anywhere in your house.

Unlike Bluetooth, Wi-Fi isn’t always available in Samsung soundbars, so if you prefer this wireless option, check the price because it might be more expensive.

Expansive/Immersive Audio (Dolby Atmos)

A good soundbar for your Samsung TV also offers surround sound without placing multiple speakers around the room. Other than the number of channels, check if there are top features like Dolby Atmos technology in your soundbar.

Dolby Atmos and DTS are designed to bring sound to a three-dimensional space, adding to the immersive sound that your system can potentially bring to the room. So if you want realistic sound quality, check if your soundbar has Dolby Atmos features.

Inputs

Look for good bars with at least one digital input and one analog connectivity. The analog allows you to connect your soundbar to a TV, stereo, CD player, and other devices.

Meanwhile, the digital one can connect Blu Ray players via HDMI cable. Usually, soundbars have HDMI, optical, coaxial, and stereo input/output connectivity options. Still, using the HDMI arc is the best choice for high-quality sound.

Subwoofer

If you want a soundbar choice with deep bass, you need to check if it has a subwoofer. Built-in subwoofers are incomparable to a wireless sub with larger speakers. Some soundbars even allow you to customize the bass and treble for a fully customized experience.

If you have limited area, some devices are designed with good subwoofers built-in. But if you have the room and are looking for the best soundbars with bass, then a large sub is the better choice.

Voice Control

Voice control and compatibility with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant make things easier if you like using smart technology. Powerful hands-free devices are always favored among top tech-users because they’re free to multitask with one device.

With a clear voice, feel free to say what you want to be done. Alexa is the perfect invisible assistant that will make your soundbar easy to use every time.

Soundbars that come with a universal remote will also make things much easier. Though you can use the remote, a lot of options of a soundbar for Samsung TVs are designed with a free app that can be used to control your speaker. The app is good for those who don’t want the hassle of having multiple remotes.

Sound Modes

To make sure you get the best sound quality, check if the soundbar for your Samsung TV provides support for sound modes.

Smart sound technology in a soundbar will analyze what’s being played on Samsung TVs to determine the optimal settings for the best experience every time. Whether it’s movies or music, the soundbar will automatically adapt its settings to the content so you can get the best sound right at home.

Popular sound modes for the best soundbars include movie mode, news mode, game mode, music mode, and more. Even with great presets, audio modes still allow you to manually choose the settings you prefer.

Customization

With some soundbars, you’re free to connect an entire system together to simulate a theater vibe right at home. You can hook up new speakers in different rooms via HDMI support or just choose Bluetooth connectivity options.

The option to build your Samsung system is important for those looking for a cinematic experience. Most of the Samsung soundbars particularly the Samsung HW-Q900T are engineered with the latest acoustic technologies for an excellent surround sound experience. Dolby Digital on top of multiple speakers will fill your house with the content being played so you can enjoy it in every room.

What Soundbar is Compatible with Samsung TV?

Though having a Samsung soundbar guarantees compatibility with your Samsung TV, you should check out other brands (like Sonos and Sony) because they can work well too. It’s all about the connection instead of the choice of brand. If your devices both feature an HDMI arc, then they will work well with a Samsung TV.

So before you buy yourself a soundbar, check your connections first.

Check out our Samsung HW-Q67CT review for more soundbar options.

What is the Best TV Soundbar to Buy?

Going with larger brands that always produce good products like Bose, Yamaha, Samsung, Sony, and Sonos, are the safest options to buy. However, with a bigger brand name comes a more expensive price tag.

As mentioned, it’s about the right features of the soundbar and not the product brand. So, check the specs you want to see in a new product in terms of great sound quality.

We recommend a good soundbar that features Dolby Atmos, DTS: X technology, a sleek design, and 5 or more channels with at least 1 sub. This is on the high end of the spectrum though, but it does the job well upon pairing, making it an excellent soundbar for Samsung TVs.

Voice controls and sound modes are good for convenience, but if you are simply looking for better sound for your Samsung TV, then the channels and sub are what really matter. Many people might fall for all the fancy frills and pay extra for things they won’t use every time.

Check and make sure you find a soundbar that has everything you need and not a bunch of features you won’t use.

What is the Best Connection for a Soundbar?

There are a few methods to connect your soundbar to your Samsung TV, but which is the best one?

HDMI is the number 1 suggestion and the one most recommended by our audio experts. These cables can carry large amounts of uncompressed data and can handle the more heavy-duty soundbars, even if they have 5 channels and more than 1 sub.

New cinematic sound technology such as DTSx and Dolby Atmos may require HDMI connection support and only work with it. So if that’s what you’re after, HDMI connection is a must.

Another connectivity option is the digital optical or coaxial cable. The optical or coaxial works well for soundbars of up to 5.1 channels and subwoofers. The difference between the two (optical, coaxial) is just the shape of the connector – optical digital being square and coaxial being round.

A less popular connectivity option is the line out or RCA (3.5mm stereo). This 3.5mm stereo connection is the lowest quality. Although it works well with analog devices, it doesn’t deliver the full audio capability. Still, if the first two options aren’t available, using a stereo connection would be just fine.

For the wireless route, we have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. While this saves you from clutter, wireless connections to your Samsung TV can be unreliable at times.

Where Should I Place my Soundbar?

We recommend placing it below your Samsung TV, whether it’s on the wall or on the entertainment stand. Make sure the speakers don’t block the screen and nothing obstructs the speakers. Placing the bar inside the cabinet is not ideal, especially if your device can support Dolby Atmos surround sound.

The sounding bar should be as close to TVs as possible for stable connections and audio performance. The audio from the device should be in a direct line to you, so the sound produced is optimal from your perspective.

Furthermore, keep in mind that the placement of the sounding bar should be direct so you can easily control the soundbar. Whether you’re using the remote or app, pointing it at a sounding bar that’s mounted too high could be difficult for the sensor to detect.

Our Pick for The Best Samsung Soundbar For Samsung TV: the Harman Kardon HW-Q90R

In our books, the HW-Q90R Samsung Harman Kardon 3.1.2 Dolby Atmos is the best soundbar for Samsung TV. The number of channels alone lets you know that this sounding bar means business, as it comes complete with a separate sub and two rear channels.

It offers Dolby ATMOS and DTS:X technologies that will immerse you in clear audio that comes at you in all different directions. If surrounding sound is what you’re after, this soundbar delivers just that.

The adaptive sound technology helps customize your cinematic experience by determining what’s playing on TV and adapting the sound settings accordingly. Plus, the ability to connect via Bluetooth makes everything seamless.

Overall, the design, performance, and quality that this soundbar offers is top-notch, and therefore deserves the #1 spot.

If you’ve ever thought about which popular Sonos soundbar prevails above the rest, then wonder no more! We compared the Sonos Beam and the Playbar, which you can read about next!

The post What is the Best Soundbar for Samsung TV <br> 6 With & Without Subwoofers Options appeared first on The Product Analyst.

from The Product Analyst https://theproductanalyst.com/soundbar/best-for-samsung-tv/