The Product Analyst: May 2021

Wednesday, May 26, 2021

Vizio M21D-H8R Review — Impressive and Affordable 2.1 Soundbar with a Subwoofer

The Vizio M21D-H8R is a sleek and angular soundbar that has a more understated design than most. It also comes at an affordable price. Is the understatement and the price going to cost the audio quality?

To ensure your money goes toward a good product, our experts have conducted a thorough Vizio M21D-H8R review.

Pros

Cons

Vizio M21D-H8R Design

The Vizio M21D-H8R has a design our experts can’t stop raving about. The soundbar is slim, plain and angular, and fits minimalists’ tastes. The modern design hides some heavy duty hardware in the form of separate tweeters and woofers and built in subwoofers to fulfill your acoustic needs.

The 36-inch soundbar is also optimal for larger TVs from 40 inches and above. For a large soundbar, the weight does measure up at just over 8 pounds, but the slim profile doesn’t take up much space.

The M21D-H8R doesn’t come with a wall mounting system, but it can be wall mounted to save space. Otherwise, it’s easy to find it a home on a flat surface, thanks to its compact size.

Features of the Vizio M21D-H8R

Sound Quality

First of all, a single slim soundbar like this one often only features 2 channels or it can be a 2.1 but with an external subwoofer. The M21D-H8R is the ultimate space-saving option because it has the subwoofer built into the device.

Not only that, but the two-way soundbar has separate tweeters and woofers to project accurate highs and lows and they work together to make up for the mids.

To help simulate the most realistic audio frequencies, the M21D-H8R has DTS Virtual:X to create a multi-dimensional soundstage to bring you dynamic sound. Once connected with HDMI, the M21D-H8R can also support Dolby 5.1 content.

Frequency Range

The frequency range of the Vizio soundbar is from 50 Hz to 20 kHz, taking care of the entire audio spectrum our ears can hear. You can also expect a lot of power and clarity from the M21D-H8R thanks to the 98 dB sensitivity and nominal impedance.

Vizio M21D-H8R Subwoofer

The Vizio M21D-H8R soundbar is a 2.1 channel device. This means it has a subwoofer. Unlike Samsung HW-KM36 with external subwoofer, Vizio M21D-H8R’s sub is conveniently built-in. The dual 3-inch subwoofers will punctuate and enhance all the low bass notes from your woofers, as our experts have also experienced during this Vizio M21D-H8R review. You can expect low rumbles and heavy explosions from the M21D-H8R.

Connections

Our experts are happy to announce the Vizio M21D-H8R supports HDMI connection. HDMI is always our team’s first recommendation for wired connection. This is because it’s the easiest to hook up and it supports the highest quality content.

Luckily for consumers, the M21D-H8R comes with all you need to get set up in minutes. The HDMI cable comes with your package and is a plug and play design.

Wireless Connectivity

For wireless connection, the M21D-H8R supports Bluetooth [1]. Bluetooth is a ubiquitous form of wireless connection that will ensure the soundbar’s compatibility with most media devices you have.

You can stream content from your computer making it an ideal soundbar for PC, too! Or content from your tablet or phone through the Bluetooth soundbar and enjoy high quality audio.

Voice Assistant Ready

The M21D-H8R is voice-assistant ready, which means you can configure the soundbar to work with a voice assistant device you are accustomed to using. You can control everything through the soundbar, which brings a new level of convenience to the usability of the soundbar.

Vizio M21D-H8R Price

With so many inviting features, the M21D-H8R is a very affordable soundbar for what you get. You have subwoofers already embedded in the device and advanced audio technologies from DTS to support high quality content.

When you take into account the convenience of the voice-assistant ready soundbar and the HDMI connection, you know you are really getting your money’s worth and more. Our experts believe whole-heartedly that the M21D-H8R is an excellent soundbar for the price.

(If you are curious about Vizio televisions, you can check who creates Vizio TVs first)

Vizio M21D-H8R Review Conclusion

After a careful Vizio M21D-H8R review, our expert team has concluded that the soundbar is an absolute find. The price is affordable and the subwoofer comes with separate tweeters, woofers and subwoofers to boost the bass. You can enjoy enhanced sound from your media devices by connecting to Bluetooth and everything can be easily controlled with your voice assistant device.

All you need to set up the M21D-H8R is included in the box and you can go from unboxing to enjoying your new soundbar in a matter of minutes.

Do you have a Sonos soundbar? Then, here is how to setup a Sonos Play 1 easily. Read next!

The post Vizio M21D-H8R Review — Impressive and Affordable 2.1 Soundbar with a Subwoofer appeared first on The Product Analyst.

from The Product Analyst https://theproductanalyst.com/soundbar/vizio-m21d-h8r-review/

Vizio vs Samsung — Which Brand Should You Pick For 4k TVs This 2021?

Vizio or Samsung, which is better? It’s the clash of the titans within entertainment brands that could leave you with more questions than answers. If you’re trying to decide on which brand has better products, our experts have conveniently put together a guide on Vizio VS Samsung to help you find the answer.

Vizio OR Samsung?

When it comes down to the brands, which one should earn your loyalty? Our experts are here to help you find out the answer to Vizio VS Samsung.

Best Budget Option

Samsung Electronics UN32N5300AFXZA 32″

Best for Features

VIZIO D-Series 24-Inch

The UN32N5300AFXZA TV from Samsung is affordable yet with full HD resolution with two times the clarity of other HD flatscreen TVs.

The Vizio D-series is another full HD TV but outperforms other options, thanks to its wide array of extra features including SmartCast and voice control.

Check Today’s Price

Best Budget Option

Samsung Electronics UN32N5300AFXZA 32″

The UN32N5300AFXZA TV from Samsung is affordable yet with full HD resolution with two times the clarity of other HD flatscreen TVs.

Check Today’s Price

Best for Features

VIZIO D-Series 24-Inch

The Vizio D-series is another full HD TV but outperforms other options, thanks to its wide array of extra features including SmartCast and voice control.

Check Today’s Price

Features of Vizio and Samsung TVs

The Reputation of Samsung and Vizio

The Samsung brand can be considered an OG in the field of entertainment technology. Founded in 1938 in Seoul, Korea, over the years Samsung has brought us computers, cell phones, TVs, soundbars and more.

Compared to Samsung, Vizio is a new company established in 2002. Its reach is not quite as wide as Samsung, and Vizio is only known to produce TVs and soundbars.

They are both reliable brands but with more years under their belt and more experience with different types of products, we would have to say Samsung’s reputation precedes them.

(To know more about Vizio, you can check who builds Vizio televisions here)

Winner: Samsung

Dimensions and Size of Display

Both Samsung VS Vizio provide viewers with different sized screens [1]. You can find screen sizes from a mere 32 inches to an impressive 80! However, the veteran Samsung brand still offers views more options with one that goes up to 110 inches!

Also, curved screens have become more popular to simulate a true immersive experience. After all, what we experience in real life surrounds us and is not just on a 2D screen. This is why our winner is ultimately Samsung yet again because they offer a wider range of screen size choices and curved screen options.

(For larger screen display, we have the list of the best home theater projectors below 1000 that you can consider)

Winner: Samsung

Image Quality

Comparing Samsung vs Vizio, the former consistently offers Ultra HD 4K models in image quality and the lesser Full to just HD models regardless of the screen size. Samsung can support 4K or lesser pixels like 1440p. However, with Vizio TV screens, you will more consistently find either HD or full HD. When VIzio does attempt Ultra HD image quality, they, unfortunately, fall short of Samsung.

Winner: Samsung

Audio Quality

As you know, a TV isn’t all about image. Both Samsung and Vizio TVs only provide basic audio speakers, which is probably why both brands manufacture soundbars. However, with the larger TVs, Samsung may just outdo Vizio with larger and more powerful speakers.

Winner: Samsung

Screen Resolution

Samsung, being the brand that offers more impressive Ultra HD resolution, would get our stamp of approval in this section. Vizio is a newer brand that could still work on their Ultra HD resolution screens. However, both brands don’t match up to the titans in the industry such as Sony and LG.

For impressive screen resolution, we also reviewed X80J from the Sony brand here.

Smart TV Options

Vizio has a user-friendly smart TV interface that features easy to navigate blocks much like your smartphone. However, Samsung TVs typically offer the same blocks that are lined up across the bottom of your screen. This is called the Tizen interface and it really depends on your personal preference for which one you like.

If you want to upgrade your TV experience, you can also connect an Amazon Fire Stick to your home theater using this guide for better streaming. It makes navigating your television so much easier.

Viewing Angle

As we mentioned, Samsung VS Vizio has more curved TV options, which presents more viewing angles. For this reason, Samsung beats out Vizio for this category.

To get the best viewing angle out of your devices, you can choose to hang the TV on a brick wall with these easy to follow steps. Read next!

Winner: Samsung

TV Ports

Our experts always stress the importance of the connection, specifically HDMI, in relation to the image and audio quality. This is especially true for Vizio VS Samsung TVs.

Many Vizio TV models offer digital and analog connections plus up to 5 HDMI ports. Samsung typically has less, which makes Vizio the winner here.

Want to know how your TV displays video and graphics excellently? Then, you need to know what an HDMI EDID does to your screens here.

Winner: Vizio

Price of Vizio and Samsung TVs

With the more established brand name and wider product options, Samsung TVs are generally higher priced. Vizio TVs offer a more competitive price and takes the crown in this section.

Winner: Vizio

Warranty & Customer Support: Samsung vs Vizio

Both brands offer impressive customer support with helpful representatives ready to solve your issues. The warranty depends on the model and the manufacture year, but both brands are reputable enough to offer decent warranties starting from 1 year.

FAQ

Is Vizio better than Samsung?

No, Vizio is not better than Samsung in terms of image quality, viewing angle, and dimensions. However, Vizio offers a more competitive price and more HDMI connection ports.

Is Vizio TV made by Samsung?

No, Vizio TV is not made by Samsung. They are two different brands, with Samsung founded in 1938 and Vizio in 2002.

Overall Winner: Samsung

Our experts have answered the Vizio VS Samsung question with Samsung as the ultimate winner! This brand provides higher quality TVs with more viewing angles. The larger options also provide bigger and more powerful speakers to accompany the high-resolution content for an immersive experience.

Of the battle between Sonos soundbars, which one emerges as the victor between the Sonos Playbase and the Sonos Beam? Find out, next!

The post Vizio vs Samsung — Which Brand Should You Pick For 4k TVs This 2021? appeared first on The Product Analyst.

from The Product Analyst https://theproductanalyst.com/vizio-vs-samsung/

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Sound Base vs Soundbar — Which Speaker Style is Better?

If you want to enhance the sound of your TV without the additional speakers or room requirements of a full surround sound setups, soundbars and soundbases are your best options. But are they enough, or will they be money down the drain? Our experts would give you the information that you will be needing between the advantages and disadvantages of a soundbar vs soundbase.

Soundbar vs Sound Base

Soundbars and soundbases vary in terms of style, sound, and placement. Sound bars are long and slender devices that are commonly fixed and have a few internal speakers as well as an external sub. Soundbases are smaller, lie behind the TV, and have more internal speakers. So, which is better and what are the reasons? Let’s find out.

Soundbar

Sound bars are long, slim loudspeakers that can be mounted above or below a television or display. They’re cost-effective, and they’re getting close to matching the sound dispersion quality of surround sound systems these days.

Dolby True HD and DTS Master Audio processing are often included in many soundbars and support Bluetooth streaming. Since the bar’s own speakers are not capable of delivering heavy bass, most soundbars come with separate subwoofers.

Pros

Cons

Sound Base

Sound bases are meant to be placed on a table or cabinet under the tv. Soundbases are designed to have superior sound quality than the TV’s internal speakers while being cost-effective and easy to mount.

Soundbase usually has larger speaker drivers, more built-in amplification, and the ability to use a bass driver. Furthermore, since no separate subwoofer is needed, the soundbase can take up less room.

Pros

Cons

Buying Guide

Optical Digital Audio Input

Both soundbar systems and soundbases offer digital optical connections to the ARC port (audio return channel) on your TV, which will result in high-def sound. Some would have HDMI as well as stereo analog inputs. HDMI is a good option, so look for it. A home entertainment system can have Dolby and DTS audio processing built-in.

Design

Sound bars are normally a few feet long to accommodate the width of your TV and have a sleek, thin build. They are also elegant and fashionable. They are always mounted, so they are seen daily. Soundbases are small in size and lightweight, often with a narrower diameter than a sound bar. They are, however, thicker and sturdier since they are intended to be used with a TV on top of them.

Speaker Configuration

When choosing what to buy between soundbars vs soundbases, one thing to consider is the speaker configuration. Soundbases usually have a 2.1 or 3.1 speaker arrangement, which means they have a left and right speaker as well as a subwoofer, or a left, right, and middle channel speaker as well as a subwoofer.

On the contrary, soundbars typically have three to five internal speakers, but some of the newest models on the market have seven or eight internal speakers to boost audio clarity to cope with standard speaker systems in your home theater setup. They can have a built-in subwoofer or internal technology to boost the bass.

Placement

The placement for sound bases is very limited. They can only be placed at the base or top of your TV, or sit on a TV stand, cabinet, or entertainment stand – mounting is not a viable option. While soundbars are more versatile as they can be mounted on a wall, which is a big advantage and something to consider for people with small spaces.

Sound Quality

Audio quality is also a vital feature you need to consider when buying. A soundbase is not as big as a sound bar, but it has a lot of space within the enclosure. Soundbases with more capacity will have larger internal speakers, amplifiers, and subwoofers, resulting in more efficient audio without the need for additional tv speakers.

A sound bar, on the other hand, can have a more room-filling surround sound thanks to a broader audio landscape, but the bass drivers will often be a letdown. Soundbars usually need an external subwoofer for pronounced bass, although there are several alternatives on the market for high-quality built-in subwoofers.

Compatibility

It’s worth noting the difference in compatibility and styles of a soundbar vs sound base. They have different extra features, such as Bluetooth connectivity, smart home platform compatibility, and more. Furthermore, they provide a variety of wired networking choices, including HDMI, analog, optical, and even RCA[1] that can impact your purchase decision.

One other difference between a soundbar and soundbase is some soundbars already come with wireless connectivity for streaming. You just need to pair other Bluetooth or Wi-Fi supported devices, to enjoy seamless access to your music library in multiple rooms.

Pricing

Money is always a factor that needs consideration whenever you’re choosing to buy between soundbars vs soundbase. When it comes to pricing, sound bases are the kind of equipment that is a bit more expensive versus soundbars because fewer manufacturers are making them.

To be fair, an expensive soundbase will outperform a low-cost sound bar, and vice versa, so work out the budget and compare similarly priced pieces. Pricing usually runs between $100 and $500 up depending on brand and overall quality.

FAQ

Is a sound bar better with a subwoofer?

No, a sound bar isn’t better with a subwoofer. At least, not all of the time. Soundbars have many internal speakers that can produce high-quality audio on their own, but as per our experts’ advice, subwoofers can produce low-frequency audio that many soundbars cannot.

How much should I spend on a soundbars?

You should spend what you can on a soundbar while being considerate of your budget. You could spend as low as $100 to find a good quality soundbar, one that could produce awesome audio quality. They can also feature extra advantages such as sound modes, and many advanced audio format decoding abilities.

Do watts matter in a soundbar & sound base?

No, the wattage doesn’t matter when it comes to how the soundbar or soundbase would produce quality audio. The overall number of watts has no bearing on the performance of the device involved.

Conclusion

A high-end soundbar will outperform a low-cost soundbase, and vice versa. However, the best solution for you will eventually be determined by your budget and personal preference. Some prefer a lot more bass for their surround sound system, while others prefer a crisper and clearer tone.

The post Sound Base vs Soundbar — Which Speaker Style is Better? appeared first on The Product Analyst.

from The Product Analyst https://theproductanalyst.com/soundbar-vs-sound-base/