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Top Soundbars & Subwoofers

Soundbars

Samsung HW-Q990B Atmos Soundbar: $1,500


Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
In 1998 Altec Lansing introduced the Voice of the Digital Theatre before anyone knew what a soundbar was. With its companion subwoofer, the system offered an impressive space-saving solution for improving TV sound but it was before its time and never gained traction. By the early 2000s the concept started to catch on as a convenient alternative to the complexity of a standard surround setup with five speakers and subwoofer. Fast forward to today and soundbars are everywhere and provide levels of performance, ranging from a simple three-channel soundbar to sophisticated systems like Samsung's impressive HW-Q990B, which is designed to deliver a credible home theater experience from a svelte 4-foot-wide soundbar housing 15 (!) drivers, two wireless surround speakers, and a wireless subwoofer.

With a total of 22 drivers powered by 400 watts of integrated power, the 11.1.4 setup is remarkable for providing a convenient, space saving path to powerful sound — including object-based Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks. It didn’t take long for veteran reviewer Rob Sabin to be wowed by what he heard. ”The resulting sound bubble was enthralling…World Cup soccer and NFL football games were delivered with convincing stadium sound that placed me in the middle of the crowd noise and gave voice announcements an appropriately echoey feel.” The Q990B can hold its own against a full-fledged surround-sound speaker setup but it also excels with music. At $1,500, it’s not cheap but boy can it deliver.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
11.1.4-channel Atmos/DTS:X with wireless rear surrounds
Audiophile-grade sonics
Superb dynamics
Extensive adjustability
Intuitive SmartThings app for control
Minus
Some functions hard to reach with remote
No Atmos/DTS:X indicator on app

Full Review Here (posted 2/8/23)


Subwoofers

Polk Audio Monitor XT10 Subwoofer: $299


Performance
Features
Build Quality
Value
If you crave subterranean bass output but are on a tight budget, Polk’s XT10 subwoofer is worth a look. Okay, for three hundred bucks it can’t hit the lowest of lows but it can deliver plenty of oomph down to 30 Hz and do so from a cabinet that’s reasonably small and lightweight. Inside, a 50-watt Class D amp feeds a down-firing 10-inch woofer. The port also fires from bottom of the enclosure so you won’t have to worry about mischievous cats or kids tossing Legos into it. Around back is a basic set of controls to adjust level, phase, and low-pass crossover (40- 160 Hz) plus a line-level LFE input and a set of stereo RCA inputs.

Though the bass could be a bit boomy with music, resident bass expert David Vaughn was “pleasantly surprised by [the XT10’s] sub-30 Hz performance” with movies. “During the opening sequence of Overlord — one of the most bass-intensive discs out there — the XT10 was able to rattle pictures on the wall. As the German anti-aircraft guns attempted to repel the aerial armada approaching the French coastline, the bass dipped below 25 Hz and the explosions from the flak were surprisingly impactful.” While the lows are not as tight or accurate as what you’d get from a sub costing three to four times as much, Polk’s XT10 produces a generous amount of bass for the price, making it a solid value and a great soundbar companion.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Compact design
Plenty of output above 30 Hz
Wallet-friendly price
Minus
Weak output below 30 Hz
A bit boomy

Full Review Here (posted 3/22/23)


SVS 3000 In-Wall Subwoofer: $2,000


Performance
Features
Build Quality
Value
Wouldn’t it be great if you could make that hulking subwoofer sitting in the corner of your room all but disappear yet still enjoy kick-ass bass? Impossible? Not at all. With 25 years of serious subwoofer experience under their belts, subwoofer kings at SVS have taken on what may be their most challenging design ever — a subwoofer designed to be mounted in the wall. The new 3000 In-Wall Subwoofer features two beefy 9-inch drivers mounted on a solid aluminum baffle that’s part of a shallow, narrow enclosure designed to fit between standard wall studs. The structure uses internal bracing to keep it inert and is powered by a separate Class D amplifier/digital controller that can be mounted in your rack: SVS’s impressive Sledge STA-800D2C, which is rated to deliver 800 watts RMS and 2,500 watts of peak power. The amp’s DSP section provides a variable crossover, phase control, room gain compensation, and a three-band parametric equalizer, all of which can be conveniently set using the SVS Subwoofer Control Smartphone App. Once secured to the studs, the woofers are concealed by a magnetic grille that can be painted so it blends in with the wall. It’s not completely invisible but pretty close.

The system is meticulously engineered for optimal acoustic output and thermal efficiency (a necessity due to the mounting location) and requires a fair amount of effort to install so hats off to our resident bass guru David Vaughn for using the 3000 in his den to provide bass support for an all-in-wall home theater speaker system. Talk about commitment: once he choose a location (a process unto itself) and cut into the drywall, there was no turning back! With the installation complete, Vaughn followed on his usual setup/calibration routine.

So how’d it perform? Starting with one of his go-to test music tracks, The Eagles’ live performance of “Hotel California” from 1994’s “Hell Freezes Over,” Vaughn was immediately impressed with the 3000’s “quick, clean and precise” performance and remained so as he continued his audition with a variety of lossless audio tracks stored on a local server, including “Brass Monkey” by The Beastie Boys, which (not surprisingly) rattled dishes in the adjoining dining room. The quick, non-lingering bass on Regina Spektor’s “Fidelity” was a standout: “This sub reminded me of the performance of the SVS SB-3000, one of the best subs I’ve ever reviewed at any price.” Moving on to movies, Vaughn fired up Sonic the Hedgehog, which features a stunning Dolby Atmos soundtrack that “showcased the sub’s ease in handling LFE-heavy scenes before indulging in the sonic excesses of Godzilla vs. Kong at reference levels. “I really thought I would damage the sub by playing the sub at such an insane volume. But I’m happy to report that we both survived. In fact, the sub impressed me with its ability to dig deep.” Sure, there are standalone subs that can play lower and louder with more authority than the 3000, but as Vaughn put it, “they are larger than a mini-fridge and don’t have the aesthetic appeal that the 3000 In-Wall provides.”

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Tight and fast bass response
Adjustable tuning controls via app
Frees up floor space
Minus
Installation limitations based on room construction
In-wall convenience comes with a steep price

Full Review Here (posted 5/31/23)

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