[flashollie]

So new TV arrives soon.
I'm after a sound bar budget about 600. I can't go down the full surround route. This is for watching movies TV. It doesn't need to do music that's sorted elsewhere.

I think I need a sub so I'm not looking at those without one.

I'm torn between a Yamaha YSP2700 or a Sony HT ZF9 this comes with Dolby Atmos.
The Yamaha gets great reviews for how it splits the sound but Dolby Atmos is newish so I wonder if this is the way to go?

I'm going to arrange a demo for the weekend just wondered if anyone out there had any experience in this area?

[speedski]

Just picked up a Sonos Playbar a few weeks back - hard to fault for sound and sure the sub is the same price again, but everyones been impressed with it so far...

[Mattyk]

Sonos isnt really surround sound bar though, more an audio system?

I bought the Yamaha, considered going for atmos but decided the e.o. cost wasnt worth it

It replaced a Sony amp and Monitor Audio speakers for a cleaner look, not regretting even though not a true “surround” system

[ciscopete822]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Sonos isnt really surround sound bar though, more an audio system?

I bought the Yamaha, considered going for atmos but decided the ego cost wasnt worth it

It replaced a Sony amp and Monitor Audio speakers for a cleaner look, not regretting even though not a true “surround” system

I wouldn't go Atmos without proper speakers and power to feed them. You would need a larger than usual room as well to really benefit from it. Sonos is good but way overpriced. Yamaha sounds like best price/spec package.

We had that discussion already Sonos vs Rest of the World. Sonos is like iPhone , nothing missing but competition can do it half price without flashy design.

IMHO obvs.

[SkyJawa]

Atmos at home is utterly pointless and underwhelming unless you go all in with proper ceiling mounted speakers.

[flashollie]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Sonos isnt really surround sound bar though, more an audio system?

I bought the Yamaha, considered going for atmos but decided the ego cost wasnt worth it

It replaced a Sony amp and Monitor Audio speakers for a cleaner look, not regretting even though not a true "surround" system

Which Yamaha did you opt for?
Something that's not Atmos is looking the favourite based on these comments.

[EvilDrPorkChop]

Another vote for Sonos here. We've got the Beam as we were restricted on Space below the TV and it packs a punch. For £400 you can't go wrong, keep meaning to get the SUB at some point.

Parents have the Playbar & SUB and they love it too, great sound. The Sub really does make a difference.

[Scoobyd]

Depends what you watch too. If you watch a lot of blu-rays then forget about the Sonos as it can’t play DTS soundtracks so you’re left with 2 channel stereo sound. If you just watch regular tv such as Sky and stream via Netflix, Amazon etc then it’s more suitable. Playbar only has an optical connection too. No HDMI ARC.

You’re looking at £1400 for a playbar and sub though. Pretty hard to justify compared to what else is out there imo unless you’re so ingrained in the Sonos system.

[Bryans69]

Have a Sonos Beam, and very impressed. No audiophile, but fantastic improvement on standard TV sound. Beam also has HDMI Arc, which works well.

We have Sonos elsewhere in the house, and the way multi-room works means for us it's a no brainer.

[johnung]

Originally Posted by flashollie

So new TV arrives soon.
I'm after a sound bar budget about 600. I can't go down the full surround route. This is for watching movies TV. It doesn't need to do music that's sorted elsewhere.

I think I need a sub so I'm not looking at those without one.

I'm torn between a Yamaha YSP2700 or a Sony HT ZF9 this comes with Dolby Atmos.
The Yamaha gets great reviews for how it splits the sound but Dolby Atmos is newish so I wonder if this is the way to go?

I'm going to arrange a demo for the weekend just wondered if anyone out there had any experience in this area?

I tried a couple different full size sound bars that mount at a fixed angle under the tv. The problem that I found was that the sweet spot in the room for vocals was dead center. I had several places that I sit around the room and movies with heavy soundtracks drowned out the conversations in them.

The solution for me turned out to be the Polk MagniFi Mini. It comes with its own wireless subwoofer. This Polk is a smaller unit that fits on top of a cable box or on a shelf. It has an adjustable setting that allows you to boost the verbal conversations in a show so they aren't drowned out by the background music sound track. I really like that it isn't fixed so I can easily swivel it towards wherever I am sitting in the room.

When I first bought it I expected it to be used in the Master Bedroom. But we tried it in the larger family room and it easily handled the larger space. So we ended up buying a second one. It looks small in photos but it is packed with many small speakers pointed in different directions. It's much heavier than one might expect because of all the speaker magnets.

I bought them from Crutchfield which had great prices and a great trial and return policy.
Hope this helps!

[Mattyk]

Originally Posted by flashollie

Which Yamaha did you opt for?
Something that's not Atmos is looking the favourite based on these comments.

2700
Wall mounted
It was 429 I think from richer sounds, with a sub!

If you want a home sound system then that’s what sonos is designed for imo, if you want a surround sound (effect) sound bar then Yamaha or a higher end Sony

If you wall mount then you need a space behind or angled hdmi connectors.
They need a specific length, can post a link to mine if needed if I can find them, the first set I bought were too short a throw, they didn’t clear the back of the bar

[S111SYA]

Within the past 12 months I purchased the BOSE Soundtouch 300. Excellent quality and now following a recent price drop well under your budget. Can't recommended it enough. I had a demo in the shop and was sold instantly. Couple it with the BOSE sub and its magic.

[doncarlyon]

I've got a £60 Sony one from Asda - sounds good to me

[Broncho]

The ones at the Baltic triangle are my favourites, in particular The Peaky Blinders bar, proper sound that place.

[x-m4n]

Originally Posted by flashollie

Which Yamaha did you opt for?
Something that's not Atmos is looking the favourite based on these comments.

My vote for Yamaha, their virtual surround system is amazing. I would suggest you get Atmos if you can - it wont hurt to have the extra channels.

BT Sports already broadcasting with Atmos and you can rent movies from Apple TV, etc...

[flashollie]

I can't stretch to the Yamaha with Atmos.
I do want to get as close to surround sound as I can via a virtual means for films TV from NOW TV Netflix and Amazon plus regular BBC etc and for most viewing it looks like the YSP 2700 is the dogs.
Atmos isnt on most TV platforms and I am sceptical about how well that will work at the lower end of the price bracket where I am.
I think spend the money I have on a tried and tested albeit a bit old technology than try to get a cheaper version of something which has the potential to deliver if you spend the £££.
A £600 sound bar these days is decent mid range money. An Atmos sound for £600 is very cheap.

[flashollie]

Update!
John Lewis are doing the Sony Atmos sound bar HT-ZF9 with £100 of the WIRELESS rear speakers the SA Z9Rs for £707
Richer sounds can do it at £799.

5.1 regular plus poor mans Atmos system?
Seems a no brainer?

https://www.johnlewis.com/sony-ht-zf...dle/p237974658

[isleaiw1]

Originally Posted by flashollie

Update!
John Lewis are doing the Sony Atmos sound bar HT-ZF9 with £100 of the WIRELESS rear speakers the SA Z9Rs for £707
Richer sounds can do it at £799.

5.1 regular plus poor mans Atmos system?
Seems a no brainer?

https://www.johnlewis.com/sony-ht-zf...dle/p237974658

Good lad, start at £600 and move up to £799.... only a 33% bust.... the forum is in fine form!

[flashollie]

Originally Posted by isleaiw1

Good lad, start at £600 and move up to £799.... only a 33% bust.... the forum is in fine form!

To be fair I did say budget around 600..... John Lewis are £707

[speedski]

Originally Posted by flashollie

To be fair I did say budget around 600..... John Lewis are £707

And richer sounds will price beat that by £10.

£697.

https://www.richersounds.com/information/pricebeat

[flashollie]

Originally Posted by speedski

And richer sounds will price beat that by £10.

£697.

https://www.richersounds.com/information/pricebeat

See its destined to happen!

[x-m4n]

You do have reasonable budget - consider the Yamaha YSP-2700 - "The most convincing surround sound experience you'll get outside a full 5.1 system"

https://www.whathifi.com/yamaha/ysp-2700/review

£529 on Richer sounds

The Sony HTZF9 can read the Atmos signal but is not projecting sound to the ceiling - still looks OK and I see is £599 now.

+2.1% topcashback www.topcashback.co.uk/richer-sounds/