Hhmmm.... seems like I am not the one who only do in HN for whatever stuff want to buy. Lol.....

Depends on what you want...I cannot say it for you. What i want is not what you want.

I think all soundbars will have optical connectivity for those around RM1K and above.

You have to understand the features you want, then look out for those models within your budget and test them out.

Features you probably should look out for (whether you want them is depends on you):
1. Multiple HDMI in (usually soundbars have very few HDMI in, not a critical point as a HDMI Switch can solve the problem, but you will need to pay more).
2. Passthrough of 4K60p HDR - This is important if you want to have Media box to pass in this or play PS4 Pro and future consoles.
3. Decode standard - Dolby Digital, DTS, DD Atmos etc. Usually i think you will only get Atmos around RM2k soundbar. If you intend to watch lots of Bluray or download large files with DD Atmos. Otherwise, not needed.
4. Separate subwoofer - for sound quality purpose or space constraint purpose. For me example, i already have a good subwoofer, so i chose a soundbar with an external subwoofer output port(not all soundbar have this, usually those come with a subwoofer will not have this).

So you think carefully what you want first.

This post has been edited by skyforcerld: Apr 29 2019, 05:22 PM

hi sifus

i got budget of RM2k or lesser
any recommendation that i should take notice? will go to harvey norman or senheng to hear the differences

thanks

1. yeah this it seem i need it, need to connect multiple electronic, TV, PS4 pro, TV box.
2. OK so this must have lo, because will be using PS4 pro.
3. Decode standard should be all sound bar quite standardize rite. except atmos dont think i need it. casual user only
4. I think better to have those with subwoofer as a set. I dont have a subwoofer but dont think will be sufficient.

ok thanks, what else do i need to take note of? how about ARC is it important?

Current implementation of ARC is cacat. It works but not perfect and may have compatibility issues. But i believe all soundbar at around RM1K range above should have this. If you are using a Smart or Android TV, and you are using the TV NETFLIX ex, then you need to return the sound to the soundbar. Based on my personal experience, the HDMI ARC is dodgy, sometimes work, sometimes doesn't.

And even if it works, i encountered audio delay (logical...video displayed on TV, then only pass to soundbar/AVR). If the TV doesn't have option to delay the video (so that the audio can catch up to the video in the soundbar), then you will have this issue. 2 ways to solve this audio sync problem:
1. Use the optical connector to return sound from TV to soundbar. This solves the problem maybe 98%. Close enough, but in reality there is still a slight audio delay but not noticeable.

2. Use an external Android TV box to play your Netflix or whatever by hooking to the HDMI IN of the soundbar. This will guarantee to get rid of audio delays as the audio will get processed first before video passed to TV. If audio is too fast, you can delay the audio in maybe your soundbar (depends if got settings or not...low end probably don;t have) or your player software. Usually this is best bet solution.

Anyway, it depends on the TV and soundbar you have, if your HDMI ARC works without any noticeable delays, then great! You don't have to worry.

Btw, you can also connect your PS4 Pro directly to the TV. Ensure it is connected to a HDMI which support 4K 60p and HDR (Usually, not all the HDMI IN port support it, maybe 1 or 2 ports only). But again, you might face audio delay function as above as the sound will rely on the HDMI ARC to go back to the sound bar.

PS: If you need a subwoofer, then yes, get a soundbar with subwooofer, make sure it's wireless subwoofer!

This post has been edited by skyforcerld: Apr 30 2019, 09:54 AM

Ok understand, so from what you explained. The issue will be HDMI ARC connection problem between TV & soundbar.
So if HDMI ARC connectivity got audio / video delay then will need to use optical cable to connect between TV & soundbar.

Lastly if there is still audio / video delay then best will be stand alone connectivity, example PS4 pro use HDMI/optical cable direct connect to soundbar, TV box use HDMI direct connect to sound bar. But does a soundbar has so many HDMI / optical IN? from what i count i need at least 2 HDMI IN + optical IN (for PS4 pro, TV box and the TV). it is correct this way?

Yep, that is exactly correct.

Usually most soundbar in RM1K range will have at least 2 (1 HDMI-IN, 1 HDMI ARC). The higher end more expensive soundbar will have 3 HDMI-IN...usually i seen most also 3. Maybe the really expensive one like RM 4k to RM 5k got 4 HDMIs or more.

One solution is to use a HDMI switch. However, if there is only 1 HDMI-IN you will need to make sure the HDMI switch support 4K60p HDR for your PS4 Pro and future devices (these type of HDMI Switch still seems rare/expensive and i am not sure if will work. Saw cheap ones like RM 60++ to nearly RM200 for expensive ones).

Some summary to take note.

• Device to HDMI ARC - Sound Delay, not support any lossless sound include Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, DTS:X, DTS HD-MA and LPCM. It will convert to lossy output.
• Device to Soundbar HDMI-IN, support lossless sound as long the Soundbar support the format.
• Optical - only support lossy format up to Dolby Digital and DTS. Not support any lossless format.

This post has been edited by Andrewtst: Apr 30 2019, 07:47 PM

sorry, this too deep. I dont quite get it. can explain a bit more?

If so based on you guys punya experience here, what soundbar brand is good and which model?

are LG, Sony, Samsung, Bose and Yamaha sound bar good?

This post has been edited by MorningBoyz: Apr 30 2019, 09:57 PM

They is few way to get sound but only HDMI-IN to your SoundBar give you no compress (lossless) High Definition Sound.

No idea on what is lossless, what is lossy?
Just assume lossless is Audio CD quality, lossy is MP3 quality.

Lossless High Definition (HD) Format include Dolby Atmos (a layer on top), Dolby TrueHD, DTS:X (a layer on top), DTS HD MA and also Multi Channel Lossless PCM. Some device like Apple TV 4K Box will decode the Dolby TrueHD or DTS HD MA track in the TV Box itself as Multi Channel Lossless PCM track instead of decode by the SoundBar itself. This is benefits as even SoundBar not support of Dolby TrueHD or DTS HD MA also does't matter as it already decode 1st before it send to the SoundBar with condition the SoundBar must at least support Multi-Channel Lossless PCM. The cons wise is you can't get Dolby Atmos or DTS:X preset of sound effect. I call this sound effect as basically this two new technology is just a metadata of sound and preset telling the speaker how it should sound the output.

Lossy Sound include Dolby Digital, DTS and single channel PCM, even though Dolby Digital Plus is also lossy sound track but it is not support by HDMI ARC or Optical also due to bandwidth issue.

To get Lossless HD - you need to have device support it, SoundBar support it and also material you watching have such track.

Beside this, you need to connect your device that support it to your SoundBar HDMI-IN as if your device is connecting to your TV HDMI and later HDMI ARC to your SoundBar, then you can't get the lossless sound as current bandwidth in HDMI 2.0 is not enough, this is the reason why e-ARC is out but only this year TV and SoundBar support it. Basically don't have yet in market as it just get announcing.

As for traditional Optical connection which basically outdated now as the bandwidth limit up to support of Lossy sound only which is Dolby Digital and DTS. They is no way of improving on Optical and it seems no one will ever update on this type of connection anymore.

Dolby Atmos is just a layer on top lossless track of Dolby TrueHD and also lossy track of Dolby Digital Plus and it is currently use by iTunes and Netflix. DTS:X also is similar technology which is a layer on top of DTS HD MA. This two new format make more immersive feel and cinema like in home theater system. It is a Meta Data that control the sound effect setup on it which is hidden setting prevent alter or copy by user.

So for the moment, to get no compress sound, you need directly connect your device to SoundBar HDMI-IN. This is solved by e-ARC which such support SoundBar and TV release later this year or next year may come with it.

This post has been edited by Andrewtst: May 1 2019, 01:00 AM

Recently I had test few and below is my comment.

LG SK9Y is a 5.1.2 SoundBar where I currently using it, this SoundBar support Dolby Atmos and only sound fantastic after some fine tuning, it is a good value to buy in price range of RM 2k to 2.5k, it get price reduce as LG SL10Y is soon out in Malaysia with DTS:X and also meridian technology support but the model after convert need RM 5k+. Both model can upgrade to 7.1.2 after connecting with optional purchase rear speaker.

Yamaha YAS-207 is a 2.1 SoundBar, this SoundBar sound is great based on this price range, it is only RM 1.3k. I find it sound better than SK8Y which is also 2.1. This is value buy SoundBar and it support DTS Virtual:X

Yamaha YSP-5600 is sound fantastic, this is a 7.1.2 SoundBar build using total of 46 speakers! Yes 46 speakers! But sorry it is way too tall and bulky, the design is something I can't accept as it looks freaking ugly under the TV. This SoundBar support all kind of format in the market, include Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, this SoundBar cost around RM 5.7k

Bose SoundBar 700 is also a 2.1 SoundBar but sound output is shocking great to me, but this SoundBar only support lossy Dolby Digital and DTS, it also don't have HDMI-IN which let you direct connect any device to SoundBar itself. This device required e-ARC TV for output any lossless sound track due to the missing of HDMI-IN at the SoundBar itself. The subwoofer also selling separately and both SoundBar + Subwoofer will cost you RM 7.5k, I basically don't recommended this model even though it sound fantastic but it is too pricey and also need of e-ARC support TV and also device that can decode the track before send over to the SoundBar if you want lossless track (I assume it support multi channel PCM as I can't find information about this). I am shock when the shop telling me this model don't have HDMI-IN, later I check the official site and it is confirmed this expensive SoundBar only came with HDMI e-ARC for you to connect to the TV.

I haven't test any SoundBar from Sony and Samsung yet.

That day actually I want to test Sony SoundBar as well but the shop connection of Sony SoundBar to the same TV all something wrong as not detected by TV. I wait for sometimes but the shop can't solve it, so I left later.

As for Samsung I only interesting with model make by Samsung and Harman Kardon. The HW-N950 is a 7.1.4 SoundBar but I didn't found any shop had demo unit to test yet.

This post has been edited by Andrewtst: May 1 2019, 01:41 AM

Ok. I see. Understand. Good thing I was into In car entertainment few year back. Else I won't understand either hahaha. Didn't know current audio system has changed so much.

Was browsing yesterday, saw LG SK8, SK9Y and Yamaha YAS-207 these 3 are look good for my budget range. Guess I need to go shop to test it out 1st.

Haha! Yaya they is some changes on sound.

Yup, the best is you listen to it yourself, the best is request for same movie playback so you can more clearly justified of it.

Please dont buy SK8. Outdated model. It is only HDMI 1.4 and doesnt support 4K60p HDR passthrough.

Went to HN tested YAS-207 and LG SK8.
YAS-207 really blow SK8 away and cheaper price point too. Quite sold with YAS-207 dy. But too bad no LG SK9 for me to test.

Lol noticed SK8 got audio delay using ARC.

So my list should be YAS-207 and LG SK9 for the moment. Any other within this same price range I should know about?

Btw how often will we come across with dobly atmos source? Netflix? Blue-ray?

This post has been edited by MorningBoyz: May 1 2019, 07:06 PM

ARC audio delay is ARC issue. If you google around you will notice all have this issue unless all your device support e-ARC.

SK8 sound very lousy, some more not support 4K HDR pass-through, better don't buy it.

Netflix Dolby Atmos title is not much at the moment. Some TV series 1st few episode is Dolby Atmos, later it switch to non Dolby Atmos. Haha!

A lot title in 4K UHD Blu-ray is Dolby Atmos and some is DTS:X, they is no Blu-ray title is Dolby Atmos or DTS:X.

In my opinion Dolby Atmos is not that important if you don't watch Netflix or own 4K UHD Blu-ray, but support 4K HDR pass-through (without this you will be doom!) and lossless track is very important.

This post has been edited by Andrewtst: May 1 2019, 08:31 PM

I am casual user, mostly watch youtube, drama, movie, play PS4 and listen spotify which hardly have any dobly atmos or even DTS:X so i think i dont need to look at LG SK9Y.

Then Yamaha YAS-207 will be sufficient for my usage already since it support 4K HDR pass-through for my PS4 pro. It also got 1 HMDI In | 1HDMI Out | 1 Optical In | 1 Analog In, look pretty much sufficient for me to connect PS4 pro, TV box and TV.

Andrewtst, thanks for your explanation and very useful info. Appreciate your help so much. Cheers

Lol now need to source where to get the most value worth Yamaha YAS-207

This post has been edited by MorningBoyz: May 1 2019, 08:52 PM

LG SK9Y better sound is not because of Dolby Atmos. I don't watch much in Dolby Atmos also, but I watch a lot title in lossless sound track.

One is 5.1.2 sound with total of 8 speakers, another is 2.1 sound and if not wrong only 3 speakers, they is differences there.

But both is worth to get in my opinion, just remember don't get the LG SK8Y, that one is not that good in sound output.

This post has been edited by Andrewtst: May 1 2019, 10:53 PM