New TV / Sound bar / audio advise

potbunker

Gentlemen, it is time to start planning for our house transition.

This requires a larger TV and probably a sound bar.

It will be mounted above a mantle with a stereo system in adjacent cabinets.

Not being or wanting to be an audiophile or creating a "theater" setting, I'm looking for something simple, (sit down, turn 'er on, chill) and efficient without breaking the bank...that has already been accomplished.

My wife and I are sports people vs movie fans.

Advice of what to look for??

darpar

potbunker This requires a larger TV

You might take a look at a projector tv,they can be cheaper than you think.
And for watching sports,nothing comes close.IMO
All you need is a flat wall (size can be any size you want) and a ceiling for mounting the projector.

Rickochet

I needed something better than the crappy built in TV speakers and having bad hearing I really had issues understanding voices. I bought a ZVox sound unit. It has small built in speakers that are much better than the TV and the sound is adjustable in different channels. The middle channel which carries the voices I have turned up higher so I can now understand them better. Another thing it does is keeps loud surges and commercials from blasting you out. I have this on a shelf above my TV. Plugged it into the jack on my TV that also turns off the TV speakers. And it is set to come on and go off when the TV remote turns the TV off and on.

raggmann54

Rickochet Been looking at those...Which model did you purchase???

potbunker

Rickochet middle channel which carries the voices I have turned up higher so I can now understand them better. Another thing it does is keeps loud surges and commercials from blasting you out.

Nice feature.
Sounds simplistic.
Thanks. Will research.

SVonhof

darpar You might take a look at a projector tv,they can be cheaper than you think.
And for watching sports,nothing comes close.IMO
All you need is a flat wall (size can be any size you want) and a ceiling for mounting the projector.

Projectors are great because they give you really large video, but you have to have the right space for it. You need to have good control of the light coming into the room as it will wash out the image. You also ideally would use a screen instead of the wall, unless your wall is perfect (in this area, all the walls are textured).
For most people, a projector is not idea for a primary TV because of the lighting control needed to get a good image.

I have a dedicated room for my projector and have absolute control over the light coming in.

potbunker

darpar You might take a look at a projector tv,they can be cheaper than you think.

An option I had not considered.

Thanks!

Rickochet

raggmann54 Been looking at those...Which model did you purchase???

Mine is either a model 350 or 450. It is a pretty good size box and a bit heavy. I have had it for probably 5 years so they probably have more sophisticated models out now.

sdandrea1

Depends on your budget. We have Samsung QLED TVs and couldn't be happier. Stock speakers are awesome. The picture quality is tops. Ours are 4k and a few years old now but I see they've dropped the prices. For sports and movies these rock!

potbunker

sdandrea1 Samsung QLED TVs

Initial research did lead me to this very line.

Thanks!

potbunker

SVonhof For most people, a projector is not idea for a primary TV because of the lighting control needed to get a good image.

Great point.

The lighting for this area will definitely vary, so.................projection may not work.

Thanks!

Typhoon

I had great setups in the house but now the wife hates sound. She’s deaf as a haddock but complains about any sound. I have a nice Yamaha YAS 207 sound bar and wireless subwoofer I bought. Subwoofer lasted not 5 minutes, she hates it. Great unit too. I have a TV like Steve and it’s now being mounted on the fireplace above the mantle.

There’s probably no room for it plus you’ll see wires because Samsung has a “One Connect” box which is great for the tv wire but the power and hdmi cables will show going to the cabinet next to the fireplace.

Klipsch also makes a nice line, the cinema 400 and the was another one I can’t remember but Google klipsch Soundbar if you want. My Yamaha got great reviews at a decent price.

Now it’ll be up for sale. I was going to hook it up downstairs but there will just be complaints. I sold my whole home theater set up from downstairs except the Mirage Powered sub… that’s next I guess🙄

potbunker

Typhoon Yamaha YAS 207 sound bar and wireless subwoofer I bought. Great unit too. I have a TV like Steve and it’s now being mounted on the fireplace above the mantle.

Klipsch also makes a nice line, the cinema 400 and the was another one I can’t remember but Google klipsch Soundbar if you want. My Yamaha got great reviews at a decent price.

+2 for the TV
Yamaha, I like it.
Klipsch, I have taken a peak at some of these units.

Thanks!
Sorry about the home sound "issues."

azgreg

potbunker

azgreg

Ah, so simplistic.

Our early TV's were build with tubes vs chips.

I helped my dad many times "test the tubes" to find the culprit using a tube tester from the college laboratory. 🤓

sdandrea1

Don't forget about Smart TV features that make internet streaming easy peasy.

potbunker

sdandrea1 Don't forget about Smart TV features that make internet streaming easy peasy.

So true and a good reminder.

Typhoon

Rickochet Zvox stuff is supposed to be good. Especially the dialog. I remember looking at them a few years ago.

potbunker

Typhoon Zvox stuff is supposed to be good. Especially the dialog. I remember looking at them a few years ago.

Zvox is one brand that seems to come up frequently for a dialogue enhancing sound bar.

As a geezer, dialogue is becoming more important than hearing aircraft fly through the room.

Other brands have models wit that emphasis and probably will be the way we go. Too much background noise and actors who mumble. 🙄

Typhoon

Here’s a good one for ya 🙄. So my TV will be over the fireplace. The Soundbar cords aren’t long enough to reach anywhere so forget that. Wife wants to put the Soundbar behind the couch or off to the side on the floor beside the couch🙄🙄. I’m done. TV speaker will be fine🙄

Eguller

Typhoon

Hmmm. Put two 6' speaker towers beside the fireplace and a big ass subwoofer 'in' the fireplace.
You and your lawyer will have the place to yourselves. 🤣🤣

SVonhof

Typhoon Here’s a good one for ya 🙄. So my TV will be over the fireplace. The Soundbar cords aren’t long enough to reach anywhere so forget that. Wife wants to put the Soundbar behind the couch or off to the side on the floor beside the couch🙄🙄. I’m done. TV speaker will be fine

If it ends up not being fine, it sounds like you need some in-wall speakers with the grills painted to match the walls. Takes a bit more effort as you need an amplifier (unless the TV has that built in, which is not common).

Walterjn

Eguller I don't know, I'm thinking Nick might like that also... That and the pups!

Typhoon

Eguller We don’t use the fireplace anymore and she has an electric “stove “ in there behind the fireplace screen. I could try putting the Soundbar in there on top of the fireplace. The sub might fit in there as well but might stay in the corner. Not that it makes a difference… it’ll be unplugged 🙄