B&W Panorama 3 Soundbar Review
Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) expects to raise the bar with its first Dolby-Atmos capable soundbar, the Panorama 3, which was released earlier this year
Soundbars are a subset of conventional speakers which are designed into very slim yet wide enclosures intended to be placed directly above or below a video display. Unlike center channel speakers, a single sound bar incorporate multiple speakers/channels of reproduction, most often Left, Center, and Right. Some models, through novel driver arrangement and DSP, will also attempt to reproduce the surround channels with marginal success. Soundbars are almost always self powered omitting the usual AV Receiver or Amplifier, and because their limited enclosure volume precludes satisfactory bass extension, many are accompanied by a sub-woofer.
Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) expects to raise the bar with its first Dolby-Atmos capable soundbar, the Panorama 3, which was released earlier this year
VIZIO raises the bar (literally) yet again with its new M-Series Elevate 5.1.2 Sound Bar. With dedicated Atmos height channels, a powerful sub, and lively surround channels, it brings quality audio and convenience to any flat panel TV.
The Monoprice SB-300 2.0 Sound Bar delivers amazing audio performance for its size. With a low price of just $200, it’s an ideal...
The Monoprice SB-600 5.1.2 Soundbar is a Dolby Atmos home theater in a box for just $330. With a wireless subwoofer and surround...
The RBH Ultra-3 On-Wall LCR Soundbar Speaker combines the convenience of a soundbar with the performance of a premium speaker delivering the left, right...
Breaking from their audiophile traditions, Bowers and Wilkins have released Formation, a slate of products aimed squarely at the burgeoning market for wireless, streaming audio products. Here, we have B&W’s entry into the premium soundbar segment – the Formation Bar. Accompanied by the Formation Bass module, we have a full-range system with some unique capabilities as well as premium design and construction.
A complete 5.1.4 Dolby Atmos sound bar system for under a thousand bucks? Is that even possible? Not only that, but one that includes a powerful 10” wireless subwoofer and dedicated surround speakers. If you are VIZIO, this is a goal that can absolutely be accomplished. Case in point: the VIZIO SB46514-F6 that we have here today.
Yamaha is back at it again with a jack-of-all-trades soundbar package that aims to give the competition a serious run for their money.
Atmos for everyone! That’s the main guise behind VIZIO’s new Atmos-capable soundbars. For just $499.99, the VIZIO SB36512-F6 soundbar System offers a full-blown 5.1.2-channel home theater experience in a relatively compact and easy to use package. It also includes a wireless subwoofer and dedicated surround speakers, which are rare at this price.
Dali, a well-respected provider of high fidelity speaker systems, has released a TV soundbar, the Katch One that is a sophisticated...
Next Level Acoustics introduces its Fusion Reference Soundbar and CI-HV10 Subwoofer for the custom install and DIY markets. They’re just the thing when you want a more integrated front speaker array but don’t want to settle for the canned sound that comes from typical soundbars.
While I love the sound quality that a full-bore home theater system offers, sometimes all a user really needs is simplicity. Whether for a bedroom system, or a small family room or den, sound bars answer the call of many users by offering good sound and great ease of use in a very cost-effective package. The Vizio SB4051-D5 Sound Bar System takes things a bit further, as it is a true 5.1 channel package with a dedicated subwoofer and real surround speakers.
The MartinLogan Motion SLM X3 is a thin, wall mountable speaker to be used under or near a flat screen TV. The Motion SLM X3 is flexible in that it can stand alone on a shelf or mantle. Using high performance drivers and crossover, the MartinLogan Motion SLM X3 is designed to deliver uncompromising performance for the movie and music lover.
The Fluance AB40 High-Performance Soundbase comes in as advertised. It is a well thought out and extremely uncomplicated piece of hardware for those who want stereo sound without multiple boxes and a mess of wires. It features 90 Watts in Class D, 6 Drivers, Bluetooth streaming and it sounds great to boot!
Whole-house audio gets easier and better with each new product introduction. Today I’m looking at the Bluesound Pulse 2 All-In-One Streaming Music System. It combines a BluOS streaming player with a DirectDigital tri-amplifier, premium speakers, and support for nearly every music format including MQA. It’s the ultimate in convenience, quality sound, and high-end styling. The lifestyle audio product genre may have to shoot for a newly elevated benchmark.