In this instalment of You take : Should you stick with the same electronics brand , or is it all right to mix brands ? What are the best headphone for quietly listening to a TV ? Which big goggle box has the in effect levelheaded quality ? And who needs a line conditioner or upsurge guardian ? All those topics and more are coming right up !
Should AV components be the same brand?
Stewart got a new LG SQ95R soundbar organisation , but the 2016 idiot box he has does n’t haveeARC . And while he ’s gettingDolby Atmosby using a Fire TV Stick connected straight to his soundbar , he ’d like to change up his connexion contour and utilize eARC . So he ’s take care into get a new telly .
Stewart save : I was marvel if there is still any reward to keeping the same mark ? LG has anew QNED line coming out for 2024 , along with still useable 2022/2023 QNEDs , and I know I ca n’t go wrong with any of the LG organic light-emitting diode equipment . The price points for the OLED sets are a snatch gamey , so I was thinking of either the Hisense U7K / U8 K or TCL QM8 QLEDs . Thoughts ? Should I stick with the same blade , or does it matter anymore ?
Also , Dominique Hernando write : My married woman and I are look into purchasing a unexampled video , and I actually need the LG G3 . Unfortunately , my wife wants the Samsung S90C. If we end up go with my choice , will there be a compatibility issue if I get the Samsung Soundbar Q990C , or am I good off with the S90C ?
I ’m happy you ask , because this interrogative about the merits of sticking within the same trade name among various components has been ongoing for decades .
Here ’s my response : Ideally , you shouldn’thaveto stick to the same brand . profound compatibility is suppose to be secure thanks to standards like HDMI , CEC , and High - bandwidth Digital Content Protection ( HDCP ) . Ideally , you should be able to connect any make ’s soundbar to any blade ’s TV and get at least basic compatibility and functionality . And I ’d say that is the example most of the time .
But , at least with HDMI connections , itisn’talwaysthe case . Sometimes , soundbarsand tv set connect via HDMI do not get along for one rationality or another . Folks complain about various issues lay out from occasional sign dropout to full - on failures . And the inherent cause for the trouble varies — if it can even be determined at all . It ’s super inconsistent . For model . one person may have trouble fix theirSony soundbarto work with their Hisense TV , but the next individual with the same apparatus does n’t have that trouble .
I do n’t think anyone should actively avoid mixing brands between TV and soundbar , but I do intend it ’s worth keep in mind that you could run into trouble . If you do and you ca n’t solve the issue , you should fall one of the products and try again .
However , if you do stick within the same brand , not only does the likelihood that they ’ll toy nicely together go up a small bit , but you only have one company to skin at if you do have trouble . And that company ’s tech accompaniment team is not going to be able-bodied to pass the dollar bill to another brand out of laziness .
The only other rationality it may be suitable to cling to the same stigma is to unlock specialty features you will only get by using one steel ’s wares . For example , if you want to take advantage ofSamsung ’s Q Symphonysound lineament , you ’ll need to apply all Samsung train . Or , if you need wireless Dolby Atmos audio signal delivery between a TV and soundbar , you may need to stick to with the same mark .
All of that is to say that Stewart should nothaveto purchase an LG TV to enjoy Dolby Atmos sound on your LG soundbar . You should be able to make it work with either the Hisense or TCL TV models you mentioned . But you may desire to do a quick search to make indisputable that there is n’t some forum thread out there with like 200 mass all say the same thing about how the SQ95R does n’t ever work with this one TV make and mannikin .
And Dominique , I do n’t think you should have any job using theQ990Cwith an LG G3 . ( I use a Q990C with aSony A95Lwith zero issues . ) But I do think you might wish some of the Q Symphony sound compatibility that would do with twin that soundbar with the S90C.
Wireless headphones for TV viewing
Ti Ngo writes : I partake an apartment with a roommate . The walls are slender , so I ca n’t use a soundbar with my LG C1 OLED TV without annoying him . I mostly watch shows or movies on cyclosis platforms ( HBO Max , Disney Plus , etc . ) and play telecasting games . What would you advocate for a wireless phone that does n’t cost over $ 500 ?
The best advice I can give here is to avoid Bluetooth phone — my primary vexation is response time . But if you have Bluetooth headphones and can connect them to your television ( the C1 does support Bluetooth audio recording out ) , and it works very well for you , then , world , there are so manygreat wireless headphoneswell under $ 500 to prefer from . I ’d really suggest checking out ourbest headphone under $ 100 lean .
With that said , I ’m a boastful fan of dedicated RF wireless headphones for watching TV . Sony and Sennheiser both make great options range from $ 100 to $ 400 , with a wide cooking stove of features . But they all use RF — tuner frequency — for their wireless audio transmitting , and they all use a alkali place sender that connects to your TV ’s ocular digital sound jack to get the sound from the TV . That ’s the path I would go . You ’ll get great sound , very little latency , and bet on how much you spend , you may also get noise - canceling , dialogue enhancement , or dynamic range compaction .
Best built-in TV sound system
Jim Begley postulate : Which of the latest boob tube , 75 - in or larger , have the better establish - in Sound System ?
Well , Jim , I have to say the best - fathom TV out on the market in good order now is going to be a Sony OLED with acoustical surface sound engineering science . And of those , theA95KandA95Lare the good . Of course , a 77 - in A95 K or A95L is break to be fairly pricy . However , those screens double up as speaker , so you have speech sound come directly at you from the screen . And that , paired with the bass reinforcing stimulus from the telly ’s built - in subwoofers , make for really great sound .
TheHisense UXalso is a surprisingly good - sounding TV . I latterly heard theSamsung S95Dand it go really self-colored , which was a pleasant surprisal because I remember the S95C being passably mid . Those are really the standouts .
Keep in thinker that with the overwhelming bulk of television set on the market , the auditory sensation is … pretty bad . So the bar is really low to begin with . Anything that does n’t voice terrible gets good marks , so there are other TVs that fathom hunky-dory . But for the better - sounding TVs ? Yeah , that ’s the list .
Best soundbars for apartment living
Jeff is moving and demand a new soundbar . They are going to an flat , so they do n’t need room - shaking freshwater bass and have limited surround speaker placement alternative . He then writes : I have been leaning toward getting the Sonos Arc refurbished through their website , as it is currently $ 509 , but I have also been considering the Klipsch Cinema 1200 , which is on sale for $ 800 , or even the Samsung Q930c for $ 900 .
There is no question in my mind that you need to get theSonos Arc . Do not under any circumstances get theKlipsch Cinema 1200 . I do it that may come as a surprise , given I just commend it in theprevious You Asked episode , but that soundbar ’s subwoofer is a brute that is nigh untamable , and it isnotapartment - well-disposed . TheSamsung Q930Chas a little more subwoofer - stratum control than the Klipsch , and I suppose you could dial it down enough not to trouble your neighbour . But , honestly , the Sonos Arc has the well sound without bank on a subwoofer , which is the elementary reason you should get it . And it also has the ability to be tune up to your room for the best sound quality and sound consequence at your listening attitude . Get the Sonos Arc . At $ 509 refurbish , it ’s a great deal . Plus , you’re able to add to it subsequently down the route if you care .
Virtual surround sound
Miller Cook writes : What middling priced environment setup would you recommend for those of us who rent homes / apartment and ca n’t go speaker conducting wire through walls / don’t have the space for mount surround utterer ? Currently planning on use Dolby FlexConnect with my Sony OLED once released .
Miller , Bose , and Sonos are the title-holder of virtual environment strait , so a soundbar from them without surroundings talker is expire to get you the practiced overall upshot . But 2024 has some surprises in store , and — well , lease ’s just say Sony might be coming out with something that really interests you this yr .
Clean power
Bill Sheehan write : I have used a line conditioner or closing off transformer on my Ab equipment for 25 years now and I have never lost a piece of equipment to superpower issues . I was question what your experience is with this , and would like any additional advice you might have to protect your telecasting and sound system investment funds .
I have n’t used many line conditioners , even though I certainly would if someone sent me some . I just have n’t spent the money on them to get that “ clean ability . ”
I think both clean power andsurge protectionare hugely important , though . The adept manner to get relatively clean and static force to your power train is to carry a dedicated tour for your AV gear mechanism , but not everyone can do that . Surge protection isso important , though , and you ca n’t just swear on those cheap power strip show you get at the hardware fund .
I would say anyone who has relatively expensive or just worthful electronics gear needs , at the very least , a really hard rush tribute system . And agree the fine mark on it to affirm that it provide a warrant or insurance on anything you have connected to it .
4K SDR versus 1080p HDR
Vikram ask : What generally looks better — 4 K SDR or 1080p with HDR ? I do know that HDR makes a remainder ( looking at the comparing telecasting ) , but will it be that obtrusive when you do n’t have another video display play SDR ?
That ’s gruelling to answer ! There are a spate of factors at frolic here . But , broadly speaking speaking , I ’ll takeHDRover solution in most lawsuit . regrettably , 1080p often does n’t just mean fewer pixel ; it mean low routine - depth when it come to cyclosis . Also , we ’re assume the 4 atomic number 19 upscaling on a 4 K TV is good enough to make that 1080p signal look quality . But , yeah , HDR is more meaningful than resolution , on the whole .
Blu-ray vs. streaming
Also from Vikram : Would you urge getting a 4 honey oil Blu - light beam player and collect disc over spending money on Netflix , Prime Video , and other streaming services ?
I would make no such testimonial unless I know a whole good deal more about you and your priorities , preferences , and substance abuse . I would say that if all you watch is moving picture and all you care about is the best video and sound caliber ? Then 4 K Blu - rays are awesome . However , it is insufferable to argue with the fact that streaming services declare oneself such a huge variety of content and a massive number of rubric . There ’s no fashion on $ 20 Blu - electron beam magnetic disk a month will amaze a whole month of streaming whatever I need in 4 honey oil and often in HDR , even if it is a bit tight .
Bass dead zones
Alan J. has a 9 - foot by 14 - foot room , sits about 6 feet from the video , and has a Vizio Elevate soundbar system with the subwoofer on the left side of a five - seater couch . He says : For some understanding , the corner seat have awe-inspiring bass , but it gets lower draw shut the middle seat , to a point where almost no bass part reaches there . Do you have an thought of why that is ? I ca n’t afford a sound professional to fall to see why , and I am kind of stuck with this berth .
What you are experiencing is a sodomite that force back many of us half-baked , and it is part of the rudimentary law of acoustic .
Do you know hownoise - set off headphoneswork ? They create effectual Wave that are exactly 180 degrees out of phase with the auditory sensation they detect through their microphone . When we sum up one sound wafture with one that is 180 degrees out of phase with it , what we get is a null . That means they are canceling each other out . The sound wave are being made — that energy is go on — but we ca n’t hear it .
I can demonstrate that by taking a medicine signal and piping it through two verbaliser placed so they face each other . As the drivers in these speakers move back and forth , 180 degree out of phase with each other , they cancel each other out .
When I lift the Speaker back and disrupt that perfect out - of - phase angle rival , you could really hear them .
Why the acoustics lesson ? Well , what happens in your elbow room is that the bass waves your subwoofer is putting out come out of the subwoofer and bounce around the room . Unfortunately , the bass waves derive like a shot from the subwoofer will , at some blank space in the way , be 180 degrees out of phase with the bass waves follow from your wall , ceiling , and level , and they will offset out . And that makes it seem like you are n’t hearing the bass .
The good way to address with this is by moving the subwoofer . Try go around it 90 degree and see what happens . Then , experiment from there . And publish in again and permit us know what bump !
