Dolby Atmos Soundbar or 5.1.2 speakers for small room

[Zac_808]

For a small room in an apartment (meaning low volume most of time), is it still worth to get a 5.1.2 full setup for movies? Or Soundbar is good enough?

 

[Kaynin]

So soundbars can’t do Dolby Atmos, despite what the advertising says.

 

You’ll likely crank the volume up with a 5.1.2 system, but that will out perform a soundbar.  Having said that  there are soundbars that do a very good for their purpose.  Will it be good enough?  That’s up to you and your expectations.

 

Roughly, what’s the room size?

[Guest DrSK]

1 hour ago, Zac_808 said:

For a small room in an apartment (meaning low volume most of time), is it still worth to get a 5.1.2 full setup for movies? Or Soundbar is good enough?

 

 

I've previously annoyed people in a well built building with a $200 Logitech 5.1 system. So loud enough won't be the problem. 

 

My wife didn't like the clarity of a $20k Krix and Anthem system compared to my dual stereo powered 4.0 at home. She's deaf with hearing aids and clarity matters. She's heard and raves about the top tier Samsung sound bars.

 

Samsung own the pedigree and professional labs to do things right. And seem to from what others with their sound bars say. If they branded them with some of their other brands people wouldn't question their sound bars. 

 

Going to buy one to keep her happy upstairs. Plus they can Bluetooth to headphones or her hearings aids meaning peace and quiet for me if I want, which could be handy for you in an apartment. 

Edited July 2, 2021 by DrSK

[Zac_808]

2 hours ago, Kaynin said:

So soundbars can’t do Dolby Atmos, despite what the advertising says.

 

You’ll likely crank the volume up with a 5.1.2 system, but that will out perform a soundbar.  Having said that  there are soundbars that do a very good for their purpose.  Will it be good enough?  That’s up to you and your expectations. 

 

Roughly, what’s the room size?

It's a 2.9m x 4m study area rather than a room. The open plan living room is bigger but I want to keep all gears away from kitchen.

Actually I have a 5.1.2 system now (Anthem + Monitor Audio) and I know the soundbar cannot compete with separate speakers. But I also feel my current system is a overkill for such a small space and these gears are losing values everyday...

 

[Zac_808]

1 hour ago, DrSK said:

 

I've previously annoyed people in a well built building with a $200 Logitech 5.1 system. So loud enough won't be the problem. 

 

My wife didn't like the clarity of a $20k Krix and Anthem system compared to my dual stereo powered 4.0 at home. She's deaf with hearing aids and clarity matters. She's heard and raves about the top tier Samsung sound bars.

 

Samsung own the pedigree and professional labs to do things right. And seem to from what others with their sound bars say. If they branded them with some of their other brands people wouldn't question their sound bars. 

 

Going to buy one to keep her happy upstairs. Plus they can Bluetooth to headphones or her hearings aids meaning peace and quiet for me if I want, which could be handy for you in an apartment. 

I saw lots of positive reviews about the new Samsung soundbars. Which one are you planning to buy?

[Kaynin]

33 minutes ago, Zac_808 said:

It's a 2.9m x 4m study area rather than a room. The open plan living room is bigger but I want to keep all gears away from kitchen.

Actually I have a 5.1.2 system now (Anthem + Monitor Audio) and I know the soundbar cannot compete with separate speakers. But I also feel my current system is a overkill for such a small space and these gears are losing values everyday...

 

Yeah, a 5.1.2 system is definitely overkill.  I recently bought a Sonos soundbar (the small one), and am very happy for what it does.  What I especially like is that I can stream music to it, as well as tv and movies.  It’s an added feature that many soundbars don’t do (I think…).

 

Your other option is a headphone set-up.  You can get excellent results - without disturbing too many people.  My study is about the same size as your room and I have my headfi set-up in there, I couldn’t be without it.

[Guest DrSK]

2 hours ago, Zac_808 said:

I saw lots of positive reviews about the new Samsung soundbars. Which one are you planning to buy?

Whichever one she wants most likely! 

 

Latest top of the range probably, either with or without rear speakers as not sure we need them as a second set up. Rear are wireless which makes things easier at least. 

[Chill3]

Just bought the latest Samsung 950T    it’s good  

 

And in sale at GGs 

Edited July 3, 2021 by Chill3

[Irek]

On 02/07/2021 at 4:36 PM, Zac_808 said:

 But I also feel my current system is a overkill for such a small space and these gears are losing values everyday...

 

It's better to have overkill system than not good enough. 

It lost value the moment you left shop. It doesn't make sense to sell it. 

Saying that, soundbar can be a great option for small rooms.

I think soundbar is also great option if majority of time we spend on listening to dedicated stereo system. 

[Guest]

On 02/07/2021 at 4:36 PM, Zac_808 said:

Actually I have a 5.1.2 system now (Anthem + Monitor Audio) and I know the soundbar cannot compete with separate speakers. But I also feel my current system is a overkill for such a small space and these gears are losing values everyday...

It cost you nothing to continue with your existing 5.1.2 system.  All AVRs depreciate rapidly, so you will not get much now.  Unless you have a space or WAF problem, suggest not changing.

 

Different if you are just starting out, where a soundbar may be acceptable...

[Zac_808]

Started using my 2.1 system for movies as a trial since the weekend and... it's actually pretty good!

2 channel can also create 'surround sound'

The only disadvantage is dialogue is not clear sometime probably due to downmix process.