Sharp Soundbar Ht Sb200 Review Can You Add an External Subwoofer

Abrupt HT-SB300 Sound Bar System Review

By Chris Chiarella

Edited by Chris Boylan

Sharp HT-SB300 Review

Step Upward to the Bar

Audio Bars are a hot product category these days, equally proud owners of sleek new apartment screens seek to break costless of the typically awful operation of standard Idiot box speakers and do for their audio what their high-def LCDs and plasmas are doing for their video. The best Sound Confined can respectably conjure the illusion of immersive surround sound while sidestepping the space requirements, complicated setup and cost of a traditional multichannel home theater system. In January of this year, Precipitous introduced their outset-e'er 2.1-channel Audio Bar, the HT-SB200. Its successor is the more elaborately featured, only slightly more than expensive HT-SB300 Sound Bar, bailiwick to review hither.

Both models are quite slender and house extremely compact left- and correct-aqueduct drivers, in addition to iv tiny woofers. Pocket-size metal brackets, drywall anchors and a handy paper template pattern are included to help position and mount the Sound Bar on the wall, while a set of adjustable rubber anxiety allow the unit to placed on a tabletop or stand directly beneath the Tv: Interruption out the tape measure because depending upon the specific girth of your display, the few-inches-short-of-a-yard HT-SB300 could exist a perfect fit for your 32" TV, and information technology certainly won't protrude beyond the edges of larger screen sizes.

The front panel provides a handy readout and ample controls.

At a mere $300 (list) for a complete audio solution, less than five minutes to set upwardly and with virtually idiot-proof controls, the HT-SB300 shows a keen agreement of its target market and clearly puts affordability and convenience in a higher place all else. That beingness said, for this review we hit information technology with a bevy of home theater challenges to provide our readers with a specific evaluation of the performance they should expect. While comparisons to the reference standard of a detached 5.1-channel home theater might be made along the way, continue in heed that a unmarried-box Sound Bar is by design a very different animal.

What Can One Speaker Practice?

The powered 32-watt HT-SB300 incorporates HDSS (high-definition sound standard), TBI Audio Systems' applied science built upon the Embedded Transmission Line module, which passively processes sound waves, maintaining constant pressure level without standing waves on the driver's diaphragm, thereby reducing racket and baloney for clearer audio reproduction. Of at least equal importance, as I would find out during my many demo's, is the inclusion of SRS Labs' WOW Hard disk drive Audio, a suite of complementary audio solutions that work together to widen the soundfield in 3 dimensions, deepen the bass response and ensure clear dialogue.

Here nosotros tin can see the small simply earnest drivers lurking behind the grille.

The chief step-up from the 200 is the HT-SB300's slew of audio decoding/processing options, including DTS, Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic 2 and Dolby Virtual Speaker. DTS and Dolby Digital decoding piece of work to preserve the original integrity of moving picture soundtracks: a perfect fit for DVD. Simply don't you worry about compatibility with Blu-ray as all Blu-ray players will pass a standard DTS or Dolby Digital track out their Southward/PDIF digital outputs, even on discs encoded with the new lossless HD surroundings codecs (DTS-Hd and Dolby TrueHD).  Sure it'south non the full lossless surround of which these formats are capable, but to appreciate that difference, yous'd have to spend a bit more than $300.

Dolby Virtual Speaker seeks to simulate the audio of three additional speakers (a dedicated heart and two rears) plus a subwoofer, and Dolby Pro Logic II meanwhile has long been a convincing way to span the gap between 2-channel content and a 5.1 system, and so performing its alchemy within the confines of a 2.1 organisation is certainly a new wrinkle.

Although only the familiar red/white stereo cables are packed in the box, the rear panel provides ample connectivity. In improver to the RCA-type analog stereo is an analog stereo mini-jack for quickly patching in an MP3 thespian or other portable device, also as both Coaxial and Optical digital audio. Impressively, a Subwoofer Pre Out is likewise supplied, when we are ready to add together an outboard sub. Depending upon where and how we set up it up, we'll need to figure out what to practise with the wires, directing them out of the way and probable hiding them somewhere inconspicuous.

Upwardly close with the many ins (and one significant out) of the HT-SB300.

The quasi-credit-card-sized remote efficiently packs dedicated controls for the subwoofer, "Bass/Treble" adapt to further tweak the sound, and can fifty-fifty handle the bones functions of a Sharp AQUOS LCD correct out of the box. There is besides a "Dimmer" button and ample on-speaker controls in the eye, with a simple LED readout and additional lights.

Cannons, Muskets and Dull-Motion Bullets

The Samsung BD-P1600 Blu-ray Disc Player was my main source component during my evaluation, an ideal choice because information technology affords and then many different media options. I began with a Blu-ray moving picture, our staff of life and butter, namely the DTS-HD Main Audio 5.one Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World via the Digital Optical output. While quieter sounds in Chapter four, "Under Attack," are reproduced with a natural delicateness, directionality is conspicuously lacking in a sequence that is loaded with it, the whizzing cannonballs beingness an obvious example. There is definitely a low-end presence, particularly when cranked up to "5" as during my well-nigh of my tests, just no palpable kick.

With Dolby Virtual Speaker engaged, the audio was more room-filling, more enveloping, with slightly more disarming directionality. 1 of my own personal barometers when testing any audio gear is how well information technology renders the scurrying on the deck on the H.M.Due south. Surprise. I'g not sure how the sound designers accomplished it, but information technology actually sounds like the footsteps are coming from the deck all around and above u.s.a., and the HT-SB300 achieved it! Switching to SRS WOW HD enhanced the perception of directionality even further, and made everything in the mix seem more than somehow more believable.

The Patriot Blu-ray features an Uncompressed PCM 5.1 rails, which the Samsung player can conveniently re-encode to a high quality multi-channel DTS track for transmission over the player's fiberoptic digital output.  And Chapter seven, "Gabriel's Rescue," is one of my all-time favorite demo scenes for both surroundings and LFE. SRS WOW Hd imparted a sense of depth in front of me, with fine, detailed resonance, and the simulated directionality was really rather constructive for all the muskets firing every which mode. Hither again, the massive bass was of form conspicuously absent in all listening modes.

The dense-still-clear remote puts a lot of options in our palm.

The listen-angle Dolby TrueHD v.1 soundtrack of The Matrix can button any sound system to its limits, even when sent out as standard Dolby Digital 5.1 over the player's fiberoptic digital outputs, and then how would this one-box Sound Bar fare on such demanding material? A striking crispness flavored the sound, and the HT-SB300 applies lots of little tweaks to the rails, the better to mess with our heads. The Lobby Shootout exhibits a stiff emphasis on the midrange, while the trebles are fine but not spectacular, and bass levels were again disappointing. Through it all notwithstanding, the Sound Bar did well with subtle bits like room tone or soft dialogue. With Dolby Virtual Speaker engaged, in that location is an increased sense of depth, if not genuine environs involvement.

During the 360-degree "Bullet Time" in the roof battle, the HT-SB300 is pumping out enough sound info to well-nigh trick the brain into believing the swirling sensation. I found this perceived effect--as well every bit the overall dynamic range--to be enhanced even further when I selected SRS WOW Hd. At that point, to me, this was some other stride closer to how this motion picture should sound, and all from a single speaker cabinet! Later, there were a couple of seconds when bullets were ricocheting off of the fire escape as Neo is on the run, or the mechanical Sentinels are breaching the hull of The Nebuchadnezzar, and I was pretty darned close to beingness fooled that in that location were sounds surrounding me and not just emanating from the vicinity of the screen.

Let's not forget the music lovers, either. Connecting the stereo cable now (the digital cable works too, but the audio can exist harsher on lower-quality signals such as MP3, plus this change was the simplest way to exam Dolby Pro Logic II decoding), I presently discovered that even the compressed tune-age of Pandora sounds keen over analog, natural and detailed with an enjoyable boot even at lower volume. Pro Logic II is automatically applied in the Dolby Virtual Speaker mode, definitely transforming music into a fuller, more than immersive "Stereo+" although some clipping could nevertheless be heard in the high end. The musical benefit of SRS WOW Hd is simple but constructive, not gimmicky or distracting. CDs sound fabulous at depression/medium volume, while maximum volume does not distort per se, rather the artificiality of the processing algorithms becomes apparent. Low finish is remarkably solid on music, while the loftier cease is missing merely that touch of verve.

Turn-Ons

• Easy to install, easy on the wallet, piece of cake on the eyes
• Highly customizable sound via the slick remote
• Supports connection to an external powered subwoofer for enhanced low finish impact

Turn-Offs

• The honeymoon is short-lived if yous actually creepo your favorite movies
• Requires an external subwoofer for best issue

Final Thoughts

The very nature of a Sound Bar combined with the hitting slimness of the Abrupt HT-SB300 specifically led us to expect sure limitations, but I did not wait the many bachelor listening modes to make such an appreciable improvement in the final sonic results. While I can't say that this affordable, easy-to-fix-up-and-use unit can substitute for true 5.1, it can provide genuinely enjoyable habitation theater sound to complement the high-def video.  This is peculiarly true when budget or space constraints preclude the purchase of a truthful 5.one-channel system.  I'd recommend the Sharp HT-SB300 to anyone who wants a gustation of the abode theater experience without the expense and complexity of multiple speakers, but do yourself a favor and add a powered subwoofer to push button the experience to the side by side level.

Where to Buy :

• Abrupt HT-SB300 Sound Bar System on Amazon.com

And How About a Nice Subwoofer to Go With information technology?

• Polk Audio PSW10 10-Inch Monitor Series Powered Subwoofer (Unmarried, Black)

HT-SB300 Manufacturer'southward Specifications

• MSRP: $299.99
• Dimensions: 31.5" W x iii.75 H x 2.75" D
• 1-Slice ii.one Speaker System
• 1.v" total-range Mains (2)
• two.25" Woofers (4)
• Max Output 32W
• Color: Black
• Net Weight: four.i pounds
• Warranty: 1 Year, Limited Parts and labor
• Sound processing: Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro-Logic Ii, Dolby Virtual Speaker, DTS, SRS WOW HD (Standard, Cinema/Game, Sport, News)
• Free energy Star-compliant

Inputs/Outputs

• Digital Optical Audio input (i)
• Digital Coaxial Audio input (ane)
• Analog Stereo input (RCA-blazon, 1)
• 3.5mm analog stereo mini-jack input (1)
• Subwoofer Pre-out (1)

What'southward in the Box?

• HT-SB300 Sound Bar
• Remote Control
• AC adapter/power cord
• Analog stereo cable
• Mounting hardware and template
• Manual

Manufacturer Contact Data:

Sharp Electronics Corporation
Abrupt Plaza
Mahwah, NJ 07495

ph: one-800-Exist-Sharp (one-800-237-4277)
Web: world wide web.sharpusa.com

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Source: https://www.bigpicturebigsound.com/Sharp_HT-SB300_Sound_Bar_System.shtml

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