Not sure how marketing of this stuff goes. 7.1.4, with total of 10 listed speaker for the soundbar ( 5 woofer, 3 tweeter, 2 full range ), a couple of rear channel an a sub. Given that the sub is the 1 in 7.1.4, i wonder where the 7 + 4 channels come from? a tweeter alone can't count as a channel imho. On top of that i hate that they continue to market clear voice tech when simply the movie should be mixed in a way that make sense.

asturur:

Not sure how marketing of this stuff goes. 7.1.4, with total of 10 listed speaker for the soundbar ( 5 woofer, 3 tweeter, 2 full range ), a couple of rear channel an a sub. Given that the sub is the 1 in 7.1.4, i wonder where the 7 + 4 channels come from? a tweeter alone can't count as a channel imho. On top of that i hate that they continue to market clear voice tech when simply the movie should be mixed in a way that make sense.

Agree, even with 5 HP each my main left and right only count as 2... On other hand this JBL cost around 989 Euro, you can't expect much exept better than the 2X15 w of the TV set with more too colored rendering (too boom boom and tsss tsss). In this task it do it's job, but again on this segment it is overpriced (as Bose or other "self called" top quality brand)...

asturur:

i wonder where the 7 + 4 channels come from?

4 height channels, which since sound bars have no positional placements don't exist. soundbars are bs.

Here is everything you needed to know, and probably didn't, about the magic numbering of stereo equipment. What Does 5.1.2 or 7.1.4 Mean for Surround Sound Speakers, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X?: BigPictureBigSound I myself like soundbars for the ease of setup and space used. Pricing could be better, but you can find some good sounding equipment at a decent price with a little ear work.

I too am not a fan of soundbars, they simple lack the channel seperation. These magical surround modes and visuals with sound swirling all around you is ridiculous. Right now I am at an AirBnB and the guy has an 800 EUR LG Atmos bar with surround and upfiring speakers. It sounds just ok but cuts out so much and muffles voice that I find myelf using the projector speaker more often than not, sheesh. I had a 500 EUR LG 5.x channel Dolby Atmos soundbar, just lacking in every way, better than the TV speakers but only just. I replaced it with a 220 EUR Logitech Z906 5.1 channel Dolby Digital system, so much better. This is more than enough until I can get a "real" system.

Astyanax:

4 height channels, which since sound bars have no positional placements don't exist. soundbars are bs.

bingo but like every rule there are exceptions. Yamaha invented what we now call the soundbar in 1988. it was $2,000 in 1980's dollars or about 3,500 today, it was chunky and it was extreme, but it worked with Dolby Digital (long before any other Dolby licensees). today the only soundbars that "are worth it" have to qualify that sentiment by adding in the fact that the décor (or decorator) requires it. the best of the type of soundbar that the JBL is, is made by Nakamichi with varying flavors of power and side/rear channels. the best sounding soundbars are all well over $1k, often doubling or trebling that like Bang & Olufsen, Bowers and Wilkins, etc... but they aren't surround

zasy99:

I too am not a fan of soundbars, they simple lack the channel seperation. These magical surround modes and visuals with sound swirling all around you is ridiculous. Right now I am at an AirBnB and the guy has an 800 EUR LG Atmos bar with surround and upfiring speakers. It sounds just ok but cuts out so much and muffles voice that I find myelf using the projector speaker more often than not, sheesh. I had a 500 EUR LG 5.x channel Dolby Atmos soundbar, just lacking in every way, better than the TV speakers but only just. I replaced it with a 220 EUR Logitech Z906 5.1 channel Dolby Digital system, so much better. This is more than enough until I can get a "real" system.

I got an Onkyo HT-S5915 (5.1.2) for less than 600 € and I couldn't be happier with the price/performance I got from it. The receiver is top notch, and the speakers are pretty decent. At normal price (around 800 €) it's already a great price (just the receiver is usually that price), so for 600 €... it was a steal! Specially now that I'm checking prices and it costs around 1400 €. What the heck happened? Though I do understand that receivers are not for everyone (they add a level of complexity that a lot of people don't want). Soundbars do have their place in the market for non-audiophile people, or people with no room to spare. But yup, for myself, I'd buy receiver + decent speakers all over again.