LG designs now looks more extreme but yet can still retain it's recognizable sleekness. I want to hear what the soundbar can produce. I love listening to flac format.

I bought a LG soundbar last week (LG SH5) I was skeptical about how good a soundbar could be, I was shocked at how good it was. I'm a audiophile so I'm hard to please, but it blew my mind. The sub is wireless so I can place it anywhere. I have my Firestick plugged into the Hdmi in and Sky box into optical. It beats my surround sound which is quite an achievement. I did want to get a new amp and speakers, but it was too much, thankfully the soundbar works great so I'm very happy.

Not convinced. I'm sure it can sound good, but for music at least, soundbar speakers are too closely arranged to provide adequate stereo separation and imagery, let alone a convincing soundstage. Might be OK for regular TV broadcasts, just not convinced they can deliver the huge sound I prefer for action movies, concerts, etc.

They most certainly can, everything you just said was wrong. Like you I was very skeptical until I bought one. I've tested it with all sorts of music and films, Mad Max was amazing, it was like watching it at the cinema. As someone who spends more on audio equipment than video equipment it takes a lot to impress me, but this one has. Cheap soundbars are probably rubbish, but you get what you pay for.

They most certainly can, everything you just said was wrong. Like you I was very skeptical until I bought one. I've tested it with all sorts of music and films, Mad Max was amazing, it was like watching it at the cinema. As someone who spends more on audio equipment than video equipment it takes a lot to impress me, but this one has. Cheap soundbars are probably rubbish

Soundbar design is limited by power, space and geometry. And anything that's been shoved into the soundbar can be put in proper speakers and bought for less money while having superior sound just by mere positioning and by proper housing of these components.

you get what you pay for.

Agreed. In soundbar case you pay for simplicity, convenience and preservation of space.

They most certainly can, everything you just said was wrong. Like you I was very skeptical until I bought one. I've tested it with all sorts of music and films, Mad Max was amazing, it was like watching it at the cinema. As someone who spends more on audio equipment than video equipment it takes a lot to impress me, but this one has. Cheap soundbars are probably rubbish, but you get what you pay for.

It may have sounded amazing to you, but I doubt it would to me. You cant argue against laws of physics. Dedicated good speakers properly positioned will always provide a superior audio experience to soundbars. https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/df/02/41/df02417b58bc83b3560201f030b06d4b.jpg Proper stereo imaging is best attained with properly spaced front speakers, and to provide better scale and depth of the soundstage. Soundbars due to their design cannot provide that. Stereo imaging is 'squished' with soundbars, unless you're sitting very close. The soundstage will be very narrow as well. NOW it may sound good to you, but imo doesnt really add cred to your 'audiophile' aspirations. LG and soundbars are not usually things that impress peeps in audiophile circles 😀. Sorry to be blunt. But most important thing is that you are enjoying it and hope I havent rained down on your parade.

I had a very similar setup to you so yes I know the difference. But comparing speakers that I paid over a grand for with a £300 soundbar is hardly fair. Like all tech it's entirely possible to fit stuff in a smaller package without reducing the quality by a massive amount. You are making assumptions whilst I'm not as I have both. I'm not saying it'll replace your setup, all I said was that the assumptions you made were wrong. Obviously you will miss some detail, but you would be surprised with how well they stack up considering the package. This is the amp I had, can't find the speakers as they were old. http://exceptional-av.co.uk/yamaha-rx-v381-av-receiver-black.html?gclid=CPGwqqj_qNECFYU_GwodJoIB1Q

Not my setup. Merely showing you an example how a good HT setup is best with adequately spaced speakers to create a fuller soundstage with good stereo imaging that a soundbar cannot match. I only responded in this thread due to your 'audiophile' claim. I am sure for most, an LG soundbar is perfectly adequate and many would be satisfied with that, but I see it as far from 'audiophile' grade. Audiophile grade speakers would typically have a frequency response of 20khz-30hz (+/- 3db), something that is virtually physically impossible from a soundbar/sub combo.

This so far from the term Audiophile, it's even the opposite...everyone can claim themselves to be whatever they want...