Recommend me a good surround bar?

[Mitsu3000gt]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

the Soundplay right?
might actually work as our TV is ancient (bought in 2013) and most likely does not have HDMI ARC. Right now TV is connected to my Z5500 via optical.

I could connect both TV and HTPC into the soundbar via optocal.
But for 150$ I would be more future proof with HDMI

Yeah that's the one. The price difference isn't a lot, but I thought I would suggest it in case you are really trying hard to stay under budget.

[taemo]

So the frugal recycler me have decided to use what I currently have and replace them only when they die or someone buys my Z5500 speakers.

Our 2012 Samyung 65" TV does not have HDMI-ARC but has optical out so I will use that to the Z5500 and will be using 2x 4" JBL bookshelf speakers.
Will be running in Stereo mode which I'm fine with. I actually re-encoded most of our movies to MP4 and DPLII and happy with the quality.
PC and Shaw BlueCurve will plugin HDMI to the TV

[taemo]

update: someone bought my Z5500. went to Best Buy and tested the Samsung Q60R, played some music from my Iphone via BT and I was happy with the performance. I was initially set on getting the Samsung R650 for 299$ but they had a Q60R as open item for 449$ so I decided to splurge.
went to the till and to both I and the salesman surprise, the price was marked further down to 349$.
pretty excited to set this up and might be pairing it with a 55" Samsung Q60R TV as well as 65" might be too big at our new place and relatives wants to buy it.

[flipstah]

Are these any good?

https://www.visions.ca/product-detai...=495&sku=SB350

https://www.visions.ca/product-detai...d=495&sku=R10B

[taemo]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Are these any good?

https://www.visions.ca/product-detai...=495&sku=SB350

https://www.visions.ca/product-detai...d=495&sku=R10B

don't know much about those 2, but around the 300$ range, these were my 2 picks

https://www.amazon.ca/JBL-Soundbar-W...3847399&sr=8-1

https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product...n-box/14423193

the samsung is even cheaper as it is an open box item.

[flipstah]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

In the budget sector Vizio is my number one recommendation but once you go >500 mark I always lean towards Yamaha.
Currently rocking the older YSP 3300 and I love it. Been flawless and the sound is fuller IMO
Go to Visions and listen to the YAS 207, 209 and 408

Edit:
Full disclosure, all the remotes are ugly. Every Yamaha remote I've had has been that way.
My YSP3300 remote is huge and ugly. If are rocking a harmony remote then dont worry about it

Would you recommend the YAS108 or should I level up to the YSP line?

https://www.visions.ca/product-detai...495&sku=YAS109

An open box Beam is within grasp as well:

https://www.visions.ca/product-detai...MBLACK-OPENBOX

There's also this which apparently got rave reviews!:

https://www.londondrugs.com/vizio-36.../L0713104.html

[eglove]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Would you recommend the YAS108 or should I level up to the YSP line?

https://www.visions.ca/product-detai...495&sku=YAS109

An open box Beam is within grasp as well:

https://www.visions.ca/product-detai...MBLACK-OPENBOX

There's also this which apparently got rave reviews!:

https://www.londondrugs.com/vizio-36.../L0713104.html

I have an older Vizio soundbar and sub I can sell for probably $100. I'll double check the model # when I get home

[jwslam]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

I have an older Vizio soundbar and sub I can sell for probably $100. I'll double check the model # when I get home

Dibs if he don't want.

[Asian_defender]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Would you recommend the YAS108 or should I level up to the YSP line?

https://www.visions.ca/product-detai...495&sku=YAS109

An open box Beam is within grasp as well:

https://www.visions.ca/product-detai...MBLACK-OPENBOX

There's also this which apparently got rave reviews!:

https://www.londondrugs.com/vizio-36.../L0713104.html

Costco is king for Vizio
https://www.costco.ca/CatalogSearch?...izio+sound+bar

If you wanted to go a bit higher and don't need HDMI (optical only)
https://www.amazon.ca/Paradigm-Shift...945878&sr=8-10

[flipstah]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

I have an older Vizio soundbar and sub I can sell for probably $100. I'll double check the model # when I get home

Sweet thanks bud! Keep me posted plz.

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

If you wanted to go a bit higher and don't need HDMI (optical only)
https://www.amazon.ca/Paradigm-Shift...945878&sr=8-10

If the Vizio one doesn't pan out, this is a nice contender. Oof.

[TheOldSkipper]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Yeah that's the one. The price difference isn't a lot, but I thought I would suggest it in case you are really trying hard to stay under budget.

Also in the market for a sound bar..

I think I might go with your suggestion of the Paradigm Soundplay ($599, no HDMI), although my space for a sub is quite limited.

I have an opening in my TV shelf that would make the most sense for placing one, 10" H x 18.5" W x 12" D.
Thinking this little guy might suffice:
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07...NTHRB2151&th=1

Welcome any other suggestions on something compact.

[Mitsu3000gt]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Also in the market for a sound bar..

I think I might go with your suggestion of the Paradigm Soundplay ($599, no HDMI), although my space for a sub is quite limited.

I have an opening in my TV shelf that would make the most sense for placing one, 10" H x 18.5" W x 12" D.
Thinking this little guy might suffice:
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07...NTHRB2151&th=1

Welcome any other suggestions on something compact.

Paradigm actually discontinued all their really compact subs except for the Sesimic 110 but that is about $1500 and likely does not apply here. They used to make something call the UltraCube and in 10" form it was basically a 1-foot cube, had a ton of power and was a lot cheaper.

I don't know what your setup, budget, or expectations are like but does the sub have to go on that shelf? If you are definitely going to put it in a cabinet like that, I would look at sealed subs and not ported ones - not only do they have smaller footprints but you won't have issues moving the air. The one in your link is sealed, but 6" is pretty small for a sub driver (a lot of speakers have bigger drivers than that). It also can only play down to 35Hz (under ideal conditions), so you aren't going to get good performance from things like explosions in movies which usually come in around 20-30Hz.

[msommers]

Can the paradigm system run without a sub (or any of these systems for that matter)? Concerned about noise transmission in a condo but I think the sound bar with some isolators under it wouldn't be an issue.

[flipstah]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Can the paradigm system run without a sub (or any of these systems for that matter)? Concerned about noise transmission in a condo but I think the sound bar with some isolators under it wouldn't be an issue.

Put a book underneath and the impact isn't as bad to your neighbors. You still hear it though

[Mitsu3000gt]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Can the paradigm system run without a sub (or any of these systems for that matter)? Concerned about noise transmission in a condo but I think the sound bar with some isolators under it wouldn't be an issue.

Yup, the sub is completely optional, the sound bar itself just comes with a wireless transmitter should you ever want to add a sub, and I believe all the current Paradigm subs have built in wireless receivers saving you from another dongle.

If you're concerned about transmission with a subwoofer, grab one of these, they are super cheap and it decouples your sub from the floor/foundation. It makes a real difference on wood/concrete shared living spaces especially and it often can make your sub sound better regardless:

https://www.amazon.ca/Auralex-SubDud...4112368&sr=8-1

Also if you're able to calibrate your sub with some room correction (like ARC or PBK), it removes a lot of the resonant frequencies which is obviously good regardless but helps even more with shared living scenarios.

In my old condo I was using a Paradigm Studio SUB12 (12", 3,400W / 1,700W RMS) decoupled from the floor and calibrated with PBK - in 7 years I did not get a single noise complaint. I didn't get too crazy with it of course, but it was nice to know that if I set it up properly my compromises were minimal.