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Post by muddyfunster on Apr 6, 2023 13:51:46 GMT
I'm really tempted by a Samsung q990b soundbar at the minute. Been a while since I updated y receiver and going over ARC with DD introduces a fair bit of lag which impacts on games more than I'd like. Anyone here got a similar fancy dolby atmos soundbar setup? I know the above mentioned A9 is a bit of a beast but it's also not really a like for like comparison from what I uderstand. FWIW I have the A9 receiving audio from the TV via eARC hdmi 3 and a ps5 into TV HDMI 4. There's no noticeable audio lag to my ear when playing ps5 games. |
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Post by mikew1985 on Apr 6, 2023 18:35:39 GMT
Cheers, definitely not going for the A9 solely due to price, the heavily discounted Q990b is just about in my acceptable range and only because AV receivers also seem to have gone crazy. I'm certain I got me most recent one with 7.2 capability with 4k/60 when that was the new fangled thing and it was about 1/2 the price of current entry level AV receiver models.
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Post by Dougs on Apr 7, 2023 1:04:27 GMT
Why are you thinking of upgrading? Sounds like you should sit tight...
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Post by mikew1985 on Apr 7, 2023 9:58:37 GMT
Well there's a few reasons, one is to get better sound than what I have and I don't fancy investing in a seperates for Atmos. I probably need to upgrade speakers as they're about 15 years old but again combined with the cost of new speakers + AVR (with HDMI 2.1 capability) it's now into silly territory.
So when comparatively I could go for a soundbar like the q990b which has rears + side and upward firing speakers producing (to my ears) top quality sound it seems like the better option.
I'm bypassing my AVR now and connected over ARC because I'd lose VRR, 120hz and ALLM if I routed through my receiver. VRR is genuinely great so I don't want to lose that.
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Post by muddyfunster on Apr 9, 2023 9:34:43 GMT
The q990b does have physical surround speakers doesn't it? I've read it's a very good soundbar. I'm sure you'll be happy with it assuming you have the space for the bar itself.
Equally I don't think speakers themselves degrade hugely with age so if you don't mind the faff factor surely you could also look at a new amp and buying some upward firing Atmos speakers to sit on your fronts and rears?
I specifically needed wireless and no bar (my A95K TV's stand can't accommodate one) which is why I went A9 but if cable routing had been easier I'd have been tempted to augment my old 5.1 setup. I even looked at ceiling speakers before the other half used her veto. Would've meant lifting floorboards in the bedroom above so probably for the best!
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Post by mikew1985 on Apr 10, 2023 16:27:33 GMT
My speakers aren't exactly amazing, they're fine but it's more about the ridiculous price of AVRs + additional speakres versus the ease of use of soundbar plus wireless rears. The room can accommodate either though. I ran speaker cable when setting the room up for the rears so they're tidy, no ugly wire concerns or anything.
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Post by technoish on Apr 10, 2023 17:43:05 GMT
My speakers aren't exactly amazing, they're fine but it's more about the ridiculous price of AVRs + additional speakres versus the ease of use of soundbar plus wireless rears. The room can accommodate either though. I ran speaker cable when setting the room up for the rears so they're tidy, no ugly wire concerns or anything. Prices for 7.2 avrs doesnt seem much changed to me? Brand new for this year marantz slimline 7.2 is now £699 at richer sounds. Their slimline 5.2 which I got about 7 years ago was like £550. |
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Post by mikew1985 on Apr 10, 2023 18:30:16 GMT
Seems to be £699 for entry level Denon stuff which was definitely closer €400 or 350 about 6-7 years ago. That's a huge jump imo
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Post by mikew1985 on Apr 12, 2023 10:13:21 GMT
Yea, just went back to check my Denon AVRx2300 purchase and it was basically half the price of the current equivalent model. It's actually a really good AVR it's just the absence of HDMI 2.1 and HDR passthrough that lets it down. Even then if it had eArc I don't think I'd be considering a change at all.
BUT I would love to get on the atmos train. I originally didn't buy any upfiring speakers when I bought the AVR due to relatively few Atmos things and the speakers were expensive. Going by 2017 logic I of course assumed everything would drop in price... how wrong I was!
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Post by Dougs on Apr 12, 2023 10:19:01 GMT
Same receiver I have, bought in 2016. I also don't use it for the PS5 (thought it did HDR passthrough but not ALLM?). Tried hard to future proof when I bought it but things move so quickly. I have since upgraded the fronts and centre so not looking to move away from it.
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Post by mikew1985 on Apr 12, 2023 10:51:00 GMT
Hmm, it might just be Dolby vision passthrough that's not supported but I actually plugged my series X into it directly last night and it showed most of the HDR features as unavailable, must check again.
Weirdly ALLM engaged straight away when I plugged it into the receiver.
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Post by Dougs on Apr 12, 2023 10:59:11 GMT
I can't remember now tbh. There was a reason I didn't use it, thought it was ALLM but maybe it was HDR, or possibly 120?
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Post by mikew1985 on Apr 12, 2023 11:27:24 GMT
It tops out at 1080p for 120hz but 120hz wasn't even whispered as a consideration outside of PC monitors at that time.
Actually It must have standard HDR stuff though as there's no way I would have bought it at that point without it.
Yep it does HDR, it just doesn't do DV, HDR 10+ or HLG.
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Post by technoish on Apr 12, 2023 12:05:58 GMT
It tops out at 1080p for 120hz but 120hz wasn't even whispered as a consideration outside of PC monitors at that time. Actually It must have standard HDR stuff though as there's no way I would have bought it at that point without it. Yep it does HDR, it just doesn't do DV, HDR 10+ or HLG. Get the Denon 1700h, it's at £479 at Peter Tyson. Not much difference, seems like fewer analogue connections (who uses those...), And slightly lower power. www.zkelectronics.com/compare/denon-avr-x1700h/uk/denon-avr-x2800h/uk/The 2800 seems like poor value - either get the 1700 or go higher spec. |
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Post by mikew1985 on Apr 12, 2023 13:10:45 GMT
Thanks. I did think that appeared to be the best option to my eyes too but can't see the 1700 actually available anywhere that I can buy (Ireland). There is availability on Amazon.de but it's 579 and used. LOL to that.
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Derblington
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Post by Derblington on Apr 12, 2023 13:28:43 GMT
They both (X1700 and X2800) only support 5.2.2 config, meaning you can only expand with 2 Atmos speakers.
That may be the intention (for now, at least), but if you want to add more then you'll need to upgrade the AVR again.
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Post by mikew1985 on Apr 12, 2023 13:46:53 GMT
Well there is that whereby for less money than a step up AVR I can get a (supposedly) great sounding soundbar + rears like the q990b.
Edit: Plus There is no way I am going to be able to (get permission to) run additional cable to the back of the room.
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Derblington
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Post by Derblington on Apr 12, 2023 14:14:09 GMT
Yeah, it makes sense.
I have 5.1.4 separates now but I'd certainly be looking to move towards the A9 or a fully kitted out Sonos set-up in the future to "downscale" the visual clutter (and I hate black electronics).
And I'm not sure I fancy rewiring everything up in a new apartment when I leave this one. It's constant added cost just to fit the existing stuff, and while the wires and trunking are relatively cheap in comparison to the rest of the kit it's still more money and time.
Which is a shame as I really like the look of all my gear.
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Post by technoish on Apr 12, 2023 14:51:14 GMT
I do find it weird nobody has pursued more wireless integration for surround speakers into non soundbar solutions, or offered more upgradable soundbar systems - so you can add actual Atmos speakers in ceiling/high up on wall or extra rear surround speakers.
I'm with derbs on the 7.2 limit - except maybe for that 1700 price point which is really good (sorry you can't get it in Ireland! - new onkyo coming soon might do you?), Or the fact the new cinema slimline series from Marantz which is sweet and starts at 7.2.
I have 5 channels now, and I want to add 2 height speakers - but I would definitely get a 9 amp AVR to allow for growth (and 11 channels with an extra amp), given the amp should last a while now we are over the hdmi 2.1 hump. My AVR is almost 10 years old, and I use it with a transformer (it's 110v). Still works perfectly.
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Post by mikew1985 on Apr 12, 2023 15:00:50 GMT
If HDMI 2.1 and HDR tech hadn't been so nascent when this current AVR was built I wouldn't be looking to change.
HDMI 2.1 seems to have been a total mess for AVRs with the 2020 model fuck ups seemingly having a massive negative impact on both price and consistency of (2.1 feature) performance of AVRs since. The Marantz ones look lovely tbf and I'd be open to it if the price was right but I think I'm getting into territory that it becomes harder to justify than separates given the advances in wireless and soundbar tech in the last 5 years.
My mate has a HT A9 and it's absolutely phenomenal, I have tested the Q990b in a local store and it too completely surrounds you in a way that my separates just don't.
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Derblington
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Post by Derblington on Jun 12, 2023 11:58:53 GMT
Web OS update on my GX this morning added the new full-screen home screen menu by default  Thankfully there is an option to switch it back to the old, just the app banner on the bottom of the screen, one. |
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ozthegweat
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Post by ozthegweat on Jun 12, 2023 13:11:47 GMT
What do you use webOS for? I haven't seen that UI for ages, I use all apps on Apple TV as the UX is so much nicer.
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Derblington
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Post by Derblington on Jun 12, 2023 14:01:40 GMT
I use it for all the TV apps - Netflix, AppleTV, Disney+, Prime, YouTube and Max.
They all function perfectly so I didn’t feel the need to add an Apple TV box in addition.
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Post by Dougs on Jun 12, 2023 14:02:41 GMT
Same here. Some are better than others but not massively so.
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Post by rammy18 on Jun 12, 2023 15:32:03 GMT
WebOS on our 2019 oled is starting to creak a bit, Prime is terrible and the apple one is sluggish too. Thinking of a TV stick of some sort, probably next year.
No screen issues thankfully
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Post by Dougs on Jun 12, 2023 15:40:10 GMT
Still seems fine on my 2019. Perhaps a bit slower to start but reluctant to use anything else as it just complicates things, for my daughter especially.
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Post by rammy18 on Jun 12, 2023 16:36:44 GMT
Still seems fine on my 2019. Perhaps a bit slower to start but reluctant to use anything else as it just complicates things, for my daughter especially. You have any issues with playback on the Apple TV app? Stuttering and getting out of synch. And if so, a solution other than either skipping back 10 secs or turning everything off at the wall to clear the cache? |
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Post by technoish on Jun 12, 2023 16:47:25 GMT
On my 2019 Samsung, the Disney+ app can very sometimes bug out, but otherwise it's only the iPlayer app that regularly fails when trying to start something. The app will just crash repeatedly.
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ozthegweat
New Member
Releasing indirect freedom
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Post by ozthegweat on Jun 12, 2023 17:05:51 GMT
I use it for all the TV apps - Netflix, AppleTV, Disney+, Prime, YouTube and Max. They all function perfectly so I didn’t feel the need to add an Apple TV box in addition. Ah Ok. I (or rather the GF, I could do without TV stations) watch live TV through an app that is not available on webOS, so we need an ATV anyway. |
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Post by darkling on Jun 12, 2023 17:17:24 GMT
Web OS update on my GX this morning added the new full-screen home screen menu by default Thankfully there is an option to switch it back to the old, just the app banner on the bottom of the screen, one. Just about to post the same thing after an update on my CX. The new app switcher is slower, takes you out of the app you're currently using, and it contains adverts. I'm a bit shocked LG pushed it this far into the GX/CX's lifespan... I assumed they were keeping the GX/CX and older on the old app switcher at this point. Thankfully I found the option to turn the full screen app switcher off... Settings > General > Home Settings > Home screen style > Basic |
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