Advice Needed

Posted by: Zipperheadbanjo on 16 December 2014

We will be adding a new wall mounted 65 inch flat screen to our living room, so I am looking at audio options.

 

I really don't want to hassle with a 5.1 or 7.1 system (been there hated it). That said, I could put in a decent 2.1 system, but I always find the lack of a centre channel can make it difficult to track dialogue. Does anyone have any workarounds to this issue?

 

Or alternatively a recommendation for a sound bar that is decent?

 

If I went with a 2.1 system I'd likely pick up a Unitilite, as I know a dealer who has some inventory of the pre Bluetooth models and is selling them off at steep discounts.

 

Any thoughts appreciated.

Posted on: 16 December 2014 by Kevin-W

Zipperhead, earlier this year I bought a Canton DM50 soundbase (about £399). The sound is staggeringly good, and it looks great too. Build quality is exemplary also. There are no synching problems and both dialogue and music are beautifully rendered. The "surround" mode is pretty convincing should you want it, and it's bluetooth enabled for streaming.

 

There's a bigger, more powerful version, the DM75 (£450), which may be more up your street as the DM50 is really for TVs up to 40in.

 

Either way, both are worth an audition.

Posted on: 16 December 2014 by Zipperheadbanjo
Originally Posted by Kevin-W:

Zipperhead, earlier this year I bought a Canton DM50 soundbase (about £399). The sound is staggeringly good, and it looks great too. Build quality is exemplary also. There are no synching problems and both dialogue and music are beautifully rendered. The "surround" mode is pretty convincing should you want it, and it's bluetooth enabled for streaming.

 

There's a bigger, more powerful version, the DM75 (£450), which may be more up your street as the DM50 is really for TVs up to 40in.

 

Either way, both are worth an audition.

That sounds exactly like what I'm looking for. It's got some very positive reviews too. Not easy to find a Canton dealer in my area, but will definitely look into it.

Posted on: 17 December 2014 by IanG

I use the Monitor Audio soundbar and that too is fantastic but it is a hefty bit of kit.

Posted on: 17 December 2014 by dayjay
Originally Posted by Zipperheadbanjo:
Originally Posted by Kevin-W:

Zipperhead, earlier this year I bought a Canton DM50 soundbase (about £399). The sound is staggeringly good, and it looks great too. Build quality is exemplary also. There are no synching problems and both dialogue and music are beautifully rendered. The "surround" mode is pretty convincing should you want it, and it's bluetooth enabled for streaming.

 

There's a bigger, more powerful version, the DM75 (£450), which may be more up your street as the DM50 is really for TVs up to 40in.

 

Either way, both are worth an audition.

That sounds exactly like what I'm looking for. It's got some very positive reviews too. Not easy to find a Canton dealer in my area, but will definitely look into it.

I thought the idea behind a sound base is that the tv sits on top of it?

Posted on: 17 December 2014 by Zipperheadbanjo

A soundbase is designed to permit the tv to sit on it... but there is no rule that you have to use it in that manner :-)

 

I've ordered the Canton... Canton dealers are almost non existent here, but the reviews are very very solid, and if I don't like it I can exchange for something of equivalent value.

 

The Canton does look perfect... and I can set up my Oppo 105 and use it's DAC (which I assume will be superior to that of the Canton) and output audio to the canton to the unit's audio in... and / or experiment with it's optical connection and see which I prefer.

Posted on: 18 December 2014 by Kevin-W

Hi Zipper - I'd be very interested to hear what you think of the Canton (it needs a few days to warm up/break in, so give it a while).

Posted on: 18 December 2014 by Zipperheadbanjo
Originally Posted by Kevin-W:

Hi Zipper - I'd be very interested to hear what you think of the Canton (it needs a few days to warm up/break in, so give it a while).

Will keep you posted... don't have a delivery date yet... hoping early next week.

Posted on: 30 December 2014 by Skip

We have just gone from the Meridian F80 to the Muso.  Worth a listen.

Posted on: 05 January 2015 by Zipperheadbanjo
Originally Posted by Zipperheadbanjo:
Originally Posted by Kevin-W:

Hi Zipper - I'd be very interested to hear what you think of the Canton (it needs a few days to warm up/break in, so give it a while).

Will keep you posted... don't have a delivery date yet... hoping early next week.

Canton DM50 arrived on Dec. 23 and is excellent. The faux surround works surprisingly well as does the standard stereo option. Works great for movies and music… essentially exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for the recommendation!

Posted on: 05 January 2015 by Zipperheadbanjo
Originally Posted by Skip:

We have just gone from the Meridian F80 to the Muso.  Worth a listen.

I have a Muso in the kitchen.. works great, but wanted to reserve it for music only… the canton serves it's purpose nicely in the tv room.

Posted on: 05 January 2015 by Steve J

Interestingly the manager at my local John Lewis told me at the weekend that a high proportion of MuSo sales at the store were for the purpose of TV sound bars. I would have thought, from my own experience of the MuSo, that it wouldn't have a wide enough soundstage.

Posted on: 05 January 2015 by Kevin-W
Originally Posted by Zipperheadbanjo:
Originally Posted by Zipperheadbanjo:
Originally Posted by Kevin-W:

Hi Zipper - I'd be very interested to hear what you think of the Canton (it needs a few days to warm up/break in, so give it a while).

Will keep you posted... don't have a delivery date yet... hoping early next week.

Canton DM50 arrived on Dec. 23 and is excellent. The faux surround works surprisingly well as does the standard stereo option. Works great for movies and music… essentially exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for the recommendation!

Glad you like it Zipper. Having lived with mine for six or seven months, I am still surprised at how good it sounds, particularly with Blu-ray discs.