TV - Adding Speakers / Sub Set up Advice

redrum22 on 02/09/2025 - 22:52

I've got a 75" Sony Bravia X9000H as the tv in the living room, open plan room. The tv speakers suck, so have been using a Yamaha SR-B20A Sound Bar for past year or so. That soundbar sucks too, so curious what's going to give me a value-range reasonable step up in audio? I'm not an audiophile and don't need the best sound available to man, just something I'll appreciate beyond current state.

I'm not interested in 5.1, the room isn't set up for it. One option I'm looking at is something like the Edifier S360DB 2.1 Bookshelf Speaker with Subwoofer System. Seems like a possible plug and play option.

The other option I read up on is mining marketplace for buying speakers, sub, and amp separately, but that feels like a bit of a rabbit hole as I don't know what to look for.

Any advice on a set up?

Electrical & Electronics Speakers Subwoofer

Comments

  • sumyungguy on 02/09/2025 - 23:13
    +3

    SR-B20A or any other soundbar sucks without a matched sub; that's where I'd start.

  • Ozbar Gain on 03/09/2025 - 04:15
    +1

    Your room sounds like it would be best suited to a decent sound bar + sub so that's what I would go for.

    If you want to go the separate speakers route you have to look for a 3.1 set up because the centre speaker is what gives you clear dialogue when watching movies.

    Marketplace is an option but consider the aesthetics of what speakers you go with too

    • coffeeinmyveins on 03/09/2025 - 10:13

      If you want to go the separate speakers route you have to look for a 3.1 set up because the centre speaker is what gives you clear dialogue when watching movies.

      you don't have to. If your receiver is sending the centre signal using a specific mode then yeah, you'll be missing it. but if you do stereo sound it'll send it to the speakers

      • ForkSnorter on 04/09/2025 - 08:57

        Still won't be as good as with a centre speaker.

        Separating your front (stereo) speakers as far as you can gives you really nice stereo/immersive sound. But having dialogue coming out of one or both of those speakers will sound a bit weird. TV sounds best when the dialogue is coming from the direction of the TV.

        Best option is centre speaker underneath the TV for dialogue, with front speakers separated as far as possible for a nice immersive sound. And switch to stereo mode for music.

  • Stealtho on 03/09/2025 - 07:41

    I have same TV in 65" for 5 years.
    Have a original sonos playbar, sub, and 2 sonos 1 speakers for rear. They are all 15 years old work like new.

    • ton1 on 03/09/2025 - 13:10

      Same sonos setup exactly similar age disconnects are a bitch but when all connected sounds great

      • Stealtho on 03/09/2025 - 13:44

        never get them , you using a mesh system they are more stable?

        • ton1 on 04/09/2025 - 11:37

          Yes using Deco x20 mesh system. I'm not sure if its the Deco or the new Sonos app but have had more disconnections lately. I have thought of going back to single modem to isolate the problem but not got around to yet

  • dreamerman on 03/09/2025 - 07:48

    I picked up a Bose Solo 15 Series II for $50 on facebook marketplace. Its so good with good bass. Facebook is full of home theatre systems, take your pick unless you only want new stuff.

  • carimakan on 03/09/2025 - 09:22
    +1

    Used Yamaha receiver + speakers and sub. try 3.1 or 2.1 or 2.0, if front tower is too big for your liking then swap rear speakers to the front. Sell of the remaining speakers if any. This is the most value setup, for real good sound. Budget $200-500

    A pair of Apple HomePod + Apple TV $1000-ish, run everything on Apple TV (not tv), one of the best eco-system design, especially if you’re iPhone user. If on budget, get HomePod 1st gen $250 each, they are similarly good, quite identical even in spec.

    TVs are getting thinner hence they come with terrible speakers. Software on older TV may become slower or lag, make sense to invest in tv box. You have a good tv screen, continue to use it many years just for its screen.

    • redrum22 on 03/09/2025 - 22:08

      After looking into various replies, I am leaning toward the 3.1 receiver/speakers/sub. I thought purchasing all of these on marketplace was going to be a bit of a ballache since I'm not a savant, but I can see where I can just grab someone else's full set up for this quite easily.

      With my existing shitty soundbar I can stream music to it directly via bluetooth. Is there anything I need to take into account to still be able to stream music to this new set up?

      • ForkSnorter on 04/09/2025 - 09:00

        Why do you want to stream it?

        Use HDMI or optical cable, which will be reliable, with no delay.

      • carimakan on 04/09/2025 - 10:01

        Bluetooth degrade quality. If you’re not fuss or can’t hear the difference it’s fine.

        However if particular, this is the guide. Get one that support Airplay 1 or Airplay 2 for iPhone user. (Google cast for android, I’m not android so not 100% sure). Because these transfer music file on wifi, and don’t further compress.

        Ideally stream from better music app. And tweak the app audio quality.
        https://youtu.be/GyUVF5Lcz-0

        For TV, I’d still think lost home should have Apple TV or Nvidia shield tv pro. Both model had been out for a while, so new models may be released soon. So either wait or get used one.

  • plmko on 03/09/2025 - 09:35

    Honestly if you're just looking for TV speakers any amp receiver with HDMI arc function and some speakers is going to be better. Don't think too hard about brand/quality. Just if it works.

  • wasabi324 on 03/09/2025 - 10:23

    KEF LSX II LT is about as plug n play as it gets if you have a HDMI-ARC/CEC compatible TV.

  • Calmago on 03/09/2025 - 11:36

    You definitely want a soundbar, but a single cheap soundbar without a sub is going to be crap; I've been on this journey.

    You want at least something a little decent with a wireless sub. Something like this is more than enough without breaking the bank.

    Optical input is important to think of as well.

    https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/lg-q-series-s70ty-400w-3-…

  • redrum22 on 03/09/2025 - 22:20

    Appreciate everyone's comments as they each did give me something different to investigate further. I get the sense soundbars are great for space/aesthetics, but that even if I went soundbar/sub, it won't compete will audio result / value of a receiver/speakers/sub, so aim to go down that path.

    • ForkSnorter on 04/09/2025 - 09:05

      I get the sense soundbars are great for space/aesthetics,

      Even for aesthetics, it decends on your setup. A decent soundbar wouldn't fit on my beautiful timber TV cabinet because it would be too long, and they look silly when you just dump them in front of the TV. My ancient chrome/metal receiver looks great in my TV cabinet, and I put leafy plants on top of the front floor speakers, which makes the TV look less sterile.

      even if I went soundbar/sub, it won't compete will audio result / value of a receiver/speakers/sub, so aim to go down that path.

      You're right. I've listed to soundbar setups at multiple family/friends' places, and none of them sounded anywhere near as good as the $60 receiver and $40 speaker setup I got second hand on gumtree 10 years ago. It's 6.1 channel, but sounds great in my current 3.1 setup (2 huge front/stereo floor speakers, 1 tiny centre speaker, 1 large sub).

    • thisisscotts on 05/09/2025 - 11:43

      I picked up the Yamaha YT-1840 5.1 system approx 7 years ago for around $400 (Black Friday isn't too far away, you may be able to snag a deal then if you can't find one already). In your case, the rear speakers are overkill, but I know what you mean about going down the rabbit hole of receiver, amp, speakers etc. I find this cheap and cheerful system is great and far more preferable (to me) than a sound bar. You can easily leave the rear speakers disconnected and the front ones plus sub will work fine (which is currently what I have going, since I moved house recently and haven't connected the rear ones yet).

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