Reviewing an item like this attached to my TV requires many hours of work just to see if the dire sound quality associated with many American movies can be improved once that hurdle is overcome then you check to see what else it can do.
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This is described as a 4.1channel system with 200watt output Sound Bar with Bluetooth.
It is 93cm long, 8.5cm tall and 6cm deep. The sub-woofer is a 25cm cube.
Assuming you are using it with your TV you can connect by RCA leads or Optical cable both are supplied, I used the latter. Plug the Optical into your TV and the other end into the end of the Sound Bar. Position the Sound Bar and then connect the supplied lead to run from the Sound Bar to the Sub-Woofer and place that. Plug in the mains lead to the Sound Bar and you are ready to go.
My first test is to establish a sound level on the Sound Bar that is comfortable with the TV muted and then establish a sound level on the TV with the Sound Bar muted before having the two on together and making whatever adjustments you need for comfortable listening.
Next start watching something that you know will have poor sound quality – I know I have slagged off US movies in the past but UK is not exempt – and suffer a few minutes without the Sound Bar and then add it in to note the improvement.
Certainly music of all types benefit from the added range given by the sub-woofer and if you listen to the music between programs you hear notes you never heard before. This however is mainly about being able to clearly hear the dialog even the ‘stage whispered’ comments and if you have less than perfect hearing this often applies to women talking even in normal tones. I certainly enjoyed films with this Sound Bar that I would have missed a lot of by only being able to watch and hear snatches only.
If nothing else the Sound Bar gives more volume where even with the volume on the TV fully raised there is no increase in volume level but it also gives more range at both ends of the spectrum.
The unit has its own remote control so when the phone rings you now have two mute buttons to find one for TV sound and one for the sub-woofer. The remote has 14 buttons all well marked and fully described in the 12 page User Instruction booklet.
There is an Auxiliary 3.5mm socket to allow you to connect anything via a 3.5mm cable as well as the ability to play things through the unit using its Bluetooth both were tested and worked correctly. The remote moves sequentially through five options and these are displayed on the front of the Sound Bar so you know which mode you are in. This is only interrupted by a brief showing of the volume level when you adjust it.
The Sound Bar can be wall mounted but I tested it on the floor and in front of the TV on the unit it sits on.
If you need better sound from your TV then this Sound Bar and Sub-Woofer set will give it.
The Bush 4.1 200w Sound Bar with Bluetooth is available from the link below for £99.99
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Search/searchTerm/bush+4.1+ch+200w+Sound+bar.htm
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