Soundbar for Avtex TV ....

[wildebus]

I have an Avtex 24" TV and been considering for a while the Avtex Soundbar that is recommended for it.
Been put off by the price but when I looked at it again recently (sometimes the prices go down for a short while) I noticed something else which looks like a problem?
This is the Soundbar ... https://amzn.to/3Q4h4D6 ... and it is described as an "Ultra-compact design" and "The Avtex Audio mini sound bar is a natural companion to your TV".
Sounds ok, except when I checked the dimensions, it is 74cm wide! Now the 24" TV itself is just about as big as you can fit in the allocated space at nearly 54cm wide, but this "mini" soundbar is another 20cm (or 8" in old money) wider again. Not sure if these would fit in the TV space in many Motorhomes or Caravans?

Has anyone bought the Avtex soundbar for their Motorhome and have they found it fits ok in their space?
Maybe the sizes quoted in that Amazon listing is incorrect? it is quoted as a 2 x 10W Output so it is not particularly powerful either, especially for the apparent physical size

During the week I got another soundbar delivered for a different purpose. That soundbar (a 120W one) is only a bit longer (~10%) than the Avtex but is so long I think I will be sending it back as while I am sure it is good, it is just too large.

I think the Avtex will be in the same category ... great sound but too big to fit?

 

[compost]

hi my avtex sound bar ia only 430mm long it is a brilliant piece of kit you will not be disapointed in its performance

 

[wildebus]

hi my avtex sound bar ia only 430mm long it is a brilliant piece of kit you will not be disapointed in its performance

Thanks
Doing some more searching, I am concluding the quoted size is wrong on Amazon (very wrong!). Odd as one of the "Compare with similar" items is another soundbar and its quoted dimensions are spot on.

 

[wildebus]

I am so close to hitting the "put it in the basket" button!!
I have an Amazon Firestick connected to the TV and when I use that, I actually have "cinema sound" from a pair of Amazon Echo Dots fitted above the sofas and they work nicely - but only with the Firestick. If I use the other video sources on the TV (which are quite plentiful in the form of a Memory Card, a PC, DVD, Freeview and Freesat, and I do actually use all of them) I am limited to the speakers on the TV, and I did found the sound is a bit low sometimes.

It is a shame the TV doesn't have a Optical Audio cable connection. That would be very handy - I recently fitted an optical cable from the older TV in my loft studio to the Home Theatre system (all originally stuff no longer in use and that has been off and stored away for years) and that has transformed how the TV sounds now it is using better speakers

 

[marchie]

Dali Kubik One for the house. Way too big and heavy for the Van, but the Kubik does almost everything without electronic trickery. Just a mini Usb connector and an Optical cable connection then the rest is down to audio engineering... Spoils you for anything else

Steve

 

[Ardachaidh]

We had the sound bar fitted when we got the van converted. Good sound and a neat fit under the tv. No wider than tv. It also has Bluetooth so you can play stuff from your phone etc through the Soundbar. I also have a small music device connected to play my music.

 

[wildebus]

Dali Kubik One for the house. Way too big and heavy for the Van, but the Kubik does almost everything without electronic trickery. Just a mini Usb connector and an Optical cable connection then the rest is down to audio engineering... Spoils you for anything else

Steve

did a search .... https://www.whathifi.com/dali/kubik-one/review ... £800! wow!

 

[snapster]

We use an Anker Soundcore Boost. It’s tiny compared to the Avtex speaker and has usb and Bluetooth connectivity. It’s also got a very good sound.

 

[nabsim]

I was going to get my Sony tv connected up to my mini rig 3 but so far sound has been fine as it is. Min rig isn’t a sound bar just very competent portable speakers

Edit: sorry, mine is a Sharp tv in the van not a Sony

 

[wildebus]

Just been out to do a wee test .... (should that be a little test? nothing to do with putting a sample in a bottle!)
Connected the Avtex TV to a Majority Bowfell 50W Soundbar (https://amzn.to/3xk8wAR). The only available connection between the two was to use the headphone socket from the TV to the Line in on the soundbar.
The sound from the Soundbar was without a doubt nicer and smoother than from the TV Speakers and I have convinced myself it is worth having one connected
Now the question is is the cost of the Avtex worth it over the significantly cheaper ones such as the Bowfell above that I tried out? Can attach it very neatly to the TV mount so would be tidy but at a cost ...

 

[nabsim]

Just been out to do a wee test .... (should that be a little test? nothing to do with putting a sample in a bottle!)
Connected the Avtex TV to a Majority Bowfell 50W Soundbar (https://amzn.to/3xk8wAR). The only available connection between the two was to use the headphone socket from the TV to the Line in on the soundbar.
The sound from the Soundbar was without a doubt nicer and smoother than from the TV Speakers and I have convinced myself it is worth having one connected
Now the question is is the cost of the Avtex worth it over the significantly cheaper ones such as the Bowfell above that I tried out? Can attach it very neatly to the TV mount so would be tidy but at a cost ...

Many years ago when I got caught up in HiFi equipment you could pay £25k for a CD deck. Can’t remember who made it and only ever saw it in the hiFi geek mags of the time. I decided my ears weren’t any better than the cd deck I had which cost around £100 then an was maybe middle quality for normal people.

So Dave, how good are your ears, presuming the more expensive is better (not always the case) will you hear the difference?

I think if I wanted quality sound I wouldn’t be buying stuff made for motorhomes but these days I only have ten Bob ears lol

 

[wildebus]

Many years ago when I got caught up in HiFi equipment you could pay £25k for a CD deck. Can’t remember who made it and only ever saw it in the hiFi geek mags of the time. I decided my ears weren’t any better than the cd deck I had which cost around £100 then an was maybe middle quality for normal people.

So Dave, how good are your ears, presuming the more expensive is better (not always the case) will you hear the difference?

I think if I wanted quality sound I wouldn’t be buying stuff made for motorhomes but these days I only have ten Bob ears lol

I can hear the difference between the TV Speakers and a Soundbar withiut a doubt
However, could I distinguish between a £50 soundbar and a £500 soundbar? and if I could, is the difference worth paying for? For me, probably Not, and No.

I used to be into the HiFi Seperates but while I could tell the difference between say an Amstrad Music Centre and a set of decent (IMO) separates, going into the silly level of Hi Fi never appealed to my ears or my pocket.
I find it quite funny how things moved from that kind of thing and people seem to prefer listening on little headphones on MP3 players and preferring to watch Video on a 4" screen rather than Cinemascope.

 

[xsilvergs]

Not a sound bar but I went with the option below as the Avtex Sound Bar couldn't be fitted close to the TV in our van. A Sound Bar may have produced better sound but these are far superior to the tinny sounding speakers in the TV!

I fitted these into the cabinet either side of our 19" Avtex Pro TV to improve the sound quality. The amplifier works from 12 volt DC but the audio input required a 'Ground Loop Noise Isolator' (Ebay £4.64) to remove noise. TV volume set to between 10 and 15 is loud enough for us.


Unplugging the audio input to the amplifier enables the Bluetooth and links to phones etc. or could be used if your TV has Bluetooth audio.

 

[Ardachaidh]

Now the question is is the cost of the Avtex worth it over the significantly cheaper ones such as the Bowfell above that I tried out?

Good question. Can you turn the volume up a bit? I can’t quite hear it and I’m not that far away over by Selkirk and I could compare it with my Avtex.
Depends whether you think the sound quality is good enough and there’s enough volume and it fits neatly. Or whether you don’t mind paying the extra money.

 

[compost]

my main problem is when its raining i cant hear the telly therefore the need for sound bar

 

[nabsim]

The Cello I used to have was quiet and could have done with a sound bar but at that time I couldn’t find anything that was either what I was willing to pay or worked with the TV. At the house most of my sound system was Sonos and I thought that was great until my playBase blew just out of warranty and Sonos said it couldn’t be repaired.
Wasn’t paying that money again for such poor support so after looking round I bought a Samsung Q60? To match my tv. Far too big and loud for in the van though.
Sounds like a trip to Selkirk is a good option Dave

 

[wildebus]

my main problem is when its raining i cant hear the telly therefore the need for sound bar

In terms of volume, I did notice once when the rain was really hard it drowned out the sound, so that is a factor, but it is actually the quality of the sound that is a factor for me overall for looking at the soundbar. I don't pretend to be an audiophile by any means and can't describe in technical terms the difference other then the sound from the soundbar just sounds better. (it is just the same with the Loft Studio TV when I plugged in the optical cable ... it sounded ok before, but now I always listen via the Home Theatre as it is not louder (unless I want it to be) but better ... smoother, refined, stuff like that).

"is the cost of the Avtex worth it over the significantly cheaper ones such as the Bowfell above that I tried out? "

Good question. Can you turn the volume up a bit? I can’t quite hear it and I’m not that far away over by Selkirk and I could compare it with my Avtex.
Depends whether you think the sound quality is good enough and there’s enough volume and it fits neatly. Or whether you don’t mind paying the extra money.

I am tempted to get the Avtex from Amazon if only to be able to compare. With the Free returns option, that is very doable, but I don't really like to order somthing unless I am truely serious about keeping it (I wouldn't like someone to buy something from me just in order to have a look at it ).

I will be going to the Kelso meet next month. Maybe someone there will have an Avtex Soundbar I could see and listen to to get an idea of the difference. As I have the Bowfell (which is nicely made and I think good value for money BTW. Bought it to use with a Projector and Screen) I should really use that for a while to see if it does the job before spending close to £150 on the Avtex one.

 

[compost]

im off to new forest if you want to have a listen

 

[wildebus]

im off to new forest if you want to have a listen

It's a bit far to travel from Scotland, but thanks for the offer

 

[marchie]

It's a bit far to travel from Scotland, but thanks for the offer

We're doing the route via the various Rallies, so the journey from Scotland feels shorter ... . Hollingsworth Lake now, Knighton on 16th June, then Burton Bradstock and Strawberry Fields in July. Will also try to fit in a visit to Southdown Motorhomes to collect some new Locker and Hab Door catches, and possibly a visit to Spare2Repair Fareham to buy a spare fridge security catch for the next time ... Might be able to meet up with my older son and his kids, but Covid last week puts that into 'tbc' category. It's all go, this relaxing malarkey

Steve