I Spend some time trying to research this 5.1 Soundbar as I initially wanted something to replace an old Onkyo 5.1 system for a much smaller room and the wireless aspect of the sub and rear speakers was a real force in the choice of this one.
Although I have only had the product for a few days – I am really impressed with the sound quality from the optical 5.1 input via SKYQ. This sounds so much better than the TV speakers and I can finally understand the speech now its from the centre speaker on the Soundbar. The Sub is incredibly powerful and still packs a punch on a setting of ‘0’. I am yet to get a true 5.1 output from Netflix and need to mess about with the optical output settings from the TV – if this is even possible from the connected Firestick – but the sound is again, so much better than that direct from the TV speakers itself. Disney+ via a Firestick doesn’t yet support 5.1 output so don’t expect to get it, there is some internet chat that Disney+ is working on this but it may only be for the FIRETV and not the stick – even so – it sounds good through the Soundbar from my TV’s optical source.
The overall build quality is really fine and really unexpected for the price point (with the exception of the remote which is a bit sketchy but the three year guarantee makes me more comfortable). I would say that if you are looking for a good value 5.1 sound option for a small room – this is an ideal product and possibly the only option you will find out there for the price; if you have a big room with high ceilings, this might not give you the surround sound punch that you would get from a much more expensive set-up… but lets face it – you get what you pay for and most good quality amps (without speakers) would cost you 3-4 times the cost of this.
The various options on the remote for adjusting the volumes of the individual speaker sets and then the system sound overall via the main up & down is really useful – meaning you can really adjust to your own specific hearing requirements and lets face it – we all like our sounds different.
There are a few complaints in some of the reviews about the lack of an instruction manual – come on folks – its on the Majority website and you can view it without even making a purchase – lets face it – it doesn’t really tell you that much apart from the basic set up. Here are a couple of tips: 1) To get the main Soundbar out of the box (in its box) – you will need to open the side of the tall part of the main box (just split it down the join seal on the cardboard). 2) The rear speakers (when connected to the main Soundbar to charge) have red and blue lights in them (in the front behind the speaker mesh), it would appear that the red lights go out when the speakers are charged, the blue lights go out when you turn the rear speakers off with the button on the rear of each. 3) If you have difficulty turning the main unit and the rear speakers on via the remove control – turn them on on the actual speakers first (press the on buttons) and then try the on buttons on each side at the top of the remote – this is either a fault with my unit and remote – or just the quirky nature of the kit. 4) The speakers will all turn themselves off after a period of time if they have no sound through them, so if you leave the kit on and go for a break you may need to hit the power buttons again when you get back (if the lights are out – its off).
A couple of points for Majority to look at that would improve this kit even more – 1) Increase the Volume for the rear speakers, the current highest sound is not really loud enough on it’s top setting. 2) Include an Optical cable with the kit (I know these are a little outdated now, but if you have the socket on the kit, there’s really no excuse not to include one). 3) Expand on the instruction manual thats online to include more details on the turning on/off of the individual units and an explanation of the colour codes on the charging process for the rear speakers.
Overall- a good purchase.