The soundbar is a reasonably genius product idea, providing lots of the advantages of a full-fledged dwelling theatre system whereas avoiding the issues of putting in a multi-speaker setup. However, soundbars could be moderately costly, typically costing as a lot or much more than the televisions individuals need to use them with. Budget soundbars do exist, however choices such because the Mi Soundbar are maybe too fundamental, and should not supply a major enchancment in sound over your TV’s inbuilt audio system.
There’s a major hole right here, with the finances soundbar area dominated by small manufacturers providing merchandise which might be actually simply giant audio system. Recognising this hole, Realme not too long ago launched its first soundbar in India. Priced at Rs. 6,999, the Realme 100W Soundbar has, because the identify states, a rated sound output of 100W, with a devoted subwoofer to go along with the bar. Is this finances possibility well worth the worth? Find out in our evaluate.
The Realme 100W Soundbar is accessible in only one color – black
Realme 100W Soundbar design and specs
While there are numerous choices within the finances soundbar section, The Realme 100W Soundbar stands out for one huge purpose: it has a devoted subwoofer. It’s a easy wired unit, which plugs into the principle bar and attracts energy immediately from it. This signifies that when you’ll should take care of some limitations in positioning and set up, you do not want a separate energy outlet for the subwoofer, as is the case with soundbars which have wi-fi subwoofers.
The Realme soundbar additionally has a considerably larger rated energy output than what most inexpensive televisions lately supply. If your tv places out round 20-30W of sound, the Realme 100W Soundbar will supply a major quantity enhance with its 100W ranking. It’s price stating right here that the bar itself has a rated output of 60W, whereas the subwoofer accounts for the opposite 40W, so it is not fairly as loud (even on paper) because the quantity might need you imagine. The bar unit consists of two full-range drivers and two tweeters.
From a distance, the Realme Soundbar seems easy and unassuming, however there are some parts that come throughout as a bit unusual. The indicator lights that shine by means of the metallic entrance grille of the bar speaker are moderately evident and distracting, and the colors and codes do not intuitively let you know something price figuring out. The buttons additionally really feel a bit flimsy and cheesy. The machine is accessible solely in black for now.
I had the Realme 100W Soundbar positioned on a desk with the subwoofer on the ground proper subsequent to it, however you do have the choice to wall-mount the bar utilizing the grooves to repair it onto hooks. Installation is not included with the acquisition, so that is one thing you will should get performed your self. If you are inserting the bar on a desk, you will simply should plug the elements in.
The distant has buttons to rapidly swap between sources, other than controlling the quantity and energy
The distant of the Realme 100W Soundbar feels a bit cheesy as effectively, nevertheless it’s solely useful and fairly helpful. There are particular person supply buttons, audio mode choice buttons, and fundamental controls for quantity and playback as effectively. The distant is powered by two AAA batteries, that are included within the field. Of course, you possibly can simply use the buttons on the bar speaker itself in case you desire.
Connectivity choices on the Realme 100W Soundbar are spectacular for a finances possibility, with the machine supporting HDMI ARC, coaxial S/PDIF, optical Toslink, USB, a 3.5mm stereo jack, and Bluetooth 5. Included within the gross sales package deal are HDMI and coaxial cables, that are helpful and a pleasing shock given the worth of the soundbar. Setup is straightforward sufficient; you simply want to change to the best supply to make use of the soundbar, and Bluetooth pairing was simple as effectively.
What I discovered fairly bothersome had been the voice prompts from the Realme soundbar. Every time the machine is powered on or off, or switched between sources, a loud voice immediate pronounces the standing or supply identify. This was unpleasantly loud, particularly when watching TV at night time, and usually annoying even at different occasions. There’s no solution to swap this intrusive characteristic off, so you will simply should get used to it in case you purchase the Realme 100W Soundbar.
The buttons on the Realme 100W Soundbar look a bit cheesy
Realme 100W Soundbar efficiency
While ultra-budget choices such because the Mi Soundbar do not supply rather more than a slight quantity enhance, Realme’s entry into the section is an inexpensive possibility that provides vital advantages over your tv’s inbuilt audio. The Realme 100W Soundbar is loud, and affords a sound that’s rather more cinematic and full than what most inexpensive televisions can produce.
I often suggest soundbars primarily based on the tv they are going to be used with, and the Realme 100W Soundbar is finest paired with any entry-level tv. I used it with a few 55-inch 4K TVs that I had for evaluate alongside, however this soundbar could be ideally used with televisions as much as 43 inches in display measurement primarily based on its dimensions and rated sound output, other than the worth itself. Plenty of connectivity choices means any lack of ports or options on a selected TV should not hamper your means to plug the soundbar in.
The lights on the entrance are fairly distracting and evident, and do not let you know something significantly helpful both
While I used HDMI ARC on one of many TVs I used to be reviewing, the second was lacking HDMI ARC in addition to a coaxial audio output. I needed to due to this fact depend on an Optical Toslink cable I had at dwelling, however this was simple to arrange as effectively. I used the Realme soundbar with a wide range of content material, together with films, TV reveals, and kids’s cartoons. While the quantity was often turned all the way down to affordable ranges with the latter two kinds of content material, I bumped it up whereas watching The Midnight Sky on Netflix.
With the quantity up, the Realme 100W Soundbar did a good job of capturing the sombre temper of the film, significantly the rumbling lows of the equipment at each the arctic analysis station and within the spacecraft. Quite a lot of this may be credited to the subwoofer, which whereas small and slender, is kind of spectacular. Although it often felt a bit a lot, the system often obtained the degrees proper throughout the frequency vary.
I additionally discovered the mid-range tuning to be first rate. Dialogue and voices had been clear, sharp, and loud sufficient to not be drowned out by the highly effective low-end. The quantity bump and talent to deal with these loud volumes capably and with out a lot distortion or battle is the defining attribute of the Realme 100W Soundbar, and that is precisely what could be anticipated from a tool on this worth vary.
With music, significantly background scores in films and TV reveals, the Realme 100W Soundbar does an affordable job with out overwhelming the dialogue and core sound results. At low volumes throughout content material, the soundbar did not ship sound high quality past what the televisions it was used with may handle on their very own, however the sound did really feel a bit clearer with dialogue and vocals in music. The huge positioning of the drivers does assist make for a good soundstage, though it’s miles from the standard and spaciousness you’d get with costlier choices such because the evergreen JBL SB250.
With music, which I performed utilizing Bluetooth from an Android smartphone, the soundbar was first rate as effectively. Once once more, the defining traits within the sound had been the power to deal with louder volumes, in addition to the huge soundstage. Although the tuning is not very best for music, the Realme soundbar works for infrequent listening at dwelling if you wish to bump up the quantity a bit.
The wired subwoofer attracts energy immediately from the principle bar speaker
Verdict
Like lots of Realme’s first makes an attempt at new product segments, the Realme 100W Soundbar is basically a very good product that deserves a bit extra recognition. It’s cheap, well-equipped, and affords precisely what you’d count on from a finances soundbar: loud, clear sound.
That stated, there are some areas by which the Realme 100W Soundbar fell a bit brief. The design was a bit odd in locations, the voice prompts by no means failed to bother me, and efficiency at low volumes was barely any completely different from simply utilizing the audio system on any TV. However, at Rs. 6,999, these are comparatively minor quirks which might be greater than made up for by good tuning and efficiency at larger volumes.
All in all, for Rs. 6,999, this can be a soundbar price contemplating. There is not a lot competitors to the Realme 100W Soundbar at this worth, nevertheless it is likely to be price taking a look at entry-level choices from manufacturers corresponding to Philips, JBL, and Blaupunkt, in case you can bump your finances as much as round Rs. 10,000.
Is Realme TV one of the best TV underneath Rs. 15,000 in India? We mentioned this on Orbital, our weekly expertise podcast, which you’ll subscribe to through Apple Podcasts or RSS, download the episode, or simply hit the play button under.
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