Topic: Gaming TVs, Soundbars, Headsets and Shelving

It seems we don't have a good, centralized thread to discuss the audio-visual side of gaming. Quality TVs, soundbars, surround sound, headsets, etc. It can be such a big part of the gaming experience, and having recently dived into the deep end, wanted a place to talk shop.

I just ordered an LG C1 55" OLED 4KTV, as well as the Sennheiser Ambeo soundbar. Unfortunately, the soundbar is 5.35" tall and the TV sits just 1.5" off the base of the stand. So I also ordered some Ikea Lack shelves the correct dimension of the TV base stand, and plan to use as a riser for the TV, with two smaller shelves underneath a wider one to allow a space underneath for cords to pass through.

I don't know much about the upper echelon of the audio-visual experience, but hopefully some audiophiles and videophiles can chime in and elaborate on the ins and outs. The do's, the dont's, etc.

I could learn alot more about Dolby, Atmos, eArc, etc

@JaxonH One piece of advice I'd give is to make sure you don't buy a soundbar that won't fit under your TV

Why did you go for those particular models?

This could be quite an interesting topic as long as it doesn't just turn into a place to brag about how much someone just spent on some new kit.

@dmcc0
Good advice! Advice I didn't consider beforehand. Well, that's not true. I knew the Ambeo was super tall and wouldn't fit. But I thought, "I'll figure it out". Which, I kinda did. Saw custom built wooden risers big enough for soundbar to go underneath but it was like $250. Screw that. Couple $8 and one $20 Ikea shelves will do the job the same.

The LG I chose because it's really the gold standard for OLED. Lot of YT I watch have one, and it had eArc which I needed, and good reviews all around.

The soundbar was because it was the only one that checked all the boxes for my needs. I wanted 5.1 sound, but didn't want to deal with satellite speakers on the walls. That really limits options. I looked at an LG and a Bose and a few others but, they all had drawbacks. Either crap reviews, or no eArc, or required extra subwoofer purchase, etc. The Ambeo was like, all in one. Yes. You could connect an extra sub, and maybe one day I will, but it seems to have pretty good low range built in from what I've read. It also has eArc, it doesn't require any satellite speakers, and it's consistently listed at the top of review lists. Figured why not. May as well go for it. Many of the other models also required a separate subwoofer purchase or extra speaker purchase. Add it all up and it made this all in one seem not as comparatively expensive, especially with 10% off.

I've never been an audiophile. Never been a videophile. This is all new to me. My whole life I've used $500 TVs that were the "bang for buck" models. And just used a headset for sound. But I felt like with the new TV, it was a good time to just go all in and see what it's like having a decent setup for once.

I really need an audio-video 101 course run down. Like, what are all these different audio codecs and advertised technologies and formats, how do you connect a subwoofer and with what kind of cable, how to deal with HDMI splitters that may not allow passthrough, etc.

@Wavey84
Replying here since we now have a thread for this topic.

Black crush was one concern I had, but it seems you can at least counter it a bit with proper calibration. What settings have you found to work best, specifically?

Don't you mean C10? Or is it X?...I dunno, I have a C9, lol. Atmos I don't entirely get, since my 5.1 sound bar has it, I've seena few movies that use it, but I could never tell the difference. But...The Switch...REALLY needs to use Dolby or something, I used surround on my Switch for the older sound bar, but it was a mess getting things set up. My newer sound bar, I can get surround sound working with Switch, but...for whatever reason whenever the audio goes silent for even a SPLIT-SECOND, it's like the audio deactivates and it takes a second or so to start up again, it's really annoying.

I don't know why Nintendo chooses to not use Dolby or something, costs?....License too pricey for them? Despite being a majorly rich company?...

It would be nice to simply use HDMI-ARC to get surround sound out of my Switch, but nope...has to be hooked up directly to the audio system. -.-

@Joeynator3000
C1 is the newer model that replaced the CX. Aside from special VRR mode (variable refresh rate for G sync and Free Sync, which PC and Xbox Series can take advantage of) and eARC with all HDMI 2.1 ports, I think it’s basically the same quality picture as what the C9 or CX offered.

I don’t know much about surround sound on Switch, maybe you can help me. I read Zelda had 5.1 surround at least (it’s not Atmos but it’s still better than stereo), but you’re saying I have to run Switch directly into my soundbar to take advantage? I couldn’t run it into my LG TV, then use eARC from the TV to the sound bar?

I plan on plugging PS5 and PC into the TV, since I want the full HDMI 2.1 and for 4k 120 FPS and VRR, and the soundbar only has 3 HDMI 2.0a ports besides the HDMI 2.1 eARC port. But since Switch and Wii U don’t need HDMI 2.1 I was going to plug those into the soundbar, and have the HDMI Out (same port as eARC) pass through the video to the tv. Does that sound like a reasonable approach or fatally flawed?

Well...
My gaming room is in living room with a 32 inch White SHARP Aquos HDTV, some console machines (PS2 Slim Japan, PS2 Fat USA, PS3 Slim, PS4 Slim, Wii, Wii U, Nintendo Switch), Skylanders portal hooked onto my PS3 Slim, Wii Fit balance board on my sofa when not being used, a coffee table to enjoy my meals while playing video games.

I store my games on my book shelf in my bed room beside my bed. I put the big game boxes from bundle, gaming peripherals (Keyboardmania controller, Pop'n Music controller) on the table in front of my bed.
I put the assembled LABO cardboards on the top of study table shelf (and catch some dust), the Wii motes + Wii Classic Pro controller inside the plastic drawer.
I hide my XBOX 360 games inside the wooden drawer as they are not ready yet to be played due to not having the machine yet.

@JaxonH The way I got surround sound working for me is via HDMI splitter, so the Switch outputs to both the TV and sound bar at the same time. But yeah, ARC won't work, no matter what settings you try on the TV.

@Joeynator3000
I’ll be plugging in directly to soundbar with HDMI out to TV so I should be good for Switch at least.

@Wavey84
That was a gold mine of a post. Thank you. I’ll be sure to reference it when setting up my TV.

While I am becoming more sensitive to audio and video, I’ve never had a problem with even my standard $500 60 Hz LCD 4ktv. And while Plasma/CRT may well truly be superior in some respects, it’s not something I’ve ever noticed or felt was lacking by comparison. So I think I’ll be fine with all that. Black crush, however, that’s part of the price we pay for the OLED experience. I’ll just be happy at least mitigating it somewhat.

Idk if I’d be willing to pay 3 stacks for the tv. Thankfully I got a more regular size so it was half that price, and with $100 off on sale, $450 Amazon gift card credit that seemingly appeared out of nowhere (for the life of me I can’t figure out where it came from, I must have returned some things and forgot about it), $60 in Amazon VISA CC rewards applied and another 5% on the purchase earned, I basically paid $1k out of pocket. Which felt incredibly reasonable all things considered. The soundbar, on the other hand… hooh boy. I feel good about getting $250 off with a new customer promo but still. It was crazy expensive. And adding a sub (which I may yet do) will only add to that. But, I’ve lived 37 years with lower end “bang for buck” technology. For once in my life I would like to experience a decent setup.

I really love the pointer remote for the LG btw. What a great feature.

@JaxonH I don't know why but that never worked for me, it seemed like the older sound bar was having issues outputting video to the TV. As for my newer bar, it wouldn't output at all...I know it said would support 4K, but...I figured it would be fine because the Switch isn't 4K...I don't know...bleh.

Well… Just scored an SVS SB-1000 Pro Subwoofer to augment the Sennheiser Ambeo soundbar. Most feedback says it doesn’t really “need” a subwoofer, as it goes to 30 Hz as is, but this subwoofer goes down to 20 Hz, and can fill in those super deep low sounds as needed. Got it on eBay for $340, only 3 months used and in like new condition. Score! Wasn’t about to drop $900 on a subwoofer. Or even the $500-600 which the SB-1000 Pro costs new. Just not worth it (maybe I’ll feel differently a year from now when I’m a fully indoctrinated audiophile). But for a couple hundo? That I can justify to get the full LEF experience.

I now have everything needed to make a superb audio setup.

@Joeynator3000
Huh.

I’m not sure, but the HDMI out on the soundbar should transmit the video to the tv. Of course it would need to be on the right input and the soundbar on its correct source input. I guess I’ll find out soon enough.

@JaxonH Well if it works for you, then let me know what soundbar it is. Mine have been from Vizio.

@Joeynator3000
Will do..

@Wavey84
All that matters is how it sounds to you, at the end of the day. I'm also in a situation where I can't really take full advantage. But I've also never been one to crank it full tilt either. I just want quality sound with as little effort setting up as possible.

I use an Arctis 9 wireless for Switch because it connects wirelessly to the system and connects to the phone with Bluetooth for Discord chat and mixes the audio. I use an Arctis 1 Wireless for PS5/PC. Obviously neither will rival audiophile headphones but they work well enough, they're wireless and comfy. And sound really good on PS5 with 3D audio, for example.

Maybe one day (not today! Spent enough already) I'll get a nice set of studio quality headphones.

Ya, 55" btw. I sit like 6 feet in front of the TV, so anything bigger just wouldn't make much sense. And ya know, space constraints. Current entertainment stand barely fits a 55. Even my soundbar is going to stick off 2.625" on each end lol. Wanted the size larger when I got it but they were sold out.

Never really considered larger sizes personally. Though I have a mild fascination with The Wall 😉

https://www.samsung.com/us/business/displays/direct-view-led/...

@Wavey84
What do you think of these?

https://www.amazon.com/JVC-EXOFIELD-Personal-Multi-Channel-Su...

The JVC Exofield Home Theater Headphones. They’re pricey at $999 but they seem to be the only wireless headphones I can find that go beyond 5.1 and actually offer Dolby Atmos, using HRTF technology to simulate the sound at various elevations using the frequencies your ear perceives for different altitudes of height.

It’s not perfect. HDMI 2.0 and no Dolby Vision pass-through. But it does have eARC, so plugging all sources into TV with eARC to JVC box seems like it would work great (though I’m not sure how to set it up alongside a soundbar- would be much easier if it was used in place of a soundbar).

Always wondered what it would be like having a theater-sized screen in your room. Maybe one day. xD

Not actually theater-sized, you know what I mean. lol

@Joeynator3000
At the distance you’d be sitting, it may as well be.

The price tag is like… a quarter million dollars or something. Obviously not something any of us will ever have the pleasure of owning (unless there’s a rich Nigerian prince among us), but that thing would be incredible to have in your own house, in a minimalist living room where the entire wall was… well, THE WALL 😉

Makes my new 55” OLED seem like a PC monitor smartphone by comparison haha

@JaxonH Yeah I'd never go THAT big, but something much bigger than 55" could be a maybe for me. Not happening anytime soon since my room is small and I have no idea when I'll be getting a bigger room.

@Joeynator3000
I’ve found 55” to be the perfect size if you sit 6-8 feet away from the tv. In a bigger room where you sit farther back, though, larger sizes would be preferred. 65” at minimum, maybe 75”. I think 85” would be too big though unless you’re sitting way far back. That’s just me though. I like sitting closer and only needing a 55”.

Sound though. Larger room means being able to set up satellite speakers for a true home theater experience. I’d love to have grabbed the Samsung Q950A, for example. But in my current room, buying rear speaker stands and running cords wouldn’t be ideal. I suppose it could be done, but I much prefer pay a bit more and have an all in one that bounces sound off the walls to emulate speakers above, beside and behind.

I feel like there’s really no difference though, small or large room. If you have a larger room and you get a bigger TV it’s not going to seem any better because you’re sitting farther away. The experience I get with 55” at 6’ away is probably similar to what others get with a 75” tv sitting 15’ away. Or something like that.

@JaxonH shrugs I dunno, it's a weird though I've always had. Just having a big room with a massive TV or something. xD

But yeah right now I can't go any bigger than 55", MAYBE I could go with the second bigger option since I use a wall mount, but i think that would be pushing it with space.