I’ve wanted a soundbar for a couple years now. Every time I look for one, I don’t find anything that meets all my requirements, or I get overwhelmed looking and just give up.

My setup:

  • We have an SBC hooked up to my dumb TV through HDMI. HDMI handles both audio and video for the computer. We never use any other input to the TV, so this is the only audio concern here. This is currently a Radxa Rock 5b, but I’m considering replacing it with an x86 NUC or mini-PC.
  • We have a cheap little record player nearby. This sounds fine but could really stand to have better speakers attached. It has stereo RCA output.

What I want:

  • All sound to be output through one speaker/set of speakers. Ideally it would be a soundbar, since the TV is mounted above a fireplace and we can run the soundbar along the mantle.
  • If the speakers have to toggle between inputs to get sound between the PC and the record player, so be it, but it would be much nicer if the two were mixed. We’ll never have a record playing and have something on the TV, anyways.
  • I’d prefer not to have any extra cables coming from the PC to the speaker. I’m trying to avoid any wires showing, and so I’d like to keep the PC audio through HDMI if possible.

I’d love to know if such a product exists. Please, internet denizens, give me your recommendations if you have any.

  • AndyMFK@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    0·
    2 months ago

    JBL bar series of soundbars are shockingly good for the price. I avoided soundbars for the longest time because I didn’t trust it would be up to my standards but I’m very happy with mine.

    As for your record player, I’m sure you’re probably aware but it’s a very, very low-end record player. Basically toy level. I don’t say this to insult you but so you don’t get your hopes up on records sounding good on it. If you want good audio from records, next on your list should be upgrading to a nice turntable. Audio technica makes cheap turntables that are decent.