But now they want to offer a classic soundbar again, a solution that delivers the best possible TV sound with the least possible effort, and with the Dali KATCH One they present a solution that is one of the most compact and elegant in its field, yet promises fine sound. Building on the findings of the Dali KATCH… Unfortunately, our Installation Service excludes all gas appliances. It is the customer’s responsibility to find a gas safe engineer to connect the appliance. Any work conducted by a third part gas safe engineer will be at the customer’s expense and we will not accept any liability for their work. CA1, CA2, CA3, CA4, CA5, CA6, CA7, CA8, CA9, CA10, CA11, CA12, CA13, CA14, CA15, CA16, CA17, CA18, CA19, CA20, CA21, CA22, CA23, CA24, CA25, CA26, CA27, CA28. If you want to bring a subwoofer into the game, although – let’s face it – it is not necessary, you can do this via a cinch connection.

Control buttons with LED indicators are located on the soundbar's top edge and include input selection, Bluetooth (the higher-quality aptX variant is supported), power/mute, volume, and sound mode selection. The Katch One has two DSP sound modes: Wide and Focus. As you would expect, Wide broadens the stereo image even further to extend well beyond the edges of the two-channel bar. Focus enhances mid-range frequencies to increase voice clarity and is better suited for dialogue-driven programs such as news or talk shows.

THE VERDICT

The four large passive drivers work in unison with the four active woofers to help deliver surprising bass performance for the perfect movie experience. With the power to deliver the audio pressure needed even in bigger living rooms. Should the room demand even more bass performance, a subwoofer can extend the deep bass even further. You're transported to the heart of the action. Surround effects are expertly placed and there's great dynamism and good weight to the sound too. Tonally, it's nicely balanced if you just want to listen to music, although it could sound a tiny bit more direct. But, there's no doubt this is a hugely impressive Dolby Atmos soundbar for the money. The Kubik One has a crisp, biting tone without going overboard, so you can happily listen at loud volumes without wincing as cars get smashed into pieces. The soundstage is laden with detail but it’s not too clinical or forced, resulting in a natural and absorbing sound. The first setting offers a focused and very linear audio reproduction that serves to draw out the often elusive mid-range frequency area.

Size is also a key aspect when it comes to choosing the right soundbar. It may seem basic, but it’s easy to overlook – make sure the soundbar fits wherever you plan to put it.Against the likes of the usual go-to options at this price point (like the oft-mentioned Sonos Beam Gen 2), the Samsung HW-S60B is more of a niche choice, but one with a few key draws. Support for DTS:X, for example, will be welcomed by those with a penchant for physical media. Its wider support in gaming is also something to consider if your console or PC is hooked up to your TV.

Squeezing multi-room smarts into a compact bar, the Ray is a tempting accessory for owners of other Sonos speakers. Bearing the usual hallmarks and styling cues of Sonos kit, the Ray’s premium build belies its relatively accessible price tag. Typically soundbars are a single long speaker with several drivers inside, but some come with external subwoofers for extra low-end extension and rear speakers for surround sound effects. Some Atmos soundbars even have upward-firing drivers on the satellite speakers. If floor-shaking bass and encompassing sound are high on your priority list, then these are models you'll want to consider. At the rear of the bar there are two further aluminium mid/bass drivers and two more passive radiators. The six drivers that need power are treated to a total of 200 Class D watts. The DALI KATCH ONE soundbar combines superior audio reproduction with a fresh appealing look. Experience movies, music and gaming like you’ve never heard them before. Take your home entertainment to a new level with DALI KATCH ONE, our first dedicated TV soundbar. GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR TV However, this is a speaker with practicality and affordability in mind. Its ultra-compact dimensions, tapered build and forward-facing speakers mean it takes up little space and removes any need for a clear line of sight for upward- and side-firing drivers, making it a practical choice for small rooms and even desktops.The size of the soundbar is primarily down to the larger-than-enough drivers Sennheiser has managed to fit in, and the result is a sound big enough not to need its own subwoofer, with clear, direct dialogue and detail and subtlety in spades. The way it stretches the sound around you creates a great atmosphere and really draws you into the action.As we note in our review: "While some soundbars with external subwoofers go deeper, the bass here is delivered with weighty gusto and seamless integration. This is what helps the Sennheiser achieve the sort of effortless, natural tonality and texture that most rivals can’t begin to match." But the best thing about the Ambeo Max's sound? How little attention it draws; "there's none of the beamy, nasal harshness found in many other soundbars and on the whole, the processing is natural and convincing." Let us begin with the installation of Dali KATCH one. As described, there are three variants available here, whereby we personally particularly like the assembly via the leather loops. No other manufacturer offers this, and it is indeed an absolutely ingenious eye-catcher. But also the installation directly on a lowboard or sideboard by means of the wooden feet is – with respect – ingenious. No manufacturer has yet come up with this clever idea, but it is precisely these details that make a solution something extraordinary. Drivers 4x 50W Class-D amplifiers, 4x 11.5cm passive drivers, 4x 9cm low-frequency drivers, 2x 21mm tweeters While genuine overhead sounds are perhaps a stretch too far for this petite performer, its virtual delivery of the Atmos format outstrips any similarly priced soundbar and even a few that are more expensive. The Beam Gen 2 offers an enveloping, spatial soundscape with rich, detailed audio as well as tangible motion and depth. As we found when reviewing the latest Beam, "the soundstage is expansive and we try pairing the new Beam both with larger 55-inch and 65-inch screens, as well as a more modest 43-incher, and it enhances the cinematic scale and viewing experience for all three".

By using a specially designed chassis, an inverted membrane and spider suspension, this shallow woofer has the same top excursion as a similar sized traditional woofer. The internal depth is turned into true low-frequency reproduction generating bass with as little help from the DSP as possible. The outward turned aluminium membrane cone is constructed with a soft fabric dust cap and allows the woofer superior air flow even at mid-range frequencies while lowering surface resonances, and retaining detail and clarity. Performance So we go out as we came in, by asking ‘what do you want a soundbar for?’. If you’re trying to combine performance, style and ease of use without getting carried away in a financial sense, you should hear (and see) the DALI Katch One. You should buy the DALI Katch One if…Featuring a chic, compact design, the wall-mounted leather strap truly completes the look and feel of the KATCH ONE. This solution elegantly hides the cables running from the TV to the KATCH ONE, keeping everything tidy, while the fabric front’s excellent acoustic properties ensure no audio detail is lost. Still, if you want to hear an Atmos-enabled ‘bar at its best, try the Arc. The soundstage is wide and spacious, with every element given plenty of breathing space. Detail levels are high, and it does an impressive job with the ‘height’ that’s such a crucial part of the Dolby Atmos effect.