12 volt sound bar

Joined
Feb 27, 2022
Posts
52
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Location
Banbridge, UK
Funster No
87,130
MH
Weinsberg carabus
Exp
Since 2021
I would like to add a sound bar to our TV, built in speakers are not good. But I would like a 12 volt sound bar. Has anyone any recommendation please. A web link would be good also
 
If your TV has Bluetooth you can connect it to your van stereo, via an FM transmitter gadget, they're very useful for music, sat nav and phone calls too.
 
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I think the Sharp unit I had before the current one came with a 12v PSU and could therefore run off a regulated 12v supply. No idea who stocks them as I bought ours in Comet. Sound was OK better than those in the TV but lacked a little at the bass end.

I would go into Currys and look at all the sound bars. Should be easy to sort those that use external PSU rather than a mains connector. Then check the voltage, but you.may need to buy a regulated device to ensure that you don't start feed 15V or more.

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We also have the Avtex soundbar and it fastens neatly to the underside of our Avtex TV, if your TV has HDMI ARC connection the soundbar volume is controlled straight from the TV as if it was original (y)
 
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Thank you for all the info, much appreciated. Seems the Avtex is a winner.

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looks and sounds good



avtex.jpg
 
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We also have the avtex sound bar and use the hdmi connector, not sure if that's the best option but it works well for us. We bought some right angled hdmi connectors to streamline the connection at the rear of the soundbar
 
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If you're an audiophile then the Avtex soundbar does have its limitations. However, if you're just looking to get better quality TV sound in a motorhome and the ability to use a Bluetooth connection to stream music then it's great.
 
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We have a small JBL. Charges from the tv via a USB. It has Bluetooth and a 3.5mm jack socket for sound.

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Avtex seems to come well recommended but got to question the price @ £150 ish.

We use an Anker soundcore 2, connected via audio jack (re-charged via USB, as and when needed).

More than fills the space with pretty decent sound for a fraction of the price of Avtex @ £30 ish.

Also works very well paired with phone for streaming radio/music 🎶
 
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I just found this on AliExpress:
£40.93 | Redragon GS560 Adiemus RGB USB Desktop Soundbar, 2.0 Channel Computer Speaker with Dynamic Lighting Bar Audio-Light Sync/Display
 
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I am an keen sound person, but frankly inside a usually odd shaped small box known as a motorhome, is not the place for an audiophile listening experience. Improving the frequency range over the little TV speakers, will make a huge difference, but still not top quality hifi.

Our first van I took away a pair of Celestian bookshelf speakers, an old but still good Arcam Alpha amplifier, CD player etc. It was too much in the van so it all came out. As newbies, I had not considered the payload issues or yet the fact it would only work on hookup. The speakers must have been 8 -10kg each I would have thought and the amp was a chunky. What a chump I was. :rofl:
 
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I am an keen sound person, but frankly inside a usually odd shaped small box known as a motorhome, is not the place for an audiophile listening experience. Improving the frequency range over the little TV speakers, will make a huge difference, but still not top quality hifi.

Our first van I took away a pair of Celestian bookshelf speakers, an old but still good Arcam Alpha amplifier, CD player etc. It was too much in the van so it all came out. As newbies, I had not considered the payload issues or yet the fact it would only work on hookup. The speakers must have been 8 -10kg each I would have thought and the amp was a chunky. What a chump I was. :rofl:
I really can't believe that you left home without the ability the play LPs. A Rega Planer 3 to complement the Arcam? And what is this 'CD' thing you speak about?
 
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I didn't have a Rega. Then it was a Garrard 301 with SME arm. Without the van suspension being locked to stop it moving, plus the sheer size of the thing in a 6m van made no sense.

CD's were much better quality than an iPod.
😁😁
 
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I really can't believe that you left home without the ability the play LPs. A Rega Planer 3 to complement the Arcam? And what is this 'CD' thing you speak about?
I've still got a Rega Planar 3 turntable, an A&R Cambridge (Arcam) A60 amplifier, and a pair of Kef Calista speakers, that admittedly now don't get much use, but I can't bear to let go!
 
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I sold the 301/SME in the latter half of the 2000's. Probably 2008 or thereabouts. From memory I got £750 on eBay.

I now have a Dual deck on the main system and an old Lenco in the study into a Leak Stereo 70 and Celestion 332 Speakers. All still perfectly listenable too. 😲

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My Arcam Alpha, Mission,Pioneer,QED stuff is still packed up in their original boxes in a cupboard upstairs, Packed them all away to redecorate the whole house 20 years ago, never needed them since, as we now use Bose Bluetooth Speakers which can be carried anywhere, plus The Mrs hates "Loud" music!:rolleyes::cry:
The Bose Mini works for us with the hardly used TV as we use the laptop hot spotted to phone or mi fi, but no way reaching Audiophile standard, just good enough.
Plus we don't upset the neighbours, its incredible how even a little "boosted bass" travels outside the van, even one thats well insulated.
LES
 
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The Mrs hates "Loud" music!:rolleyes::cry:
Plus we don't upset the neighbours, its incredible how even a little "boosted bass" travels outside the van, even one thats well insulated.
True hi-fi is not about loudness although many think it is, often quoting the Amp power. You need an amazing with lenty of what is known as headroom, to allow it to come comfortably with transients right across the audible frequency range. It also is massively affected by the performance, power handling and accuracy of the speakers.. A 100W amp will normally sound better across the soundstage than an equivalent 20W device with the exact same accuracy at the same sound level. That's generally because any device increases harmonic distortion the nearer it gets to it's rated power.

It's similar to vehicles that a 3 litre car will climb a hill much easier and less stress on the engine than a 1 litre of the same mass, efficiency and rolling resistance. ( That's never true as weight increases with engine size, but hopefully folks get the picture.

The actual perceived loudness depends on many factors, but nothing moreso than the material being played,, the ears of the listener and their preference in source music. If person a prefers classical music, then they will always say that rock is too loud, but if you measure the sound pressure levels, a crescendo in a full blown orchestral piece, will be much higher in SPL. The reverse of course is also true. I remember marshalling a few years back where I had to deal with a small group of complaining Funsters about one other playing a certain style of music too loud. The truth was they didn't like the music being played, not that it was actually in my hearing, any louder than the TV's running in other nearby vans. By moving the vans around a little, we were able to resolve the matter, and the Funster was able to enjoy his music while not irritating others. Vans as you say are poorly audibly insulated.
 
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We bought this one from Amazon to use in our last ‘van - £23, and much improved the TV sound quality…….
IMG_8543.jpeg

edit: forgot to say that it’s powered by micro usb.
 
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Another vote for the Avtex Soundbar. Good sound, nicely integrated into the controls of the TV and looks nice and tidy under the Avtex TV.

I’ll also add that I had a problem with my Avtex TV in that there was no sound from the DVD when I played one… video was OK but no sound. I rang Avtex even though the TV came with the van and they were superb…

They talked me through a bit of troubleshooting, concluded that there was a problem that needed the TV returning, sent Parcel Force to collect, fixed it at their premises and returned. All done from Thursday when I first contacted them and the TV was returned on Tuesday.

It turned out there was a problem on the mother board which needed replacing which they had never seen before.

Never nice to have a problem on anything new but their customer service couldn’t have been better so they turned a customer with a problem in to a customer who’s happy to sing their praises 😁
 
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