Description
The Samsung is a 2.1-channel soundbar system designed to
bring thrilling cinema sound into your home without the hassle that goes
with a regular 5.1 speaker system. It keeps mess to a minimum in
several ways – firstly, the Blu-ray player, amplifier and decoder are
integrated into the unit, eliminating the need for loads of boxes under
your TV, plus the wireless subwoofer can be placed anywhere in the room
without cables snaking their way along the floor.
Samsung is big on innovative and living room-friendly design, so it
comes as no surprise that the Samsung HT-E8200 looks great – but a
glance at the spec sheet reveals it’s packed with features too. All we
need now is knockout AV performance and we could be looking at a
must-buy…
Samsung Soundbar Design
The soundbar measures 1041mm wide by 96mm high, making it suitable
for TVs between 40 and 46-inches, while its 131mm depth means it won’t
stick out too far when wall mounted. You can also place it on top of
your TV stand by connecting the supplied cradle, which attaches using a
single screw.
The main unit is basically one long black bar, but it’s lifted from
aesthetic mediocrity by the circular middle section where the disc is
housed. This circle pokes out above and below the bar, with each part
decorated by a glinting silver strip. The cool part is that you feed the
disc into a slot at the top, and it slides smoothly inside.
The top edge and back section is covered in a glossy black finish,
while a black mesh runs across the front. Right in the centre is an LED
display that shines through the mesh, spelling out playback commands and
elapsed time in large digits. Along the top is a row of touch-sensitive
controls for all the key functions. It’s a sleek and stylish soundbar
that oozes glamour without going over the top, plus it’s solidly built
to boot.
The
subwoofer is equally easy on the eye. Its gloss-black finish and curved
corners make it look sleek and elegant, although at 290mm wide by 370mm
high it’s fairly big. A single blue light tells you it has paired with
the soundbar, which it does automatically when both are activated.
Samsung Soundbar Connectivity
The soundbar’s rear connectivity is excellent. As well as an HDMI
output, which is v1.4 and therefore supports 3D, you get two HDMI inputs
that allow you to channel other sources through the soundbar. That’s
great news if you only have one HDMI input on your TV, as you can use
the Samsung as a switcher, or you can simply boost sound quality from
games consoles, TV receivers and the like.
The HDMIs are joined by an optical digital audio input, composite
video output, FM antenna socket and an Ethernet port. It’s a decent
selection, but the recess in which they’re housed makes things a little
tight, particularly for the HDMI cable. The recess isn’t quite wide
enough so the wire has to be bent downwards, plus the HDMI plug blocks
the Ethernet port when connected. You’ll get there, but it’s fiddlier
than it should be. On the far edge are a USB port for flash drives and
external HDDs and a 3.5mm minijack input to hook up MP3 players and
other portable audio devices.