With TVs becoming better at audio every passing year, one wonders if soundbars really make sense anymore. But try watching a movie on Amazon Prime on an Android TV, and you will realise no TV is good enough for you to hear the dialogues clearly. But soundbars are not just about hearing better; they are about the better experience of watching movies and listening to music. The Sonodyne Sama 5000 promises a superior experience on both these fronts, given its experience with hi-fi audio.
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The Sonodyne Sama 5000 is a soundbar that goes under your TV, which connects to its compact subwoofer without wires. While the soundbar has controls on top, you can use the remote to take charge of the device. The subwoofer and soundbar link up automatically as soon as you power up both devices, and this is a big plus.
Touch controls on the Sonodyne Sama 5000 let you power up, change modes, and adjust volume with ease. (Image: Nandagopal Rajan/The Indian Express)
The remote is simple and convenient to use. I like how there are just three sound modes—music, movie, and voice. Depending on what you are watching, you can easily change this, and trust me, this feature is very useful when you browse videos on YouTube. Another feature I like is the ability to adjust the subwoofer volume separately using the select button—this is important for those who are touchy about their bass levels. You can cycle between audio sources, too, if you are streaming via Bluetooth from your phone or using a USB drive where you store your songs. There is also the Dolby Atmos button, which brings in an immersive audio experience in one touch.
It takes a second to figure out that your living room audio is suddenly on steroids. Even the BBC newsreader’s voice fills the room, and you know you cannot even think of playing Indian news TV with these powered on. The subwoofer makes a huge difference here. And you can feel it at work as soon as you switch to a movie, so much so that on late nights I had to keep the soundbar off to ensure we didn’t become the topic of discussion in the society WhatsApp group.
Watching Chief of War on Apple TV, I realised the soundtrack had traversed into the realm of the physical… I could feel the room vibrate with the power of the audio objects scattered all around. As Jason Momoa dives into the Pacific Ocean, the depth of the water around him starts exerting its pressure on my ears. This is truly an immersive experience in your living room.
The minimalist remote makes it easy to toggle between sound modes, adjust bass, or activate Dolby Atmos in one click. (Image: Nandagopal Rajan/The Indian Express)
Switching to Bluetooth mode, with music streaming from the phone, this immersive experience finds new layers. With FLAC files, the audio quality is much sharper than it is on the OTT apps. You feel each strum of the guitar, each twang on the mandolin, each beat of the drum… the soundbar projecting music across the room. A number like Amrit Ramnath and Guru Nanak’s Sumiran sounds different when the speakers complement the recording in every possible way. Everything has so much depth and clarity, with space for each channel. I have not experienced this song with so much soul before. It is almost as if there is a cloud of music hovering around where my TV is placed.
What to keep in mind
I could not spot any major negatives with the Sonodyne Sama 5000, other than the fact that you need to be careful about the audio level if staying in an apartment complex like I do. One thing to keep in mind is that the soundbar is a bit taller than some of the latest models I have seen from other brands. So if you plan to keep it in front of the TV, then it could block the TV remote.
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Should you buy?
The Sonodyne Sama 5000 is a complete entertainment hub in the true sense. It can take your TV watching experience to a whole new level while also becoming the primary music destination for everyone at home. Priced at Rs 45,000, this is a great option for those looking to amp up the audio capabilities of their living room.
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