BlueAnt XT100 Soundbar review – Delivering big without draining your wallet

My dad and mom — Fran and Pete, for these wanting names — are retired, doing the gray nomad factor and dwelling a relaxed life-style, though they declare they’re busier now than once they had been working. So there are a couple of luxuries which have crept into day by day life that wasn’t there once I was rising up like broadband and an unlimited TV.

It appeared a little bit odd to me that they’ve this 82-inch monster in the lounge with out a soundbar to enhance it. After I urged they take heed to the BlueAnt XT100 there wasn’t a large amount of resistance, maybe extra curiosity at what it might add to the viewing expertise.

Their leisure house is fairly fundamental by some requirements with the TV, a Chromecast, a Blu-ray participant and a Wii “for the children”.

Setup in minutes

My of us aren’t technophobic by any stretch, however being the dutiful son I’m; I kindly set it up for them. It took 9 minutes, together with taking a couple of pictures for this evaluate. The toughest factor was discovering an empty energy socket, and that’s extra a mirrored image on the cabling behind Mum and Dad’s TV than the soundbar. It’s merely a case of feeding your inputs into the XT100 and the HDMI output from the soundbar to your chosen display screen enter, and also you’re away.

We coated the specs when the XT100 was launched, and whereas they’re fairly fundamental, it additionally packs fairly a punch at 2 x 50W RMS. It’s additionally Dolby Atmos 1.7 and Dolby Imaginative and prescient compliant.

The bodily enter and output layouts are actually easy. On the again of the sound bar, you’ve received:

• 2 x HDMI inputs
• HDMI eARC
• Optical, coaxial and USB enter for audio playback
• AUX line in
• Bluetooth 5.1 for simple streaming of your favorite music

The Distant is absolutely easy to make use of too, providing energy, quantity, EQ and enter modifications simply.

It’s a fairly understated design that can match into most house dwelling areas. In full honesty, this isn’t one thing I might see somebody with disposable earnings searching down, however somebody in search of an in improved viewing expertise, even perhaps with restricted house.

So, how does it sound?

The XT100, as talked about, is fairly comprehensible with solely fundamental visible indicators and a easy black end. That design does converse volumes — punny, proper? — in regards to the unit, as a result of it simply delivered with out fuss.

The audio is superb, with out going to the extent and value of another choices available on the market. The XT100 is a $349.00 outlay which is essential to remember with a few of the feedback to comply with.

After solely a few days, the suggestions was typically fairly constructive. Mum stated the sound was a lot extra immersive and, significantly with some listening to difficulties, it made watching TV far simpler and extra pleasurable for her. Dad was impressed on the depth of sound and the way it improves the listening expertise throughout all media.

After all, that is compared to the remaining firing audio system constructed into the tv, which aren’t unhealthy, they simply aren’t nice and don’t provide that full depth of sound. From discussing it with my dad and mom, the phrase you don’t know what you’re lacking out on till somebody exhibits you involves thoughts.

Whether or not it’s including a brand new ingredient to your viewing, or just streaming music to it from a Bluetooth-connected gadget, the BlueAnt XT100 is a superb worth proposition. You’ll be able to spend twice the value, or extra on a soundbar and when you’ll get higher sound, not see the identical worth.

The sound high quality, as we’ve seen persistently from BlueAnt, could be very stable. You’re getting a crisp and clear excessive register, clear mid-range (essential for films and TV, as that is the place vocal tracks come by way of) and surprisingly good bass to essentially carry by way of your leisure house.

Switching between the pre-set equalizer modes: Films, Video games, Voice and Music is so simple as pushing a button. Every has its personal traits that can change the scale of what you’re doing, so have a play with them to see what you want. Personally, I discover the Films EQ too bass drive for music listening because it turns into overwhelming and detracts from the music.

For those who’re in search of encompass sound, you’re most likely (or needing to) spend at the very least twice this a lot to get rear channels and a sub for a very immersive sound. So as compared, this may occasionally appear a bit underpowered however I guarantee you that 2 x 50W RMS is loads of energy to fill a good sized room.

Must you purchase one?

The brief reply is, in the event you’re available in the market for an incredible worth soundbar with out breaking the financial institution, this needs to be in your checklist to take a look at, however the remaining shopping for choice is yours.

At $349.00, the XT100 from BlueAnt isn’t the most affordable and is much from the most costly soundbar available on the market. What it presents is a superb expertise for the consumer from setting it up in minutes to a day by day enchancment in your viewing and listening. The worth tag actually does make this enticing when you think about the options you’re getting.

For those who’re in search of one thing with a heap of bells and whistles, this isn’t it. For those who’re in search of an enormous step up from the essential sound of your TV or a stepping stone to the next stage of sound, then I’d fortunately advocate the BlueAnt XT100 – Maybe extra importantly, as a key demographic of the goal market, so would my dad and mom.

Mum right here. Because of the dutiful son for connecting this very user-friendly merchandise. That stated, I’m assured I might have finished it anyway. We’ve made a degree of watching a wide range of programming and streaming and have discovered the soundbar has added to the enjoyment. Motion films are extra gripping, music is drastically enhanced (pop, rock, classical and jazz). I’m a fan of documentaries too and a few have develop into extra personalised – like speaking to a good friend. After which, in fact, there’s motor racing. We’re a household of rev heads and the latest Bathurst 1000 got here proper into the lounge.

Would we now have gone out in search of such an merchandise? Most likely not, however wouldn’t be with out it now. For worth, ease of use and outcomes, we’d fortunately advocate the Blue Ant sound bar.

If it’s sounding like one thing you’d prefer to seize, then your native Telstra retailer or the BlueAnt web site are the locations to go and decide one up.