Most people who made the transition from older Cathode Ray Tube TVs to HDTV have enjoyed the sharp clarity of the images and the vibrancy of the colors to a degree that many thought impossible. HDTV has certainly turned out to be a treat for our eyes. Unfortunately, by virtue of the narrowness (‘thinness’) of the HDTVs, the speakers installed in them are quite narrow and small and, therefore, commonly produce shallow, tinny sound. We TV watchers tend to get used to this inferior sound … until we hear something better. Something better, at a very reasonable price, is the MAXELL Maxsound Soundbar.
Home Theater sound systems can be quite expensive. It is not uncommon for them to cost anywhere from $250 to $2,500. In the real world of “you-often-get-what-you-pay-for,” the more expensive the sound system, the better sound you have cause to believe it will create. Often, that presumption proves to be true – But, not always.
The MAXELL Soundbar, which sits comfortably under your TV (up to 55 pounds,) produces a degree of enhanced volume and bass that turns the HDTV into a perfectly adequate music listening system. Suddenly, the cable channels that broadcast music are actually and finally good for something!
Setting it up is as simple as 1) putting the TV on top of it or placing it on a smooth, hard surface close-by if that is not possible, 2) Connecting the Soundbar to the TV or other device using either the enclosed 3.5mm to 3.5mm or 3.5mm to RCA cables and 3) Connecting the Soundbar’s power cord. The Soundbar includes its own remote control but if installed correctly, this little thing is unnecessary and the volume (and mute) will respond to your usual remote control.
There are two connecting 3.5mm ports, so the Soundbar can be connected to two devices. It has a built-in subwoofer (30 Watts) and two dynamic stereo speakers. These compact speakers are remarkably effective and bring out the fuller sound of music, TV shows and movies you may be watching and listening to. The home HDTV experience is nicely enhanced for the price of a dinner for two.
There is a 2-3 second delay between turning the TV on and the Soundbar kicking in and the amplification is not that of a full-size stereo home theater system. On the other hand, the difference is audibly appreciable and easily worth the $43 – $60 it is currently available for.
The Soundbar can also be used with many small devices bringing room-filling rich sound from your small electronic devices. So long as the device has a 3.5mm (standard) headphone port, it should work just fine. This includes iPads, iPhones and iPods. It is glossy black with black speaker-cover cloth across the front surface. It looks great. It’s physical dimensions are 23 x 2 x 8.5 inches.
MAXELL has earned a good reputation for the reliability of its products. I expect that this Soundbar will be another of their technological achievements geared to the average home consumer.
