Guest blog by Daryl.
Anyone who has invested in a modern LCD panel TV will be familiar with the fact of life that super-slim casings only allow for very small stereo speakers in the slim bezel often behind the screen.
These are very limited in power and in nearly all cases point downwards, not towards you. So, if you are looking for a way to improve the sound on your new, sleek and slimline panel TV and do not have space for a large or complicated system then consider the Bose Solo 5 compact soundbar.
The Solo 5 is a smart matt black unit, able to fit neatly in front of a TV without taking up too much depth on your cabinet. Thanks to its compact size, it manages not to obscure the remote-control eye on most cabinet-mounted set-ups. The power supply has a neat loop moulding which means it can be hung from a spare wall mount socket on the rear of your TV, thus minimising cable tangling.
The Solo 5 has a simple setup with enough input connections to suit a wide range of TV models of varying makes and specifications, including a co-axial digital socket and a 3.5mm stereo jack socket. The recommended method of taking sound from your TV is by the supplied optical cable. When using this input the Solo 5 automatically detects the sound source so all you need to do is switch it on.
The Solo 5 comes supplied with a sophisticated remote control which can be programmed to control a number of devices to switch source and power on and off. The remote is robust with clearly laid out buttons and is sized to stay out of gaps in your sofa cushions.
The Solo 5 has a sound performance which surprises from its compact dimensions. It will not shake your walls with its bass bit it is never lacking even for dance music stations and of course it has the Bose legendary sound quality. It’s this amazing build and sound quality that lets you hear what characters are saying when TV programmes have sound effects and music mixed with speech. Bass is fully adjustable via the remote control but a slight tweak to increase was all I needed. There is a speech enhancement button on the remote although I found speech to be excellent in standard mode. The volume is easily enough for normal room TV viewing.
There are a few discrete LED indicators on the front of the speaker to show some of its functions but nothing too bright or distracting. As a nice bonus, the Solo 5 also has Bluetooth connectivity. This easily and quickly connects to your tablet or mobile smart phone to play your favourite music wirelessly and again with superb Bose sound quality.
The Solo 5 will remember more than one device so you do not have to pair them each time you want to enjoy your music.
The Bose Solo 5 represents great value for its performance and build quality so buy online today, use our Click & Collect to collect in as little as one hour or find your nearest store and ask for a demo.
