The soundbar is a fairly genius product idea, providing most of the advantages of a full-fledged dwelling theatre system whereas avoiding the problems of putting in a multi-speaker setup. Nevertheless, soundbars may be reasonably costly, typically costing as a lot or much more than the televisions folks need to use them with. Price range soundbars do exist, however choices such because the Mi Soundbar are maybe too fundamental, and should not supply a big enchancment in sound over your TV’s in-built audio system.
There is a vital hole right here, with the finances soundbar house dominated by small manufacturers providing merchandise which are actually simply giant audio system. Recognising this hole, Realme just lately launched its first soundbar in India. Priced at Rs. 6,999, the Realme 100W Soundbar has, because the identify states, a rated sound output of 100W, with a devoted subwoofer to go together with the bar. Is that this finances choice definitely worth the worth? Discover out in our assessment.
The Realme 100W Soundbar is accessible in only one color – black
Realme 100W Soundbar design and specs
Whereas there are a lot of choices within the finances soundbar section, The Realme 100W Soundbar stands out for one massive cause: it has a devoted subwoofer. It is a easy wired unit, which plugs into the primary bar and attracts energy instantly from it. Which means whilst you’ll must take care of some limitations in positioning and set up, you do not want a separate energy outlet for the subwoofer, as is the case with soundbars which have wi-fi subwoofers.
The Realme soundbar additionally has a considerably greater rated energy output than what most inexpensive televisions today supply. In case your tv places out round 20-30W of sound, the Realme 100W Soundbar will supply a big quantity enhance with its 100W ranking. It is value declaring right here that the bar itself has a rated output of 60W, whereas the subwoofer accounts for the opposite 40W, so it is not fairly as loud (even on paper) because the quantity may need you imagine. The bar unit consists of two full-range drivers and two tweeters.
From a distance, the Realme Soundbar seems to be easy and unassuming, however there are some components that come throughout as a bit unusual. The indicator lights that shine by means of the steel entrance grille of the bar speaker are reasonably obvious and distracting, and the colors and codes do not intuitively let you know something value figuring out. The buttons additionally really feel a bit flimsy and cheesy. The machine is accessible solely in black for now.
I had the Realme 100W Soundbar positioned on a desk with the subwoofer on the ground proper subsequent to it, however you do have the choice to wall-mount the bar utilizing the grooves to repair it onto hooks. Set up is not included with the acquisition, so that is one thing you will must get accomplished your self. Should you’re inserting the bar on a desk, you will simply must plug the elements in.
The distant has buttons to rapidly change between sources, aside from controlling the quantity and energy
The distant of the Realme 100W Soundbar feels a bit cheesy as properly, nevertheless it’s solely purposeful and fairly helpful. There are particular person supply buttons, audio mode choice buttons, and fundamental controls for quantity and playback as properly. The distant is powered by two AAA batteries, that are included within the field. After all, you possibly can simply use the buttons on the bar speaker itself if you happen to favor.
Connectivity choices on the Realme 100W Soundbar are spectacular for a finances choice, with the machine supporting HDMI ARC, coaxial S/PDIF, optical Toslink, USB, a 3.5mm stereo jack, and Bluetooth 5. Included within the gross sales package deal are HDMI and coaxial cables, that are helpful and a pleasing shock given the worth of the soundbar. Setup is straightforward sufficient; you simply want to modify to the proper supply to make use of the soundbar, and Bluetooth pairing was simple as properly.
What I discovered fairly bothersome have been the voice prompts from the Realme soundbar. Each time the machine is powered on or off, or switched between sources, a loud voice immediate publicizes the standing or supply identify. This was unpleasantly loud, particularly when watching TV at night time, and usually annoying even at different instances. There is not any solution to change this intrusive characteristic off, so you will simply must get used to it if you happen to purchase the Realme 100W Soundbar.
The buttons on the Realme 100W Soundbar look a bit cheesy
Realme 100W Soundbar efficiency
Whereas ultra-budget choices such because the Mi Soundbar do not supply rather more than a slight quantity enhance, Realme’s entry into the section is an inexpensive choice that gives vital advantages over your tv’s in-built audio. The Realme 100W Soundbar is loud, and affords a sound that’s rather more cinematic and full than what most inexpensive televisions can produce.
I often advocate soundbars based mostly on the tv they are going to be used with, and the Realme 100W Soundbar is finest paired with any entry-level tv. I used it with a few 55-inch 4K TVs that I had for assessment alongside, however this soundbar can be ideally used with televisions as much as 43 inches in display screen dimension based mostly on its dimensions and rated sound output, aside from the worth itself. Loads of connectivity choices means any lack of ports or options on a selected TV should not hamper your potential to plug the soundbar in.
The lights on the entrance are fairly distracting and obvious, and do not let you know something notably helpful both
Whereas I used HDMI ARC on one of many TVs I used to be reviewing, the second was lacking HDMI ARC in addition to a coaxial audio output. I needed to due to this fact depend on an Optical Toslink cable I had at dwelling, however this was simple to arrange as properly. I used the Realme soundbar with quite a lot of content material, together with films, TV reveals, and youngsters’s cartoons. Whereas the quantity was often turned all the way down to cheap ranges with the latter two kinds of content material, I bumped it up whereas watching The Midnight Sky on Netflix.
With the quantity up, the Realme 100W Soundbar did a good job of capturing the sombre temper of the film, notably the rumbling lows of the equipment at each the arctic analysis station and within the spacecraft. A whole lot of this may be credited to the subwoofer, which whereas small and slim, is sort of spectacular. Though it sometimes felt a bit a lot, the system often obtained the degrees proper throughout the frequency vary.
I additionally discovered the mid-range tuning to be first rate. Dialogue and voices have been clear, sharp, and loud sufficient to not be drowned out by the highly effective low-end. The amount bump and skill to deal with these loud volumes capably and with out a lot distortion or wrestle is the defining attribute of the Realme 100W Soundbar, and that is precisely what can be anticipated from a tool on this worth vary.
With music, notably background scores in films and TV reveals, the Realme 100W Soundbar does an affordable job with out overwhelming the dialogue and core sound results. At low volumes throughout content material, the soundbar did not ship sound high quality past what the televisions it was used with may handle on their very own, however the sound did really feel a bit clearer with dialogue and vocals in music. The huge positioning of the drivers does assist make for a good soundstage, though it’s miles from the standard and spaciousness you’d get with dearer choices such because the evergreen JBL SB250.
With music, which I performed utilizing Bluetooth from an Android smartphone, the soundbar was first rate as properly. As soon as once more, the defining traits within the sound have been the power to deal with louder volumes, in addition to the huge soundstage. Though the tuning is not best for music, the Realme soundbar works for infrequent listening at dwelling if you wish to bump up the quantity a bit.
The wired subwoofer attracts energy instantly from the primary bar speaker
Verdict
Like a lot of Realme’s first makes an attempt at new product segments, the Realme 100W Soundbar is basically a superb product that deserves a bit extra recognition. It is cheap, well-equipped, and affords precisely what you’d anticipate from a finances soundbar: loud, clear sound.
That mentioned, there are some areas during which the Realme 100W Soundbar fell a bit quick. The design was a bit odd in locations, the voice prompts by no means failed to harass me, and efficiency at low volumes was barely any completely different from simply utilizing the audio system on any TV. Nevertheless, at Rs. 6,999, these are comparatively minor quirks which are greater than made up for by good tuning and efficiency at greater volumes.
All in all, for Rs. 6,999, it is a soundbar value contemplating. There is not a lot competitors to the Realme 100W Soundbar at this worth, nevertheless it could be value taking a look at entry-level choices from manufacturers akin to Philips, JBL, and Blaupunkt, if you happen to can bump your finances as much as round Rs. 10,000.
Is Realme TV the very best TV beneath Rs. 15,000 in India? We mentioned this on Orbital, our weekly know-how podcast, which you’ll be able to subscribe to by way of Apple Podcasts or RSS, obtain the episode, or simply hit the play button beneath.
