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(More customer reviews)I know very little about the technical aspects of sound equipment so this review is aimed at fellow non-techies. The sound on my Samsung LED TV is WOEFUL despite playing around with the sound menu. From the start, the thing vibrated and distorted the sound at certain levels - very annoying, particularly to my border terrier!
I'd been looking around for a sound bar as I didn't want a massive piece of kit, rather something that has a small footprint and was simple to set up. I saw the Samsung HT-WS1G in Best Buy in Union Square, liked the look of it, thought it sounded good in-store when compared to the other models on display and considered the price reasonable ($299). I went home to do some research and, admittedly, was initially put off by the negative reviews. However, I thought would give it a go as I knew I could always return it.
SET-UP
Set up was pretty straight-forward involving an optical lead and a power cable (great for those like me who want to curl up in a ball when they venture round the back of the TV). There was also an audio input cable should you prefer this option. I do, however, think that the instruction manual could have been clearer when it came to linking the wireless subwoofer to the main speaker. I had to go online because following the instructions just wasn't working. I then almost had to pay a minimum of $18 to ask a Samsung expert online how to remedy my problem - pah! No chance.
Fortunately, there were quite a few postings online from people who had had similar problems and it took a guy from Montenegro to clear it up. Very simply, all you had to do was make sure the TV was off while you were setting the subwoofer up. Why they couldn't put this in the instruction manual is beyond me; 5 words "make sure TV is off" - hardly a thesis.
SOUND
Even without the subwoofer, the sound was so much better but when we finally got the sub linked up - wow! My husband and I kept looking at each other and saying "wow, did you hear that?" every time someone slammed a door on the TV. To us, the sound is rich and deep with different modes to choose from (movie, music, news and a neutral setting). I'd read that it wasn't brilliant for filling large rooms with sound; I don't know how large a room these people were talking about but our living area is about 25' x 12' and it really does give the impression of surround sound.
REPORTED NIGGLES vs OUR EXPERIENCE
I'd read that that subwoofer fan hums quite loudly - I haven't had a problem with this as yet; we haven't heard a peep from ours. Nor have I had any interference with our wireless network so I haven't had to change channels. Weirdly, unlike our Samsung TV, its light comes on when it's on stand-by. Some people have said it's enough to be disruptive if you have the speaker in your bedroom but I don't think it's such a big deal. The sub also comes with a kind of foam muffler thingy should the bass be too much but we haven't had to use it - the dog has been eying it, however, so maybe it will have a use after all.
In all, I'm very pleased with the HT-WS1G. I've had some late nights recently just so I can replay all my DVDs with this new-found sound. I'm glad I disregarded the negative reviews. For the price, it's GREAT!
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