For many moviegoers, a Dolby Atmos soundbar will provide everything they need to experience the latest movies on TV with a level of audio realism that their built-in speakers could never deliver. What if you also wanted to listen to music? The best soundbars excel at movie sound, but some listeners may be disappointed when it comes to playing music on the bar itself.
The reasons for this are many, but it mostly boils down to a soundbar having to pack the speakers used to transmit left, right and center channel information (and in some cases surround channels as well). and tall) in a slim format. and compact body. , all-in-one unit. The best designs strive to reproduce stereo music with a high degree of clarity, but the main task of most soundbars is usually to deliver maximum impact with movie soundtracks.
Fortunately for music fans, a new wave of fully powered stereo speakers suitable for television has recently advanced. We've seen these models come from major speaker companies like KEF, Dynaudio and SVS, and now we can add Elac to that list.
While the KEF and Dynaudio offerings are pricey models with built-in Wi-Fi for wireless lossless audio streaming from Tidal, Apple Music and other services, Elac's new Debut ConneX powered speakers ($600 / €600 / AU$ 900) rely on aptX Bluetooth for wireless music streaming. But Bluetooth is only part of the Debut ConneX story. Like the other models I mentioned, Elac's latest speakers feature an HDMI ARC input, which allows you to connect them to your TV for greatly enhanced movie sound, but without Dolby height effects.
Coming from a regular speaker company, the Debut ConneX is designed in the same way as the best stereo speakers. It uses a 0,75-inch soft dome tweeter and a 4,5-inch polypropylene woofer, both powered by a 2 x 50-watt integrated amplifier. The rear ports are used to boost low-end output, and here they're aided by a proprietary XBass bass enhancement circuit.
Unsurprisingly for a speaker with ConneX in its name, there are plenty of connection options beyond HDMI ARC and aptX Bluetooth. There is a PC USB port that supports signals up to 24bit/96kHz, as well as an optical digital audio jack and a phono preamp input for direct connection to the turntable. A subwoofer output is provided for connecting an external subwoofer for extended bass, and the rear panel speaker terminals on the main Debut ConneX (the one containing the amplifiers and input connections) are used to connect it to the satellite unit via of the included cable.
The Debut ConneX is now available in three finish options: Black, Walnut and Royal Blue.
Review: Powered speakers with HDMI are the new soundbars
Fully loaded Dolby Atmos speaker systems with one of the best AV receivers provide quick access to premium home theater sound, but not everyone has the space for that option or the money to go for it. With their compact size and generally impressive handling of movie soundtracks, soundbars are a solid, affordable alternative that makes them an easy recommendation.
But as good as soundbars sound, you really need to use one of the more capable models to get decent results for stereo music playback. Unsurprisingly, this is one area where traditional hi-fi speakers can work their magic, delivering music with clear channel separation, uncompressed dynamics, and a sense of transparency that makes you believe the musicians are in the room with you. .
For those looking for the above qualities when listening to music but also want to watch movies and TV on the same system, speakers with HDMI technology are another easy recommendation. Yes, they are not a replacement for a full Dolby Atmos home theater setup, nor are they designed to be. But with prices starting at $600 / £600 / A$900 for Elac's Debut ConneX, it's a sensible and flexible choice, which can bring you the best of the world of music and film.