Stiftung Warentest takes a close look at 14 high-priced soundbars and soundplates. The test winner costs almost 1000 euros, the most expensive device only performs satisfactorily, but the testers find the cheapest candidate for less than 500 euros good.
The easiest way to spice up the thin sound of most TVs is with soundbars that stand or hang in front of them. Good alternatives are sound plates, on which you place the TV set. Stiftung Warentest listened to 14 of these loudspeaker boxes, which belong to the high-priced segment up to well over 1000 euros. Eight of them deliver a good sound, among them the most expensive, but also the cheapest device.
The test winner comes from Schwäbisch Gmünd and costs an average of almost 1000 euros online. The Soundplate Nubert nuPro AS-3500 deserves an overall grade of 1.9 with a really good sound (2.0), good handling and very low power consumption.
The second-placed LG DSP11RA (2.0) soundbar, which, in addition to a separate bass box, also has two satellite speakers for surround sound, delivers the better sound for 950 euros (1.9). However, it missed out on winning the test - due to the more extensive equipment - due to a higher hunger for energy.
The Nubert nuBox AS-425 max soundbar also got the same overall grade, which sounds almost as good (2.1) as the test winner, but is significantly cheaper with an average price of 700 euros. Otherwise, it offers exactly the same advantages and is even more economical.
The two Samsung soundbars were devalued for their high power consumption. The Samsung HW-Q950A, which costs 1070 euros, only achieved a satisfactory quality rating (2.6) despite the best sound (1.6) with a separate bass box and two satellites and good handling.
The Samsung HW-Q900A (740 euros), which is only equipped with an additional woofer, sounds almost as good (1.7), but is not quite as power-hungry. She still made it onto the podium with an overall grade of 2.1.
However, it has to share third place with the LG DSP8YA soundbar, which is the cheapest of the tested devices at a price of 475 euros and is therefore the clear price-performance winner. With a separate bass box, it delivers a good sound (2.1) and doesn't show any weaknesses when it comes to handling and power consumption.
Its larger sister, the LG DSP9YA, which is more expensive for 750 euros, consumes a little more, but otherwise received the same marks down to the decimal point and the same quality rating of 2.1.
