4k TV and Soundbar for New HT setup

[David_599]

So I'm redoing the entertainment hub in my living room from the bottom up. Got an HTC vive for Xmas, and that's going to be part of the setup. Basically, I'm going to be building a computer, which connects to the Vive, and the new TV. The system will use a 3.1 or 5.1 soundbar for audio, and the TV will act a a monitor, and maybe also take input from some streaming device like a ROKU (Not sure about this, a new TV might have the same or better functionality than the ROKU). I don't have cable, but I do have a nice fast, wired broadband.

My question is, that I'm having some trouble picking out a TV and soundbar. I'd like to keep the whole setup, TV , soundbar and Computer under $3k, but if I have to go a little higher, that'd be okay. The computer will be running a single 1080 GTX which should handle the 4k screen for gaming, and I know it'll handle the vive beautifully.

My research has pointed me at a Samsung KS8000 either 60" or 55", and going to the store to look at the TV in action suggests that'll it'll look great, but I was also considering the Sony X850D. Both TVs look good in the store, but I have no idea which will look better for watching 4k content, upscaled HD content, or for gaming. If anyone has a recommendation between these two or another altogether (The LG OLEDs are out of my price range).

I've never bought a soundbar before, so I have no idea which'll sound best. If anyone has a recommendation, I'd appreciate that too. Thanks.

Also, if I'm forgetting something in my setup, or doing this the wrong way, i'd love to hear what or why. Thanks.

 

[Wiz33]

Check here for review between the X850D and KS8000, the KS8500 is at a fairly good price of $1099 on Amazon now (lower than the 8000).:

http/www.rtings.com/tv

Size depends a lot of your viewing distance. use this:

http/www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/by-size/size-to-distance-relationship

 

[jsmithepa]

Just a pet-pee of mine, I hate soundbars. On the surface they look handy, one system to take care of audio, easy audio solution for the 1st-timer and/or budget conscious (aren't we all). Problem is, soundbars at limited on hookups, performance, non-scalable.

For example in your diagram, surround information from the Roku box may not be able "passthru" the TV and get to the soundbar. If you are happy with stereo-only, fine.

Further explain: in a traditional AV system, a Receiver or receiver-like box is the system's SWITCHER. All of the playback components (PC, Roku, BluRay, game consoles, cable box etc) are ALL going into this Receiver, these are the INPUTS. Then the Receiver will have 2 main OUTPUTS, the TV and the Speakers. The Receiver takes care of SWITCHING all these input and route them to the visual box (TV), and audio (speakers). You will notice, soundbars, typically, don't have that many inputs, they do, and dare I say, not sufficiently designed as the AV system's SWITCHER, which forces you jury-ridge things with varied results.

I am not telling you to get a Receiver, just be aware of soundbars' limitations.

 

[David_599]

This is a take I hadn't considered. Fortunately, I *have* a receiver, about 4 years old, with HDMI inputs. The speakers I had with that system are largely shot, so I'm still thinking about a simple soundbar. If I have to stick to a simple stereo bar with subwoofer, that's fine with me.

Just a pet-pee of mine, I hate soundbars. On the surface they look handy, one system to take care of audio, easy audio solution for the 1st-timer and/or budget conscious (aren't we all). Problem is, soundbars at limited on hookups, performance, non-scalable.

For example in your diagram, surround information from the Roku box may not be able "passthru" the TV and get to the soundbar. If you are happy with stereo-only, fine.

Further explain: in a traditional AV system, a Receiver or receiver-like box is the system's SWITCHER. All of the playback components (PC, Roku, BluRay, game consoles, cable box etc) are ALL going into this Receiver, these are the INPUTS. Then the Receiver will have 2 main OUTPUTS, the TV and the Speakers. The Receiver takes care of SWITCHING all these input and route them to the visual box (TV), and audio (speakers). You will notice, soundbars, typically, don't have that many inputs, they do, and dare I say, not sufficiently designed as the AV system's SWITCHER, which forces you jury-ridge things with varied results.

I am not telling you to get a Receiver, just be aware of soundbars' limitations.

 

[jsmithepa]

If I have to stick to a simple stereo bar with subwoofer, that's fine with me.

Excellent. We have an understanding.

Last point: Those wireless rear speakers on your diagram... they are often vendor's proprietary. You are not able to purchase just the soundbar first and leave those wireless rears as an option for later. Those rears are often sold as a set, can't buy them separately nor are they compatible with vendor#2's wireless rears.

Other than that, have fun!