Question Correct soundbar for Hisense TV

[oldtimer114]

I have a Hisense model 43A4GV TV that I would like to get a soundbar for. However, the question of connections has come up. The TV has an Optical Audio port (Is this the same as an OPT port?), an HDMI ARC port and a USB1 port. However the manual only mentions the Optical Audio as available for external audio. But it has an ARC port (HDMI 1) as well as a regular HDMI port (HDMI 2). The manual also says the TV has a 3.5mm earphone jack. But I'll be darned if I can find it.
Using only the Optical Audio port severely limits the number of soundbars available to choose from. If I can use the ARC port, that greatly increases my choices.
And what the heck is the USB1 port for? Can you even drive a quality soundbar thru USB1 ?
Hisense offers soundbars but I understand their sound quality is not good for their price range. I'm pretty sure I can do better for the same money.

 

[COLGeek]

Page 7 of the manual will describe what the USB port is used for (not sound playback).

https://assets.hisense-canada.com/assets/ProductDownloads/293/3291633e59/A4GV_UserManual_English.pdf

Optical is actually quite good, as is ARC. With a previous Samsung soundbar I had, I had fewer audio synch issues with optical.

What is your budget?

 

[oldtimer114]

Really? You've had synch issues with any sort of direct connection? Guess I'll have to watch for that.
I thinking my budget is in the $100 to $300 range. I can't imagine anything in the sub $100 would be an improvement in the TV's speakers. I looked at a $50 bar on Amazon and it had all the controls built into one rocker button. No thank you! That's just beggin' to break. And over $300 is really out of my affordable price.
I don't know if I really need a subwoofer or not. I don't stream that much music thru the TV. Got an old, but very good Marantz analog stereo system for that. What I do listen to on the TV are the free web radio apps found on Roku.

 

[COLGeek]

For your consideration:

https://www.amazon.com/Bose-Speaker-Soundbar-Bluetooth-connectivity/dp/B088KRPCQJ

https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Soundbar-Subwoofer-Surround-Expansion/dp/B0DY1Z934F

https://www.amazon.com/SAMSUNG-HW-C450-Subwoofer-Bluetooth-Compatible/dp/B0BVWFZC7L

 

[karenkonczyk]

I have a Hisense model 43A4GV TV that I would like to get a soundbar for. However, the question of connections has come up. The TV has an Optical Audio port (Is this the same as an OPT port?), an HDMI ARC port and a USB1 port. However the manual only mentions the Optical Audio as available for external audio. But it has an ARC port (HDMI 1) as well as a regular HDMI port (HDMI 2). The manual also says the TV has a 3.5mm earphone jack. But I'll be darned if I can find it.
Using only the Optical Audio port severely limits the number of soundbars available to choose from. If I can use the ARC port, that greatly increases my choices.
And what the heck is the USB1 port for? Can you even drive a quality soundbar thru USB1 ?
Hisense offers soundbars but I understand their sound quality is not good for their price range. I'm pretty sure I can do better for the same money.

I just saw this while looking around.. I have a Boso Sono 5 sound bar. It's the cheapest Bose. $200.00 although cheaper now. Bought from QVC for 5 easy payments. ☺️ It's an optical connection and I love it! I Googled a lot of settings to see what should be on or off, what to select, and it sounds great.
One of the inputs in the back of mine and many are for updates. I have to go to the Bose website, insert a flash drive, and download the update, then insert the flash drive into the back of the sound bar...
I have to say the the Bose soundbar isn't great for music.