Andy Shaw gets a significant sound boost from an affordable, configurable soundbar
Soundbars provide a significant boost to the often disappointing sound quality you get from many flat-screen TVs. The long and narrow shape is designed to lay in front of your TV without getting in the way of the screen or taking up space around it. However, the new Split Soundbar from Maxell has an extra dimension – an ingenious mechanism that lets you convert it to a pair of upright speakers that can sit either side of your screen, clipped to the supplied speaker stands.
There are three ways to connect the soundbar to your audio source: the supplied lead with standard red and white stereo phono plugs on one end, and a 3.5mm jack on the other, that plugs directly into most TVs; an optical socket (but you’ll need to supply your own cable because there isn’t one included in the box); and, for mobile devices, a Bluetooth connection to stream music or any other audio straight from your phone or tablet.
We tested the speakers by hooking them up to a good-quality low-priced Philips TV. Connecting to the optical output and switching between the TV’s own speakers and the soundbar produced a discernible difference in sound quality. The front-facing speaker had a significantly richer tone than the TV’s own rear-facing speakers, which sounded dull in comparison.
The Bluetooth connection also worked well. A blue light appears when the speakers are in Bluetooth mode, which flashes while it waits for a device to be connected. When we linked an iPad to the soundbar, it played our Spotify playlist perfectly and even let us move between tracks using the remote control.
We also tried the speaker in its split mode, untwisting the two interlocking halves and slotting them into the bases to stand upright. The two bases are cabled together and can only be separated by a couple of metres but it’s a configuration that works very well and the speakers look great either way.
You can turn on the soundbar and switch between its input options from the device itself, but the supplied remote control makes this more accessible. Sadly, it’s one of those cheap, dinky units with raised bubble-style buttons, which feels like a bit of a corner-cutting exercise in an otherwise classy package. However, if you’re happy to spend a few hundred pounds on a TV, then another £109 for a palpable step up in sound quality is a worthwhile investment.
VERDICT
The Maxell Digital Split Soundbar MXSP-TS1000 makes a good, affordable upgrade to the basic speakers you find in cheaper flat-screen TVs. You could spend more and get even better sound, but this is a great speaker for a very attractive price.
SPECIFICATIONS
■ 3.5mm analogue input
■ Digital optical input
■ Bluetooth
■ 40W RMS (20W x 2) total power output
■ 904 x 60 x 60mm