Value for Money | Ease of use | Quality of build | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
Five stars as the highest and one as the lowest, it is rated as such since the price is worth for everything the product offers. | The box comes with a manual that contains instructions which are easy to understand and follow that you could also download from their website. | The total build is excellent, though the remote control doesn't fit its stylish appearance. | It lacks some features that a heavy music listener like me is after. |
What I like
What I don’t like
Before we spend a dime on something, we make sure it satisfies our hopes. We like to gain the worth of our hard-earned money, more so for a gadget or electronics that are not necessary to survive. But then again, according to an adage, "Money can't buy happiness." And yet watching movies and listening to music makes us happy.
And happiness is an element of survival. Thus, spending more than a hundred bucks for entertainment certainly doesn’t hurt. But it doesn’t also mean that you are going to fritter away your penny.
I gave a perfect rating when it comes to the value of money because indeed, the price is worth the product. It is fair for everything it renders, or perhaps a little bit more. When you unbox it, a sophisticated of a soundbar surprises you, along with a slim subwoofer, plus a manual. It is space friendly so you could place it anywhere near the TV, and makes a beautiful piece of decoration too. Set up is easy. All you need to do is to follow the comprehensible instructions, and you're ready to indulge!
Previously, some of the weaknesses were already talked about. The greatest one is the quality of the bass. According to its website, it promises to produce satisfying bass audio. If you are the type of person who is extra specific about the depth and pitch, then you would agree with me. Since I am a bass lover, I am quite frustrated about it.
When connected to a television, its effect fails to fulfill my expectations. Surprisingly though, it performs well when paired with a mobile phone, bass-wise, that is. So, you could sing with it to the top of your lungs.
Another issue is its Bluetooth connectivity. There are times when it becomes unstable that the function stops and your listening pleasure is intervened, which is a bit tedious. So setting the devices closer to each other may resolve the problem. Funny, the small remote control caught my attention. It is poorly designed but after all, why in the world would you care about such a tiny thing if it does its job perfectly? I pressed the button here and there, and it worked fine.
What Is JBL Cinema SB150?
Gone are those days when we relied on the built-in speakers of our television or radio when we wanted to watch movies or listen to music, respectively. They are generally good enough, but if we candidly wish more entertainment, then they're worthy of an investment.
Before long, people in the past used dynamic loudspeakers for some time, which usually looked like a cone. Until the rapid evolution of speakers throughout the years.
Hail to the king! The birth of the soundbar has come. It sounds like a good investment for home entertainment.
But what is it?
A Soundbar is a kind of speakers that produce a high-quality sound when connected to another device such as TV, mobile phone or a tablet. It doesn't require much space, unlike the surround speakers and is less expensive too. Different manufacturers guarantee different pros and cons that lure users to jump into buying them right away.
So what is JBL Cinema SB150? It is a soundbar from Harman. It offers its distinct strengths and weaknesses. It aims to deliver a high-quality sound to match your upgraded HD television. Since the release of the product, users have flocked into the online market because of its enticing features. Many were amazed and satisfied. And some were disappointed. As they say, “you cannot please everybody”.
The brand promises a cinema atmosphere in your living room. You can now watch your favorite movies at the comfort of your home without the inconvenience of taking a shower and dressing up nicely to go to the theater. Whether you prefer a plain or cheese flavored popcorn, everything feels like you are in the cinemas.
If you love to have a little party with your friends on the weekend and feel like dancing your ass off with Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies” with a disco mood, then this is for you. If you have a playlist on your mobile phone, iPad, or tablet, all you have to do is connect it via Bluetooth.
The manufacturer hasn’t released any updates about it yet since its launching. Perhaps they are on their way to a bigger surprise about this product that offers an impressive innovation. I'm crossing my fingers for that!
Who is it for?
You are asked about it every time, everywhere. After the “HI’s” and “hellos” at a party, they tend to ask you, “So what are your hobbies?”
People differ in interests. Many people call themselves artists as they love drawing and painting, and some are passionate about singing or dancing. Most of my friends raise their brows when I tell them I love climbing the mountain. Furthermore, many people like to hang out in their living room in their pajamas having a movie marathon. They thought it's also a way to make the family members sit down together for a while in one place.
So if you are one of those from the latest category mentioned, then start saving for it now. Sure, anybody who wants to enjoy its perks can have it. Besides, I barely know somebody who never watched a single movie throughout his/her entire life, or listened to a song at least.
Consumers usually ask themselves before buying, “is it worth it”?
If you are searching for a budget-friendly sound bar, look no more! According to the ‘Common law of business balance”, you get what you paid for, inclusive of its imperfections. Amazingly, this product is more than that. However, if you intend to buy a more luxurious set with superb features, alas this is not what you’re looking for.
Moreover, if you have a minimal entertainment area, this is the answer to your prayer. Yes, you can save space because of its compact and slim built. And installation is easy. There are only a few cables to connect since this product aims for wireless connectivity.
What’s inside the box?
So, your package has arrived. It is time to unbox it. What should be inside?
Make sure to check every part of it is present. Firstly, the JBL Cinema SB150 has a gross weight of 8kg and a 2.1 stereo sound. It should have the following:
Overview Of Features
The JBL Cinema SB150 has a frequency response of 45 Hz-20 kHz and a maximum SPL96dB.
Whereas, the soundbar has a power of 50 watts. It is compact weighing 1.5 kg, which has a length of 31.5", a width of 3.5" and a height of 2.5". It is wide more than tall, which is how a typical soundbar look.
Another part is the subwoofer that weighs 4.2 kg which promises to produce a powerful bass effect. It has a dimension of 4.7" x 11.8" x 16.1" (L x W x H). It can be controlled for a preferred volume. If you’re up to a calm and sedate mood, then pressing it for a lower sound is the key. What's nice about it is it connects to the sound bar without cables. That is right! They can be connected with each other without a hanging annoying cable wire. Unfortunately, when you position both far from each other, there are glitches. There are immediate cuts which may be due to the Bluetooth capabilities.
Bluetooth connectivity to other devices such as mobile phones, iPad, and tablets is also one of the most significant features of it. It was already mentioned above that it has issues, but the manual teaches some troubleshooting solutions to any problems related to the product.
Another exciting thing about it is the equalizer. It has three modes which are, "News," "Music" and "Movies" that you could control on the remote, as well.
A tiny remote control should be found inside. Yes! A pretty little thing that’s easy to misplace and lose if you're one abstracted of a person. So, you might as well keep it beside or on top of the soundbar always.
How to install the JBL Cinema SB150
Here’s an easy 2-minute tutorial video on how to set up this product.
What is a good ALTERNATIVE?
Everything has a good alternative when the other one doesn’t work. It is like having a plan B when plan A didn’t work out the way you expected it.
Everybody has heard about the South Korean company called Samsung. It looks like it has not only dominated the mobile phone world because it is also setting its eye on the home entertainment too.
The company has already been launching good television models many years ago which made them so well known in the business. Luckily, these days, they are also releasing these kinds of speakers.
I found an excellent alternative to JBL’s in Samsung’s HW-MS650 Soundbar. It has what the former doesn’t that I’ve been looking for. A good bass sound. It offers everything JBL Cinema SB150 does but more. It also has HDMI connections which the other one lacks. But of course, it comes with a price. Literally, a doubled price versus the JBL’s. There are other models which Samsung offers, but they come with a staggering amount.
Conclusion
Purchasing a soundbar has advantages and disadvantages. There are many brands in the market to choose from, depending on someone’s preference. It has exploded in popularity in the past few years, likewise the innovations of each model. The desire of people for electronic devices has also increased since then.
Before swiping that credit card and buying yours, understand what you want. Do you prefer one that has a high-quality bass audio? Are you tight on budget? Do you have limited space?
Whatever your tastes are when it comes to sound bar speakers, remember that all brands have their pros and cons. Some of them lack which others offer.
I highly recommend this product if you are tight on budget but still want to have that theater effect on your living room. It may not have the best bass sound, but the overall performance is satisfactory.
