A soundbar might be a tempting choice if you're after a convenient, plug-and-play solution to getting better quality sound than your TV speakers, but as I've found, you can get more sound for less money if you're willing to put the work in. While this system will involve a bit of time in cable management, and some patience to set up, it will most certainly deliver a better surround sound effect than even some of our very favourite soundbars.
I have combined two five-star, former Award-winning products here. The Denon AVR-X2800H is driving the show, and I am pairing it here with the Wharfedale DX-2, a pint-sized home cinema speaker system that is the definition of small but mighty. Both bits of home cinema kit have been heavily discounted recently, meaning you can save a combined £440.
The Denon AVR-X2800H and Wharfedale DX-2 both claimed spots in our 2022 Awards thanks to their respectively stellar performance. The Denon remains an easy recommendation for those looking for an affordable, feature-rich and great-sounding AVR. We complimented its powerful, rich and spacious sound in our review, in which the X2800H was priced at £869. It also impresses with its three full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 sockets (with support for 4K/120Hz gaming) and support for both Dolby Vision HDR and HDR10+.
The Wharfedale DX-2 package is a miniature marvel, offering excellent dynamics and a detailed and weighty sound despite being a fraction of the size of most of the other surround sound systems we test. Its unobtrusive design makes it ideal for those who don't want large speakers cluttering their room but also don't want to compromise on sound quality.
So why does this make for a perfect alternative to a soundbar? Don't get me wrong, there are some truly excellent soundbars such as the Sonos Arc, but this system delivers a direct surround sound experience using physical speakers, instead of relying on clever sound processing to emulate that effect. Now, this system is more expensive than the Sonos Arc (which is currently £719), however, there are plenty of other soundbars that this system rivals when it comes to price.
At £878 for the full system, it undercuts the Sennheiser Ambeo Plus (currently £999), the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar (also currently £899 on Amazon) and the Samsung HW-Q990D (which can be found for £1699). It's a perfect intermediary step as the DX-2 is a compact and affordable system, and it will be easy to upgrade to larger and more powerful speakers in the future if you so desire. Consider this a gateway system into the world of proper home cinema sound.
You are, of course, foregoing the Dolby Atmos height effects that those soundbars provide, but I believe that a true 5.1 surround sound experience is preferable to the upward-firing sound being reflected from the ceiling for overhead sound effects. The step up in audio quality and the enhanced features you get from using a dedicated AVR (such as the HDMI 2.1 passthrough ports and more thorough Audyssey room calibration system) make this a more compelling alternative too.
If you're looking to make the leap from a soundbar to a 5.1 surround sound package, this affordable and great-sounding starter kit is my personal recommendation.
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Read our full Wharfedale DX-2 review
