Definitive Technology - 5.1 Channel Soundbar System with 8" Wireless Subwoofer - Black

In December of 2000, Best Buy purchased Magnolia Hi-Fi for 87 million dollars. At the time, Magnolia had only 13 stores (compared to Best Buy’s 400). While the original plan was to keep Magnolia stores open, Best Buy grew to over 1,000 physical stores and decided to merge the two businesses by morphing Magnolia into a showroom space that now houses the high end electronics that the average customer loves to demo, but typically cannot afford to take home. It is the Magnolia showroom that proudly features the 5.1 Studio Advance soundbar. While Definitive Technology has produced an excellent Soundbar system, I believe that the high price point will over shadow the quality and continue to shock most consumers away from the upper echelon electronics that Magnolia offers. In this case, the StudioAdvance Home Theater Soundbar does produce excellent quality sound with brilliant clarity and exceptional balance - But, Definitive Technology seems to prove that in order to experience true surround sound, you simply cannot place the source of all audio in one location (in front of the user). The downward facing subwoofer maintains a wireless connection without difficulty and produces a thunderous rumble with ease, but the soundbar simply doesn’t create an immersion that rivals less expensive surround sound set-ups (with front, center, & rear speakers). Where the system shines is with balance & power. Even at lower volumes, the audio is powerful and clean with the distinct ability to appropriately amplify dialogue in a way that is not lost among boisterous action effects. Thankfully, this set-up does correctly feature HDMI ARC with the ability to pass along 4K HDR from 3 sources. Your Roku or Apple TV, 4K Bluray Player, Video Game Console, etc are all plugged directly into the soundbar which is then connected to your TV’s HDMI ARC port with a single cable. This allows your television remote to automatically control the soundbar volume without the need for an extra remote. And while eliminating an additional remote is convenient, the soundbar does take a few seconds to interpret which source is passing along a signal to your tv. This means that when you turn your TV on, the user will often see a black screen while the Soundbar waits to receive a signal. The high cost may have been put to good use - as both build & overall sound quality are undeniable, but until the audio becomes more immersive - I simply cannot convince myself that the money is worth spending on this set-up. If the price is not high for you and you are not expecting surround sound - then this soundbar is worth purchasing. The rich / full audio is very pleasing and the soundbar and subwoofer are built to last. But, if you typically cannot afford electronics at this price range and are saving up for audio that will blow you away - I do not believe you will be satisfied with a soundbar. Definitive Technology checked all of the right boxes as they developed and build this system, but this home theater costs 5 times more than most soundbars and it simply does not sound 5 times better. CONS: - The 5.1 surround sound does not truly engulf the room or create the level of immersion that is produced with separate speakers placed around the room. - When using HDMI ARC, the soundbar takes several seconds to recognize which HDMI input is sending a signal to your TV. This means that your accessing your TV’s menus & shows takes longer than it would without the speaker. - The remote does not have the same impressive build quality as the speakers. The matte rubber attracts dust and oils from hands and feels as though it will not last as long as the soundbar & subwoofer. - The system does not come with hardware to mount the soundbar on the wall. It comes with spacers, but no actual screws - which at the premium price is unacceptable.

Pros Soundbar handles everything but the lows Subwoofer can potentially pressurize a small to medium room Virtual surround is realistic for a single sound source Solid build construction Fast startup when using Chromecast Good tonal balance for its size Neutral listening position Cons Wall mount doesn’t slide to match studs Limited adjustment of levels, bass and center Slightly elevated sibilance Considering what type of people this soundbar is targeting, it must be said this review comes from more of a novice audiophile with no technical equipment to do extensive testing or specialized room. Before reading further, it should be known that if your primary focus is on precise placement of sound effects in movies, you are better served by a traditional 5.1 setup with discrete speakers in each location. If your primary interest is in audio clarity, you value a clean and simple setup, and you don’t want to spend the money on a high end 5.1 setup or larger with separate speakers and independent amplifier targeted at audiophiles, then this review hopefully will be of some help. Design From opening the box you will notice that this soundbar isn’t targeting the average person. It isn’t some super slim soundbar with a tiny subwoofer box. It is a respectable large subwoofer and a thick, boxy, heavy soundbar with black anodized aluminum endcaps. It has some real weight to it and feels more substantial than the plastic boxes you are used to. Inputs are on in the center of the back. It has one toslink port, one aux port, and four HDMI ports, three if you use the preferred HDMI ARC option. It can either be placed on a surface or wall mounted. With an included IR blaster, it can pass the IR signal to your other components if they are blocked. The remote is surprisingly sparse. It has a soft touch matte black finish to help with grip with flat buttons. The only controls you have are to select an input, change volume, change center channel, change bass level, and select from three preset EQ levels. The preset EQs are music, night, and movie. Setup Installation is straightforward if you are setting this on the top of an entertainment center. Just choose the desired height and attach the included magnetic standoffs. If you wall mounting, the screw holes are 32” apart to match standard housing studs. Although thoughtful, it is rather rigid in implementation. Often, the studs aren’t exactly centered on the location where your TV is mounted so you can’t use the studs for a solid mount but instead must use anchors. An improvement on this design would be that instead of using two independent isolator discs to use an isolating bar that can be mounted to the studs and then the soundbar can be mounted anywhere on the bar. This would also permit minor adjustments if your measurements or level are slightly off. Included is a paper template to makes accurate placement and level easy. After choosing your exact connection setup, setting up on Wi-Fi is easy. Just add the device via the Google Home app. It’s worth noting that Chromecast and Bluetooth steaming are the only options. There is no Play-Fi, AirPlay, or other option for music streaming so higher resolution audio would need to come from an HDMI source. Performance For a Chromecast audio source, this soundbar has a near instantaneous response. If you haven’t used Chromecast before, some devices have a delay before the music you cast starts playing. From the moment you choose to cast to the Studio Advance to the point at which you are streaming music is rarely more than 1 second which is a refreshing change. Although streaming sources are limited, having a Chromecast device has advantages in that it doesn’t require another proprietary app. Firmware updates are automatic with no need to open the app. Startup when watching TV is also fast only taking a 2-3 seconds. This convenience comes a slight cost as the standby mode uses nearly as much power as when turned on. During testing, the soundbar used 10 watts on standby and 10 to 14 during usage. The subwoofer does at least go into a deeper standby if left alone using 0 watts when left alone for extended periods and between 10 watts on initial standby and average usage and up to 18 watts during times of heavier bass usage. It isn’t a lot but it’s worth keeping track of as you add additional Chromecast devices to your setup. The less that sleep fully, the more it will have an impact on your electric bill. Sound Quality Overall quality does set the Studio Advance apart from others, but the sound quality is where it really sets itself apart. It must be noted that there are other soundbars that can produce more positional sound for movies because of wireless surrounds but what sets the Studio Advance apart is tonal quality and overall sound reproduction. Using larger drivers in the main soundbar affords the Studio Advance the ability to use the soundbar itself for more than just highs. You get respectable midrange and up where it belongs instead of down on the floor like other designs. In fact, even if you unplug the subwoofer you can still get respectable sound. Try that with other ultra slim soundbars and the audio suddenly sounds like it is coming out of a tin can. Overall sound quality seems relatively neutral with only minor coloring. Probably the most noticeable shortcoming is a bit of elevated sibilance. Depending on the artist and volume, occasionally the s sounds can be a bit harsh. Fortunately, this seemed rare and even within songs exhibiting it, it was very brief. Overall perspective seems neither laid back nor forward unless you change the volume of the center channel. The soundstage, although on the smaller side, is quite good for a single soundbar solution. With all sounds coming from one place this is quite challenging so the fact that it can produce any soundstage is impressive. You can hear respectable placement of instruments, but some reverberation is lost in the process. Although lacking reverberation, it doesn’t sound flat but more that the recording was in a sound room versus an auditorium with hard walls. The macrodynamics are better than most, and certainly better than other soundbars, with the drum sounds having a proper amount of power you would expect as if you were there. If the drummer hits the stick on the side of the drum you hear a distinct impact with the nuances of the wood hitting the side of the metal on the drum and the sharp sound that come with it. The microdynamics are similarly better than most with subtle details of plucking a guitar string including the initial strong sound followed by hearing if the guitarist ran their finger across the string or how the note gradually fades away as the energy of the string dissipates. If they strum the string and then stop it, you can even hear their hand stop it and even if they are wearing a ring and it hits the wood of the guitar. During vocals, you can hear subtle breath control and sometimes even other aspects of how they control their voice with a good enough recording giving you more of a sense of a live performance. Of course, there is a good chance at some point you will want to watch movies with the Studio Advance and it doesn’t disappoint. Going back to keeping expectations in check, the surround sound is a virtual 5.1 surround. That said, positional audio is impressive considering the only speakers are directly in front. On some movies, like Bourne Legacy, you question how you are hearing sounds from locations where there are no speakers. In the beginning where the drone blows up the cabin you hear the initial explosion and feel the energy of the explosion and then realize that the sound is coming from all around. The impact of such an effect varies from one movie to the next but the fact that it can do this at all is very impressive. If the room isn’t too large and you have the doors closed, the subwoofer can mildly pressurize the room giving more impact to the scenes. The same happens when they first turn on the game system in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. As the drum sounds increase in intensity the room begins to rumble and you can feel your body shaking as if you are in the movie. It can do this in a 16x18 room with the doors closed but it is unlikely it could do this in much larger of a room. The fact that it is cable of such a feat at all in such a small package is a bit surprising. What also nice is because of the overall range of the soundbar, you aren’t left with dialog coming from the subwoofer on the floor. This translates to male voices being much more audible without turning up the volume unlike lesser systems. Final Thoughts It seems Definitive Technology had a very specific group in mind when they created the Studio Advance. Once could argue that better sound could be had from other systems, but it would be much harder to argue that better sound could come from a similar sized system. The Studio Advance would make a great addition as soundbar in the bedroom for an audiophile who is spoiled by their main system or someone who demands great sound in a compact package.

My family loves movie nights, and having a great home cinema makes it more enjoyable. This Definitive Technology soundbar system provides a powerful and high-quality sound for perfect setup home theater. The system came well packaged with enough protective foam and a soft cloth cover for each component. Connecting the sound system to the TV was quick and easy. The sub woofer automatically connected to the soundbar. Then, in my first attempt to connect the system to the TV using HDMI “ARC” (Audio Return Channel), the sound was not being transmitted. The HDMI ARC connection seams are the preferred method based on the manual. Since that did not work, I opted for the second-best option, Optical cable connection, and the speaker was receiving the audio. The following day, I gave the HDMI “ARC” connection another try but this time played with the TV’s system settings, and I was able to solve the issue. I had to let the TV know that the HDMI “ARC” port was to start sound all the time. Now when the TV gets turned on, the speaker automatically gets turned on. Also, the TV’s remote controls the sound systems whenever the TV is being used. I am glad I was successful in using the HDMI “ARC” connection because it enhances the use of the sound system. The system has three different modes to enhance the entertainment experience-- Music, Night, and Movie. The soundbar box has the four primary buttons-- “Power, source, Bluetooth, and the +/- Volume.” You will enjoy songs, movies and TV shows with its powerful 200-watt peak output wireless subwoofer and 5.1 front surround sound. Every sound comes to life in volume and clarity it deserves. The soundbar delivers precise mid and high frequencies, with deeper, more vibrant sounds. The subwoofer provides excellent deep, tight bass and no overhang sound. Vocal sound voices can be heard clear and more distinguishable from other sounds. The Bluetooth connects always work without any issue, and it allows for easier and wire-free connection from any device. Chromcast connection is another alternative to Bluetooth to connect a mobile device, but with this method, the mobile device must be using the same network/Wi-Fi as the sound system. The entire system is elegantly designed, sturdy and not made with cheap material-- the casing has a sleek side metal finish. Overall, this sound system does an excellent job.

So opening the box was super great and the details that went into the Studio Advance were very specific which had me at first glance! When opening the box which was not overly big I saw these soft, cotton pouches which housed the soundbar and subwoofer. I would compare it to going to the jewelry store and taking home a piece and then opening up your purchase to see they put it in this very pretty satchel to house your high end belonging. Then came setup which was easy: unpackage, plug media into the speakers, point the silky matte black remote and test it out. I was up and going quickly. The sound was amazing and I played music videos all night from Fleetwood Mac, Marshmallow, Elvis, to sleep sounds (love the sound of thunder and rain). The crisp sound makes you just want to play more and more. We chose this for a condo out in the country that needed something that packed great sound and various features while saving space and not compromising in sound. My family always jokes about my Google Assistant but the minute they want to have a mini dance party they learn to appreciate it, so I am glad that the soundbar has it built in! We recently picked up VR games with music which has been muscled up by adding the Chromecast feature to the Studio Advance. I could honestly go on so please feel free to ask more about it and I'll answer! There are movies, music and night mode. Another primary reason for getting the Studio Advance was to be conscious of my neighbors and with the built-in Night Mode, it alters how sound is played at night. The subwoofer being Bluetooth makes it easy to move and finally, you can tailor the center speaker to make sure the quality of sound makes sense for me and my movies, gaming or music. I have complained for years that soundbars are great but sometimes you lose the voice-over loud bangs in movies. With the ability to adjust the center I have full control of my user experience based on what I am doing. If I could have one in each bedroom I would just because I am in awe of the simplicity and beauty!

I will keep this review short and sweet. This is the best sound from a sound bar I have ever heard! For me, there are two main factors when buying something like this. The build quality and the sound quality. The Definitive Technology Studio Advance Sound Bar (DTSA) is the standard for both of these things. I just GUSH every time I get to watch TV now. This sounds way bigger than it is. Everything comes well packaged and protected during shipping in a single box that weighed 54lbs!!!!!. Each component comes in its own "velvet" bag to protect the finishes rather than the plastic films we have grown accustomed to seeing from the consumer electronic market. Unique unboxing experience for sure! From the minimalist design language of the DTSA to the "forever" build quality this possesses, you will NEVER second guess yourself for this purchase. This fits in ANY room and blends in with your decor. When you unpack it, you will know you have quality. The McLaren of the sound bar kingdom! All sound bars will be measured against this for a long time. The DTSA is a 5.1 channel sound bar model with virtual surround sound tech. This unit features nine discrete transducers and amplifiers with three one-inch aluminum dome tweeters, six three-inch oval drivers, and a separate eight-inch downward firing subwoofer 50W RMS w/ 100W peak. This gets very loud and I have to lower the sub because of HOA rules. In addition, the device offers 4K HDR passthrough, bluetooth, WiFi N, Toslink, and an HDMI ARC port. Finally, the sound bar includes Chromecast-enabled support which integrates well with the rest of my smart home Alexa and Google devices. The sub and drivers in the sound bar are second to none for the size and implementation. I now question if I will ever go back to the true audiophile experience of running wires and mounting speakers at their optimal positions. This gives any nice setup a run for its money. I am amazed at the powerful and accurate sound this produces. Everything is so simple and intuitive in both design and function. Although, there will be a learning curve identifying what input the sound bar is in, as just individual LEDs light up and there is no screen. The remote is almost too simple and I was expecting some sort of app or something. I am not a fan of the material chosen for the buttons on the remote though. It gives what is like a rubbery "cheap" feel to an otherwise premium device. Fingerprint oils create shiny spots to an otherwise nice matte rubber finish. This rubber material scuffs easily but I do like that nothing can get into the remote from accidental spills or food. There are three sound profiles optimized for Music, Movies, and Night viewing (which is one of my gripes) and you can only control how pronounced the "center" channel comes through. Initial setup was very surprisingly simple. Something of this level of sound must require an app or something right!? Nope, just plug it in, run it to the ARC HDMI port, and that is all. Sound quality is impeccable. Crisp highs and powerful tight clear bass that fills any room. EQ options are not great since you only get total control over the sound of a "center channel" and bass only. Not that it sounds bad, but I wish I could fine-tune this more. In my eyes, the "treble" is basically your "center" channel. Buying this, you essentially are getting 3 more HDMI ports in addition to what you have on your TV. This is great! Some may not need to "upgrade" to the latest TV because you need just one more HDMI port. All the latest audio profiles are supported. The Verdict This is obviously a niche market and if you are looking at it you should just get it. Go to Best Buy and listen to the various speakers and then listen to this. It will sell itself and it is so easy to setup it will make your life easier. For everyone else, this is the ear candy you always wanted in a luxury package. GET IT!

I am a big fan of Definitive Technology, my home theatre is built around their BP9000 series speakers, but I have some real mixed emotions about this sound bar. Bottom line is that this sound bar will outperform any stock TV speaker however it’s a mixed bag when it comes to overall audio performance. The audio quality was very good for Music and acceptable for movies. If you are looking for a spatial sound stage or distinct 5.1 sound affects you may be disappointed. I played several 5.1 movies with mixed results. The thumps and bumps were loud and crisp in the movies but the sound stage was not spatial enough for me to say that this soundbar outperforms a 3.1 soundbar. Quick Hits - The installation was quick and simple with easy instructions to follow. - Using the supplied HDMI cable and HDMI ARC ports allowed me to use my TV remote for control. - The LED indicators on the sound bar are intuitive once you understand them. The LEDs will light up in blue or green color to differentiate between DTS and Dolby. - I was able to play the various DTS and Dolby Digital audio formats (5.1 and 7.1) - I connected my Blu Ray player to the soundbar and was able to play 4k HDR movies through it. The extra HDMI ports on the soundbar allow you to connect extra devices if you have limited HDMI ports on your TV. I had to use a high quality HDMI 2.2 cable for this to work. - The Subwoofer is punchy and produces good bass especially in movie mode. - Bluetooth and Spotify both worked great and were simple to set up. - After hours of playing neither the soundbar or power supply produced an unreasonable amount of heat. Something to consider when placing the soundbar directly below that expensive TV. Things to Consider - The Dolby and DTS 5.1 audio has a limited sound stage. The soundbar does provide good front and center speaker audio but has limited success at mimicking rear speakers. - The soundbar does not support Dolby Atmos. - You can control the volume of the center speaker and the bass but there is no EQ available beyond the movie or music setting. - The Subwoofer’s only light is on the back so you cannot see if its operational from the front! It doesn’t have the standard Def Tech lighted “D” on the front! - Even though my Subwoofer is about 5 ft from the sound bar it seems to lose connection which is apparent with a short lack of bass. I have verified this by turning the sub around so I could see the light flicker when the bass dropped. Not sure if this is unique to my setup or not. - Having to use Google for the installation may be a negative for some. - The packaging is great however the subwoofer is down firing and has no protection over the cone. You have to be careful when unpacking the sub so that you don’t put pressure on the cone when you handle it.

SET-UP Set-up proved to be a bit of a challenge. Unlike prior Definitive products, this example is configured via the Google Home app. At first, I was glad to see that they have moved away from the old-style Definitive Studio app, that didn’t work all that great. But, in actual practice, Google Home didn’t work any better for set-up. I was unable to get the speaker configured properly using the Google Home app and an iPad. I got continuous communication errors. The soundbar would not configure itself properly and communicate with my wi-fi. Luckily, I have an Android phone and the process worked without issue. The Google Home app found, connected, and properly configured my soundbar and it’s wi-fi settings. The wireless sub paired with absolutely no intervention. Once the soundbar was properly configured with my Android phone, I plugged the subwoofer in and it was instantly paired to the soundbar. Very slick. Unfortunately, there was no firmware update available, nor was there an app update available for the iPad, so your luck getting it set-up may be hit or miss. I connected the soundbar to my TV via the TV ARC HDMI port. My DirecTV was plugged into HDMI 1 on the soundbar. Once configured, my Vizio TV identified that it was connected to a soundbar and established an ARC connection. For those not familiar, the ARC is an Audio Return Channel that allows a TV’s audio to be passed through to the soundbar without the need for additional cables or connections. I have never had much luck getting the ARC connection to work with any form of TV or soundbar combination, but in this implementation, it is working flawlessly. AWESOME!! No more need for an extra SPIDF cable for audio. Not only is my DirecTV audio piped to the soundbar, so is the audio from any of the Vizio’s apps, including: Netflix, Prime, YouTube, etc. No need to switch inputs, no need to make any changes, audio is transferred smoothly and effortlessly. USE The soundbar contains 9 separate drivers consisting of 6 mid bass drivers and 3 tweeters with dedicated amps to reproduce 5.1 surround sound. The subwoofer is an 8 inch, self-powered unit that is rated at 50W RMS and 100W Peak. True to the Definitive heritage, the soundbar/subwoofer combines to make any movie or TV program more enjoyable. There is no more straining to understand what is being said on the screen because your TV’s speakers barely emit any sound. Dialog is exceptionally clear and bass is fairly tight and controlled being this is a lower powered, ported style subwoofer. The soundbar and subwoofer will definitely increase your enjoyment of any program material you choose to watch through it. The 3 aluminum dome tweeters produce clear, crisp high frequency details, while the 6 mid bass drivers deliver equally impressive dialog and lower frequency sounds. CONS While this isn’t necessarily a con, I feel it must be mentioned. I don’t think this is the set-up for a full, dedicated home theater. This soundbar does not offer the same level of performance as Definitive’s own SuperCube Subs or the SuperTower speakers. But, to be fair, it isn’t really meant to. It is meant to give you the most of TV shows and movies. The soundbar won’t overpower your room and the sub won’t rattle your walls and shake the plates in kitchen. If you are wanting that level of performance, you need to look at other options. This product is something that is meant to be nearly invisible, with its sub tucked away and just make the best of the source material. FINAL THOUGHTS This product serves as a great addition to my family room TV. It has made movies and TV shows much more enjoyable compared to just TV speakers. Would it be my primary product if I had a dedicated home theater? Probably not. You just can’t beat the sound and power having separate speakers and a receiver. On the downside, separates would cost substantially more money and be much more complex to configure and install. If you don’t have the space or need for a dedicated theater, this would provide a great option. The mids and highs are smooth and detailed and the sub adds just enough punch without being overpowering. The ability to stream to the soundbar with Chromecast and Bluetooth, along with the ability to control it via the Google Assistant is just that much better. If I had the original Definitive W Studio, I wouldn’t upgrade. The products are too similar to each other to justify the upgrade. So similar, the soundbar is the same size and has the exact same mounting holes as the original W Studio. The extra processing of the 5.1 of the Studio Advance is nearly unnoticeable to me (I own the predecessor to this product, the original W Studio). If you want to improve your overall TV viewing experience and want a high quality, great sounding product, this one should definitely be on your short list of options. I have listened to dozens of soundbars and subwoofer combinations and the Definitive products continue to be my go-to. I feel they sound better than any of their competitors for the price.

Being new to the Definitive Technology brand I was eager to see how well the 5.1 Channel Soundbar System with 8" Wireless Subwoofer stacked up against my current 15 year old Infiniti 3.1 Tower Speaker/Reciever Setup. Soundbars are sleek and sexy and I get the appeal, so I was eager to see if It could replace my current setup I have to say that this soundbar was probably the easiest electronic device I've setup in a long time. It took less than 3 minutes to setup, very impressive. And the felt wrapping on the speaker, subwoofer and remote was a nice touch. Probably one of the nicer looking and designed remotes I've seen in a while, although its lacking a bluetooth pair button, which I'll get to later. The sound quality is top notch on this unit, while it isn't "true" 5.1 it does a great job of encompassing you in the action with the way the speakers deliver the sound. I watched a few movies and played Apex Legends on it and the sound was very impressive. Music sounds great as well. I quickly switched back and forth between my speakers and the soundbar while playing bluetooth music and my wife preferred the soundbar over the towers. I had to agree with her in that department. The ONE issue I have with this device is that it is not bluetooth phone friendly. I listen to alot of music during the day through spotify and youtube and primarily through bluetooth speakers. Any other bluetooth speaker in my house when I turn it on it immediately pairs with my phone, or if I click on the device in my bluetooth settings it will pair. With this soundbar I have had issues. Every time I want to use the device with my phone I have to physically walk over to the speaker and hit the pair button on the soundbar itself to get the device to connect to my phone. If i turn on the soundbar it doesn't auto connect and if I go to my bluetooth settings it wont pair either. I HAVE to get up and physically touch the button every time when I initially turn it on. And there is also not a bluetooth pair button on the remote itself. Now that may not seem like a big deal, but when a 50 dollar JBL speaker can do it, and every other bluetooth speaker I own can do it, a 1500 dollar Soundbar should be able to do it as well. I shouldn't have to get up out of my chair to connect my device. I do see there is an ability to update firmware with this device so I'm hoping that down the line they fix this issue. Other than that one issue I really am happy with the soundbar. It has fantastic sound quality and an insane amount of clarity and power and it will be in my family room for years to come.