Definitive Technology - Studio Slim Series 3.1-Channel Soundbar System with 8" Wireless Subwoofer and Chromecast Built-in - Black
Model: STUDIO SLIM
SKU: 6296491
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I purchased this sounder as an upgrade to the previous model, Studio micro. Definitely worth the change! Improved sound quality, this bar produce a balanced sound stage and doesn't drown out vocal in movies with explosions by default (no tuning required). In the tuning dept though I would love the option to increase the treble since the bass can be increased. Google Home integration was a major reason for the upgrade too. Integration was quick and simple. We are able to easily play music from the Spotify app or speak to one of the Google speakers to tell it to play music on the soundbar (we named it Speakbox). Definitely a worth while upgrade.
Posted by pbenjamin1
Within the last decade, sound bars have become a popular alternative to full home theater sound systems, and it’s easy to understand why. “Good enough” sound became attainable with a single device that sits under a TV rather than running a receiver and wiring to many separate speakers, but these devices often sacrificed sound quality and richness to fit the form factor. Now that these have been market staples for several years, it seems that big names in the audio world have taken note and are now shipping soundbars that are getting more and more indistinguishable from their fully-wired, monolithic brethren. Having been a strong player in the home audio space for nearly three decades, Definitive Technology presents its newest take on the soundbar, the low-profile Studio Slim, promising premium sound worthy of the Magnolia Home Theater showcase with a 3-speaker soundbar paired to a wireless 8-inch subwoofer. In my past experiences with Definitive Technology, the brand has never failed to deliver anything short of incredible sound, and the Studio Slim is no exception, making me rethink whether I truly need a dedicated home theater setup to get the sound I want for my main TV. - Unboxing and Setup At almost four feet wide, the Studio Slim comes in an awkwardly-shaped, oblong box weighing nearly forty pounds. Fortunately the packaging is sturdy and both the soundbar and subwoofer came out unscathed as they’re extremely well-packaged and wrapped in felt to minimize scuffing. Definitive Technology includes both HDMI and Toslink (optical) cables to connect to most TVs out of the box. The brushed aluminum soundbar has remarkable heft and is best placed on a flat surface like a TV stand or mantle. There are wall-mount anchors included on the backside of the sound bar, but I would ensure these are mounted to studs rather than using mollies into drywall, and you will want to use in-wall or through-wall wiring as I could not find cable channels on the bar itself. The subwoofer, though 8 inch, is much larger and heavier than expected, but can be placed anywhere. Definitive Technology recommends placing it in the corner of a room for best bass performance. Once hooked up, the Chromecast-compatible soundbar can be connected to the internet and firmware updated through the Google Home app available on both iOS and Android app stores. Updates take a few minutes, after which the device will be Chromecast-ready. - Sound Quality Quantifying something as subjective as home theater sound is difficult. It goes without saying that this handily outperforms soundbars costing 1/4th as much, but above that price the sound really should be heard in person to pass judgment as a price jump by a factor of four won’t necessarily result in four-times-better sound. Regardless, the Studio Slim delivers on all the promises and expectations that come with the Definitive Technology name. I haven’t been able to turn the soundbar up past 75% volume as the sound it’s capable of producing overpowers my home (not one with any shared wall to neighbors, mind you). The volume is incredible, but what impresses me most is that even at these volumes I can’t pick out any distortion whatsoever. Whether listening at minimal volume or a deafening blast, the sound is exceptionally clear and doesn’t drop any details across the sound spectrum, from deep bass to high treble. The center channel delivers most of the volume, and I found that turning the center channel down to -2 (on a range from -6 to +6) balances the sound nicely. Three sound profiles, Music, Night, and Movie, alter the frequency response to best accentuate your audio. Sound reproduction in Music mode seems to have as close to a flat (ideal) response curve as the soundbar offers, and in my opinion is spot-on. Whether the thundering drums and piercing guitars of Metallica or the smooth vocals of Celine Dion are your jam, the Studio Slim faithfully recreates your music. The subwoofer stays reined-in and delivers balanced, punchy bass hits without overpowering the bar. If you’re looking for that earth-shaking “boom,” you’ll want the Movie mode. Movie mode dials up the stereo separation and increases the subwoofer’s bass response to intensify action sequences and music beds in your favorite movies. The vocal range also seems to be accentuated, if not boosted, to make voices a little clearer than in Music mode. This all works quite well and the downward-firing, downward-ported subwoofer delivers consistently deep, rumbling bass that comes shockingly close to replicating the movie theater experience. Additionally, while this could be my setup, the two pieces of the Studio Slim seem to work together to make the bass sound centered rather than offset to the corner of the room where I placed the subwoofer. In my previous setup it was obvious where the subwoofer was, but with this it’s better hidden in the sound. Night mode softens the output across the board and drops the volume, bringing most of the bass out of the subwoofer and letting the soundbar take over. My testing with this mode was limited but it felt much easier to dial in a comfortable volume where the pounding subwoofer wouldn’t wake up family or roommates than in the other two audio modes. Sound was still exceptionally clear and easy to listen to from across the room without disturbing others. Most impressive of all was that in all three modes, the soundstage (the perceived distance between the leftmost sounds and rightmost sounds) was easily twelve feet wide, despite the Studio Slim not being a surround sound system. This bar could easily replace a pair of tower speakers with at least that much space between them while delivering an equal soundstage. I was floored how much “wider” the sound seemed than the dedicated stereo system this soundbar replaced. Once again, audio opinions are subjective and difficult to translate to text. I highly recommend sampling this sound bar in-store at your nearest Magnolia Home Theater center within a Best Buy prior to purchase. - Connectivity & Technology Supporting both HDMI Audio Return Channel (HDMI ARC) and Toslink, the Studio Slim should have no trouble connecting to any TV produced within the last five years. HDMI ARC allows you to control the soundbar’s volume on supported TVs as if it were the TV’s own speakers, removing the need to use separate remotes for your sound system and TV. Of course, you’ll still need to use the remote or press one of the physical buttons on the soundbar to change sound modes. Supporting most variants of Dolby Digital, the Studio Slim can do for sound what HDR does for image quality. Though quieter than direct sound output (PCM), the dynamic range of the sound increases by quite a bit, giving you a more faithful reproduction of the filmmaker’s or artist’s creation. Unfortunately without any kind of rear channels you lose some of that intent, but the wide soundstage helps overcome the disadvantage of being a mostly stereo device. If you’ve used a Chromecast before, the Studio Slim will act exactly as you would expect any other audio-only Chromecast device to. Casting music from your phone, tablet, or laptop is as easy as could be. Bluetooth is also supported if you have an older device or prefer to skip connecting your soundbar to the Internet. The range is adequate and bluetooth audio shouldn’t cut out unless you bring your device two or more rooms away. - Ease of Use If there’s one area I need to knock the Studio Slim, it’s here. Initial setup took a little longer than I’d anticipated as I attempted to skip the Google Home setup, but after a few minutes the Studio Slim still seemed to remain in an inoperable “waiting for setup” mode. I would have preferred a plug-and-play option, and perhaps there is one, but this was not highlighted in the user manual and seemed to require a Google Home setup as a required step. The only status indicator on the soundbar is a strip of RGB dots along the front of the soundbar that don’t clearly present some information. Volume is obvious, but one or two dots will represent inputs one or two (HDMI ARC and Toslink, respectively), bass and center channel adjustments use different “stepping” than volume, and setup indicators don’t convey much information without digging through the user guide. This isn’t a problem once you’re used to it, but I’ve used less expensive sound bars that have full LCD displays under their front mesh panels to present messages in much clearer terms. A little disappointed here. The only real frustration I have otherwise is that the remote is not very responsive. I usually have to press a button more than once to get a result from the soundbar (even when sitting just a few feet from it), and the volume control buttons especially are just too small and mushy to know when your press has registered. It’s function over form and I’m not a big fan of it. - Bottom Line I can’t stress enough how subjective opinions on sound are, because although I believe this is the best sound bar at the $1,000 price point, other options can easily sound better to different ears and listeners seeking particular experiences. Even with a few minor quibbles, the sound that the Definitive Technology Studio Slim produces is simply some of the best I’ve heard in a long time. I’ve heard only a handful of full sound systems that outperform the Studio Slim, and each one of these ring up at or above the Studio Slim’s MSRP (ironically, most of them also used Definitive Technology brand speakers). This is a fantastic sound solution for space-starved or design-conscious buyers alike, making very few sacrifices to keep within its diminutive form factor. Highly recommended!
Posted by Turbolence
I already own several soundbars - so I feel I have a comparison base. Right out of the gate, I knew this would be a special unit. Just from the care in the packaging of the system - all components are in fabric bags for protection - I felt this would be an exceptional sound experience. I temporarily located this unit in a room that does not have a soundbar - and I'll tell you that the difference you'll hear from standard TV speakers to a soundbar like this is unbelievable. Unlike others, I had no setup issues. Plug in the optical cable to the TV, plug in the power, launch Google Home and away we went! First thing I did was play some music via Spotify - and the bass and immersive sound were simply awesome! Next up - Game of Thrones via HBO Go. WOW - such a huge difference. Really excited to watch a full episode! As far as "Slim" - yeah ) guess it is - not excessively slim - but stylish and sleek none-the-less. The wireless sub-woofer works great - sounds even better. Very impressed overall. My TV remote worked immediately with it - so I didn't have to program anything either - BONUS!
Posted by TechMatcher
Customers find value in the Studio Slim Series Soundbar System for its exceptional sound quality, powerful bass, and sleek design. Many users appreciate the easy setup process and the convenience of Chromecast built-in. However, some users have experienced connectivity issues when using Bluetooth and concerns about durability, with a few reporting their soundbars malfunctioning after a year of use.