The Sky Soundbox is an innovative TV audio sound system that does its best work with a Sky Q set-top box. But, wonders Steve May, does it suit AV enthusiasts?
What sets the Soundbox apart from other TV solutions is its interaction with content delivered by the Q set-top box.
When connected (the speaker doesn’t use HDMI ARC – instead, there’s a one-in, one-out HDMI loop-through, as well as a digital optical audio output, and in-built Bluetooth), users have access to an onscreen control panel which allows you to select basic presets (Speech, Late Night and Kids), as well as Q Sound. The latter is a next-gen EQ system that uses metadata attached to specific programming to tailor the sound of the unit.
With football broadcasts, Q Sound boosts atmospheric crowd noise; switch to F1, and car engines get a lift in the mix. Sky has developed met at weaks for a variety of sports. They’re certainly effective, as the sound field widens or deepens accordingly.
This story is from the Xmas 2017 edition of Home Cinema Choice.
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This story is from the Xmas 2017 edition of Home Cinema Choice.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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