German brand Blaupunkt has launched a new soundbar in India. It is priced at Rs 13,990 and comes with an 8-inch wireless subwoofer. It comes with a remote control and a bunch of connectivity options including Bluetooth, HDMI ARC, Optical, USB and AUX-In. The soundbar and subwoofer weigh 8.5kgs and it also supports Dolby Audio. Let’s take a look at everything the soundbar brings to the table.
As mentioned above, the Blaupunkt SBWL03 brings with it support for Dolby Audio. It is a 2.1 setup which means that the bar itself has 2 drivers and it comes with a wireless subwoofer. The wireless subwoofer is 8-inches. The wireless subwoofer gives you the flexibility to place the soundbar in that perfect sweet spot in the room without having to worry about physically connecting it to the soundbar. You will, however, need to have a power outlet close to the placement of the soundbar. The soundbar comes with multiple modes – Music, Movie, News and 3D. Users can change the mode from the comfort of the remote control as well. When it comes to connectivity, the soundbar has Bluetooth, HDMI ARC, Optical, USB and AUX-In. Users can change the input from the remote control as well. The remote control also lets you control the volume, bass and treble in addition to controlling music playback when playing content via Bluetooth or USB. In the box, users get only an AUX cable and no optical or HDMI cable.
The Blaupunkt SBWL03 soundbar is priced at Rs 13,990 and is available on Amazon.
We have reviewed Blaupunkt's budget offering, the Blaupunkt SBW-02. In our review, we said, "For a price point of Rs 8,500 you get a soundbar with good overall performance, easy setup, and convenient remote control. The sound output for the price point won't disappoint you when connected using line in. However, remember that the HDMI ARC performance of the soundbar is poor and will leave you wanting more."
If you are in the market to pick up a soundbar and have a budget of about Rs 15,000 then you can check out our review of the recently launched Sony HT-S20R. The soundbar is priced at Rs 14,990 and comes with rear surround speakers as well. In our review of the Sony HT-S20R, we said, “For about Rs 15,000 you get a decently-built home theatre in a box that's easy to set up with an array of connectivity options. It will definitely enhance your TV viewing experience. It will also sit flush under a small TV without looking oversized. However, its music performance may not appeal to audiophiles and the low front channel separation is noticeable. The presence of HDMI passthrough is missed. If you are new to the world of home theatres and are looking to invest in an entry-level system as a first-time experience, then you can consider Sony HT-S20R. However, Sony’s own HT-RT3 offers slightly better performance and features for just Rs 3,000 more, making it hard to recommend the S20R if your budget is slightly flexible and you have a little more space in your entertainment centre”.