When it comes to home entertainment experience, a good soundbar can make a lot of difference. A good soundbar can transform your audio setup from underwhelming to cinematic, and it doesn't need to be expensive. Here we have the SonicGear SonicBar HD 2000, a sleek and minimalist option for those seeking an affordable yet feature-rich upgrade. With its impressive specifications and thoughtful features, this soundbar has plenty to offer. Here’s a deeper look into what makes it a solid choice for those looking to upgrade their home entertainment system.
Design & Build: Compact Yet Stylish, with Minimal Clutter
The SonicGear SonicBar HD 2000 boasts a clean and modern design that fits effortlessly into any home setup. Its dimension of 610x105x62mm make it perfect for placing under most TVs or monitors, minimizing clutter while still making a subtle statement. Whether it’s perched on a TV console or mounted on the wall, the slim profile ensures that it complements your space rather than overwhelming it.
Weighing only 1.5kg, it’s light enough to reposition easily while remaining sturdy and well-built. The combination of glossy black finish on the major areas, together with matte black finish at both sides, further adds on a premium feel that doesn’t scream budget, making it suitable for both minimalist and modern interiors. For users who prioritize space efficiency, will appreciate how this lightweight soundbar delivers high-quality audio without the bulk of larger speaker systems.
Audio Performance: Balancing Power with Precision for All Content Types
With a peak power output of 80W, this 2.0 channel soundbar delivers a robust performance that provides enough oomph to fill most living rooms with dynamic sound. Powered by two 30W racetrack drivers and a 20W tweeter, the soundbar produces an impressive balance of clarity and bass, enhancing both highs and lows without distortion, delivering the optimal audio experience for all kind of contents. The bass is deep and impactful, and doesn't overpower the mids or highs, making the SonicGear SonicBar HD 2000 ideal for everyday use, whether you’re binge-watching TV series, enjoying your favorite tunes, or gaming.
That said, the SonicGear SonicBar HD 2000 comes with 3 distinct Equalizer Modes—Movie, Music, and Dialogue — that takes audio personalization for different types of content a step further. Movie Mode amps up the surround sound effect, making action sequences more immersive and delivering a theatre-like experience in your living room. Music Mode fine-tunes the mids and highs, ensuring every instrument and vocal stands out with added clarity and richness, perfect for anything from pop to jazz and acoustic tracks. Meanwhile, Dialogue Mode focuses on enhancing vocal clarity, elevating speech and pronunciation for clearer and crispier conversations, which is ideal for news and podcasts lovers. Switching between these modes noticeably transforms the listening experience, making each mode a valuable tool for creating the perfect sound environment.
Customizable Sound: Treble and Bass Controls for Tailored Listening
While the soundbar has dedicated control buttons on the right side, it also comes with a full-feature remote control, which is more than just a convenience. It gives users precise control over their audio experience. Beyond basic functions like volume and playback, the remote allows you to seamlessly switch between the preset Equalizer Modes to match your content. Additionally, it provides treble and bass adjustment controls, letting you customise the audio balance to your specific preferences or the type of content you’re watching.
Want sharper vocals? Boost the treble. Need deeper bass for an action-packed movie or EDM music night? Just turn up the bass. This level of customization is rarely seen in soundbars within this price range, making the SonicBar HD 2000 a versatile and user-friendly choice, especially for users who enjoy tweaking their sound settings for different scenarios.
Versatile Connectivity: More Than Just Bluetooth 5.3
The SonicBar HD 2000 offers a range of connectivity options to suit various needs, from traditional to modern devices. Alongside Bluetooth 5.3, it includes USB playback, a 3.5mm AUX input, and a coaxial input. This flexibility ensures compatibility with everything from older TVs to modern gaming consoles, making it an all-in-one solution for diverse setups. Household users who often prefer practical solutions that cater to a variety of devices, will appreciate how handy the SonicBar HD 2000 is in keeping things simple yet versatile.
The Bluetooth v5.3 connectivity offers faster pairing, more stable connections, and lower latency compared to older versions, allowing for more seamless switching between devices. Whether I was streaming from my smartphone, tablet, or laptop, the connection remained solid and uninterrupted. The 10m Bluetooth range provides additional flexibility, allowing freedom to move around the room without compromising sound quality. This is a boon for Malaysian users who often switch between devices or stream content from mobile platforms like Spotify or YouTube.
Audio Formats: High-Fidelity Sound for Audiophiles
The SonicBar HD 2000 is well-equipped to handle both standard and high-fidelity audio files. It supports a range of audio formats, including MP3, WAV, and FLAC, making it ideal for users who care about audio fidelity. While MP3 and WAV formats are standard, audiophiles would appreciate the support for FLAC, a format known for preserving sound quality, ensuring that even the most discerning ears will be satisfied.
This makes the SonicBar HD 2000 a great option for those who download or stream high-quality music files and want to experience the best out of them. Whether it’s classical music, audiobooks, or lossless tracks, the soundbar handles them all without any hiccups.
Room for Improvement: Minor Drawbacks for Consideration
While the SonicBar HD 2000 shows decent performance in most areas, there are a few minor drawbacks. On the design, the huge glossy surface area makes fingerprints and smudges inevitable, so frequent cleaning would be necessary in order to maintain a neat and clean look.
Additionally, although the bass is satisfactory, it doesn’t quite match those models with an additional punch from a dedicated subwoofer, which could leave bass enthusiasts wanting more during intense movie scenes.
Final Verdict: A Compact Powerhouse for Everyday Use
The SonicGear SonicBar HD 2000 delivers a compelling mix of performance, versatility, and design that’s hard to beat at its price point. Priced at RM149, this soundbar's minimalist aesthetics, powerful audio output, and customizable sound modes make it a perfect companion for households looking for an affordable audio upgrade.
Whether you’re a casual viewer, music enthusiast, or gamer, the SonicBar HD 2000 offers a significant improvement over standard TV speakers without the bulk of a full home theatre system. It’s a soundbar that doesn’t just elevate your audio experience—it does so with simplicity, style, and substance.
