Samsung HT-X810

Now for video, I put in the DVE test disc, and ran the usual battery of calibration. The HT-X810 is actually quite nice in the video output domain; we had upscaled it to 1080p. The TV I was using was also a Samsung 5 series. The entire greyscale came through well, with good separation and accuracy on different levels of grey, even at full white and full black. Color representation also was impressively neutral with no edge distortion and smooth motion. There was absolutely no stutter in framerate, which is found in low end DVD players.

Unfortunately audio was not so good. The bass is just too much, and the output of the subwoofer sounds too separated from the soundbar. The sub can be reduced by 6 dB but that too is not enough. 'Muddiness' in the sound was also an issue, as the low frequencies do not mix in well with highs and mids. The Audio up scaling, Pbass and Virtual surround features are all not too effective in making a positive difference. The latter does give a wider soundstage to the sound though.

Conclusion
The MRP is Rs. 44,900 though you can get it for lesser on the street. This is definitely an expensive price tag, though soundbars do cost a heft sum. The price would have been reasonable and the product a hit, if the sound output was good. It's a visual treat and is feature rich. So it boils down to what you would prefer more - audio fidelity or looks and video performance.