Realme has introduced its Soundbar in the Indian market enthused by the fact that the budget soundbar segment in the country is currently witnessing an uptrend. The 2.1 channel music setup comes fitted with a powerful 100W audio unit that includes a 60W bar and a 40W subwoofer. It is also priced aggressively at INR6,999 and available to purchase from Flipkart, Amazon India, and Realme.com.
The Realme soundbar is not only aggressively priced but also poses a tough challenge to the Mi soundbar as the former features better design and audio drivers.
However, it is the overall package that needs to be looked into about whether it makes an apt choice or not, especially from the value for money perspective. In this review, we have just done that. Let’s check out what we have to say about it.
Inbox items
The following items were to be found when we unboxed the realme soundbar.
1) Soundbar
2) 40W subwoofer
3) AC power adapter
4) Remote control and AAA batteries
5) HDMI cable
6) Coaxial cable
7) Wall mount kid with screws
8) User manual & warranty card
Design, build quality, and setup
Right out of the box, the rectangular soundbar and a relatively smaller subwoofer quickly allay our reservations that are often associated with affordability. Yes, they don’t look cheap. They are black in colour with a matte finish, creating a subtle design. Although they are made out of plastic, they feel sufficiently sturdy.
The soundbar which houses two 2-inch speakers and two 2- tweeters sports a metallic mesh-like grille up front, giving it a premium touch. It measures 940x93x70mm and supports both wall-mount installations as well as table-top setup.
In case of the wall-mount setup, you have to leave some space between the wall and the soundbar since the input and output sockets are placed at the back of the unit. In addition to a remote controller equipped with full features, the Realme soundbar is also laced with a full range of buttons including the power on/off, volume control, and last/next song buttons.
The sub-woofer measures 250x110x350mm and tips the scales at 2.53 kg. It is one of the smallest sub-woofers offered in this segment. However, its wired connectivity limits the stand-alone functionality of the soundbar due to the portability issue.
Modes and ports
The Realme soundbar is pretty rich in terms of connectivity options. You would hardly miss out on anything as it features HDMI (ARC), In-Line RCA, Optical, and Coaxial digital inputs along with the Bluetooth 5.1 wireless connection and a USB port to plug in a flash drive. The modes support voice notifications as well as the remote input.
Both Bluetooth and Aux-in performed well with no observable sound delays. The HDMI with ARC worked fine as well in terms of audio output, but it doesn’t have support for Netflix and Amazon Prime Videos over the usual TV settings. You are required to manually change the digital audio output to PCM settings to make it work.
Audio performance
The 100W Realme soundbar is essentially an audio system and primarily tuned for an enhanced smart TV experience. The dialogues come out crisp and clear while the music streamed sounded immersive with the right amount of treble and bass.
The output can be customized via a remote controller. There are three audio profiles: Music, Movies, and Voice. Therefore, you get limited profiles to adjust audio depending upon the content being streamed on the music setup. It works well across all the profiles with minor differences.
However, for better sound customization, the Realme soundbar should have been armed with more audio features. The lack of stereo effect was easily felt, especially while viewing action flicks and sports. That said, don’t forget that it is an entry-level 2.1 channel soundbar setup, which is designed to throw one-directional sound. It is more apt for a bedroom setup or a medium to big living room.
Pros:
- Powerful Audio
- Sleek design
- Lightweight
- Compact subwoofer
- Ample connectivity options
Cons:
- Lacks stereo effects
Verdict
The Realme 100 soundbar makes the right choice for those who are looking for a budget music system to get the most out of their TV viewing. The immersive and impactful audio quality complements the big-screen TV by elevating the movie-watching experience to a notch higher from the comfort of your house.
Overall, the Realme has done a good job with its new soundbar for the Indian market. The Realme soundbar offers a straightforward no-frills design and marks an impression with its sound delivery being equipped with many connectivity options. If you find your in-built TV speakers inadequate, you can replace them with the Realme soundbar at an affordable price.
