Fluance AB40 High Performance Soundbase TV Speaker System with 3D Surround Sound & Enhanced Bass Boost, Wide Angle Soundstage, Bluetooth aptX

I spent a lot of time researching sound bars and reading every review I could find on the units I was interested in. Even after reading all the positive reviews on the Fluance AB40, I still hesitated purchasing this unit due to the lack of a HDMI connection. In case you don't know, a HDMI connection permits the use of your existing TV or cable box remote to control the AB40's sound functions. I decided to purchase anyway, and I'm happy I did. Killer sound, solid construction, and a well thought-out design - all at a bargain price! I am using the digital optic output from my Samsung TV, after selecting the required PCM output signal. Be aware that a Dolby output signal from your TV optical output will not work with the AB40. Many newer TVs do allow you to select this option from the menu.The sound quality from this soundbase is not to be matched in this price range. I am a audio junkie and demand good sound quality. The AB40 delivers sound that is full and smooth, has substance, weight, and clarity in the critical midrange, a non- aggressive smooth top end, and a very decent and deep low end. In many cases, it can match the deep bass that is associated with a separate subwoofer enclosure. I have the AB40 located in a large 20 x 15 foot vaulted ceiling living room, and it fills the space without straining the AB40's internal power amps. My living room suffers from a lot of wall sound refection that gives voice from TV programs a muddy, boxy quality. The AB40 cleared this problem and voices are now clear and full, which just a tad of lower warmth. For the record, the AB40 does not have bass or treble adjustment, which would be handy. Nor does it have a "voice" setting. But again, voice clarity is excellent and with a nice fullness to it. In addition to the four 3-inch mid/bass aluminum cone speakers, there are two bass ports, each located at the rear sides. The 1-inch silk dome tweeters have great smoothness and dispersement qualities without any harshness I can hear.The AB40's outside enclosure will support up to 150 pounds, which says a lot about build integrity. My 55" Samsung LED TV leg size are 26" across the front pair, same width as the Fluance, so it just fits. It's stable enough as I use a swivel base located under the Fluance so as to keep hands off the Samsung to swivel. Make sure to measure your TV's stand as some may not fit atop the FB40 And the FB40 needs to sit in open space to perform correctly.The well designed remote control is simple in layout, easy to use, and though small, manages to fit in the hand nicely. There are no variable controls for bass or treble, but there is a preset Bass Boost option that gives the very bottom bass a bit more kick. Great for movies and music, not so much for regular TV shows and news broadcasts as things get too boomy sounding. There is also a button marked "3D" that has no real effect in my large living room, but I understand is suppose to be effective in small rooms with close wall boundaries. No on screen menu for adjustments is offered here, but there is indication of up/down, input source selection, and muting functions by the bright single LED lamp indicator on the front panel, behind the metal speaker grill. It flashes, brightens, and can change color, based on what selection you made - some what limited in it's display options, but al least helpful to indicate some remote control commands. The remote range is narrow and very height restrictive so make sure your right in front of the AB40 or you may get frustrated using it.If your planning on spending under $300 and have only been looking at sound bars, do yourself a favor and consider the Fluance AB40. As long as your TV's own base measurements will allow placement on top of the AB40, you can live with using two remotes, and you value excellent sound over a large array of options and signal processing, this speaker will likely exceed your expectations, as it did mine.

This soundbase replaced a 5.1 sound bar with a sub-woofer and two rear speakers. Bought it because new TV entertainment stand had a convenient sized opening to put it in. After installation, sound coming from this one central speaker is on a par with previous 5.1 system. Bass is booming when needed , and the Surround Sound function really works well. Solid construction means that when I really turn the volume up, I don't get any vibrations from the speaker housing... just good, loud sound. Very pleased with purchase.EDITED REVIEW: Unfortunately, after just more than a year, the unit began doing the same thing as several others have noted: Turning itself off spontaneously. Turning unit back on leads to a few more minutes of sound before it again switches off. Only by leaving Soundbase off for several hours will the unit then work for a longer period of time, after which it begins to repeat the odd and unacceptable switching-off behavior. (Overheating?)Did not even bother getting in touch with the manufacturer after reading how so many others were dissatisfied with that expensive process. Instead, placed unit in a spare bedroom that gets only occasional use of TV and speaker. Purchased an excellent Vizio soundbase for a replacement. If the Vizio goes bad, I know they won't make me pay shipping for their mistake! Please note that the majority of the 5-Star reviews of this item are from new owners. The problems begin later. Buyers beware.

I purchased this model based on decent reviews for both TV and Bluetooth audio quality, as I use it connected to an Echo Dot. While I make no windy claims to being a "golden ear" audiophile, I've dabbled in decent quality audio equipment since before CDs. This is not a life-changing piece of gear by any means, but for this price it's unfair to expect that, and it performs both tasks quite admirably.Modern TV speakers almost by definition are very poor, with insufficient space to move enough air and awkward directional placement. Stringing a 5.1 system across your living room is not an aesthetic choice I'm happy with, and not even all that useful unless you principally use your TV as a display for Blu-Ray or DVD content. Hence soundbars/soundbases. Since I prefer to look directly at a screen at home rather than look up at a wall-mounted TV, the latter made more sense with my setup.Sonos' new base then? Good reputation, fancy innards, but a persistent refusal to use Bluetooth even by offering an auxiliary port for a receiver killed them from consideration. I'm often streaming local content not just Spotify et al. ZVox in various sizes? Like the volume-leveling and dialog features but music playback quality is far from the greatest and reputation is...variable. This then competed for my business with the usual variety of Yamaha, Sony, Bose equivalents. It was the music playback reviews and relatively modest price that swung the deal.Everyone wants to justify their choice retroactively but I am trying to be objective. This I feel is a very good match for my needs. The audio quality is just fine in the upper consumer range with nice tonal separation, a fairly good soundstage for a combo unit, and more than ample power for anyone not trying to rattle their neighbors' windows. In the current bass-obsessed zeitgeist I should mention that it has a solid even hefty low end given the lack of dedicated subwoofer, especially with bass boost selected, although I personally prefer the cleaner and less needlessly boomy standard EQ setting. Again likely not enough for the folks who like to shake their black Escalades to bits with garbage-can sized subwoofers, but more than enough for anyone who actually likes music, even in percussion-heavy genres. On the TV side of things it provides a huge improvement to the TV speakers. Admittedly this is not difficult, and soundbases or bars at half the price can make the same claim, but the discount versions are often either muddy or weak or both. No such problems here as we get good response and clarity across the frequency range, with much more distinct volume in the all-important spoken registers all too often lost in the mushy middle with TV audio.Physical setup is childishly simple as is operation of the unit itself. You may need to fiddle with your TV's settings however, especially to get the audio from external HDMI connected devices like DVD or Blu-Ray passed through the optical connections here. Be sure to check the dimensions of your TV base or feet of course, as this is likely too tall to sit between the wide-set TV feet of most models. Luckily mine can be moved from the edges to only a couple of feet apart.It's not perfect, admittedly. The lack of feedback from control settings is a bit of a niggle. What volume level am I on? (It will likely need to be higher for Bluetooth than TV by the way, as the former was initially barely audible even with the Dot turned up to 10 until I pressed the Fluance's volume up button a whole but unguessable bunch of times, but luckily switching from Bluetooth to optical inputs remembers the relevant audio settings and my feared deafening on return to TV listening never happened). There is no indication either on the screen, on the unit or on the remote. Same for 3D or Bass Boost settings. The latter is immediately apparent most of the time but the former seems to vary in how much difference it achieves so often hard to know current setting. The switching from various Bluetooth sources is a bit fiddly, and I'd prefer an option to eliminate the initially slightly distracting LED source indicator light altogether or at least make it turn off a few seconds after any change.. I'm pretty sure I can tell which input the sound is coming from without Fluance's help.All in all though a good choice if you want to combine very respectable Bluetooth music streaming audio quality with a solid mid-level TV audio upgrade in one easy cost-effective package which is handsome and well constructed.