PLAYBASE Bass Response Underwhelming

I think you need to pair it with the sub to get the bass... I had the same response when I bought the bar before pairing it with the sub.

Have you tried turning the bass setting up higher in the controller app? This may help.

Or try running a Trueplay session on it.

Don't have a Playbase, nor have I seen on in person yet, so I don't know how much "bass" you would hear in comparison to a Playbar.

That is disappointing; so it would appear that the base isn't the all in one solution some have claimed for it. If it doesn't do music any better than the play bar, with/without Sub on an apples to apples comparison, the only reason to buy it in preference to the bar is for installation convenience.

Trueplay does little to enhance bass, it usually goes the other way where bass is excessive or bloated to start with, but since it doesn't cost anything, it is something to certainly attempt.

For the OP, playing around with the Bass slider will at least allow you to be sure you don't have a defective unit if nothing else.

Interestingly, Engadget's review likened it to a Play:5 2nd Gen, which I find fascinating. I'm not sure that I trust the knowledge of the reviewer, though....he obviously doesn't have the same experience base as you, Kumar. :)

Guess if I'm serious about it, I need to find a store near me, and do some comparison listening. Or just buy one.

Interestingly, Engadget's review likened it to a Play:5 2nd Gen, which I find fascinating. I'm not sure that I trust the knowledge of the reviewer, though....he obviously doesn't have the same experience base as you, Kumar. :)

Guess if I'm serious about it, I need to find a store near me, and do some comparison listening. Or just buy one.

That review is pretty subjective. I would say it's comparable to a Play:1 in bass response but fills the room more than a Play:1. Obviously you'll need to decide for yourself if it's comparable or not.

Someone needs to do a YouTube A/B test.

Interestingly, Engadget's review likened it to a Play:5 2nd Gen, which I find fascinating. I'm not sure that I trust the knowledge of the reviewer, though....he obviously doesn't have the same experience base as you, Kumar. :)

Never enough, and in this case, I have zero experience of bar or base. Engadget says this though " I'll say it sounds nearly as good as a single Play:5 speaker, and it absolutely smokes the smaller Play:1 I have in my living room when it comes to clarity and volume." But there isn't any mention in the review of how the base compares to the bar, although the comment raises expectations.

Reviews are subjective of course, and it would be nice to have a set up, even with the Sub added, that works well for music and movies, that is also discreet. I don't know if the base pulls off that trick better than the bar.

Nearly as good as a single play 5 for music, is not good enough for me.

I dont want two sets of speakers cluttering up my living room; one for tv and one for music. I value music over tv sound. The speakers in the thin TV's, means you really need something for the TV.

Can't we just have a second version of the play 5 available with optical in. I would be crazy enough the pay a sound bar/base price for it! 🙂

Received my Playbase today and it's already back in the box. I live in a small Philadelphia row home and was really hoping to be able to have 1 solution for my music/tv needs in our living room area. I will say, for film/tv, it sounded better than any other soundbar/base I've ever experienced, but for music, it was far and way from what the play 5 offers—not just in bass, but everything feels a little muddled and weak. It's louder than a single play:1, but to my ears never feels as crisp or punchy as one. Can't hold a candle to a pair of Play:1s (sans sub).

I will say, stereo separation is better than a single Play 5 because of the wider body.

My Plan is to reorder the Play:5 I returned...sigh...to get the Playbase and eventually purchase a cheap Vizio soundbar/sub combo for tv. If you want something that is great for movies and good for music I wouldn't hesitate, but if you want something close to audiophile quality with convenience just get a 5 or a pair of 1s with a sub.

But the Playbase is primarily a TV surround sound solution just as two play 1s and a Subwoofer sound great, it's what i have, but it is not a solution for watching movies. Given the physical constraints of the Playbase (s port included) I'd be very surprised if it were to produce base anywhere near the Subwoofer. It should be the equal of the Playbar with a tad more bass.