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Customer reviews

Rating 4.6 out of 5 stars with 93 reviews

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  • Value

    Rating 4.3 out of 5 stars

  • Quality

    Rating 4.7 out of 5 stars

  • Ease of Use

    Rating 4.5 out of 5 stars

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88%would recommend to a friend

Customers are saying

Customers recognize the 4.1-Channel Studio 3D Mini Soundbar for its exceptional sound quality, compact size, and easy setup. Many users are impressed with the powerful bass and crystal-clear audio, which greatly enhances their TV experience. The soundbar's compatibility with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X technologies further adds to its appeal, providing an immersive cinematic experience. While some customers find the price to be a drawback, the overall positive feedback highlights the soundbar's value as a high-quality audio solution.

This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.

The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 1 Showing 1-20 of 93 reviews
  • Pros mentioned:
    Sound quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    A must have for movie and video game enthusiasts

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    Posted . Owned for 11 months when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    This is a must have for all movie and video game enthusiasts out there. The sound is so much better after installing this to complete your TV setup.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Compact size

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Definitive mini sound bar

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    Posted . Owned for 10 months when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Easy install and the sound quality is fantastic for the price. Also the size is great not like other sound bars that take up space.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Sound quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Definitive Soundbar

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    Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The best soundbar i will recommend for anyone who loves quality sound

    I would recommend this to a friend
    • Brand response from Definitivetech Team
      Posted .

      We are grateful for your feedback and excited about your positive experience.

  • Pros mentioned:
    Sound quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Sounds great!

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    Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I have to agree with some of the other reviews - very small bar/very loud sound. I replaced my definitive technology W Studio with this bar. Subs are nearly identical. I like that the port for the sub is down facing (my kids have put toys and other objects in past front or rear ported subs). The sound is good, and I look forward to using eARC when my new TV arrives, but ARC works well now. I used the other hdmi in for my 4K blu ray player with split audio/video hdmi outputs. I had trouble setting it up with Wi-Fi on the HEOS app, had to get out an Ethernet cable. Disappointed that it is not in the Harmony Logitech universal remote database

    I would recommend this to a friend
    • Brand response from Definitivetech Team
      Posted .

      Thank you for the wonderful feedback. Customer satisfaction is a priority for us because it is valued customers like you that help us continue to be one of the leading brands in quality sound products. If we can be of any assistance please don't hesitate to reach out. Happy listening!

  • Pros mentioned:
    Compact size, Connectivity, Dolby atmos
    Cons mentioned:
    Remote control
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Great compact soundbar with DTS:X & Dolby Atmos!

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The Definitive Technology Studio 3D Mini 4.1 Channel Sound Bar... It provides connectivity via optical, HDMI (two ports for both ARC/eARC & passthrough for 4k 60fps), wifi (optional ethernet port for wired connectivity), bluetooth and USB (direct media playback from usb devices). There is no shortage of connectivity variety though the sound bar is very compact. Optical port worked as intended and is probably the most straightforward method of connecting the sound bar to your TV or computer. Bluetooth connectivity also works as intended and the range is quite good as well; i was able to go up a floor from where the sound bar was without noticing any hitches or skipping when playing music. Wifi connectivity via Google Assistant was also working pretty well; i was able to stream music via Spotify and Youtube Music and additionally control my Google home products with voice commands like i would on my Nest. The USB port is a very welcomed addition if you have high-fi music you want to listen to! The HDMI ARC/eARC port was a bit more tedious to connect, however it was by no means a fault from Definitive Technology; i have a Samsung TV, and they are known to have multiple HDMI ARC issues. If you also have a Samsung TV and experience issues when connecting via HDMI ARC, you can follow the steps below (which work 99% of the time for me to fix the hand shake issues): - on Samsung TV, disable Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) >> typically found under Settings > System > Expert Settings - ensure Samsung TV audio is set to TV Speaker - now enable Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) - plug in HDMI from sound bar into Samsung TV's HDMI ARC port ***Please note, you will not need to change the Samsung TV audio to HDMI ARC, it should do it automatically once you plug sound bar into TV’s HDMI ARC port Onto sound quality of the sound bar and wireless sub... Boy oh boy, for something this compact, i was blown away at the sound production. Listening to music was quite a joy as the highs and mids are very well distinguished, and the lows were very clear. I would say from a musical point of view, it is a tad bright, but not enough to overpower the mids. The sub does a great job and producing deep lows that are defined and clean. When watching movies with Dolby Atmos or DTS:X, the experience is also quite jaw dropping. The quality of the jump scare/dramatic scenes are much more immersive with these amazing features. Again, i can’t stress enough how well engineered this sound bar is for it to be so compact yet so feature rich. One thing that i would’ve liked to see with this sound bar, especially at this price point, is a back-lit remote. Though i use this sound bar via HDMI ARC (meaning i will be primarily controlling the volume with either my TV’s remote or my streaming remote), it is still a pretty important feature to have should i need to use the sound bar’s remote to change audio profiles when in low-lit environments. One other small thing is when i took the subwoofer out of the box, i noticed one of the corners was peeling off. The integrity of the subwoofer still seems intact as i did not hear anything (or musically observed) that would indicate it is faulty. Not sure how this could’ve happened during shipping as the packaging materials were pretty sturdy and protective, my guess would be that it came from the factory like this and slipped through quality control since the packaging was pretty good. Not a big deal, but still worth pointing out for anyone that is a stickler for cosmetics! Overall, i would highly recommend this sound bar to anyone that is in the market for a small footprint sound bar with DTS:X and/or Dolby Atmos! This sound bar will not disappoint!!!

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Best bang

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    Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    This is a great option without breaking the bank and it sounds well with all tv shows I watch.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Compact size, Dolby atmos, Easy setup
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Need to Hear with Dolby Atmos

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    As far as soundbars go, this one is definitely one of the best sounding and functioning, but it comes with a high price tag too. So the question is whether or not its worth that price. Setup was extremely easy with the HEOS app. I just had to plug the power cords in for the bar and sub, and then connect the tv through the HDMI ARC port. Sub paired up with the bar on its own automatically and then it was just a matter of following the steps through the app. The longest part was that there were a couple updates already available but otherwise it was one of the easiest and trouble-free setups I've done. It even walked me through a very simple step to make sure my TV remote was able to control the soundbar. Took literal seconds for my TV remote to control the soundbar. One other really nice feature on this soundbar is its size. It's a little bit deeper front to back than most, but it's not as wide as a typical soundbar. So this easily fit between the leg stands underneath my 55" TV. Sound wise, it comes in loud and clear. Watching a superhero movie the action hits you hard and the sound fills the room. One thing that first caught my attention compared to other soundbars is how clear the sound is, even at higher volumes If you're just looking at basic sound for music and majority of video content out there, it's probably not going to blow you away so much to justify the higher price. But that all changes with Dolby Atmos, which is something that this soundbar is capable of handling. Now I'll be honest, I was having trouble finding a good candidate to really test out the Dolby Atmos feature. Every action movie I put on, from the latest Star Wars to Marvels offerings, was sounding not much different than with other systems I've had. Some cases turned out to not truly be in Atmos, even though it was supposed to be according to the streaming service. While not the fault of the soundbar, it does expose a flaw. The status led display flashes the same light pattern for the different Dolby modes, making it difficult to tell whether you're listening to Atmos or just regular Dolby Surround. I discovered the best way to know for sure is through the HEOS app. There is a 'Sound Mode' area that shows what mode you are in and also allows you to select from the various available modes. Sometimes this took a while to sync up with what was actually playing though. At one point I was 15 minutes into a movie thinking I was listening to Atmos, but then when I started switching between the modes to hear the difference, the Atmos option disappeared. Finally though, after looking for streamable movies with Atmos, I came across an unlikely candidate, that wasn't even an action movie. I threw on 'Dolemite is my name' on Netflix, went into the sound modes in the HEOS app, and Dolby Atmos came up as an option. It didn't take long into the movie to start getting blown away. This is about the closest I've ever heard a soundbar get to a true surround sound speaker system. Watching the club scenes it feels like you're sitting at one of the tables in the middle. I honestly don't know how this soundbar manages to get some of the sounds to come from behind you like it does. And the music sounded like it was coming from an actual stage. Prior to finding this movie and hearing what this soundbar can really do with Atmos sound, I was a bit on the fence of whether or not this unit really was that much better than others that cost half the price. But as I'm writing this I'm still a bit in awe over what I was hearing. As much praise as I have for this soundbar, it's still not going to fully match up to a surround sound system that encircles you in speakers, but as I said before, this gets surprisingly and eerily close, but it also takes Atmos in order to be able to do it. Overall, as far as soundbars go, this is one of the best I've heard. Marginally better in most modes, but really standing out with Atmos. If you have the best streaming services and have Atmos capability, then this soundbar is definitely worth the higher price. If you don't, and aren't that much of an audiophile, it would be tough to justify.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Sound quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Hear Me Now

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    Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Makes the sound sooo much better ~ can hear the vocals now and everything is crisp and clear!

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Sound quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Mini Sound Bar

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    Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Slim, sleek and easy to use! Also great quality sound.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Compact size
    Cons mentioned:
    Pricey, Unclear satellite support
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Big sound can come in small packages.

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Definitive Technology - Studio 3D Mini 4.1 Channel Sound Bar with an 8" Wireless Sub, Built-in HEOS, 4K HDMI with eARC Summary: Big sound can come in small packages. Pros: * Great size. The soundbar size is super small, but it packs several speakers that more than make up for its size. * Excellent sound. The sound from the soundbar and the subwoofer is exquisite as far as soundbars go for this size. I'll repeat this many times. * Svelt form factor. The soundbar has a strange trapezoidal shape to it. It is this way for optimal placement/direction of the speakers. * Atmos support is awesome. For being a soundbar, the Atmos sound quality is rich and surprisingly loud. * HEOS built-in = AirPlay convenience. I love streaming directly to the soundbar for some ambient white noise music or even time-to-do-chores music. The ease of doing this is great. The HEOS setup is a little lame. I think it requires more steps than is necessary, but if you already have HEOS capable system(s) then it does make sense to get this all up and running. * Good volume. This unit projects audio quite well. I think the volume indicator and increments are a little wonky. But the unit functionally is definitely capable of immersing you in a movie experience. * Standard ports and fittings. This unit offers eARC, input and output HDMI, optical, and the ports aren't inconveniently placed or awkward to access. Cons: * Subwoofer size. The subwoofer is huge! This isn't a con, per se, but it is something you'll notice for sure because it definitely requires some floor space. * Price. This unit is not cheap. You might be fooled into thinking the form factor scaled to quality, but it isn't so. You're getting quite a bit of quality with this price tag. * Satellite support? I haven't had much luck in determining whether or not this soundbar supports satellites. I think it does, but I don't know for sure. But the fact it is ambiguous at all isn't so helpful. There just wasn't enough documentation on this model (yet). * Unremarkable remote. For the product [soundbar] the remote is on par. For the price point, the remote is awkward to touch and use. The spacing of the buttons feels off as do the tactile cues. Thankfully, you can control the soundbar with your other HDMI-connected equipment (for instance my AppleTV Remote). * HEOS/ Subwoofer setup/pairing can be confusing. The processes are distinct and must be performed for separate and unrelated reasons. If your sub becomes unpaired, or if you're setting up HEOS - read the instructions. The buttons should be straightforward, but not necessarily the case with this unit. One process is similar to other pairing steps, while the other is similar to the setup of a SONOS device. With no LCD readouts, you must depend on a few blinking colored LEDs to decipher the product's status. Use: I own an LG 9SKY + 8SPK Atmos soundbar for my living room and this unit outcompetes it on volume alone. Where the LG might sound great (audible voice in Atmos) at 20-22, this unit sounds clear and audible at half of that. The caveat is that it switches to lower volume for non-Atmos content. This means I have to remember where/when I run the risk of being blasted out of the room when switching content. As far as the effect of Atmos, the different shapes of the rooms mean I can't provide many objectives or useful subjective feedback other than it works well. If I wasn't going to go all-in on home theatre setup with structural speakers, etc, I might have considered a Definitive Technology soundbar. I got the Studio for my master bedroom as the soundbar I bought for the room was just too anemic for any content. Sadly, it was only marginally better than the TV's built-in speakers. The DT Studio 3D Mini packs quite a punch in a form factor that is surprisingly small. It sits below the TV and doesn't block or take up too much space. The subwoofer is large, but only takes up a few more square inches than the unit it replaced. The sound from this unit is great and it really fills up space during dramatic scenes. If you're looking to add some oomph audio for your TV and placement is in a bedroom or smaller room and don't mind spending a little more for the form factor, then you should consider the Definitive Technology Studio 3D Mini.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Dolby atmos, Sound quality
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    DEFINITive Technology DEFINITely Delivered

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The Studio 3D Mini 4.1 Channel Sound Bar with 8" Wireless Sub is a sleek addition to a room. I have had a Samsung TV mounted in the bedroom and the sound quality from the TV alone was often disappointing. Now, with the Studio 3D Mini setup the room has beautiful, dynamic, booming sound with a minimal profile. I’ve included a couple pictures to see the true size of the system. The Channel Sound Bar on the dresser (with some commonly identifiable items to compare size) and the Wireless Sub taken out of the box not set up yet, but with a 10lb cat to consider the size for placement. Product setup was not as easy as I had wished. Honestly, I considered a lower rating just based on the difficulties I had with setup. Out of the box, I was amazed by the clean lines and deep, sleek, black look of the system. There is a box with the cables and remote well laid out. Overall an extremely professional packing and presentation. The provided cables are not the longest in length, but the power cords are standard and would be simple to get longer length cords. The reason I mention this, is the “Wireless Sub” does require a wire for power and I had difficulty placing it in my room with the cord length provided. Other than that, there is an HDMI and optic cord provided depending on whatever setup you can accommodate. Of course, to use the Dolby features of this system, the HDMI ARC/eARC will be the go-to. If you have a television that does not support HDMI ARC/eARC, optical is still an option at the least. Setup seems straight forward. Plug in the power, turn on the system (which the sub pairs seamlessly), and download the HEOS app. The HEOS app recognized the Studio 3D Mini quickly, connected to the internet, and installed an update efficiently. The HEOS app is not the prettiest or easier to maneuver; however, since sound bars only have lights to indicate functions or settings it is awesome to have an application to see what settings are active and what inputs are being used. Overall, it is a blessing to have the HEOS app and it is a simple process to get setup. Getting the system to connect to the television with HDMI ARC/eARC was a process to say the least. I want to blame Samsung for my difficulties (and considering the sound quality, the Studio 3D Mini still ran me over). I had issues having the device connect to my Samsung TV. The Samsung TV was acting as if it was not communicating with the device (as HDMI ARC speaks back and forth between the two devices). I made sure the HDMI-CEC setting was activated on the TV, but it did not work at first. I attempted to re-connect the devices, power on and off, etc for about an hour without success. I ended up unplugging both the sound system and TV for 15 minutes while I showered. Went back to it after my shower, and the system connected without issues. So, I’m not sure what went differently other than letting both power down, but if you have issues with setup I would suggest full power down and try again. Now that the HDMI ARC has been recognized, the TV transitions seamlessly between its own sound and when powered on, the sound for the Studio 3D Mini. Which, the system communicates that it is Dolby Atmos activated and turned the necessary settings on my TV on. And a nice plus is that my TV remote automatically synced with the device! Speaking of Dolby, and sound… the true meat of this sound system comes down to the sound quality. It is extremely difficult to write into words the quality of sound, but the quality took me from frustrated to absolutely in awe. I was unsure what a sound system having Dolby technology would mean and with a subwoofer? But I started playing one of my favorite Netlfix shows and was blown away. The sub provides deep bass while the soundbar is providing a dynamic experience. While looking at the TV and lying-in bed, I could not distinguish where the sound is coming from. You can feel the sound resonate in your body and it feels like you are immersed within the images. With simply a sound bar and sub, you get the sensation of being in a theater, at home. Along with TV connectivity and transforming a room, using Bluetooth connection or the HEOS application music streaming is easy and quite extravagant quality. Overall, a solid simple home sound system. The sound quality far surpasses what I expected from a soundbar/sub combo and was well worth my set-up hiccup! I will add that I do believe this system is a Magnolia product at BestBuy, which this is my second Magnolia device and these always do speak to a true home theater quality that is unsurpassed.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    It is very good easy to store great cruel quality

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    Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    It is very good easy to store great cruel quality snakes get it

    I would recommend this to a friend
    • Brand response from Definitivetech Team
      Posted .

      Thank you for sharing and providing feedback. A positive customer experience is our number one goal. We hope you enjoy the 3D MINI soundbar for many years to come. Welcome to the Definitive Technology family. Happy listening!

  • Rated 1 out of 5 stars

    Got an opened box.

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    Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Soundbar is good but Best Buy gave me an open box.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Easy setup, Sound quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    This is it

    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    This sound bar can get uncomfortably loud. When playing Dolby audio content, it's extremely loud at 50% volume. I'm legitimately afraid to put it past 75%. The subwoofer can shake the entire room. I'm too afraid to do it, but I guarantee if you put the subwoofer and soundbar at MAX your eyeballs may vibrate out of your head. Legally this kit should probably come with a warning label. As far as clarity goes, there's 3 dialogue clarity options. Low, med, high. No matter how loud you push the soundbar, you will be able to understand what's being said. I didn't notice any drop in performance while using the dialogue options. The set up is easy. You gotta use the HEOS app. The app doubles as a remote, but a physical remote is also included. You can adjust treble and bass in the app. There's 6 quick save macros. The remote is sleak and IR compatible. It has several physical buttons for changing input, power, Bluetooth, dialogue and 3 preset EQs; music, night and movie. The soundbar is also ir compatible with your TV remote so you can control volume with 1 remote. You can also control volume with your phones volume rockers in the app. What I really love is the visible dots on the front of the soundbar that light up or dim when changing not just volume, but all settings. Really love that they did this. I did a lot of research on other soundbars. I was using a Sonos Beam that I'm going to return. I'm going to say the sound quality of the bar alone is equivilant to the beam, maybe better becuase of all the advanced options. I would highly recommend this product.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Dolby atmos
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Out. Standing.

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Straight to it, this had me sold the moment I was hearing things behind me. Now for something more in depth… This is so clean just coming out of the box. I swear you can tell the quality of a product based on presentation. There is no disappointment here. This comes in an easy to manage package, well covered and protected pieces, clear cut instructions with QR codes available for those who do not like the paper variety. Be careful with how you grab that woofer though. It is laying on it’s side and you’ll want to grab it by the down firing port and not the woofer. This package comes with a single optical cable, a single HDMI cable (you may need one more and I highly recommend it), the soft-to-the-touch remote and required batteries for it. The two identical power chords for the sub and sound bar is a pleasant way to simplify the easiest part of the setup. Now, based on your setup you will have various ways to hook this up to fit your needs. The only drawback to this unit is the single HDMI output it has. You can use an optical cable approach however in my testing I was not able to achieve the quality audio I experienced using the full HDMI setup. And if you take that route, you will need a receiver to connect any additional items with an HDMI connection. Having said that, once I had this set the way it is meant to be to be able to take advantage of the featured eARC capabilities…I was blown away. I swear I was hearing things behind my head when testing a featured Dolby Atmos video on YouTube. Just incredible for such an elegant package. This is the perfect fit for anyone with a TV that has a single device hooked up to it and wants something powerful and unobtrusive. The cost gets a bit steeper when you have more than one item to connect. And by that, I mean one or more console(s), computer(s), streaming device(s), etc. And if you do, you would be forced to buy a receiver or use the optical cable connection. And unfortunately, if you use an optical cable you will be losing the support for Dolby Atmos and the like.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Dolby atmos
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 3 out of 5 stars

    Studio 3D Mini Sound Bar falls short

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    With some applied audio magic, this sound bar and accompanying wireless sub pack a powerful punch with minimal fuss, maximum flexibility for your home theater. The value add is its operability through the smart phone HEOS app that provides a path through the most popular music streaming apps. $900 at Best Buy. Send content through those streamers via the connected smartphone app straight on to and played through 3D Mini. Control the volume and sound profile with the phone app, and tailor the EQ and sub participation to taste. Am I excitedly getting ahead of myself? Maybe just a bit. At its core, this is a soundbar infused with audio magic that can translate Dolby Digital and Dolby Atmos audio signals from a connected TV into a pleasing and powerful surround affect from its multi-speaker soundbar with wireless sub. **WHAT’S IN THE BOX** • Soundbar • 8-inch powered subwoofer • 2 power cables • HDMI cable • Optical Digital Audio cable • Remote control with batteries • Wall mount spacers & template **THE SETUP** Instructions were followed and provided for easy set-up. Denon HEOS app was downloaded and an account set up on both iPhone and Android phones. The sound bar was set on a tabletop under a 4K HDR smart TV with available HDMI ARC connector. The supplied HDMI cable went from the HDMI port on the soundbar to the HDMI ARC port on the TV. A DirecTV satellite unit was already connected to the TVs HDMI 1. With the app loaded, it was time to power on the sub. Recognized by the phone app, we followed the prompts to join the home Wi-Fi network. Next came the simple subwoofer addition by simply powering on the sub. The light blinked cooperatively and that was that. Powering on the TV, it immediately recognized the newly-active ARC port, and it was added. NOTE: The visual content comes from its source via HDMI cable IN from the DirecTV HDMI output. The sound communication, in this example, originates from the TVs ARC out to the HDMI port on the soundbar. It can be confusing to think that it is only sound coming through this HDMI cable, but that’s just how it is. Next, into the TV’s settings to disable the internal speakers as they will no longer carry the TV audio. That responsibility has been shifted to the soundbar. This $900 TV enhancement is designed to provide anything from basic stereo sound to a choice of either Dolby Atmos or DTS-X. Both are surround sound technologies that are somewhat competitive. If a video is encoded with either ATMOS (as identified by its unique icon) or DTS-X, the designation should be a part of the video’s listing. Learn about this to get maximum enjoyment from the investment. Find content to try out modes and experience the settings. And let’s not forget about the music capabilities exclusive of the home theater surround option. In the HEOS app, find the ability to link with providers including Pandora, Spotify, TuneIn, Amazon Music, deezer, napster, iHeartRADIO, SiriusXM, TIDAL, Rhapsody, and music from the connected phone, as well as music on a USB thumb drive connected to the USB port on the soundbar. Voice control through the popular voice assistants is also built in. Surely, users will run out of time to use it all before running out of options! Let’s put it the test! **PUT TO THE TEST** I confess to doing some advance work, learning what movies and TV shows are encoded for listening to the effects of Dolby ATMOS and DTS-X. DTS-X can be found on a small quantity of Blu-ray discs. This means in order to hear it through the soundbar, a BD player would need to be piped through an HDMI port on the connected TV, and the sound would be decoded through the soundbar. As for Dolby Atmos, that gets trickier. Ideally, users would want to watch and listen to Dolby Atmos-encoded videos either through a station from a cable or satellite provider OR through a streamer, such as Netflix, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, YouTube TV and others. Depending upon the source of the content, even if Atmos-encoded, if the provider does not pass along the encoding, then the viewer is out of the cool sound loop. It is not easy! Of course, users are always free to choose plain old stereo, but where is the fun in that?? After a rather exhaustive search, I tried some movies we have on BD with Dolby Digital encoding that sounded pretty darn good. Then, searching online within the services to which we subscribe, I found a few gems. To me, the ideal would be watching 4K HDR content, such as from Netflix and Curiosity Stream, to name just two, and listen to excellent sound from those with complementary encoding. Another option is using the Optical Digital Audio Cable, a glass fiber cable that goes from TV’s output to the soundbar’s input. I am not sure what is the significant difference between this connection method and using the HDMI ARC stream. Users are encouraged to experiment with both, noting what is most pleasurable and going in that direction. There is no right or wrong here, as the goal is to produce surround effects that are pleasing to the user and not some dopey reviewer. Next, it was time to use the audio-only capabilities. Through the HERO app, I successfully streamed from several of the streamers listed above. However, it is not as easy or as transparent as I would have liked. A chat with Definitive Technology tech support confirmed the above. **CONCLUSION** Diminutive in size, powerful in performance, and with multiple options for content playback from connected TV, DVD player, music streaming services, Studio 3D Mini’s versatility is its strength. Hoping for a strong surround sound affect from an almost unlimited well of content that this soundbar would magically process once it was set up, I was disappointed with the difficulty presented in achieving this goal. Why it cannot convert a stereo input to recognizable 4.1 channel surround affect I do not know. It is not easy to recommend any soundbar, much less one at this price point, that falls short of what I consider to be its prime objective – feed it surround sound-encoded video, hear and feel the power of easily recognizable surround sound effect. **WARRANTY** Definitive Technology’s Studio 3D Mini 4.1 Channel Sound Bar with 8" Wireless Sub, Built-in HEOS, 4K HDMI with eARC is covered by the manufacturer’s three-year parts and labor warranty.

    No, I would not recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Dolby atmos
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Huge, Crisp, Complex Sound in Small Package

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    When I setup the Definitive Technology - Studio 3D Mini 4.1 Channel Sound Bar with an 8" Wireless Sub, Built-in HEOS, 4K HDMI with eARC, I used it as a replacement for a old 7.1 system. I didn't expect that it would actually come to a 7.1 system standard, but, once hooked to my new Roku® Ultra that supports Dolby Vision®, and Dolby Atmos® encoding, it blew me away! The sound that the Studio 3d Mini produces is multi-dimensional, huge, crisp and complex. It is awesome! Try it with the large number of Dolby Atmos® encoded programs on Netflix and let yourself be blown away by this small footprint system!

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Easy setup, Sound quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Definitive Sound Bar/Woofer

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    Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Definitive sound bar and woofer added to LG OLDED B2, is everything we need in a TV, sounds great. Easy set up.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Sound quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Fantastic sub

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    Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The thing sounds amazing in my master bedroom. I paired this with my new OLED tv and it make a huge difference. I did have it with a ROKU tv, but I feel the newer tv talks better with the sub, to let it know when it is HDR, Dolby atoms, etc.... I also found this as a open box for $147!!!!! amazing price and deal.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Easy setup, Sound quality

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    PS

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    Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Great sound and easy setup. Much better than I expected.

    I would recommend this to a friend
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