Prime Big Deal Days Disappoints for Soundbars in Australia, but Local Retailers Step Up

Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days event has once again left Australian shoppers wanting when it comes to soundbar deals, according to TechRadar's senior staff writer Max. In his report, he notes that Amazon Australia's selection of TVs and home cinema equipment is limited, and the current sale is no exception, with only a few discounts on Bose soundbars and a 48-inch LG B6 OLED TV, alongside unrecognisable brands and accessories.

Fortunately, other Australian retailers have stepped in. The Good Guys and JB Hi-Fi are offering a 20% saving on TV and soundbar packages when both are from the same brand. For instance, a 65-inch LG G6 OLED paired with the LG S60T soundbar totals AU$3,551.20, saving over AU$820.

TechRadar highlights several soundbars that promise significant audio improvements. The Sonos Arc Ultra is praised as one of the best one-box Dolby Atmos soundbars, with clever speaker driver technology, though it lacks multiple HDMI inputs and DTS:X support. The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a compact alternative that delivers convincing virtual Dolby Atmos and excels with music.

Samsung's Q990H soundbar package is described as "the real bee's knees," producing effective Atmos height and surround effects with clear dialogue. A step-down model, the Q910H, offers a 9.1.4 channel configuration (compared to 11.1.4) and loses 4K/120Hz passthrough but still provides genuine Dolby Atmos and a substantial discount. Both require the code SAVENOW for the full saving.

The JBL Bar 1300 is noted for its versatility: it can be used as a single bar with subwoofer or with detachable rear speakers that double as Bluetooth speakers. It's available on Amazon but not as a Prime Day deal, and also from JBL AU for AU$1,999.95.

Sony's soundbar package includes dedicated rear surrounds that connect wirelessly, with all connections on the subwoofer. TechRadar's colleagues at What Hi-Fi? praised it as a "huge, deep, room-filling performer" that "combines that scale with control and nuance." It's available for AU$899 on Amazon and elsewhere.

For budget-conscious buyers, the Creative Stage Pro 2.1 soundbar is a cost-effective upgrade for TV or computer audio. TechRadar's review found impressive bass and excellent volume for its size and price, though expectations should be tempered.

This article was originally reported by TechRadar. The details are confirmed by the source, but interpretations about performance are based on TechRadar's expert reviews.