TimoLabs TM-SS2020BT-2015B, 2.0 Channel Sound Base/Sound Stand with Wireless Bluetooth Streaming, Bundled with HDTV Antenna

This is a great sound bar! I bought it for my parents who got a new LCD TV. The TVs now are so thin that good speakers just aren't possible, on their Sony it was tinny and muddled. This will be a long review and probably more than most people care about, but if it helps someone then cool!The actual connections are extremely simple. Match up the cable to the connection and you are done. To get the best results you have to understand a little about sound connections, and fixed vs. variable output. This means that the sound bar will either receive the sound from the source (your TV or Bluetooth device) at one single level, or at a level that can be increased or decreased on the source itself. I hooked this up via the headphone jack on the TV using the supplied cable. Using the headphone jack provides variable output, so the sound bar can be left on a single setting that you determine is the close to the average volume you want to hear. Then the TV volume controls will control the level of sound in a subtle fashion, in small increments just like it would if you were using the actual TV speakers. If you want more punch you can increase the sound bar volume. If your TV doesn't have a headphone output, or you are bent on using the RCA, coax or optical digital, you must search in your menus and set your TV sound output to "variable." Otherwise, you will only be able to control the volume with the sound bar. It only has 10 levels, so big jumps in volume should be expected. An additional bonus to using the headphone jack is that you use any sound controls provided by your TV, such as bass and treble.Example: Your TV volume is 0-100, and you normally listen at 35. Using a fixed output, the TV sends the signal at one level. If that level is 50, that's it. Your TV remote will not control the volume any more. There isn't a reliable way to tell how loud this will be when it comes out of the sound bar. It might be so soft you need to set it to 5 to even hear it, or 3 because it is too loud. Since the sound bar only has 10 levels, each time you change the volume, it is like jumping by 10 on the TV, and you might not be able to achieve the level you want at all. If you use a variable output though, you can set the sound bar to say, 5, and then increase or decrease the volume on the TV using the 0-100 scale. If your normal 35 is too soft or too loud, just increase or decrease the sound bar and then fine tune with the TV. Using variable output can also help to prevent distortion because you will be controlling some of the volume at the TV (preamp level) and some at the sound bar (amplifier level). Every time you increase the volume on the bar you are increasing the amplifier level directly. This can create distortion, because the speakers are receiving more power and could be driven to their limits, especially if there is a loud passage like an explosion. I also paired it with an iPhone which was a breeze and worked the first time. It is easy to switch between inputs with the remote. The volume control worked the same way. However, some Android devices can tell what the scale of a Bluetooth device is and will only control the device itself. So you're essentially stuck with fixed unless the app you are using controls volume independently.The sound quality is very good. As with all small speakers, truly deep bass just isn't possible and the perception of dynamic range is what is important. From that perspective this has an impressive and convincing low end. It does especially well in my parents' setup which has it inside a cabinet. Highs are crisp and there isn't any "essing." The "surround mode" adds some dimension but it really depends on the content as to whether it is an improvement or not. In my experience dialog tends to be a little less clear when it is on.The construction is solid. If you have a TV that has a "stand type" base at the center, you can likely put it on with no problem (subject to the weight limit of course). However, I found that it is too tall to fit under a TV that has the "leg type" feet at either side of the TV. The display shows through the mesh on the front when you use the remote, and disappears shortly after, which is nice because it is not distracting. If it loses power it will lose its settings.If you take the time to understand what you're purchasing you'll be really happy.

First, I don't like that there is no on base volume control. This is like a designed failure waiting to happen. If there is no remote, there is no control.Now, the sound is good on this, but a bit muffled. They are using good wood, a composite material that is known for good sound, and bass. This is dual ported, with no separator barrier. It has 4 woofers, not to be confused with subwoofers, and 2 tweeters. The woofers a full range speakers, with a "paper" cone, a composite material known to be a bit soft. It delivers a lot of sound, but it lacks on the high tones. This sound base works best with music of every sort I tested, offering a great smooth sound profile, though lacking in highs. Movies and games on the other hand offer a mediocre experience, that is more than a passing grade experience, but there are better systems out there for the experience.I am personally using this on a computer, connecting via the digital optical out. It does a great job lifting my monitor up, so it is more eye level, which is why I wanted a sound base. I did contemplate a monitor arm, which I have used on other systems, but I didn't need the articulation, and I wanted to clear desktop speaker options off my desk space. This allows a cleaner space and look and a more comfortable angle for looking at my monitor. Once again, I wish there was an option that involved on sound base volume and input controls! This would have made my review a 5 star even with the other flaws this may have had.

My wife and I moved into a small apartment and my Yamaha 5.1 Surround Sound system wasn't going to fit in our new place. I tried living with the TV speakers alone for awhile, but dialog was muddy and the sound was tinny overall. I looked at traditional soundbars, but they were very wide and I didn't want to mount something else on my wall.The Timo AMOY I fit the bill perfectly. It has powerful rich sound that is more than enough to fill the room. Movies and TV sound great and dialog is clear and crisp. The controls are simple and intuitive and setup is easy. We have multiple inputs to the TV and then send audio out to the Timo so we only have to switch sources on the TV. Our TV has only one audio output level so we rely on the Timo for volume control and with the improved volume levels in the 2015B model, we can go as quiet or as loud as we want. My wife loves linking in by Bluetooth with her phone and playing her music while she works on projects. Size wise, it can act as a base for a TV that is on a stand, but we put ours on a furniture console and it fit perfectly in an open slot.The support at TimoLabs is amazing. I have gotten emails back in less than 20 minutes before. It really feels like personal attention. I'll definitely look at their products in the future.

Purchased for my 82-year old father. The last one I gave him was a $140 Nakamichi which had a really cheap credit card size remote that had no actual buttons to push - he wore out the volume adjustment on the remote in a couple of months. He also broke the cord to the subwoofer while vacuuming.I choose the TimoLabs product because it had a real remote with actual tactile push buttons like most of us have on their TV and cable remotes.Also, the TimoLabs product is just one piece - no subwoofer with cord. However, the sound is superior to a more expensive sound bar with subwoofer. Bottom line: The TimoLabs Soundbase/Sound Stand is simpler for my dad to use, sturdier, and better sound quality at a great price point.