Sharp HT-SL50H

Sharp HT-SL50H review

While super-thin flat-screen TVs look seriously cool, they often produce wispy, weedy sound. There are several ways to address this problem, from partnering the telly with a full-blown home-cinema system to buying one of many different types of supplemental TV speakers. One increasingly popular solution is to add a soundbar, a long speaker that usually sits directly beneath the screen.The Sharp HT-SL50H is one such soundbar, and it will set you back around £150.With its latest offering, Sharp has taken a novel approach to combat lacklustre TV sound. It's produced a soundbar that's every bit as slim and insubstantial as the super-thin speakers used by flat-screen TVs. Bizarrely, this audacious approach works rather well. The HT-SL50H is sized to partner screens measuring between 32 and 40 inches. The soundbar itself is 801mm wide but only 26mm tall and 50mm deep. Beneath its moulded plastic grille are six drivers, divided to produce a stereo effect. The wrap-around grille on the soundbar is rather charming.The soundbar connects to a fairly chunky subwoofer. The sub is actually the heart of the system, supplying all the requisite signal routing and digital amplification.