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What are the best soundbars for a PC?

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Creative SoundBlasterX Katana vs Sony HT-CT390

Specs

Weight

17.6 lbs

Frequency Response

NA

Connections

Aux, Optical, USB, Mic-in, Headset-out, Bluetooth

Subwoofer weight

-

Subwoofer size

-

Soundbar size

-

Weight

6.17 lbs

Frequency Response

N/A

Connections

HDMI output, USB 2.0, audio line-in, digital audio input (optical)

Subwoofer weight

7.8 lbs

Subwoofer size

6.7 x 4.7 x 2 in

Soundbar size

35.4 x 4.7 x 2 in

Pros + Cons

Pro
 PC soundcard bypass

To take full advantage of this soundbar's capabilities, when it is connected to a PC via USB, it bypasses the computer's onboard soundcard.
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Pro
 Capable of overwhelming sound levels

While the device seems small, it can actually get really loud, without distortion. It uses good quality speakers and external components to maintain this quality. The soundstage is quite good and the subwoofer provides a deep rumble.
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Pro
 Wide variety of PC-oriented ports

As a PC-oriented soundbar, the Katana has an optical input, a USB input for external storage, a micro USB port, and a microphone and headphone port.
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Pro
 Handy companion software

If the soundbar is connected with a USB cable, you can use the downloadable SoundBlaster Connect software to tweak with some sound enhancing settings. You can choose from different presets or manually control the equalizer. The soundbar's RGB lighting is fully controllable via the app, letting you choose between various effects and more than 16 million colors.
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Pro
 Has a programmable RGB lighting system

This soundbar has a programmable lighting system called Aurora Reactive, which features 16.8 million colors.
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Con
 Subwoofer isn't capable of handling low frequencies well

Due to its small size, this soundbar's subwoofer doesn’t handle the lowest frequencies very well.
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Con
 Software is Windows-only

The Katana's companion software only works with Windows operative systems.
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Con
 Soundstage tapers off with distance

Since it’s designed to be used up close, the Katana's soundstage tapers off as you sit farther.
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Con
 Subwoofer cable is too short

The subwoofer's cable is only 2 meters long, which can be too short for some setups.
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Con
 No HDMI support

The Katana doesn't support HDMI.
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Pro
 Good wired connectivity

The soundbar has an HDMI ARC port, an optical port and an analog connection on the back. The inputs slots are easy to reach even when the soundbar is mounted on the wall. There is a USB port on the side of the soundbar that allows you to play music from an external USB storage.
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Pro
 Can help avoid disturbing the neighbors

There is a Night Mode that softens the overall sound, to prevent disturbing the neighbors.
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Pro
 Bluetooth support

This soundbar supports Bluetooth, so you can stream music wirelessly.
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Pro
 Very well suited for dialogue

This soundbar's excellent central channels ensure spoken dialogue will always sound clear and well distinguished. This makes the HT-CT390 especially well suited for content with a lot of dialogue, such as talk shows, news or sports.
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Pro
 Wall mountable

This soundbar comes with easy to install wall mounts included.
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Pro
 Sleek and compact design

Measuring 35 x 2 x 5 inches, this soundbar is thin and doesn’t take up a lot of space in front of your TV. The slim profile makes an especially good fit when mounted to the wall as it will not seem much thicker than an average TV.
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Pro
 Wireless subwoofer

The included subwoofer is wireless and can be placed horizontally or vertically.
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Pro
 Controlable via smartphone

You can download a smartphone app called Songpal that allows you stream music and control the soundbar.
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Con
 Remote control is easy to lose

The included remote is small and easy to lose.
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Con
 No Wi-Fi support

The HT-CT390 has no Wi-Fi support.
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Con
 It noticeably lacks power

While its overall sound is clear and distinguishable, you may feel that this soundbar does not provide sufficient power and sound depth. Because of its slim speaker design, it struggles with mid-lows. Despite having a subwoofer, it still sounds subpar and lacks the power needed for a fully enjoyable experience.
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