Surround mode opens up the soundfield, but it doesn’t compromise the midrange or vocal clarity too much. Try it when watching Blu-rays for a more cinematic experience. Build and design quality Connection-wise it does all the basics plus a few more with Optical and Coax digital input as well as an analog 2 phono input. It has Bluetooth so you can get your music flowing, but also has a subwoofer output in case you really want to crank that bass up to 11. The Canton’s huge sound is largely down to its incredibly deep and muscular bass. Play Looper on Blu-ray and every time Joe blows away a victim, the blunderbuss shot has palpable weight, beefed up by those four potent subs. For starters, the overall wattage is estimated around 300W (total/peak) which is pretty serious for a soundbase. Much of that is reserved for the 5.25” woofer, positioned at the bottom. The power on tap is undeniable and, to help potential sympathetic vibrations, Pyle have included a digital equalizer. There's a wealth of inputs too - three pairs of analog ins should be enough for most, but you also get built-in FM radio, USB, a card reader, and last but not least, Bluetooth connectivity. Source selection is made easy by the included rather-well-thought-out wireless remote. If only Pyle had included a HDMI port, they would have broken the internet with this soundbase. Regarding running through the TV, I'm 99% sure that the optical out will only output 2 channel stereo regardless of the input from the bluray or other sources. From what I've researched for my TV (Panasonic TX50PST60 plazma), the optical out on the TV will only output 5.1 from an actual TV channel that is broadcasting 5.1 audio, all other output will be 2 channel.

Bluetooth aptX allows for connecting up your smartphone to stream music or podcasts straight from your favourite app. Just tap your NFC-enabled smartphone to the speaker and enjoy instant pairing. Built-in aptX Bluetooth gives the DM55a second life as a wireless music speaker, anda new Select feature automatically switches the soundbase into Bluetooth mode whenyou hit play on a paired device. Other fresh features include a dialogue-boosting Voice mode and a Hotel option that sets a maximum volume limit – useful if you’re re-homed to a travel tavern. Housing a 200 watts digital amplifier with a 2-way loudspeaker system, the HDF body of DM101 system has an elegance and durability of its own. An incorporated sub-woofer uplifts the sound quality and leaves a theatre effect in the room. With a sleek design and slim body, the sound system can be mounted anywhere desired such as below the television, or even wall mounted. The smart TV sound preset adjusts the sound as per the location of the Soundbase ensuring the best quality and effect. The pre-set equalizers measure the bounce and echo effect of the sound in a certain position from the set-up location and sets the sound effects accordingly.

For a boost in sound compared to what your telly can give you, this base with six speakers and Voice Intelligibility is one of the cleverest on the market. If anything, the DM100’s bass reproduction is too powerful. During Looper’s louder moments I found it a tad overpowering, boomy even, but after trimming the bass level to around -2 or -3 it sounded far more cohesive. This is the second version of Cambridge Audio’s TV5 soundbase, and although it doesn’t move from the place on this list held by its predecessor, we still think it’s a very good option. Because it does what it’s this high on the list many of the more expensive bars do, at a much more agreeable price. Compare it to the Canton DM55, which is a great soundbase, but which doesn’t offer nearly the bass response that this one does.

One notable feature of the Canton DM 75 is the inclusion of a subwoofer, providing an immersive low-frequency sound reproduction. This addition enhances the listening experience by delivering powerful and impactful bass. Installing the DM100 couldn’t be simpler. Once you’ve hauled your TV on top, it’s simply a case of connecting its optical digital output – anything you watch will play through the Canton. Just make sure your TV’s digital output is set to “PCM”.

Corporate / B2B

Dimensions were 60 x 30 and a perfect match for the granite board! Maybe this was a bit of overkill, but better that than to try and change anything once the Kuro and Canton were in position. The current arrangement is: I know with Forums you can get a sense that this issue is a frequent occurance because that is why we have posted comments, but I wonder how many are affected by this issue, 1 in 10, 1 in 1000, 1 in 50,000? - I get slightly more worried when I hear someone has the same issue twice - unusually for Lightning to strike twice unless the obvious is true and there is a Quality issue. One of the secrets of Canton’s success is that it takes a hi-fi approach to its speaker design. The DM55 uses separate tweeters, midrange drivers and woofers for each channel (six drivers in total) powered by a 200W amplifier

A key feature for music lovers is Bluetooth 4.0 with apt-X, which allows CD-quality streaming from mobile devices. You’ll also find on-board Dolby Digital decoding and DTS TruSurround, DTS’s processing technology for soundbars and TVs. Two tweeters, two mid-range, and two woofers bring everything else to life. Talking of the volume as well, there is ‘Hotel Mode’. This allows you to set a maximum volume which can only be surpassed by you. You don’t have to own a hotel though – maybe the kids have full control over the telly on a Saturday morning and usually deafen the neighbours, or you don’t want to wake the baby up. It's worth noting that newer soundbases, such as the Sonos Playbase and the Q Acoustics M2, do include HDMI connectivity. There’s no doubting the Canton DM75 is an excellent soundbase – we gave it an Award after all – but with the introduction of some fresh new rivals, there are now some things that put its fifth star on shaky ground. This voice boost technology is perfect for helping you to hear the dialogue which falls between scenes, which can sometimes feel very mumbled and fuzzy. Yet, it can be some of the most important scene input. You won’t have to reach for the remote to turn the volume up and then be blown away with the next scene or when the adverts come on. Plus, there are adjustable lip sync settings so you can get it as close to reality as possible.My main concern is where there could be a quality difference between the Canton receiving a 5.1 signal and a PCM signal - whether it's surround effects would be compromised dependant on imput. Oak is obviously a more solid material than glass, but it is still susceptible to vibration and is not as dense as granite. Again, I would recommend that you try isolating the unit from its surroundings in some way, maybe you could try some Sorbothane feet under the unit if nothing is on top of it? You can place TVs weighing up to 40kg on top, provided the stand fits well within the 545mm by 300mm surface area. If you have a TV over 50in, I’d recommend stepping up to the DM75 or DM100. It’s the most dynamically subtle soundbase we’ve heard so far, too, with more depth and insight than the rival Cambridge Audio Minx TV.

It will adjust the equalisers automatically with every scene in your film, boxset show or music channel so you always hear it just how it was designed to be heard. Standard, Stadium, Music, Cinema, News and Stereo give dramas, football matches, radio channels and festival coverage the perfect treatment. I probably didn't make it too clear, but I do have 5.1 Surround Sound and have Blu-Ray audio running through my AV amp. However, my Blu-Ray player (an Oppo) does have two HDMI outputs so I can play discs without turning it on, there is a direct audio connection to the Kuro. Re the downmixed PCM performance: have you tried switching the Canton to stereo mode when using that? You may prefer it, as it'll be cutting out any 'surround' processing. Sorry for all the questions but I need to clarify all this as I'm really confused as to why Canton advertise Dolby Digital and DTS in the specifications:

Resist the urge to push the bass level up to 3 and you’ll enjoy seamless, non-directional bass that doesn’t sound boomy. Its natural agility and seamless integration keeps your eyes on the action, not the bass controls. What’s more, it’s a cinch to use and build quality is top-notch. Yes it’s expensive but the DM100’s performance, design and simplicity are so impressive that you won’t regret splashing out. Canton DM100 – Verdict As I said earlier, running through the TV via the optical I did notice a drop in dialogue centreing performance compared to a direct connect from the bluray player - this could be down to the fact that the Canton is only receiving a stereo signal from the optical (due to the TV's limitations).