BlitzWolf BW-SDB1 36-Inch Smart Soundbar Review

A Closer Look and Performance

Installing the BlitzWolf soundbar couldn’t have been easier. Just pop it under your TV, plug it in, and you’re good to go. Hooking up audio devices is an easy process too, with it supporting HDMI ARC, Optical, USB, AUX and more. This means you can easily connect a games console, TV, Blu-Ray player or anything really. Since the optical cable was provided, and it’s the easiest source to route directly from the TV, while maintaining other device connections, that’s what we opted for. Of course, remember to set your TV to output to optical in the settings or it won’t work, but you know that anyway, right?

Ultra Wide Format

The soundbar is pretty huge, clocking in at 36″ across it’s the perfect fit for larger displays. We have it under a 49″ panel right now and it feels like the right size for the job. Of course, our TV uses stands that are on the edges, and those with central stands may conflict with the soundbar being tucked right under the TV. Of course, a lower shelf on your AV stand or bringing it further forward will solve this. Furthermore, don’t push it completely under your TV, as many of the drivers are upwards firing and you risk dampening the sound overall.

Built-in Control

For ease of use, there are a few basic controls on the top. The master power, source and volume can be changed here with ease. The unit will power off on its own when you turn off the TV, although this may be limited to the HDMI mode. For those wanting more options, you’ll need the included remote control though.

Build Quality

The design is neat and tidy. Sure, it’s not a premium priced product, but it’s still pretty tidy and presentable looking. The build quality feels robust, and I guess it would be given the size of the unit, it’s pretty weighty too.

There’s two sets of hard mesh on here, one on top, the other on the bottom. It uses two forwards firing tweeters, with two mids and two diaphragm subs on each side. This gives us a total of six speakers and two diaphragms. The sound output is technically 2.0 stereo, but the extra speakers help create a wider and more detailed soundscape.

Grippy

On the base, there are two soft rubber stands. These are great, as they stop the thing sliding around, as well as stopping it from vibrating on your TV stand. They’re nothing fancy, but they get the job done pretty well.

Connectivity

On the back, things are kept nice and simple. You’ll find power on one side, which is a standard figure-8 cable with 100-240v auto switching. For audio, you can use Coaxial, Optical, 3.5mm, or HDMI (ARC). Again, with the optical cable included, that seems to be the path of least resistance for setting up the soundbar.

The included remote is very nice indeed. It has a soft touch rubber finish. Each of the buttons have a very nice and defined mechanical click when pressed too. With it, you can control the power, EQ, volume, and source with ease. It also has a mute button, which the main unit lacks.

Performance

You may notice in the pictures of this review, the BlitzWolf isn’t exactly something I need. I’m already running a 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos setup with floor standers. Is the BlitzWolf going to replace them? Of course not. However, I have big speakers for a reason, the ones built into the TV suck really bad. Of course, this is true for most TVs these days. The BlitzWolf is easy to setup, looks great, and provides a much more powerful and clear sound than those tiny TV speakers ever could. For those wanting to boost their TV audio quickly, cheaply and without taking up a lot of room, it’s certainly going to appeal.

It’s not packing a lot of bass, but that’s hardly surprising. It still has more bass than the TV speakers though, and with the EQ modes, you can shape the sound a little bit. For some weird reason, one of the EQ profiles is “News” and honestly, I never felt the news needed it’s own EQ profile. The Sports mode pushed the mid-ranges pretty hard, which is great for bringing in the stadium ambience in a football game, while not taking much away from the commentary.

Movie mode is cool, giving the sound more bass and a more open feel, for a bit of fake surround sound. However, it was the music mode that sounded the best. It doesn’t sound like a completely flat EQ, but it pushes the speakers a little hardware and brings a bit more vibrancy to the sound. Ironically, there’s no option for no EQ, so you’ll have to find one of the four available that you prefer.

Video Test

Loudness warning for this video, please turn down your speakers or headphones. The volume towards the end of the video is EXTREMELY loud, so again, process with caution.