Genius USB Soundbar 200BT review

A couple of years ago, I talked about the smallest and most inexpensive sound bar Genius USB SoundBar 100, which

connected to all devices.It had a 3.5 mm jack and a USB to power the electronics. At a price of about 1,000 rubles, it easily replaced the simplest speakers in a budget TV, PC, laptop, or even in a smartphone with a tablet.

The device has survived to this day, because I periodically connect it to a laptop to watch movies, since the SoundBar 100 is still louder and better than the speakers in a decent laptop.

Genius has a new model this yearsoundbar called Genius USB Soundbar 200BT. Do not pay attention to 200BT - this is not 200 watts, but just such a naming: the description of the device does not mention such powers anywhere, even for the sake of marketing.

A remote control has been added to the Soundbar 200BT,Bluetooth support and built-in RGB lighting. I do not quite understand why the latter is needed. Probably, someone will like to listen to music by the light of the soundbar. The type of glow is adjustable.

The device can be found for 1800 rubles. I saw a "bar" for 3000 rubles, but this is too high a price for such a device.

Technical specifications
Equipment
Design
Elements
Sound
Impression

Technical specifications

Connection	Bluetooth 5.1 or line-in
Total output power (W)	4
Resistance, Ohm	3
Speakers	Two pieces 2 inches
Frequency response, Hz	120 - 20,000
Signal-to-noise, dB	≧75
Input sensitivity, mV	600 +/- 100
Power supply	USB 5V DC
Weight, g	690
Dimensions (W x H x D), mm	448 x 72.6 x 73.5

Equipment

Soundbar
Instruction
Warranty card

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Design

The previous soundbar model was flat on all sides, that is, in front of you was the simplest plastic rectangle.

The novelty was decided to be a little structurally complicatedto make it look more attractive. The front side is larger than the back. And the side edges smoothly go back. Well, there are roundings on the sides.

In general, the design has become more pleasant due to the light rounded frame, inside which the RGB backlight has been built.

Unfortunately, the backlight is primitive: apparently, it consists of a small number of LEDs, the color transitions are relatively sharp.

The backlight has red, green, blue,magenta, yellow and cyan LEDs. Brightness is below average. In bright light, it is barely noticeable. You can switch effects: the color changes in a circle, the colors fade into each other, they change abruptly or just burn. Of course, all this "riot of colors" is turned off completely. In short, as a nice bonus - it will do.

The whole body is made of plastic, the frame on the front is metal, painted black.

The build quality is excellent, it does not feel like a budget device. Although it is clear to the touch - the case is empty and thin.

Elements

Below there are two rubberized legs under a slight slope. The distance between them is about 33 cm. Suddenly it will be critical for someone, for example, for installation on a narrow bedside table.

The Soundbar 200BT measures 448x72x73mm and weighs approximately 690 grams. Not very big, not heavy. In theory, it should fit under monitors and, of course, TV.

The soundbar has a wired remote control. It connects to the device and at the end has USB and 3.5 mm connectors for power supply and sound transmission.

The length of the cable from the “bar” to the remote control is 65 cm, from the remote control to the end of the connectors - 102 cm.

The control panel has dimensions of 91x41x17 mm. On it are located:

Operation indicator. Lights up red;
Bluetooth pairing button and switch to Line-in;
Button to increase the volume and set the previous song;
Button to decrease the volume and set the next song;
Power button. Turns the sound on or off regardless of the backlight. She is play / pause;
Touch zone to switch color effects. Previously described the scheme.

All buttons have a minimum stroke, there ischaracteristic sound of a loud "click". The previous model also had a remote control, but it only had a volume control wheel. In my opinion, such control is more convenient, since you can quickly set the desired volume level.

It takes time with the buttons: the adjustment range is wide, and you either need to “click” for a long time or hold it for a long time.

As for the sensor, it works quickly and without problems.

As I wrote earlier, at the end of the cable there areUSB connector for powering the soundbar and 3.5 mm for audio transmission. Accordingly, you can connect the Genius USB Soundbar 200BT to any gadget with a mini-jack. And if the device does not have USB power (in a smartphone or tablet), then you can connect the power adapter.

The length of the cable with the remote control is about 180 cm. It is quite enough to place the soundbar somewhere far from the sound source.

The branching of the connectors can be made wider, it does not have a fixation, which is good. Sometimes USB and 3.5 mm are at a great distance from each other.

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Sound

The soundbar is equipped with two 2-inch speakers,impedance 3 ohm, signal-to-noise ≧ 75 dB, frequency range 120 Hz - 20,000 Hz, output power 600 (+/- 100) mV, total output power 4 W. Sound Genius stereo.

To my ears, the frequency range is something like this: 80 Hz - 18,000 Hz. Pretty good for a budget soundbar.

Minimum volume level (white noise) inaround 50 dB in a meter from the device. Enough to make out words in a movie or TV series at a distance of up to a couple of meters. But not so loud that it could be heard somewhere in the other room.

The maximum volume level is about 80 dB. I would not twist it all the way, since at about 80% -100% of the volume level, low-frequency distortion, overload occurs.

The frequency range is, of course, shifted to the middlefrequencies, high frequencies also play well. With bass, for obvious reasons, everything is not so good. However, the Soundbar 200BT outputs sound better than the previous SoundBar 100 model.

The 200BT device is definitely more powerful and better than the speakers, for example, in TopDevice TV 32″ smart TV.

The Genius case does not resonate, does not rattle at certain frequencies.

In general, it will suit all usage scenarios: for PC, for TV, for laptops, probably for smartphones and tablets.

Without USB power, the 200BT soundbar does not play sound either through Type-C with an adapter, or directly through 3.5 mm. Even if the sound source is quite powerful.

There is only one downside:background noise and some interference are heard. Not loudly, but there is such a moment. In addition, the backlight with the effect of "colors in a circle" also gives some kind of guidance. Therefore, I turned it off if I watched the series and movies at a low volume.

Impression

For its 1800 rubles, the Genius USB Soundbar 200BT soundbar is a completely usable contraption. Especially useful if you have a budget TV with poor speakers.

The 200BT can also be used as a regular Bluetooth speaker. Plays nice and loud. And, of course, you should not expect from her the level of JBL / Sonos / Sony / Samsung.

Lighting is a bonus. To watch TV in total darkness.