OVERALL
ALTERNATIVES
SPECS
VS AVERAGE
REVIEWS
Scored using Soundbars Methodology v3.0
Soundbars Methodology v3.0
Mathematical & Unbiased Scoring
Products in this category are scored under Frontum Soundbars Methodology v3.0: the technical score from the specifications is the base, and independent expert and video reviews (up to ±0.5 points), owner opinions (up to ±0.3) and best-of lists (up to +0.3) move it up or down.
Explore Soundbars Methodology v3.0

Thomson SB401BT review: 108 specs compared

Avg. price:~£80N. of audio channels:2.0Audio output power:?HDMI ARC type:ARC

Thomson SB401BT Review: Compare 108 technical specifications to see how this product ranks in the Soundbars category and whether it is worth buying.

Thomson SB401BT
6.8/10

Overall score

Score
6.8/ 10
✕
What it is
Our main score for this model, 1–10. It combines specs, best-of lists, expert reviews and owners.
How we count it
Parts: Technical score 35%, List score 30%, Reviews score 25%, Sentiment score 10%
Marks: Each part gets a mark out of 10. For reviews, lists and owners, a typical model in this category gets about 8 and the best one gets 10.
No data yet: A part with no data shows "?". It counts as the mark of a weaker model in this category (4 in 5 models with data score higher). This way, models with reviews, lists and owners usually come out ahead.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 52% of models
Score components

35%

5.5

Technical score

30%

?

List scoreNot enough data yet, so we use 7.5, the mark of a weaker model in this category

25%

?

Reviews scoreNot enough data yet, so we use 7.6, the mark of a weaker model in this category

10%

?

Sentiment scoreNot enough data yet, so we use 6.8, the mark of a weaker model in this category

â–²Better than 52% of soundbars
7.7

Value for money

Value for money
7.7/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the soundbar's overall rating with its cost.
When it matters
When you are looking for a soundbar with a good balance between audio quality, features, and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 56% of models
Score components

70%

6.8

Overall score

30%

10

Price

â–²Better than 56%
5.5

Technical score

Technical score
5.5/ 10
✕
What it is
How good the specs are compared with the other models in this category, 1–10.
How we count it
Areas: We rate the specs in each area against the other models in this category.
Weighting: The areas that matter most to buyers count more. The shares are shown under Score components.
Share: The technical score is 35% of the overall score.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 59% of models
Score components

25%

5.0

Audio

18%

4.6

Formats

16%

7.3

Connectivity

14%

5.6

Controls

12%

5.6

HDMI

10%

4.0

Streaming

5%

7.5

Design

â–¼Worse than 59%
?

Reviews score

Reviews score
✕
What it is
Average grade from independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers, 1–10.
How we count it
Grades: Each review's own score is converted to 1–10; without one, we grade the review ourselves. Every review counts the same: written or video, short or full test.
Score: The average grade is 80% of the review mark; the number of reviews is the other 20% (1 review = 5, the typical number in this category = 8, the most-reviewed model = 10).
Enough data: With few reviews, the average grade is pulled toward the typical grade of this category. No reviews yet: 7.6 for now.
Share: Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Grades by review (0)
We have not found an independent test of this model yet. Until we do, its review part counts as 7.6.
User ratings collected online are not part of this score.
No expert tests yet
?

List score

List score
7.5/ 10
✕
What it is
How often independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers put this model in their best-of lists for this category.
How we count it
Points: The model in the most lists of this category gets 10; the others get 8 to 10 in proportion. In no list yet: 7.5. Lists count 30% of the overall score.
Enough data: Every list counts, even a single one. With fewer than 5 best-of lists in the category, this part is left out.
Lists with this model (0)
Not in any best-of list yet, so this part counts as 7.5. Models in a list get 8 to 10.
Not in any best-of list yet
  • thomson-sb401bt
thomson-sb401bt
Where to buy
    N/A~ £80
Best rankings
Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).All: ranking among all products in the database.
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Soundbars model ranking

Ranked #239 of 324 models in Soundbars (Overall score)

Technical Specifications of soundbar Thomson SB401BT

Technical score
Technical score
5.5/ 10
✕
What it is
How good the specs are compared with the other models in this category, 1–10.
How we count it
Areas: We rate the specs in each area against the other models in this category.
Weighting: The areas that matter most to buyers count more. The shares are shown under Score components.
Share: The technical score is 35% of the overall score.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 59% of models
Score components:

25%

5.0

Audio

18%

4.6

Formats

16%

7.3

Connectivity

14%

5.6

Controls

12%

5.6

HDMI

10%

4.0

Streaming

5%

7.5

Design

5.5
Reviews score
7.6
List score
?
Value for money
Value for money
7.7/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the soundbar's overall rating with its cost.
When it matters
When you are looking for a soundbar with a good balance between audio quality, features, and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 56% of models
Score components:

70%

6.8

Overall score

30%

10

Price

7.7
N. of audio channels
2
This soundbar offers 2 audio channels, fewer than 58.1% of soundbars and equal to 41.9% of soundbars.
Audio output power
?
Max SPL
?
Min frequency
40 Hz
Market range: <20 Hz – >120 Hz
This soundbar reaches a minimum frequency of 40 Hz, lower than 65.6% of soundbars and equal to 13% of soundbars.
Max frequency
20,000 Hz
Market range: <19k Hz – >20k Hz
This soundbar reaches a maximum frequency of 20,000 Hz, higher than 17.5% of soundbars and equal to 76.8% of soundbars.
Show more
Dolby Atmos
no
This soundbar does not support Dolby Atmos. 30.3% of soundbars include this feature.
DTS:X
no
This soundbar does not support DTS:X. 16.7% of soundbars include this feature.
Dolby TrueHD
no
This soundbar does not support Dolby TrueHD. 16.5% of soundbars include this feature.
DTS-HD Master Audio
no
This soundbar does not support DTS-HD Master Audio. 7.6% of soundbars include this feature.
Dolby Digital Plus
no
This soundbar does not support Dolby Digital Plus. 25.3% of soundbars include this feature.
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N. of HDMI inputs
?
Wi-Fi connectivity
no
This soundbar does not support Wi-Fi connectivity. 28.8% of soundbars include this feature.
Wi-Fi version
N/A
Bluetooth connectivity
yes
This soundbar supports Bluetooth connectivity. 4.6% of soundbars include this feature.
Bluetooth version
?
Show more
Smartphone app
no
This soundbar does not have smartphone app. 42.6% of soundbars offer this feature.
Remote control
yes
This soundbar has remote control. 17.5% of soundbars offer this feature.
Control panel
yes
This soundbar has control panel. 5.5% of soundbars offer this feature.
Voice assistant compatibility
no
This soundbar does not support voice assistant compatibility. 36.8% of soundbars include this feature.
Far-field microphones
no
This soundbar does not have far-field microphones. 7.1% of soundbars offer this feature.
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HDMI version
?
HDMI ARC type
ARC
This soundbar has ARC as its HDMI TV-audio return type, which is more advanced than what 24.7% of soundbars and the same as what 46.5% offers.
HDMI-CEC support
?
HDMI pass-through resolution
none
This soundbar passes through none, which is lower resolution than 27.2% of soundbars and equal to 72.8% of soundbars.
HDMI pass-through frame rate
none fps
This soundbar supports HDMI pass-through up to none fps, lower than 21.4% of soundbars and equal to 78.6% of soundbars.
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AirPlay
no
This soundbar does not support AirPlay. 19.9% of soundbars include this feature.
Chromecast built-in
no
This soundbar does not support Chromecast built-in. 11.4% of soundbars include this feature.
Spotify Connect
no
This soundbar does not support Spotify Connect. 20.8% of soundbars include this feature.
TIDAL Connect
no
This soundbar does not support TIDAL Connect. 9.2% of soundbars include this feature.
Amazon Music native support
no
This soundbar does not support native Amazon Music. 13% support native Amazon Music.
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Width
?
Height
?
Thickness
?
Weight
?
Build material
plastic
This soundbar is built from plastic, which is more premium than 3% of soundbars and equal to 92.6% of soundbars.
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Thomson SB401BT vs the average soundbar

246810TotalAudioFormatsConnectivityHDMIStreamingControlsDesign
  • 10 Hz lower min frequency
    This soundbar has a lower minimum frequency than the average soundbar (40 Hz vs 50 Hz). The average soundbar has a minimum frequency of 50 Hz.
    40 Hz vs 50 Hz
  • 10 Hz lower min frequency
    This soundbar has a lower minimum frequency than the average soundbar (40 Hz vs 50 Hz). The average soundbar has a minimum frequency of 50 Hz.
    40 Hz vs 50 Hz
  • Less advanced HDMI ARC type
    This soundbar has ARC as its HDMI TV-audio return type, while the average soundbar has eARC.
    ARC vs eARC
  • Fewer audio channels
    This soundbar has fewer audio channels than the average soundbar (2 vs 2.1). The average soundbar has 2.1 audio channels.
    2.0 vs 2.1
  • No Dolby Digital
    This soundbar does not support Dolby Digital, the average soundbar does.
  • No night mode
    This soundbar does not support night mode, the average soundbar does.
  • No dialogue enhancement
    This soundbar does not support dialogue enhancement, the average soundbar does.
  • Fewer audio channels
    This soundbar has fewer audio channels than the average soundbar (2 vs 2.1). The average soundbar has 2.1 audio channels.
    2.0 vs 2.1
  • No Dolby Digital
    This soundbar does not support Dolby Digital, the average soundbar does.
  • Less advanced HDMI ARC type
    This soundbar has ARC as its HDMI TV-audio return type, while the average soundbar has eARC.
    ARC vs eARC
  • No night mode
    This soundbar does not support night mode, the average soundbar does.
  • No dialogue enhancement
    This soundbar does not support dialogue enhancement, the average soundbar does.

Third-party reviews

What customers like about Thomson SB401BT

  • A 2.0 stereo layout gives left and right sound from one bar.
  • HDMI ARC lets the TV send sound back over one cable.
  • Bluetooth pairs a phone or tablet without wires.
  • A USB audio input plays music from a stick.
  • The optical input connects a TV with an optical output.
  • The remote and control panel handle volume and inputs.

What customers don't like about Thomson SB401BT

  • No subwoofer, so bass is limited.
  • No dialogue enhancement to lift speech in busy scenes.
  • No Dolby Digital or Atmos decoding, so surround soundtracks play as stereo.
  • No app or EQ customization, so the sound cannot be tuned.
  • No HDMI pass-through, so a console or player must plug into the TV directly.

Verdict

Anyone who wants clearer sound than a TV speaker gives, with little fuss, will find the Thomson SB401BT a straightforward choice. It is a 2.0 stereo bar, so it has left and right speakers and no subwoofer. It connects to the TV through HDMI ARC, so one cable carries the sound back, and it also takes Bluetooth from a phone. A USB port plays music from a stick, and an optical input covers older TVs. The remote and the control panel handle volume and inputs. The trade-off is that it has no dialogue enhancement and no app, so the sound cannot be tuned. It suits a buyer on a tight budget who mostly watches news and talk shows and wants simple controls.

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