The bar

How do you make a good thing even better? If you’re Q Acoustics, and that good thing is the superb Media 4 soundbar, you stick an HDMI port on the back and give it a new name. e M3 is the new entry-level model from a company used to pumping out much more expensive speaker systems – and that means you can expect a sleek design and great sound quality for your cash.

What’s the story?

With a streamlined, modern look, the M3 won’t look out of place under any TV, be it a supermarket special or an OLED stunner. It’s slim enough to sit beneath your telly and not block your remote control, but you can also bolt it to a wall if you fancy.

There’s still room inside for a dedicated subwoofer and separate stereo speakers, even if they’ve shrunk a bit since they first showed up in the Media 4. At least you won’t need an external subwoofer, which helps to keeps things tidy.

Is it any good?

The addition of an HDMI port really keeps setup simple, and lets you piggyback a set-top box or games console to the soundbar if your TV is running low on free sockets. And it supports Audio Return Channel, meaning it’ll sync up to let you control everything with one remote.

Just keep in mind you don’t get 4K support at this price. If you’ve got a UHD TV and want to hook up a 4K Blu-ray player or console, you’ll need to skip the soundbar and plug straight into the telly. Otherwise, you get digital optical, a pair of analogue inputs and a 3.5mm socket for plugging in your portables. Don’t like cables? Good job there’s aptx Bluetooth too. Audio quality will make or break a soundbar, and here it’s definitely more make than break – if you like a serious bit of bass, that is. Speech is clear enough, and a real step up from your tinny TV speakers, but there is a boomy nature to the sound.

This muddies high-end effects like squealing tyres, bouncing bullet casings and shattering glass (if you’re not testing soundbars with the Fast & Furious films, you’re doing it wrong). Still, it fills the room with sound and has plenty of presence.

The M3 has a lot going for it: it looks great for the cash, has a handy HDMI socket, and pumps out some impressively powerful sound. There may be a few shortcomings, but nothing to complain about for the price.

Tech Total power output 80W HDMI Yes Bluetooth Yes Wireless subwoofer No Dimensions 1000x90x125mm Weight 4kg ++++,

BUTTERY BASS New for the M3 is a bass-boostin ‘Movieq’ mode, which ramps up the rumble. Pity this is the one thin the M3 doesn’t need more of – best stick to standard stereo mode.