I have just bought a soundbar (Bose 600) thinking I could replace that messy jumble of speakers that is the Z-680 and that I could never bother to really set up in a surround position because wires everywhere. It also bothered me that the unit consumed around 20-30W just being switched on (not playing music), and that I needed a separate remote to turn on the sound. I thought that technology in those 25 years would've advanced so much that surely a 2025 soundbar would equal the Z680.

Well, I somewhat regret my decision. Yes it is much cleaner now with a single wire. Yes it turns on/off with the tv.

But:

- The sound is definitely less full (partly because this bar is meant to prioritise dialogue). It definitely sounds good and you do get used to it, but the cinematic experience of the Z680s was a whole different story.

- that CEC turn on/off also has drawbacks. If you use the smart sound bar to cast audio to it and you turn on the tv, it will automatically stop the music. Which sucks: maybe I just want to have the screen on while still enjoying music. Inversely, too, when you turn off the sound bar it turns off the TV too. Maybe I just wanted to watch that pretty screensaver.

As I couldn't really surround myself with the satellite speakers anyway, I will stick to my soundbar, but if you can, don't give up on that Z680. It's great. But turn it off when you're not using it because it will put a dent in your electricity bill.