OXS Thunder Pro+ Review: A Game-Changer in Surround Sound
▼ Summary
– The OXS Thunder Pro+ is a 7.1 gaming soundbar with RGB lighting and Dolby Atmos support, priced at $599.99 alone or $699.99 with an optional neck speaker.
– The soundbar features a futuristic design with a gunmetal gray chassis, multiple RGB-lit drivers, and an LCD display for input settings.
– It includes a wired desktop toggle controller and a wireless remote, along with various input options like HDMI, USB-C, and Bluetooth.
– Audio performance is strong with crisp mids and highs, but bass response is lacking, and there’s no subwoofer input for enhancement.
– The optional neck speaker offers additional immersion but has compressed audio quality and limited battery life, though it functions as a high-quality neck pillow.
Gaming soundbars are becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to traditional desktop speakers, offering sleek designs and immersive audio without sacrificing desk space. The OXS Thunder Pro+ stands out with its 7.1 surround sound, Dolby Atmos support, and an unconventional satellite neck speaker, a first in the market. Priced at $700 for the full bundle, this soundbar aims to deliver a premium experience, but does it justify the cost?
The Thunder Pro+ sports a futuristic design with a gunmetal gray finish, rounded edges, and an eye-catching metal grille. RGB lighting accents the woofers and side-firing drivers, adding flair to its sci-fi aesthetic. At 23.9 inches wide, it fits neatly under most monitors, and adjustable rubber feet let you tweak the height for clearance. A wired toggle controller and wireless remote provide convenient volume and EQ adjustments, though the toggle’s RGB lighting feels more like an afterthought.
Connectivity is robust, with HDMI eARC, USB-C, AUX, and Bluetooth options. However, the lack of a subwoofer output is disappointing, especially given the soundbar’s underwhelming bass performance. While mids and highs are crisp, ideal for dialogue and orchestral tracks, bass-heavy music falls flat. Gaming audio shines, though, with excellent directional cues in titles like God of War: Ragnarok, and Dolby Atmos enhances immersion when connected via HDMI.
The neck speaker, sold separately for $150, is a mixed bag. It’s a high-quality memory foam pillow with built-in drivers, but audio quality is compressed and lacks depth. Battery life also falls short of claims, lasting closer to 8 hours at moderate volumes. The OXS app offers limited RGB customization and preset EQs, but lacks deeper controls like those found in Razer’s Chroma ecosystem.
Final Verdict: The Thunder Pro+ delivers stellar gaming audio with a wide soundstage and crisp detail, but its bass limitations and the neck speaker’s mediocre performance make the $700 price tag hard to justify. For pure sound quality, it’s impressive, just don’t expect true surround immersion from the gimmicky pillow.
(Source: TOMSHARDWARE)
