She and I both love singing and watching movies. I still remember how much I enjoyed that meeting. We used to meet, eat, watch movies, and sing together. Actually, the first time I went to the cinema, it was also where we shared our first kiss in a KTV. Is this a very common routine? Although we live in a small county with limited resources, KTV and movie outings aren't cheap. Once we start living independently, these activities tend to decrease. On one hand, our expenses increase, and on the Other, we become more lazy. It's hard to get up for a weekend morning; instead, we just wake up naturally, pull the curtains, and lie down in a "Ge You" position on the sofa, watching movies all day. This way, we can save on movie tickets and buy lots of snacks. Therefore, the living room's role as an entertainment center has become more important.
Now, let me show you how I created a budget-friendly entertainment center in my living room. It’s actually quite simple: using a 60-inch smart speaker with built-in sound system. Starting from unboxing, the big head is the subwoofer, and the smaller one is the satellite speaker. There's also an accessory box on the side.
After opening the accessory box, I found several items inside. Two power adapters are for the main unit and the subwoofer, along with an HDMI cable, remote control, AA batteries, a recharge card, a Wi-Fi antenna, a 3.5mm to RCA cable, a microphone, and of course, the manual.
Looking at the family portrait, the host, the subwoofer, and the pile of accessories, I noticed there are two microphones for solo performances. It's not complicated—90 is standard with two, but 60 only comes with one. That’s a bit sad, but the official store does sell additional microphones, though they cost around 199 yuan, which feels a bit expensive. Still, I decided to wait and see.
The host has an elongated oval shape with fabric on the front and a metal divider in the middle, making it look less dull. I think adding a metal brand logo would make it even better.
On the back of the main unit, there are wall-mounting holes on the edge and a ring-shaped buckle for desktop use. Behind the interface, there are over ten ports, showing the speaker’s ambition to take over the living room.
The subwoofer is larger than the 78-inch amphitheater console of the Little Whale. That's the same host that sells for 40,000 yuan with split TVs. The host has its own sound, but don’t ask me where the split screen is—I won’t tell you.
The bass subwoofer 60 is a big unit, bigger than the host by two laps. The back of the subwoofer has only a port, power connector, and pairing button. They connect wirelessly, allowing more flexible placement. If your home is large enough, place the subwoofer near the sofa for better bass effect.
Setting up the 60-inch scale is straightforward. The small white unit can be installed by following the instructions. Since the host supports wireless connection, it’s easier to access the home network.
After connecting all the wires, the power-on effect is impressive. The boot logo is a black and white "Pound" sign. The boot time is about 13 seconds, which is a bit long, but Android systems usually take time to start.
During the boot process, I placed the Pound 60 integrated speaker next to my TV cabinet. My TV cabinet is short on the left, so the subwoofer fits there. Since it connects wirelessly, I can place it anywhere. I recommend keeping it away from other electronics due to the strong magnets.
The host is slightly larger and placed higher than the bottom of the TV. My TV is old with short legs, so the host sits about 3 cm above the TV base. From personal testing, it doesn’t block subtitles when watching a movie. If it were a newer TV, it might look better hanging.
From the front view, it doesn’t block subtitles. Before I saw the Sony Echo Wall or the Sony HT-MT500, their mainframe was a long bar but caused subtitle blocking. Plus, they lacked KTV functions and didn’t support network boxes, making them less suitable for a living room entertainment center.
Once the boot is complete, the interface of the Pound 60 smart speaker shows the scale and Mango TV. Mango TV is certified, and the main page displays content on top and categories below. From left to right: apps, movies, music, radio, games, settings.
Mango TV is well-known, offering abundant resources, but many require a membership. However, the accessory includes a 300-yuan membership card, unlocking many new movies and blockbusters. After using it, I became more lazy, relying on the member center’s recommendations. My Mango membership is valid until 2020!
After entering the membership, all basic video resources are unlocked. One of the latest movies is “Star Agent: City of a Thousand Stars.†With the subwoofer, the sound effects are powerful, providing a sense of space and surround sound, though not as immersive as a real theater. Cinema equipment costs at least six digits, while this speaker is four-digit, so the comparison isn’t fair.
The karaoke function is hidden a bit deep. While it should be on the first page, it’s currently accessible through the music section. However, the interface is user-friendly, similar to KTV. Compared to Computer karaoke, it’s just as easy.
In reality, the karaoke experience differs from KTV, but it’s sufficient for home entertainment. When singing, vocals feel natural, and adjusting reverb and background volume improves the experience. It’s great for weekends with loved ones, but keep the volume reasonable to avoid disturbing neighbors.
Additionally, the speaker supports mobile app control, making it convenient. For example, when lying on the sofa, I can use my phone instead of searching for the remote.
This speaker also works well as a desktop speaker in the study. The subwoofer and units are close to the ears, and the small space enhances the sound.
With many interfaces, the device allows easy switching between devices using the remote, eliminating the need to plug and unplug cables.
The remote control has a matte finish, feels good in hand, and features silicone keys. All buttons are labeled in English, but voice prompts guide the user.
The remote has a notch for the index finger, with three buttons on the right for volume and reverb. The membrane buttons are crisp and clear.
In summary, the features include home theater, KTV, network set-top box, and wireless subwoofer—enough for most families. Weekends with family for movies or karaoke are no problem. Though it can’t match real theaters or KTVs, it offers strong sound compared to TV speakers. Considering the price, it’s a great value for average families.
**Advantages and Purchase Advice:**
1. Full functionality, especially the KTV feature.
2. Supports third-party apps.
3. Multiple interfaces for easy switching.
4. Wireless subwoofer for flexible placement.
**Purchase Suggestions:**
1. Young couples who enjoy singing and watching movies at home.
2. Parents who prefer staying home for KTV, as this set offers classic songs and operas.
3. Otaku who want a desktop speaker in the study, combining TV, music, and movies.
This time, I’ll go watch “Star Agent: City of a Thousand Stars†with my new setup. For more smart TV/box information, visit Sofa Butler (http://), a leading website for smart TVs and TV boxes in China.
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Wenzhou Hesheng Electronic Co., Ltd. , https://www.heshengelec.com