Short version: still great for simple TV sound, but it’s aging tech.

Verdict

Playbar + One surrounds remains a strong apartment TV system: good dialogue, easy daily use, and surrounds add immersion at low volume. Downsides: optical-only and older format limitations.

What it does well

Dialogue clarity with the right settings.
Night listening via Sonos “Night Sound.”
Convenience: no fiddling every time.

Settings that matter

Enable Speech Enhancement.
Use Night Sound after hours.
Run Trueplay and re-run after moving furniture.

Important

Because Playbar is optical, TV output settings (PCM vs Dolby Digital) can make or break dialogue.

Are surrounds worth it in an apartment?

Yes. Surrounds let you keep overall volume lower while still feeling immersed.

What’s outdated

No HDMI ARC/eARC.
Less future-proof format support.

Neighbor-friendly tuning

Lower surround level at night.
Keep bass conservative.
Rug + curtains = less harshness.