Xander XA-9320: Compact home entertainment solution minus smart TV function

Xander XA-9320 fares well in terms of picture quality and connectivity options; together with the Stealth 2 audio system, it offers a complete home entertainment solution

After reviewing a couple of smart televisions recently, it took me some time to get a hang of a regular non-smart television by the home-grown audio product manufacturer Xander. However, it is the optional speaker system known as the Xander Stealth 2 that caught my attention -- instead of the television itself -- and motivated me to take up the duo of home entertainment range for review.

Coloured in all black, the television, Xander XA-9320, looks like any other LED TV at first look. It can either be mounted on a wall or stand on the floor using hook-based legs that come bundled with the box. Design-wise the television offers no extravaganza and is mostly bland.

However, it is only until you turn it on that the television looks out-of-date. The 32-inch display panel is bright and colourful. It renders a crisp picture and has the ability to render deep blacks, mostly seen in premium offerings. On the connectivity side, the television offers 2 x USB, 2 x HDMI, AV Mode, VGA input, PC input, and headphone out. However, there is no way you can connect it wirelessly with mobile or notebook; there is no WiFi or Bluetooth connectivity.

In terms of utility, it has been seen even in the most smart televisions that the audio output remains on the muted side. Therefore, the immersive experience that most manufacturers promise remains incomplete at large. However, it is not the case with this television, especially when paired with Stealth 2 audio speaker.

The speaker unit is not unnecessarily large, but it has some weight to it. Designed in the shape of an octagon, the unit can either be placed horizontally or vertically. It sports stereo speakers on the front with a woofer in between, and some buttons on the extreme right. The speaker system is not big enough to turn your place into discotheque, but it has enough grunts to make your everyday television viewing experience unique. It is best suited to listen to music video or watch a documentary or movie.

Xander XA-9320 Stealth 2

Although the speaker comes with a dedicated remote, there is no way you can operate both the television and speaker using one remote, therefore managing two remotes at the same time adds some unwanted burden, compromising the overall experience. The good part is that the audio system can be used with a wide range of other products, thanks to its 3.5mm audio jack, so a standalone remote control doesn’t add to the woes all the time.

Verdict

As a regular television, the Xander XA-9320 fares well in terms of picture quality and connectivity options. Together with the Stealth 2 audio system, the television seems to offer complete home entertainment. Priced at Rs 21,990 and Rs 9,999 for the television and speaker system, respectively, both the units, however, seem on the pricier side, especially as the market is full of smart televisions and home entertainment systems now available at similar price points.