Dell SB521A Ultra Thin Soundbar

Product Information

Hard drive retention: Hard drive retention is not available on models with a soldered hard drive, including XPS 9315 2in1, Chromebooks or Venue tablets, except the Venue 11 Pro. The display quality, as you would expect, is top notch with 100% sRGB and 95% DCI-P3 coverage; any higher and you’re creeping into pro-grade territory that can have monitors easily costing more than 1.5x the price in comparison. The colors and contrast are great out of the box and don’t look too saturated or vibrant. Being pre-calibrated with a DeltaE of <2 from the factory, there is no need for calibration tools; perfect for content creators that may not want to invest in one.

IDC Whitepaper “Optimizing Performance with Frequent Server Replacements for Enterprises” commissioned by Dell Technologies and Intel, March 2021. Results are based on interviews with 18 IT practitioners and decision makers at midsize and large enterprises and a web survey of 707 IT practitioners and decision makers at midsize and larger enterprises using Dell Technologies server solutions across 7 industries. See full whitepaper: https://www.delltechnologies.com/resources/en-us/asset/white-papers/products/servers/server-infrastructure-resiliency-enterprise-whitepaper.pdfA standout feature in this flavour of firmware is definitely the built-in Picture-in-Picture mode, where, if you wish, you could use the monitor for another source that is also plugged in to the input, making it very handy for users who tend to need that multitasking screen space working on multiple projects. Display Quality Dell has even included a god damn Ethernet port on this thing, just in case there is a conceivable reason that a configuration like this would be better for cable management.

At a 8ms GtG response, it’s pretty much par for course when it comes to higher-than-HD resolutions; not abysmal enough to get smearing or ghosting while using the monitor to game, but also not great either now that even certain QHD panels can reach 120Hz and beyond with a faster response time to boot. In terms of adjustments, this monitor has all bases covered. Tilt, swivel, rotate and height adjustments are all there and par for course. As with Dell’s recent arm design, there’s a little hollow nook in the middle of the monitor for better cable management that comes in nice and handy. As far as I can tell, it doesn’t compromise on the stability or rigidity as it withstood me shaking on the stand with some effort. Final thoughts The AC511 is a decent soundbar attached to my Dell P2715Q, first released in 2014. So when I decided to upgrade to the U2723QE, I was happy to see that despite the annoyance that the soundbar I already own won't fit, I may be able to acquire a similar sound experience with the new screen and an SB522A soundbar. Unfortunately, the speaker is not worth using as a general purpose computer speaker even for conference calls, as it is marketed, and the microphone is redundant. While I'll miss the convenience of a speaker that stays off of my desk, listening to the tiny tinny dell slim conferencing soundbar would surely hurt my ears over time. Your work office or home office deserve better.

Included Accessories

In terms of volume, these are pretty really loud speakers given that they’re usb-powered and can fill the typical room at about 60 volume no problem and that’s not even at its pull power, nice. You’ll definitely have no issues here. IDC Whitepaper: “Optimizing Performance with Frequent Server Replacements for Enterprises” commissioned by Dell Technologies and Intel, March 2021. Results are based on interviews with 18 IT practitioners and decision makers at midsize and large enterprises and a web survey of 707 IT practitioners and decision makers at midsize and larger enterprises using Dell Technologies server solutions across 7 industries. See full whitepaper: https://www.delltechnologies.com/resources/en-us/asset/white-papers/products/servers/server-infrastructure-resiliency-enterprise-whitepaper.pdf

on Dell internal analysis using publicly available specs in August 2023 comparing maximum effective capacity for PowerStore 1200 and FlashArray //X20. Assumes average 4:1 data reduction for PowerStore, 5:1 for Pure Storage. Actual results vary. The Dell Slim Soundbar SB521A attaches to the bottom of certain Dell monitors. The following Dell knowledge base article has more information (including compatibility) about this soundbar: Dell Slim Soundbar SB521A Usage and Troubleshooting Guide It seems like Dell doesn’t call this the “USB-C Hub Monitor” for nothing on their brochure. As you can see from the ports below, they’re pulling out all the stops to include just about everything you’d want from a hub for a true dongle-less experience. Time’s Scar, Chrono Cross – Listening for the highs of the flute and the transition to high-mids from the viola, general instrumental For a person that is pretty much used to stereo speakers and the way they sound, the soundstage of the soundbar definitely takes some time getting used to.The brightness can also be cranked all the way up to blinding if you wish. According to my eyes, it seems to spec a bit higher than the 350nits listed in the specifications.