Soundbars - any good ones?

[IRG]

I know this is not a piece of equipment that's all that popular or respected here probably, but it is what it is. I have a very tough room to work with, and the elimination of wires, speakers, speaker stands, is very welcome. I'm looking at getting a 42-46" LCD, and I want audio that's better than stock speakers obviously. This won't be used for music much, I have a separate system for that, mostly for tv viewing/movies. I know it isn't a 5.1 or 7.2 system but I don't have room, or budget.

So, I was thinking of this Sony soundbard: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Sony+-+B...&skuId=9904972

Seems to get good reviews. Biggest problem for me is that I don't see how I can hook up a Wii to it, or is there?

Other soundbars that are better for $400 or less, or other options I should consider? Ideally, having one brand for simplicity would be cool, I've had good luck with Sony in the past, LG is another I'd consider, but their soundbar doesn't seem as good.

Advice welcome.

[IRG]

Also wondering about the Zvox offerings: http://www.crutchfield.com/p_729ZB57...tab=review#tab

How does Dolby, DTS etc work with something like this? Cable hookup seems too simple.

[pixelthis]

I know this is not a piece of equipment that's all that popular or respected here probably, but it is what it is. I have a very tough room to work with, and the elimination of wires, speakers, speaker stands, is very welcome. I'm looking at getting a 42-46" LCD, and I want audio that's better than stock speakers obviously. This won't be used for music much, I have a separate system for that, mostly for tv viewing/movies. I know it isn't a 5.1 or 7.2 system but I don't have room, or budget.

So, I was thinking of this Sony soundbard: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Sony+-+B...&skuId=9904972

Seems to get good reviews. Biggest problem for me is that I don't see how I can hook up a Wii to it, or is there?

Other soundbars that are better for $400 or less, or other options I should consider? Ideally, having one brand for simplicity would be cool, I've had good luck with Sony in the past, LG is another I'd consider, but their soundbar doesn't seem as good.

Advice welcome.

Mitshsubishi had a 46" set with sixteen small speakers , designed for great sound.
YOU CAN KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE WITH THIS SET.
HSN had this set on sale over the weekend for 1300 bucks, but you should be able to fine one somewhere. I have seen it, and picture and sound are superb.
Otherwise , if I had the cash, Bose makes a three piece system for six hundred bucks.
YAMAHA did make a box your set could set on.
FOR CHEAPNESS SAKE, Samsung and Vizio, and Sony, all have cheap solutions at your local big box

[basite]

well
in their genre: yeah, probably.

in general: well, no. not for surround, and not for any noticeable stereo with correct imaging & soundstage...

[IRG]

Yeah I don't expect them to replace a real surround sound system. But for most TV listening, I don't think you realize a good HT system's potential anyways.

My problem, besides budget, is 3 young kids, and a room that is ill conceived for any type of configuration. So a good LCD is my first priority, and the sound is the second priority - anything better than the standard "speakers" that come with a tv will be a step up.

Music from this system would be nice, but 95% (or more) I don't use our main system for music now anyway. I have my own 2 channel system in my "man cave" for the rare moments I actually get to listen to music without interruption.

I'm not quite sure how these soundbars hook up, the Sony systems seem to use a 3.1 system, and have your cable box and blu ray player go directly into their sub. The Zbox system doesn't even seem to have that, just inputs for an RCA cable for 2 channel audio. Which might not be a bad thing, but then I guess you lose all of the surround capabilites that DTS, etc. offers. So then I think about going back to a receiver, speakers, etc. and I don't know if it's worth it or not. I'm putting the old system in the basement, where there is more room, and things like wires etc. won't be a big deal. Eventually I'll build a real HT system in this room, for now though I can't.

[Woochifer]

Soundbars are an improvement over the stock TV speakers, but that's about all you can say about the ones I've heard. If you want something you can grow with, you can start out with a receiver and a pair of wall mountable speakers. There are plenty of on-wall models out there now that can sound decent.

These on-wall speakers are made by companies that specialize in speakers. Just because you like Sony and LG TVs does not mean that they will make good speakers (compared to speaker specialists, they don't).

Starting off with a receiver and two speakers gives you the option of adding on as budget and space allow. A soundbar is a one-off purchase -- it has no upgrade options, so you're stuck with it. The advantage of a receiver is that it can switch between your video sources, and handle all the audio decoding. Soundbars basically create a virtual surround effect with two channels and multiple tiny drivers. Receivers can do the same virtual surround effect, and modify it as you add additional speakers -- much more versatile.

[IRG]

Soundbars are an improvement over the stock TV speakers, but that's about all you can say about the ones I've heard. If you want something you can grow with, you can start out with a receiver and a pair of wall mountable speakers. There are plenty of on-wall models out there now that can sound decent.

These on-wall speakers are made by companies that specialize in speakers. Just because you like Sony and LG TVs does not mean that they will make good speakers (compared to speaker specialists, they don't).

Starting off with a receiver and two speakers gives you the option of adding on as budget and space allow. A soundbar is a one-off purchase -- it has no upgrade options, so you're stuck with it. The advantage of a receiver is that it can switch between your video sources, and handle all the audio decoding. Soundbars basically create a virtual surround effect with two channels and multiple tiny drivers. Receivers can do the same virtual surround effect, and modify it as you add additional speakers -- much more versatile.

Yeah, I'm pretty well aware of better sounding options, believe me ,lol. I just listened to a couple of soundbars tonight, they were "ok" at best. I did give a Bose Cinemate a quick listen too, and it was quite a bit better.

I have a NAD receiver and Paradigm speakers now, certainly better quality gear, but large and obtrusive compared to the Cinemates. I do, for the most part, despise Bose, but this little system was decent, I was surprised. Should be about $200 less though, but still, size (or lack therof) counts here. I might look at a new Denon receiver, and some small speakers, not sure what else yet.

[SlumpBuster]

I've been looking into sound bars for a second TV.

That Bose system ain't half bad for what it is. I've heard several movies through it, and it is good for sustained watching. I would avoid any bars that try to do 5.1 management (except for the priceyier Yamamha bars). Just watch the movie in its 2.0 stereo mix.

Boston Acoustics makes a bar I like that doesn't do any signal processing and just accepts left and right RCA inputs. It has a wireless sub. That means you can feed the audio signal from the DVD, TV, or Cable Box. I like its simplicity and it sounds good and it is probably what I will get.
http://ap.bostonacoustics.com/PDFs/tvee_man.pdf

[pixelthis]

I've been looking into sound bars for a second TV.

That Bose system ain't half bad for what it is. I've heard several movies through it, and it is good for sustained watching. I would avoid any bars that try to do 5.1 management (except for the priceyier Yamamha bars). Just watch the movie in its 2.0 stereo mix.

Boston Acoustics makes a bar I like that doesn't do any signal processing and just accepts left and right RCA inputs. It has a wireless sub. That means you can feed the audio signal from the DVD, TV, or Cable Box. I like its simplicity and it sounds good and it is probably what I will get.
http://ap.bostonacoustics.com/PDFs/tvee_man.pdf

It has 3D sound processing circuitry, basically creating a holographic sound field
from two channels.
Just about all of these soundbar and two channel solutions have some kind of processing,
the quality depending on the price and the name on the box.
The 3D effect you get will depend on where you sit, and what BOSTON PUT IN THE DEVICE. Boston is not bad, you could do worse.

[SlumpBuster]

Wow, on closer inspection you are right Pix. I don't like that it doesn't have a defeat for that either. May have to reconsider.

[pixelthis]

Wow, on closer inspection you are right Pix. I don't like that it doesn't have a defeat for that either. May have to reconsider.

I WOULDN'T worry about that.
It will probably sound like garbage without the processing, anyway. BOSTON is s
decent company, I have had their speakers.
Another word on processing, I recently bought a "desktop audio system" for work,
made by Yamaha.
BEING A PURIST I turned the processing "off"(off, mild, heavy)
It sounded like crap. Most of these casual listening devices are lousy without the
processing they are designed for. Good luck.
And save the receipt.

[IRG]

I listened to the Bose Cinemate last night. I'm not a big fan of Bose generally, as I know most here are not either. However, this little system sounded really good on a movie demonstration. I don't know how it would be for music, probably marginal at best, but this system is not for my music (maybe for the others in the family, but they won't care). There are 2 cinemate systems, a GS system at $799 that has a universal remote and slightly different speakers (Gemstone) vs. the Articulated speakers. I can't get info on how these speakers differ. The remote is only $39 according to Bose's own site, so I'm not sure why this system is $200 more than their regular Cinemate II. Both systems seems pricey, but when I think about a dedicated receiver, sub, 2/3 small speakers, stands, etc. and cables, I'm well over the Bose budget of either system.

So, I may very well go this route, even though it makes me feel a little dirty.

[bobsticks]

Under most circumstances I like to feel a little dirty.

[pixelthis]

I listened to the Bose Cinemate last night. I'm not a big fan of Bose generally, as I know most here are not either. However, this little system sounded really good on a movie demonstration. I don't know how it would be for music, probably marginal at best, but this system is not for my music (maybe for the others in the family, but they won't care). There are 2 cinemate systems, a GS system at $799 that has a universal remote and slightly different speakers (Gemstone) vs. the Articulated speakers. I can't get info on how these speakers differ. The remote is only $39 according to Bose's own site, so I'm not sure why this system is $200 more than their regular Cinemate II. Both systems seems pricey, but when I think about a dedicated receiver, sub, 2/3 small speakers, stands, etc. and cables, I'm well over the Bose budget of either system.

So, I may very well go this route, even though it makes me feel a little dirty.

No big fan of "Doze" either. THEIR STUFF is overpriced and underengineered.
But everybody is good at something, and their forte is mini systems, compact HT, etc.
WHERE THEY get into trouble is when they try to make a full size HT layout. These
efforts are mediocre, at best.
BUT I have had a pair of their "media mate" powered speakers, and my friend still has em. QUITE GOOD.
But their full size systems really blow. And until they incorporate BLU, out of date.
TWO GRAND FOR A SYSTEM that will never have HDMI or the lossless codecs.
Kinda sad, really.

[IRG]

No big fan of "Doze" either. THEIR STUFF is overpriced and underengineered.
But everybody is good at something, and their forte is mini systems, compact HT, etc.
WHERE THEY get into trouble is when they try to make a full size HT layout. These
efforts are mediocre, at best.
BUT I have had a pair of their "media mate" powered speakers, and my friend still has em. QUITE GOOD.
But their full size systems really blow. And until they incorporate BLU, out of date.
TWO GRAND FOR A SYSTEM that will never have HDMI or the lossless codecs.
Kinda sad, really.

I agree, I made the mistake many years ago of getting one of their larger HT systems, and it pretty much sucked. But the Cinemate II that I listened to yet again today, actually sounded good. Maybe not great, but actually good, and for $600 or maybe less, not too bad a deal.

Separate question - how does a Sony PS3 work as a dvd player? Does it have its own remote for dvds, cds, etc?

[Woochifer]

I agree, I made the mistake many years ago of getting one of their larger HT systems, and it pretty much sucked. But the Cinemate II that I listened to yet again today, actually sounded good. Maybe not great, but actually good, and for $600 or maybe less, not too bad a deal.

Separate question - how does a Sony PS3 work as a dvd player? Does it have its own remote for dvds, cds, etc?

Problem with systems like this is that they remain closed loops, with no upgrade options. It relies on the optical output from the TV, which is a two-channel fold down from whatever source goes into the TV. It's not exactly ideal because the receiver at least will give you additional processing options to address any imbalances that result from folding a 5.1 soundtrack down to two-channels.

Also, and I'm sure you know this from having previously owned a Bose HT system, the bass modules have to handle a lot of sound above 100 Hz, which localizes the sound. At a $600 budget, you can easily fit a receiver and a pair of good on-wall speakers that will give you a truer sound throughout the frequency range. But, if simplicity's the priority, then you've already decided that you can live with the drawbacks.

As far as the PS3 goes, its Blu-ray performance is top notch. It also does a pretty good job with DVDs. Not as good as something like the now discontinued Oppo and Denon players, but nowadays, no one's making midlevel or high end DVD players. If you want better video quality, you pretty much have to go Blu-ray.

With a PS3, you can use the game controller as the remote, or you can buy the $25 Bluetooth remote. The great thing about the PS3 is its versatility, and easy and frequent updates. I use my PS3 as a Blu-ray player and as a wireless media player -- streaming music files from my computer, and streaming video from Netflix.

In general, Blu-ray players don't handle DVD playback as well as the better DVD players did, but as I said, higher quality DVD players are basically extinct.

[pixelthis]

I agree, I made the mistake many years ago of getting one of their larger HT systems, and it pretty much sucked. But the Cinemate II that I listened to yet again today, actually sounded good. Maybe not great, but actually good, and for $600 or maybe less, not too bad a deal.

Separate question - how does a Sony PS3 work as a dvd player? Does it have its own remote for dvds, cds, etc?

the PS3 has a "cell" proc, and is way overpowered for a game system. AS A MULTIMEDIA
DEVICE it is excellent. Don't get into arguments with the various PS3 fanboys on this
site or any other. THEY are fanatics and pack knives.
Which is an excellent testament for the device, I guess.

[AVMASTER]

I listened to the Bose Cinemate last night. I'm not a big fan of Bose generally, as I know most here are not either. However, this little system sounded really good on a movie demonstration. I don't know how it would be for music, probably marginal at best, but this system is not for my music (maybe for the others in the family, but they won't care). There are 2 cinemate systems, a GS system at $799 that has a universal remote and slightly different speakers (Gemstone) vs. the Articulated speakers. I can't get info on how these speakers differ. The remote is only $39 according to Bose's own site, so I'm not sure why this system is $200 more than their regular Cinemate II. Both systems seems pricey, but when I think about a dedicated receiver, sub, 2/3 small speakers, stands, etc. and cables, I'm well over the Bose budget of either system.

So, I may very well go this route, even though it makes me feel a little dirty.

before you make that move, check out the Onkyo HTX-22HDX
fairly compact, flexible, decent sound (for what it is), and cheap $300.00
sold about 4 of these so far with no complaints or returns but those clients only wanted to enhance their HDTV audio. Basically they went into this with no great expectations but came away pleasantly surprised