Soundbars ?

@md_Guy · Dec 25, 2010, 07:19 AM

Long story short, the inlaws TV's paltry 10W speakers weren't cutting the mustard and they needed something with a bit more umph without going to a full home theater system and they really didn't want to deal with having to run wires (either behind the walls/molding/carpeting etc) so I finally decided on a soundbar as a Xmas gift.

Got them a Vizio Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer for $169.00 from Tiger Direct.
http://www.vizio.com/vsb210ws.html

a gajillion times better than the TV's speakers. I'm no "audiophile" but wow.. the inlaws are like "wow almost like being in the movie theater" and I was impressed by the surround "feel". This was my 1st ever experience with a soundbar and between the easy setup (1 SPIDF cable, 1 Power plug) and the decent sound I think Im sold. Anyone else have any good (or bad) impressions of these things ? I guess they aren't as immersive as a full 7.1 system with satellites and a dedicated receiver etc but for the price I guess I can't argue.

aviphysics · Dec 25, 2010, 10:25 AM

Does the soundbar use any kind of calibration routine? I would have thought that emulating surround would require the system to know something about the room it is in.

vitocorleone · Dec 25, 2010, 02:37 PM

I've read that soundbars can do a good job of creating a "surround sound" experience - but only within a very narrow range of actual seating space. After that it sounds very directional.

Still an good upgrade from TV speakers.

@md_Guy · Dec 25, 2010, 05:44 PM

been listening to music/tv/movies etc today... for the most part a nice (cheap..erish) solution finding some nuances.. such as no AC3 (only PCM) over SPDIF, only 44, 48Hz sampling rates otherwise have to use RCA inputs.

lmchv · Dec 25, 2010, 05:59 PM

I've been using a Samsung one for some months in the main bedroom (4x3meters), it supports DTS, DD using optical cable connected to my Sony BDP-S350. Got it for free with the purchase of my 46" LED

I already have a full HT system in the living room so I just needed something simple for my bedroom, can't complain.

aviphysics · Dec 25, 2010, 06:56 PM

With a quick look the only one I saw where the reviewer said it convincingly reproduced surround sound has a mic assisted auto calibration routing.

For those that are interested it was the Yamaha YSP-900. I don't think it is available anymore but they have replaced it with newer models.

I am sure almost anything would be better than most TV speakers.

huskylord · Dec 31, 2010, 09:22 AM

I have the Sony HT-500.
I like it, but I'm not a level 30 audiophile

Top Secret · Jan 6, 2011, 04:07 AM

The guys over at HD Nation (Revision 3) said that sound bars are a good alternative for people who can't run a true surround system. Sounds like it was a great gift to me.

Dec 25, 2010, 07:19 AM	#1	Advertisement (Guests Only) Login or Register to remove this ad
@md_Guy <strike>out</strike> Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 3,477	Soundbars ? Long story short, the inlaws TV's paltry 10W speakers weren't cutting the mustard and they needed something with a bit more umph without going to a full home theater system and they really didn't want to deal with having to run wires (either behind the walls/molding/carpeting etc) so I finally decided on a soundbar as a Xmas gift. Got them a Vizio Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer for $169.00 from Tiger Direct. http://www.vizio.com/vsb210ws.html a gajillion times better than the TV's speakers. I'm no "audiophile" but wow.. the inlaws are like "wow almost like being in the movie theater" and I was impressed by the surround "feel". This was my 1st ever experience with a soundbar and between the easy setup (1 SPIDF cable, 1 Power plug) and the decent sound I think Im sold. Anyone else have any good (or bad) impressions of these things ? I guess they aren't as immersive as a full 7.1 system with satellites and a dedicated receiver etc but for the price I guess I can't argue. __________________ Fermi Paradox*: "The apparent size and age of Fermi die suggests that many technologically advanced GPUs ought to exist. However, this hypothesis seems inconsistent with the lack of observational evidence to support it."

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Dec 25, 2010, 10:25 AM	#2
aviphysics Atari 800 FTW Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Livermore Ca Posts: 5,426	Does the soundbar use any kind of calibration routine? I would have thought that emulating surround would require the system to know something about the room it is in. __________________ THG is to computer hardware what MTV is to music.

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Dec 25, 2010, 02:37 PM	#3
vitocorleone Rage3D Veteran Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Seattle Posts: 7,505	I've read that soundbars can do a good job of creating a "surround sound" experience - but only within a very narrow range of actual seating space. After that it sounds very directional. Still an good upgrade from TV speakers. __________________ You know what a fake news show on Fox News should give you? Real news! - Lewis Black

Dec 25, 2010, 05:44 PM	#4
@md_Guy <strike>out</strike> Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 3,477	been listening to music/tv/movies etc today... for the most part a nice (cheap..erish) solution finding some nuances.. such as no AC3 (only PCM) over SPDIF, only 44, 48Hz sampling rates otherwise have to use RCA inputs. __________________ Fermi Paradox*: "The apparent size and age of Fermi die suggests that many technologically advanced GPUs ought to exist. However, this hypothesis seems inconsistent with the lack of observational evidence to support it."

Dec 25, 2010, 05:59 PM	#5
lmchv Planet Express Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Lima / Peru Posts: 2,596	I've been using a Samsung one for some months in the main bedroom (4x3meters), it supports DTS, DD using optical cable connected to my Sony BDP-S350. Got it for free with the purchase of my 46" LED I already have a full HT system in the living room so I just needed something simple for my bedroom, can't complain. __________________ Bloodzone.net Moderator BEHEMOTH (Desktop):ASUS Maximus V Formula / ThunderFX \| Intel Core i7 3770K + Corsair Hydro H100 \| Corsair 16GB DDR3-1600 \| Dell UltraSharp 2408 WFP 24" \| 2 x Radeon HD6970 2GB Crossfire \| Cooler Master Cosmos 1000 + Thermaltake SP-850M \| ROG SupremeFX IV + Logitech Z-5500 + CM Storm Sirus \| Microsoft Reclusa + Logitech MX Revolution + Gigabyte Krypton \| OCZ Vortex 2 SSD 180GB + 2 x Seagate Barracuda 320GB SATA2 16MB RAID 0 \| Sony BD-ROM +LG DVD-RAM DL \| Windows 8 Pro 64bits KRAKEN (Laptop):MSI GT70\| Intel Core i7 3630QM \| 16GB DDR3-1600 \| nVidia Geforce GTX680M 4GB @ 1920x1080 17" \| 2 x mSATA 128GB SSD RAID0 + 750GB 7200RPM SATA3 \| Logitech G700 + Func F-10R \| Bluray burner \| Windows 8 Pro 64bits

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Dec 25, 2010, 06:56 PM	#6
aviphysics Atari 800 FTW Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Livermore Ca Posts: 5,426	With a quick look the only one I saw where the reviewer said it convincingly reproduced surround sound has a mic assisted auto calibration routing. For those that are interested it was the Yamaha YSP-900. I don't think it is available anymore but they have replaced it with newer models. I am sure almost anything would be better than most TV speakers. __________________ THG is to computer hardware what MTV is to music. Last edited by aviphysics : Dec 25, 2010 at 07:00 PM.

Dec 31, 2010, 09:22 AM	#7
huskylord Lord of the HR Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: not working out Posts: 5,990	I have the Sony HT-500. I like it, but I'm not a level 30 audiophile __________________ Take what you want...and then pay for it...

Jan 6, 2011, 04:07 AM	#8
Top Secret Radeon HD 6850 Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 128	The guys over at HD Nation (Revision 3) said that sound bars are a good alternative for people who can't run a true surround system. Sounds like it was a great gift to me.

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