Finally getting surround sound! Need help!

[taei]

Hi all,

So I just graduated from college and thought that I would treat myself to getting a surround sound system. I've been living overseas so I couldn't get anything cause I knew I would eventually move back and I didn't want to deal with different Voltage.

I started looking around and I got lost. I don't know what I'm doing, so I'm hoping that you guys can help me out a bit.

I'm going to be moving back to my parents house (you have to live with the parents in the middle east ) and I'm going all out for my bedroom. I don't have the exact size of the room, but it's a relatively big room...

Ok. So budget wise, I would say its a max of $400
I was dabbling around the idea of getting an all-in-one system, just because I don't have that high of a budget. But I've been reading around and it seems like a lot of people are saying that sound bars actually work better in bedrooms.

So I guess my question is, based on my situation, which would you guys recommend, a sound bar or a 5.1 system?

And which companies should I go for? In the middle east, we have Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, Pioneer, JBL, and Harman/Kardon.

Thanks in advance.