Sound Bar??? - Blu-ray Forum

ulri4651 · 03-16-2008, 05:33 AM

I was thinking of purchasing either a Yamaha or Polk Sound Bar speaker system for my bedroom. I have a blu-ray player in there but it just isn't practical to set up a home theater system. I'm wondering what people think though- do you think a soundbar will take advantage of Blu's audio capabilities? Are they worth the price (roughly $800)? If so I will probably go with the Yamaha because it is self powered and wouldn't require a separate receiver. Thoughts???

BStecke · 03-16-2008, 05:35 AM

Nothing does surround sound as well as surround sound. Will it take FULL advantage . . . absolutely not. Will it be better than the speakers on your TV? Yes. Do I think it's worth the price? No.

ulri4651 · 03-16-2008, 05:38 AM

I know it won't be FULL surround sound but does it do an adequate job of simulating it? Like I said, its a bedroom so I'm working with limited space. A full speaker setup would be too much for the room anyway.

un4gvn94538 · 03-16-2008, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ulri4651

I know it won't be FULL surround sound but does it do an adequate job of simulating it? Like I said, its a bedroom so I'm working with limited space. A full speaker setup would be too much for the room anyway.

ive been considering this too for the bedroom. im interested if anyone has had any ACTUAL experience with them.

Petra_Kalbrain · 03-16-2008, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ulri4651

A full speaker setup would be too much for the room anyway.

Not possible! It's all a matter of settings. If I was spending that kind of money, I would rather get a crappy HTIB system than a sound bar. At least with a HTIB setup you can have precision audio placement to create the surround sound... even if they aren't powerful speakers.

musicman1999 · 03-16-2008, 05:43 AM

Soundbars work by bouncing sounds off the walls to simulate surround, i don't think it would work well in a small room. A good set of stereo speakers, running in 2 channel would sound better in a small room.

bill

ulri4651 · 03-16-2008, 05:48 AM

Well the soundbard have settings that allow them to recreate the placement of actual speakers- you know the little microphone thingy you put at your viewing point. Also, if they work by bouncing the sound off walls I would think a smaller room would be more ideal? Small room=less distance to travel?? No??

Petra_Kalbrain · 03-16-2008, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ulri4651

Well the soundbard have settings that allow them to recreate the placement of actual speakers- you know the little microphone thingy you put at your viewing point. Also, if they work by bouncing the sound off walls I would think a smaller room would be more ideal? Small room=less distance to travel?? No??

Less room to ensure the sound can be bounced properly to sound like there are rear satellites. Think of it like a pool table. The smaller the table, the fewer angles you'll have to work with. Trying a double bank shot down the long edge would be much trickier if the white ball (sound bar) is too close to the long bank of the table (wall).

musicman1999 · 03-16-2008, 05:59 AM

Small room= reflective surfaces closer together=extra refection.

Big Daddy · 03-16-2008, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ulri4651

I was thinking of purchasing either a Yamaha or Polk Sound Bar speaker system for my bedroom. I have a blu-ray player in there but it just isn't practical to set up a home theater system. I'm wondering what people think though- do you think a soundbar will take advantage of Blu's audio capabilities? Are they worth the price (roughly $800)? If so I will probably go with the Yamaha because it is self powered and wouldn't require a separate receiver. Thoughts???

The last issue of Home Theater Magazine (April 2008) had a good review of several sound bars. The issue is still available. Go to a bookstore and buy it before you make your final decision.

katiehlvr1 · 04-01-2008, 02:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ulri4651

I know it won't be FULL surround sound but does it do an adequate job of simulating it? Like I said, its a bedroom so I'm working with limited space. A full speaker setup would be too much for the room anyway.

Yes it will be. I have heard it myself. I debated on either that or the bose cinemate and as much criticism that Bose took I thought it was very nice for what you needed it for. Everything was very clean and crisp. Nice setup and nice sound. Actually a beautiful sound. If you are looking to blow the roof off then no it is not for you. However, I read SO many bad reviews of the cinemate and actually went out to buy it. I think they could have came down a bit in price but it does actually sound very good and everything very well in sync!

btf1980 · 04-01-2008, 02:23 AM

Look, i'll be completely honest here and i'm saying this as someone who has people constantly asking about these sound bars. I'm not gaining anything here, since we sell them. They are absolute rubbish, and are the choice of the uninformed, men that give in to their wives demands to not ruin their decor, or people who want "lifestyle" speakers, not quality speakers.

If you have space constraints and cannot go full surround, do yourself a favor, just get yourself a quality set of speakers and listen to quality 2 channel audio. Perhaps get a 2 channel amplifier.

You can't simulate proper surround sound. Either you have it, or you don't. It will never be the same. Accept that if you have space limitations.

Baseball3 · 04-01-2008, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ulri4651

I was thinking of purchasing either a Yamaha or Polk Sound Bar speaker system for my bedroom. I have a blu-ray player in there but it just isn't practical to set up a home theater system. I'm wondering what people think though- do you think a soundbar will take advantage of Blu's audio capabilities? Are they worth the price (roughly $800)? If so I will probably go with the Yamaha because it is self powered and wouldn't require a separate receiver. Thoughts???

Go with a ZVOX or a Binaura system and save yourself some cash. I have the ZVOX in a bedroom and a Binaura in a secondary den. I think they profide fair enough sound given the money spent and the lack of surround speakers. Take a look and a listen. I am curious as to what others may think of those two suggestions.

Woody · 04-01-2008, 03:55 PM

I agree with the posters saying go with 2 wall mountable speakers and a 2 ch receiver. Accomplishes 2 things.

1. cheaper
2. sounds better

The only reason I would ever go sound bar is because I didn't have room for a receiver.

I too sell them and don't think they are very good. ESPECIALLY at $1000-$1200 a pop.

If you could get 1 for 200-300 I would do it just because that would be cheaper than 2 speakers and a receiver.

Psiweaver · 04-01-2008, 10:00 PM

There is a new product coming to market that was shown at CEDIA last year that is simply amazingly good. its is by a company called sound matters. http://www.soundmatters.com/

They also make an accompanying under bed subwoofer. It was one of the best demos if not the best demo that I saw at the show. I'm a stickler for sound quality as I work in theaters worth hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars every day and let me tell you I was very impressed with the sound quality that came from the Sound Matters bar.

jsteinhauer · 04-01-2008, 10:46 PM

I bought one from Yamaha soon after retiring my old JVC HTiB at the time I bought my LCD display and BD player. It was unimpressive, and I returned it the next day.

krendevil · 04-01-2008, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baseball3

Go with a ZVOX or a Binaura system and save yourself some cash. I have the ZVOX in a bedroom and a Binaura in a secondary den. I think they profide fair enough sound given the money spent and the lack of surround speakers. Take a look and a listen. I am curious as to what others may think of those two suggestions.

I have the Polk surround bar. I also have a 7.1 rec. and just recently hooke-up 2 rear satellite speakers and man what a difference (adding the 2 rear spkrs.) The bars sound great if you're not looking for a total "surround sound" experience, but adding a couple of little satellites to the back or side of your walls, should create the desired effect. It's a nice solution if on a budget or in a small room. YAAAHH!!! YAAAHH!!! On to the next town!!!!

krendevil · 04-01-2008, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krendevil

I have the Polk surround bar. I also have a 7.1 rec. and just recently hooke-up 2 rear satellite speakers and man what a difference (adding the 2 rear spkrs.) The bars sound great if you're not looking for a total "surround sound" experience, but adding a couple of little satellites to the back or side of your walls, should create the desired effect. It's a nice solution if on a budget or in a small room. YAAAHH!!! YAAAHH!!! On to the next town!!!!

I meant "hooked-up." Don't want all you folks to think I'm a complete "tard."

Just sort of "tarded"

03-16-2008, 05:33 AM	#1
ulri4651 Banned Member since:Apr 2007 Blu-ray collection:162 Trading Score:36	Sound Bar??? I was thinking of purchasing either a Yamaha or Polk Sound Bar speaker system for my bedroom. I have a blu-ray player in there but it just isn't practical to set up a home theater system. I'm wondering what people think though- do you think a soundbar will take advantage of Blu's audio capabilities? Are they worth the price (roughly $800)? If so I will probably go with the Yamaha because it is self powered and wouldn't require a separate receiver. Thoughts???

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03-16-2008, 05:35 AM	#2
BStecke Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jun 2007 4K collection:182 Blu-ray collection:567 DVD collection:1 Digital collection:1 iTunes collection:1 Blu-ray reviews: 1 Trading Score:6	Nothing does surround sound as well as surround sound. Will it take FULL advantage . . . absolutely not. Will it be better than the speakers on your TV? Yes. Do I think it's worth the price? No.

03-16-2008, 05:38 AM	#3
ulri4651 Banned Member since:Apr 2007 Blu-ray collection:162 Trading Score:36	I know it won't be FULL surround sound but does it do an adequate job of simulating it? Like I said, its a bedroom so I'm working with limited space. A full speaker setup would be too much for the room anyway.

03-16-2008, 05:43 AM	#6
musicman1999 Active Member Member since:Nov 2007	Soundbars work by bouncing sounds off the walls to simulate surround, i don't think it would work well in a small room. A good set of stereo speakers, running in 2 channel would sound better in a small room. bill

03-16-2008, 05:48 AM	#7
ulri4651 Banned Member since:Apr 2007 Blu-ray collection:162 Trading Score:36	Well the soundbard have settings that allow them to recreate the placement of actual speakers- you know the little microphone thingy you put at your viewing point. Also, if they work by bouncing the sound off walls I would think a smaller room would be more ideal? Small room=less distance to travel?? No??

03-16-2008, 05:59 AM	#9
musicman1999 Active Member Member since:Nov 2007	Small room= reflective surfaces closer together=extra refection.

04-01-2008, 02:23 AM	#12
btf1980 Special Member Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Jan 2007 Location:NYC Home Theater Gallery:97 Trading Score:14	Look, i'll be completely honest here and i'm saying this as someone who has people constantly asking about these sound bars. I'm not gaining anything here, since we sell them. They are absolute rubbish, and are the choice of the uninformed, men that give in to their wives demands to not ruin their decor, or people who want "lifestyle" speakers, not quality speakers. If you have space constraints and cannot go full surround, do yourself a favor, just get yourself a quality set of speakers and listen to quality 2 channel audio. Perhaps get a 2 channel amplifier. You can't simulate proper surround sound. Either you have it, or you don't. It will never be the same. Accept that if you have space limitations.

04-01-2008, 03:55 PM	#14
Woody Power Member Member since:Jun 2007 Home Theater Gallery:60 4K collection:175 Blu-ray collection:415 DVD collection:165	I agree with the posters saying go with 2 wall mountable speakers and a 2 ch receiver. Accomplishes 2 things. 1. cheaper 2. sounds better The only reason I would ever go sound bar is because I didn't have room for a receiver. I too sell them and don't think they are very good. ESPECIALLY at $1000-$1200 a pop. If you could get 1 for 200-300 I would do it just because that would be cheaper than 2 speakers and a receiver.

04-01-2008, 10:00 PM	#15
Psiweaver Special Member Member since:Jun 2006 Location:Los Angeles,CA	There is a new product coming to market that was shown at CEDIA last year that is simply amazingly good. its is by a company called sound matters. http://www.soundmatters.com/ They also make an accompanying under bed subwoofer. It was one of the best demos if not the best demo that I saw at the show. I'm a stickler for sound quality as I work in theaters worth hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars every day and let me tell you I was very impressed with the sound quality that came from the Sound Matters bar.

04-01-2008, 10:46 PM	#16
jsteinhauer Gaming Moderator Member since:Aug 2007 Blu-ray reviews:120 Trading Score:66	I bought one from Yamaha soon after retiring my old JVC HTiB at the time I bought my LCD display and BD player. It was unimpressive, and I returned it the next day.

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