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Sound Bars and You

post #1 of 5
1/4/11 at 11:51am
Thread Starter 
I want to upgrade to 7.1 this year, but I don't want to have to wire up another 2 speakers in my already crowded living room. The sound bars have been out for a while now...anyone have any good/bad experiences with them? Is it possible to even use a sound bar + surround speakers in the back and have 7.1 sound? I know a decent bit about audio, but I'm no expert.
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post #2 of 5
1/4/11 at 12:55pm
You need a really damn good room to have them sound remotely decent.

The problem with using a soundbar and surrounds is crossover. Your sound is going to get all muddied in the middle and likely have phase issues.

The other issue comes with 7.1. Not a lot of movies are mixed for 7.1 initially. It's often an after the fact mixing not done by the original mixer. Think of it as post-process 3D but for sound. It can sound okay but the difference for the average film watcher is minimal and for the experienced audiophile it often sound like crap.

If you're future-proofing then I'd wait until 7.1 looks like it's going to be the norm. Right now, there's no indication that that will be the case.
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post #3 of 5
1/4/11 at 2:55pm
Thread Starter 
Ahh, this is the information I wanted. Thank you sir. I'd been waiting out 7.1 to see if it would be the norm, and honestly, I've been waiting for the receivers to get cheaper ('cause I'm cheap).
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post #4 of 5
1/4/11 at 3:06pm
I got a Samsung soundbar for Christmas, and I enjoy it. I got a new TV, but it has really weak speakers, and this compensated nicely.

I have a small living room, and the sound fills the room well. I used to have a wired setup, but the wires became a major nuisance. It's a quality practical solution for me, but I don't think it's good for replicating a 7.1 experience.

By the way, this might be helpful: Dolby recently posted a setup guide for 2.1, 5.1 and 7.1 systems. This may came in handy for you.
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post #5 of 5
1/19/11 at 7:56am

I can vouch for Sony's latest sound bar (HT CT350). My tv's in an 11x13 bedroom, and it works beautifully. It's a good approximation of surround sound, the voices and effects are clear, and the bass from the subwoofer is plenty solid. It also gets plenty loud. Given you can spend at least as much on a receiver alone it's a really good deal. You also won't miss stringing wires all over the place.

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