Is a sound bar right for you?

Sound bars aim for the middle ground for those who want more immersive sound than their television's speakers can provide but without the multiple components and rat's nest of cabling that can go with multispeaker surround-sound systems.

Sound bars try to create a virtual surround-sound effect in one long speaker, often with the addition of a subwoofer. There are several types of sound bars. Passive sound bars often have great sound, but they have to be hooked up to a component amplifier/receiver. Active sound bars have an integrated amplifier/receiver so you don't need to hook up anything extra, though some include their electronics in a separate component. Hybrid sound bars offer the look of a sound bar at the TV, but add rear channel speakers for a true surround-sound effect.

These systems are either called sound bars or soundbars by manufacturers. We saw the two terms used interchangeably.

Virtual-surround systems

Different manufacturers take different paths to tricking the mind into believing that it's listening to sound coming from different spots within a room when, in fact, all audio is emanating from in front of the listener. Humans rely on sound cues, such as time delays and levels, to pinpoint where sounds are coming from and their direction of travel.

Some virtual surround-sound sound-bar systems borrow from that, altering sound levels and adding slight time delays to deliver sound cues to the ear that mimic what would be heard if the sound were coming from different directions. While this type of system can be effective, its chief drawback is that it requires that the listener be precisely seated in a very small sweet spot for the sound cues to be interpreted accurately.

Other sound-bar systems use highly focused drivers to bounce surround-channel audio off of the walls in the room. Room geometry is crucial here, and the left and right walls should be the same distance from the sound bar for best results. Additionally, room features, including wall openings -- such as arches or large doorways -- curtains, and even furniture can all work to disrupt the sound field.

The most basic type of sound bar is a passive sound bar. This type of system includes the drivers for the center and front surrounds, but no signal processing or amplification. That means you need to pair this type of sound bar with a home-theater receiver or amplifier, which complicates and clutters setup, defeating one purpose of opting for a sound bar. Additionally, the surround effect -- if present at all -- is usually not very well defined. However, passive sound bars are a good solution for those looking for a stylish way to mate front-center, left and right speakers with a wall-hung flat-panel TV. They can be combined with separate rear surrounds and a subwoofer to create a full-fledged surround-sound system or used on their own to provide better audio than can be expected using an HDTV's integrated sound system.

Active sound bars are a cleaner solution, and they don't require a separate receiver. Active sound bars include an integrated amplifier as well as the signal-processing circuitry required to generate a more convincing surround-sound effect. Many also include extras such as a radio tuner and even a DVD player. Because they provide for a simpler and less-cluttered installation than passive sound bars, active sound bars are often the better choice for those looking at this type of home-theater system. Hybrid sound bars add a rear-channel speaker to an active sound bar for a full-fledged surround-sound field. They are more complex than a standard sound bar, but by linking the satellite speakers to a wireless subwoofer, they still cut down on clutter.

Passive sound bars

We focus on active sound bars in this report, but there are some standout passive sound bars. For example, we saw some great comments for the 50-inch Polk Audio SurroundBar 50 (*Est. $750). Judges at Home Theater magazine call it the best sounding alternative in an older five sound-bar shootout conducted by that magazine. "If we're talking solely about audio performance, Polk's SurroundBar 50 was the winner by unanimous decision," writes Adrienne Maxwell.

Polk doesn't use digital signal processing to achieve what Maxwell calls a "larger, more enveloping soundstage." Instead, that's done via the placement of the drivers within the cabinet and the addition of old-fashioned analog delay circuitry to deliver localization cues to the ears. The technique is effective -- to a point. Judges in the Home Theater review had different reactions to the surround field, but all agreed that the level of "surround envelopment" fell short of ideal. That conclusion is echoed in Sound & Vision's review. While otherwise complimentary, Ken C. Pohlmann says surround-sound reproduction is not "terribly convincing."

Surround performance aside, however, sound quality is top notch with both music and movies. Dialog is especially clear, and sound is uncolored, reviews say, though things sound even better when the sound bar is used with a separate subwoofer. Polk also offers the smaller 42-inch Polk Audio SurroundBar 42 (*Est. $600). CNET notes that bass is lacking, but it gives the sound bar a reasonably solid rating, especially for those who plan to use it in a small room. User feedback at sites like Amazon.com is generally favorable.

Among other passive sound bars, we found a nice review of the Atlantic Technology FS-4000 (*Est. $1,100) at About.com. Like the Polk Audio SurroundBar 50, on its own, the Atlantic Technology FS-4000 falls short of producing a convincing surround-sound field. However, About.com's Robert Silva says that it does project a credible stereo (left and right channel) sound image despite the close physical spacing of the drivers. Silva adds that the sound quality with movies and music is excellent. Dialog and other vocals are a particular strength. Silva also tests the FS-4000 in configurations that include a separate subwoofer and left/right rear surround speakers and is impressed.

You should consider the following when shopping for a sound-bar system:

  • Choose an active sound bar for the simplest setup. Active sound bars include an amplifier or home-theater receiver, which keeps the wire count down to a minimum. Passive sound bars can sound great and are a good solution where the primary concern is mating the center-channel and front-surround speakers with a wall-mounted flat-panel TV, but you also need to use a separate home-theater receiver, and they can be just as complicated to set up as a traditional surround-sound system.
  • Virtual surround sound is usually less convincing than actual surround sound. Standard sound bars use sonic trickery to fool the mind into thinking that sound coming from small speakers in the front is emanating instead from spots all around the listener. The effectiveness of the techniques used to pull this off varies and can be greatly affected by things like seating positions and room geometry.
  • Consider a subwoofer. Because of the size and shape of their enclosures, simple physics usually limits the bass response of most sound bars. Adding a subwoofer can add a little clutter, but it will also provide a better sonic low end, which is crucial for enjoying some types of entertainment -- including high-octane movies. Because of that, some sound bars are offered with separate wired or wireless subwoofers.
  • Check the manufacturer's policy regarding authorized dealers before buying online. Some manufacturers have strict policies regarding authorized dealers. For example, Boston Acoustics will not honor its warranty if you buy its sound bars from an unauthorized dealer. Some dealers will offer a substitute warranty, but whether that's a suitable alternative is something you should consider before buying.

Back to top