Sound Bars information

Other surround-sound options

If convenience or aesthetics are not overriding concerns, experts say that you can almost certainly get better sound and more flexibility at a lower cost by opting for a traditional surround-sound system that includes a separate home theater receiver and five to seven speakers, plus a subwoofer. These types of surround-sound systems can be assembled yourself by purchasing a home theater receiver and speaker system, or you can choose a home theater in a box (HTIB) kit that includes everything you need including, in some cases, a DVD player. ConsumerSearch covers home theater receivers, home theater speakers and home theater systems in separate reports.

Crutchfield, a retailer of electronics products, offers a good selection of how-to articles on their website, including "Sound Bars: How to Choose a Single-speaker Solution," by Loren Barstow.

Manufacturer websites are also a good source for technical specifications and other information:

Atlantic Technology

Denon

Marantz

Philips

Polk Audio

Samsung

Sony

Vizio

Yamaha