gimmick? decent substitute based on situation? If you haven't read my drama thread in CC I have to get a new TV soon and i plan on getting a receiver and sound system at the same time. But in my living room it's almost impossible to truly have rear speakers anywhere. My couch sits out in the open and I can't run anything under the floor due to living in a condo. So i was thinking about a soundbar system to mimic true surround.

Hell even if i had to go 2.1 or 3.1 until I move again I will, I would just like a decent set up with an active sub.

4/29/2011 10:09:30 AM

I'm in a similar setup (renting, can't really run wires.) I've seen this problem executed two nice ways. One is to use two shelves on the wall with the wireless rear speakers. I'm thinking of going the 2.1 route with a Bose Cinemate, but for some reason they released the US edition without optical input (necessary to get from TV over HDMI).

As for the soundbars my brother uses a vizio one and it's decent. But I think it depends on the TV - my samsung lcd has much better sound than his vizio did from the start. Either way - that simulated surround is ~ at best.

4/29/2011 10:21:12 AM

I like the look of the Cinemate, but how exactly does it get HD sound quality without any sort of HDMI link from the unit to the TV?

4/29/2011 10:44:26 AM

^Signal goes from HDMI source (PS3, etc) to TV, then out of TV and into cinemate. This is a totally different hookup from the oldschool receivers, but it's totally genius. Now a $20 HDMI switcher replaces the expensive receiver, and all you're paying for is good speakers.

[Edited on April 29, 2011 at 11:01 AM. Reason : oh snap they have Cinemate II with optical input now ]

4/29/2011 11:01:08 AM

So all of your devices (gaming, channel box, blu-ray player) go into the TV per normal with HDMI. Then you go from TV to Bose with optical. Do you lose any SQ from HDMI in to Optical out? I also can't seem to find any info on which decoders it's comatible with (5.1, DTS, Dolby, etc.).


I've also been looking at this one..
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Sony+-+BRAVIA+3.1-Ch.+Home+Theater+Soundbar+Speaker+System+with+Subwoofer/9904972.p?id=1218192429754&skuId=9904972&st=bravia%20soundbar&cp=1&lp=2

thoughts?

4/29/2011 11:11:07 AM

optical out would be digital so there shouldnt be any loss of quality.

4/29/2011 11:22:48 AM

I just run my wires across the floor along the baseboard I guess if you dislike having a few wires out then you are stuck with these options?

4/29/2011 11:24:56 AM

i don't like wires. plus i would have a front door and fireplace on either side to cross.

4/29/2011 11:28:39 AM

I used to run the wires on the floor, before I was married and had kids. I am thinking about a sound bar or wireless speakers as a way to get some surround sound again. I want a compact setup to keep it out of the way of the kids and I might not have much room once we move to an apartment later this year.

4/29/2011 1:58:23 PM

go with wireless speakers. lots to choose from on the market and it shouldn't cost you too much than normal wired speakers.

4/29/2011 2:58:25 PM

I had a Sony CT500 for awhile. its was quite nice, i was really surprised at how good that thing sounded. I bought it because it was pretty much the favorite over at avsforums.net.

I only returned it because I decided to move in w/ my gf in a few months and we'll redo a system there.

4/30/2011 7:57:56 PM

I've got the HTCT100 and absolutely love it
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Sony+-+BRAVIA+3.1-Ch.+Home+Theater+Soundbar+Speaker+System+with+Subwoofer/8800979.p?id=1206141458600&skuId=8800979

i got it about 2 years ago. My cable box and PS3 are hooked into the subwoofer via HDMI.. then I have an HDMI that runs from the woofer to the TV.
The woofer acts as the "receiver" and has a bunch of other ins/outs on it as well..

i have NEVER used the sound on my TV speakers (52" sony lcd)... I always use the soundbar and it sounds amazing... quiet enough on low levels but anything over 30 (50 is max) sounds awesome....ps3 games and movies have bass, nice sound, and even a good faux surround sound

5/1/2011 3:14:21 PM

Gimmick. Downmix everything to stereo and invest in solid 2.1 until you move again.

5/1/2011 11:02:37 PM

^I would at least go 3.1. It's easy to have a center speaker and makes a big difference.

5/2/2011 9:57:40 AM

^ So you'd downmix the rear surround to the front right and the left surround to the front left?

5/2/2011 3:44:56 PM

I mean as a last resort yes. I'd rather have 3.1 with the center than only 2.1.

5/2/2011 4:05:14 PM

what ever you do... don't go wireless rears...

they sound terrible imho

5/2/2011 4:07:30 PM

^^ I've just never tried that, so I didn't know it was possible. Definitely the better way to go.

5/2/2011 4:10:21 PM

Quote :

"^ So you'd downmix the rear surround to the front right and the left surround to the front left?"

Quote :

"I mean as a last resort yes. I'd rather have 3.1 with the center than only 2.1."

Would this require adjusting settings and sound levels with each type of media and sound format you are going to watch? The last thing I want is to have to spend 10 minutes readjusting my speakers and levels before watching something. And the one reason I like the sound bar, the Sony sound bar in particular, is that it acts as and HDMI switcher as well, along with being 3D ready, HDMI 1.4, etc etc.

5/2/2011 4:38:16 PM

See I only ever use a computer with a receiver so if I had to go down to 3.1 I'd just adjust it in windows and it would output 3.1 to the receiver. If you're using another device you'd have to see if the receiver could downmix it.

5/2/2011 4:49:09 PM

yeah this would be used for tv, and ps3/blu-ray only.

5/2/2011 5:07:56 PM

i meant Sony HT CT350 in my last post. dunno what i was thinking. discrete 3.1 system with a surprisingly solid sub.

5/2/2011 9:09:53 PM

when we first bought our plasma we didn't want surround sound but the guy at best buy suggested a surround sound bar due to the crappy built in tv speakers. we got some yamaha model, older one, open box, no remote type thing for $120. retail was $600 when it came out iirc. we just had it connected with normal a/v cables. now that we have real surround sound, i can honestly say it isn't much different. other than physically hearing sound from behind you, the effect is very similar though. its for sale if anyone is interested btw

5/2/2011 9:32:42 PM

Quote :

"See I only ever use a computer with a receiver so if I had to go down to 3.1 I'd just adjust it in windows and it would output 3.1 to the receiver. If you're using another device you'd have to see if the receiver could downmix it."

Ah, thought so. Yeah, I've never come across a receiver that could do that kind of downmix. Closest thing would be ProLogic, but that defeats the purpose of buying that center anyways.

Quote :

"now that we have real surround sound, i can honestly say it isn't much different."

Then you've got no clue what you're talking about.

5/2/2011 9:48:33 PM

Yeah I was going to say that. If you've truly got it set up correctly they'll be a big difference.

5/2/2011 10:04:59 PM

Most wireless speakers suck...as do HTIBs with wireless rear speakers in general if you want really good surround sound.

Just buy whichever 5.1 system you want and get a wireless rear speaker adapter kit (they're like a hundred bucks) for whichever rear speakers you choose. It'll work fine like someone above me said...as long as you have shelving in place or can otherwise accommodate a constant IR signal

[Edited on May 2, 2011 at 11:21 PM. Reason : herpes]

5/2/2011 11:21:13 PM

as i've mentioned several times, i don't have the ability to have rear speakers. there is no shelving or rear walls and the last thing I want is to walk around free standing floor speakers every day.

5/3/2011 10:16:00 AM

Go with a soundbar, they're fairly reasonable and put out good sound (I have one). When/if you move into your own place then you can re-evaluate for a true surround sound and put the soundbar on another TV.

5/3/2011 10:37:58 AM

yeah that's what i'm thinking. anything will be an upgrade over internal tv speakers.

Sony released an updated model to the CT350 i posted above, seperating the receiver portion from the subwoofer and making the sub wireless. But at the same time they went from 3.1 on the soundbar to 2.1. So now i have to decide which model i want. I'd prefer 3.1, but the seperated receiver is a better design so i don't have to point my remote down at the sub to change volume or inputs.

5/3/2011 12:02:48 PM

i def don't like that they went to 2.1. if nothing else, its nice to be able to control the center speaker volume level to boost voices, etc. but i suppose if they're smart they can boost that channel discretely before they mix the L/R to create the sound. It could be fine i guess.

buy both, have a two week trial run and return the other.

5/7/2011 12:52:11 PM

or buy both and return the older model with the 2.1 bar

5/7/2011 2:22:28 PM