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5.1 soundbar suggestions

R

RedChief

Senior member
I'm looking into a 5.1 sound bar due to my living room layout. The room is rectangular and aside from the front door, the only entrances are on the same wall as the TV. Due to the layout, running the rear speakers in a 5.1 is not a option. I would prefer not to spend more then $500 as I will run into wife issues after that (although ebay is a option). Any suggestions?
 
There's only one currently available I think.

I haven't heard it myself but I know its the $200-$300 price range. I'm willing to try almost anything BA once. I currently own 4 pairs of various BA speakers (all from the late 80's early 90's).
 
I'm possibly looking at getting this one: http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...specifications

the only thing I don't quite understand is why I need to use a RCA cable from the tv audio out to the subwoofer's audio in? If I'm using HDMI cables for everthing and don't currently need an RCA cable for anything, why doesn't this thing just use the hdmi cables for the audio?

Also, would there be any issues in placing the subwoofer to the left of the TV stand? It wouldn't be right up against it, maybe a few inches from the stand.
 
Polk SurroundBars are nice, though pricey. They have the best simulated surround from reviews I've seen. Went to a demo last year for the 50 model, and it sounded pretty good.
 
Drako said:
Polk SurroundBars are nice, though pricey. They have the best simulated surround from reviews I've seen. Went to a demo last year for the 50 model, and it sounded pretty good.
Click to expand...

I was going to mention this as well, but the good ones start at $400, and he'd still need a sub and receiver. However, if you want the best "surround" sound without having surround speakers, then I'd go with one of those for either $400 or $700.

The inexpensive Polk SurroundBars (example) don't look any better than the Sony ones though.
 
pontifex said:
I'm possibly looking at getting this one: http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...specifications

the only thing I don't quite understand is why I need to use a RCA cable from the tv audio out to the subwoofer's audio in? If I'm using HDMI cables for everthing and don't currently need an RCA cable for anything, why doesn't this thing just use the hdmi cables for the audio?

Also, would there be any issues in placing the subwoofer to the left of the TV stand? It wouldn't be right up against it, maybe a few inches from the stand.
Click to expand...

i have that one. you don't need RCA if you use HDMI.
though you could use toslink to go from tv to the receiver (soundbar's sub).
 
s44 said:
You realize that surrounds in a 5.1 are sides, not rears, right?
Click to expand...

They are commonly referred to, and correctly so, as rears.

The only time "sides" come into the equation is in a 7.1 setup when yes, the place you put the "rears" in a 5.1 setup become the "sides".
 
Slick5150 said:
They are commonly referred to, and correctly so, as rears.

The only time "sides" come into the equation is in a 7.1 setup when yes, the place you put the "rears" in a 5.1 setup become the "sides".
Click to expand...

Dolby disagrees with you and agrees with s44:

A 5.1-channel surround system has five discrete, full-range channels of sound—Left, Right, Center, Left Surround, and Right Surround—plus a subwoofer that delivers low-frequency information only.

A 7.1-channel surround system has seven discrete, full-range channels of sound—Left, Right, Center, Left Surround, Right Surround, Left Back, and Right Back—plus a subwoofer that delivers low-frequency information only(Source).
Click to expand...

Also, the side surrounds of 5.1 are supposed to be placed at a 90° - 110° angle to a listeners, so directly to the side to a little bit behind the listeners.
 
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kalrith said:
Dolby disagrees with you and agrees with s44:
Click to expand...

Uh, where in there does Dolby call that a "side" speaker? Or a rear for that matter?

My statement was that the 2 surround speakers in a 5.1 setup are commonly referred to as "rear speakers". I'm not arguing WHERE the 2 surround speakers go in a 5.1 setup. What you quoted neither agrees or disagrees with that.
 
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Slick5150 said:
Uh, where in there does Dolby call that a "side" speaker? Or a rear for that matter?

My statement was that the 2 surround speakers in a 5.1 setup are commonly referred to as "rear speakers". I'm not arguing WHERE the 2 surround speakers go in a 5.1 setup. What you quoted neither agrees or disagrees with that.
Click to expand...

You said, "They are commonly referred to, and correctly so, as rears." They might be commonly referred as rears, but I wouldn't say that something placed to the side rather than the rear is correctly called "rears."

After rereading your previous post, I realize that you're right about where the speakers go, but I think your explanation leaves much to be desired. The OP said he couldn't run "rear speakers," and s44 pointed out that the speakers are to the side and not to the read, as seen in the following pic from Dolby:

DOLBY5_1.JPG


For all we know, the OP might be able to place side speakers and not rear speakers, the latter of which are not used in 5.1. Your post seemed to be saying, "No, s44, the 5.1 surrounds are correctly referred to as "rears," because they're placed behind the listener."

So, we both agree on where the speakers should be placed, but I'm posting this for the benefit of the OP so that he knows that the 5.1 surrounds are placed to the side and not to the rear, regardless of what anyone calls those speakers.
 
To follow up with a concrete suggestion, I think the ~$320 Onkyo S3300 HTIB is by far the best deal in this price range if you can place the speakers. Everyone else seems to agree with me, however, so it's currently OOS at the major retailers.
 
kalrith - you are correct. Upon re-reading it, my initial reply did seem to indicate that I was suggesting the surrounds belonged in the "rear" (rather than just suggesting they are commonly called that).

In any case, yes, the 5.1 setup has the surrounds to the side of the listener if that makes any different OP. But I'm still fine with you CALLING them "rears" 🙂
 
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