Topic: soundbar?

[mblindsey]

My question is more for general TV use, and the occasional concert DVD.  Does anyone have any experience with something like the "soundbar"?  I know Bose make something similar...

 http://www.consumer.philips.com/consumer/en/us/consumer/cc/_productid_HTS8100_37_US_CONSUMER/

Audiophile opinions aside, are these things "ok" for general use?  Or, more direct...is this product segment a gimmick that sounds like a$$ at any price? 

Kids cartoons, a red box dvd, games...not looking for spectacular...just trying to avoid cabling hassles in a product that provides some increase in value over speakers in the TV...

If the price to performance is better on cheap surround sounds...well, I guess I'll drill holes...

--Michael

[nickgregory]

I would be interested to hear as well.  My parents have a sony LCD and the sound is a bit thin...they would use it for tv and dvd use only...

[Ed.]

Interested as well, this would be perfect for the bedroom.

[Lil Kim Jong-Il]

A guy I used to work with bought one and raved about it for weeks.  ymmv

[Weirdness]

A good soundbar will beat a cheap theater in a box any day of the week.  That being said, a modest 2 channel system if you can afford the space will slaughter most soundbars that are out there and will give you the option of listening to music with good sound as well.  For under $500 I would think that you could get something like an NAD/Paradigm system that would do a nice job without breaking the bank.  Buying used would allow for something better of course.

All that being said, almost anything will beat the sound of a flat panel TV, there just isn't enough room in there to do justice to the audio portion.  Also, make sure that if you go the stereo route rather than surround that your DVD player and cable/satellite box are set for stereo out and not surround if possible. 

[BC]

If the price to performance is better on cheap surround sounds...well, I guess I'll drill holes...
--Michael

I would think it is, it's important to remember that the "surround" effects of these things are greatly affected by room dimensions and acoustics. The side firing drivers depend on room reflections to give the surround effect. Even in a good room, I can't imagine that this type of surround speaker could outperform speakers that are set up in the correct positions. Just my guess.