Cut the cord: Sound bars with wireless subwoofers

Matthew Moskovciak
Associate editor March 17, 2010

Sound bars are all about getting credible home theater sound without the fuss, so it was only a matter of time before that pesky wire to the subwoofer was eliminated.

These four sound bars all feature a wireless sub, allowing you to enjoy some legitimate low end without running an audio cable to the sub--although you'll still need to plug the sub into a power outlet. They're also all self-powered models, so they don't need a separate AV receiver.

Of the current models we've reviewed, JVC's TH-BA1 is the best bet, with solid sonics, three total inputs (including two optical inputs), and an easy-to-use design. Vizio's VSB210WS isn't far behind, but its LED indicator system takes some getting used to. Polk Audio's SurroundBar SDA IHT and Boston Acoustics TVee Model Two round out the list, but their limited connectivity options make them harder to recommend.

Zvox's Z-Base units (the Z-Base 525 and the 575) don't make the list because they have built-in subwoofers, but they're still worth a look. They put out surprisingly powerful sound for their size and their unique pedestal design is one of the simplest we've seen. After all, the only thing better than a wireless sub is no separate sub at all.

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