soundbar

OK, we don't usually give away stuff that we've reviewed, but the folks at Aperion Audio said they'd rather have us give away their impressive Signature SLIMstage30 home-theater sound bar than send it back to them. Don't worry, it's in perfect shape--but it is slightly used.

Reviewers Matthew Moskovciak and Steve Guttenberg gave the Signature SLIMstage30 very high marks for performance and said it's one of the few sound bars that puts out enough bass without enlisting the work of a sub. (Read the full review.)

Normally, the Signature SLIMstage30 would cost about $599, … Read more

LAS VEGAS--Sound bars have been around since the Yamaha YSP-1, which won a CNET Next Big Thing nomination at CES 2005. Panasonic is a major manufacturer of home-theater-in-a-box (HTIB) systems, but the company is making its first entry into the sound bar market with the SC-HTB1. The press release highlights its "Clear-Mode Dialogue" feature and advanced bamboo cone speakers, but the most interesting announcement to us is its compatibility with ARC (audio return channel), allowing you to "connect it to the TV with just one HDMI cable."

An audio return channel is one of the new … Read more

I get letters about this all the time.

They usually go something like this: "I'm no audiophile, but can you explain why all of the new, slim, pretty, thin HDTV's sound so bad? I bought a 46-inch Samsung LN46A850 for its great picture, but when I got it home, the sound was tinny. So I bought a sound bar but it had its own issues and I don't want to use multiple remotes. Any ideas?"

The problem is mostly caused by just how skinny these TVs are: There's no room for decent speakers. More than that, I'm sorry to say that sound quality isn't a priority for TV manufacturers, and they know that most buyers accept "good enough" sound. So there's no real demand from consumers to get better sound from TVs. And I guess the manufacturers assume anyone who really cares will spring for a better sound system.

My advice: Check out Zvox speakers; I've reviewed many over the years for CNET. The best bang for the buck model is the 315. It sounds great for $199, and since you can hook it up to the TV's audio outputs, you won't need to use a separate remote (that's also true for some other manufacturers' soundbars).

Consider the 315 only if your TV has a headphone jack--or if its audio output jacks can be set to "variable." Then you'll be able to control the 315's volume with your TV's remote (the 315 doesn't have its own remote).

To learn more about the 315 check out my CNET review.… Read more

When CNET reviewed the Sony HT-CT100 in the spring of 2008, we hailed the $300 single-speaker audio system as one of the best values in its class. For 2009, Sony will be offering a step-up version, the HT-CT500. The $500 system retains the same basic two-part design (soundbar plus subwoofer), but supersizes it with a wider speaker unit and more powerful onboard 400-watt amplifier. The overall system delivers a 3.1 effect, thanks to the left/center/right speakers mounted in the soundbar.

Unlike the HDMI-only HT-CT100, the 500 supplements its three HDMI inputs with two component jacks and … Read more

Back in January at CES we'd heard that Vizio, which is known for its bargain-price TVs, was looking to make a play in the home audio arena--and soon it will. Slated for a September release, the company is putting out a faux-surround system that includes a slim sound bar and wireless subwoofer for $299.

While its features don't quite match those of the Samsung HT-X810T that we recently reviewed, Vizio is pointing to that product as an indication of how good a deal its sound bar will be. The Samsung, which has a built-in DVD player and stereo … Read more

It seems that the soundbar trend is here to stay as Samsung has announced a multifunctional unit boasting 300 watts of total power. The HT-X810's sleek piano-black bar is sure to complement most flat-panel TVs, and the accompanying wireless 5.8 Ghz subwoofer can be placed anywhere in the room. We've seen a wireless sub before from the Boston Acoustics TVee Model Two and were pleased with its performance.

Watch the Samsung HT-X810 video on CNET TV.

The X810 offers a slo- loading DVD player that upscales up to 1080p via HDMI and can accommodate numerous media formats … Read more

When Altec Lansing asked if I would take a look at its new desktop speaker replacement, I was interested in the possibilities. According to the company, the SoundBar was designed to fit onto a desk with little room left without sacrificing high-quality audio. Unfortunately, the SoundBar only delivers on the first goal.… Read more

Denon hopes to attract consumers who want to add virtual surround sound to their flat-panel TVs, with the company's new DHT-FS3. The unit's piano-black finish is meant to seamlessly blend in with most setups.

Using "X-Space Surround" technology, the DHT-FS3 emulates the surround sound normally produced by a 5.1 system. The sound bar also comes with three digital inputs and one analog input in order to satisfy an assortment of additional devices. An included slimly designed subwoofer is provided to round out the overall surround experience.

The DHT-FS3 retails for $1200 and is available now.… Read more